September 25, 2009 - October 8, 2009
Last contest period's winners each received a copy of THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown, AN ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon and A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE by Anita Shreve.
| hedi hopwood (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This novel does not live up to all the hype. The villain is not believable, and I really found the science used in the book to be very off the wall. |
| Valeen Nielson |
| Testimony by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A very thought-provoking book. |
| Kathy S. |
| The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoyed this book as a weekend read over the summer and loved Anita Shreve's writing style. |
| Janice Gabriel |
| Sophia: Aspects of the Divine Feminine Past & by Dr. Susanne Schaup |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Thought-provoking information on the divine feminine with lots of historical data thrown in. A somewhat smooth read if this area is of interest to you. |
| bebe |
| The Long Snapper by Jeffrey Marx |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another inspirational story by Jeffrey Marx. A story of faith and hard work. I will give it to my kids to read! |
| hedi hopwood (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a young adult novel with a completely different, up-to-date take on the Knights Templar. I found that I really liked the main character, Billie, a sixteen year-old trying to come to terms with what is expected of her. I hope we hear more from Billie in the future. |
| Buddy Garrett |
| The Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was an enjoyable read. The author paints a lush picture of the culture in China during the 20th century. Her characters are memorable and believable. I can't wait to read more from this author. |
| Saundra McKenzie (sandym204@gmail.com) |
| The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I think this is his best novel yet! |
| Sand |
| One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Location, location, location! Nice, no frills read with several likable characters. It doesn't pretend to be more than it is, classic chic-lit. |
| Gianna |
| The Silver Spoon by Phaidon Press |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The ultimate in Italian recipes. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another "Sisterhood" novel by Fern Michaels. This one is ninth in the series. After almost being busted, the group had to flee the country, and in this book they return to help a Supreme Court justice who is being blackmailed. These women always get their man---to the horror of the men! They are always helping the good guys and wiping out the bad. These are easy reads, and I have enjoyed every one of them. I am most definitely looking forward to the next one. If you like to see the bad guys get their just desserts, treat yourself to this series. |
| Terry Hodges (hodges179@hughes.net) |
| Hidden Falls by Carla Danziger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a great mystery taking place in Norway with an American woman going to the Sognefjord region. Totally awesome for a first time writer! |
| Lesa D |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I've read the entire series with my middle-schoolers and liked all of them, and that's why I was so disappointed in this one. Even my daughter (a huge fan) admitted that it's way too long and dragged out. Still, it does complete the series, so it's worth it for that. |
| Lesa D |
| Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I was excited to begin this book (the first I've read in the series), but I quickly lost my enthusiasm. It's not a terrible book, but it doesn't deliver much in the way of mystery or adventure. It's "good enough," but just barely. |
| Lesa D |
| Angels &Demons by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I hated THE DA VINCI CODE, but I really like this one. The story moves along at a good pace, and I was intrigued by the symbols. Yeah, I know it's not great literature, but it was fun, interesting, and entertaining. |
| Judy |
| The Magicians by Lev Grossman |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Harry Potter discovers Narnia with nods to other fantasy. Quentin Coldwater, a bit of a nerd and a Brooklyn high-schooler, is devoted to his childhood book series set in Fillory. Mysteriously, Coldwater becomes a student at Brakeskills College (a Hogswarthian place in upstate NY) and learns all about magic and discovers that the children of Fillory might be more than he ever imagined. This has gotten pretty good reviews, but I like the real stuff not "nods" to others in the genre. Of course, I'm not a big Narnia fan either so that might be part of my problem with the book. |
| Timothy W. (lobbyman01@yahoo.com) |
| The Crack in the Lens by Steve Hockensmith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I enjoy the entire "Holmes on the Range" series. Hockensmith's writing is getting better with each book! |
| Aaron |
| The Gate House by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
One of my favorite authors of all time has written another classic. A follow-up to THE GOLD COAST, this book hooks you until the wonderful conclusion! |
| M. Archer |
| The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The author interweaves the story of Brigham Young's famous 19th wife, Ann Eliza Young, and a story of modern day polygamy. And both stories are fascinating. The author presents the history of polygamy in the U.S. in an engaging way. With the history as a background, the characters of the modern day story put a "real" face on this issue and draw the reader in. |
| Carol Mathesen |
| The Sweet By and By by Todd Johnson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is such a funny, heart-warming book. It portrays the lives of five North Carolina women. Much of it takes place in a nursing home, and it looks at the elderly in a whole different light. I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh. |
| patty wilson |
| The Paperboy by Peter Dexter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great read about newspapermen in a smal Florida town. |
| Karrie Millheim (Mshalo6@aol.com) |
| An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
She is an amazing author. |
| Brenda Park |
| The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Definitely a must-read. |
| Janice Wright |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The author is Dan Brown. Need I say more? |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| Box 21 by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Have you tried any of the translated mysteries from around the world, especially Scandinavia? This was written originally in English but takes place in Stockholm. And it may not fit your niche if you prefer cozies, but it's complex with riveting suspense and a story that may have been in any newspaper in the world today. This is about the underbelly of mankind. It is also about shame and friendship. The authors meticulously carve out their characters to life-size proportions. You will empathize, root for, and worry about these people. You will hope the police become knights in shining armor. But the story belongs to Lydia Grajauskas. This takes you from when she was a ten-year-old in Klaipeda, Lithuania to a twenty-year-old being admitted to Soder Hospital in Stockholm with thirty-six lacerations on her back, bruises on her face, fractured humerus, and intra abdominal bleed. You won't want to put this down once you've read the opening page. |
| eileen b |
| An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just received my pre-ordered copy late yesterday, and I am already 300 pages into this fascinating book. As usual, I have to force myself to lay it aside to sleep. Luckily, I'm an early riser. I have been an avid reader of her books since the very beginning. |
| Gail Wight |
| Outlander by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Best book I've ever read! |
| Stephanie Holcomb |
| I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've ever read. Don't let its 900 pages intimidate you. They go fast, and you won't be able to put it down! |
| Marsha |
| The Water Giver by Joan Ryan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a life-affirming story of a mother recording the progress of her son's traumatic brain injury and recovery from a skate-boarding accident. One can only hope and pray that one would have the patience, grace, and courage to survive as well as this mother. |
| Yvonne Butler (ybutler@oppcatv.com) |
| The Gates of Trevalyan by Jacquelyn Cook |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
If you like history your will like this book but probably not love it. It jumped around a lot. |
| Patricia Bryan (bryanpa@missouri.edu) |
| The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read her first book, THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON, and it was very good! When I requested THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN at the library, I was 22nd on the list! That says a lot for the book. It's a very good read. You will enjoy also it. |
| Harriet Stay (hstay@hughes.net) |
| The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I became hooked on Cotterill's books with his debut, THE CORONER'S LUNCH. It may have been the fascination to learn about Laos in the 1970s or his unusual characters. Or it could have been his storytelling ability. Then again, it may have been his wit. I don't read "funny" mysteries as a rule, but I find myself smiling throughout all the unusual predicaments Dr. Siri, now 73 and still the country's only coroner, finds himself along with Nurse Dtui, Madam Daeng (called the noodle lady), and now his wife, plus an assortment of longtime friends. In this book, there are four mysteries to solve, but the most pressing concerns the identity of a dead girl found tied to a tree. This is book six in the series and I recommend them all. |
| Jean |
| The Gravewriter by Mark Arsenault |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Actually 4.5 stars! I found this book very captivating, and the mystery was well done. I would definitely read another book by this author! |
| Jean |
| Miss Zukas and the Stroke of Death by Jo Dereske |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This was my first foray into the world of librarian Miss Zukas. The book was okay and entertaining enough. I enjoyed reading about library life. |
| Anita Hunt |
| When I Was a God by Dianna Grace Riquelme |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was captivated by the front cover the first time I stumbled on it. But I always remind myself that, when looking for a good novel to pass the time on my dull weekends, I should never judge the book by its cover. This time I took the chance and purchased it. And I was sure glad that I did! When I turned to the first page and read the first paragraph, I was hooked. Not only did it leave me wanting to know more about this infamous Queen Jezebel, it left me feeling for her, a character that by name is evil and supposedly emotionless by commentators. However, this novel made me feel for her in ways I thought I would never for this woman. The novel, with great detail, made me see the world she was thrust in at such a young age. She is a woman that wants more than acknowledgment; she wants the right to be equal to the very men that shape her future. In this novel Jezebel is flesh and blood. She made me understand her, even excuse her deeds. I want anyone who stumbles on this novel to purchase it and read for themselves an interpretation of the Bible through a woman's eyes, a similar approach to historical fiction as THE RED TENT. But it is with a twist, because the character is Jezebel, a name that evokes fear, wonder, scandal, hate, and even war... And you will be totally captivated. |
| Nora Z |
| Those Who Love by Irving Stone |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is an older book, and I have read it three times, including my latest read. John and Abigail Adams leap off the dusty pages of history to share with us their extraordinary love, mutual respect, and friendship. They would be at home today in our age of marital equality, and this book is a fine companion to the "John Adams" series and the "Founding Fathers" series. |
| Cindy H |
| The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks poignantly explores the events of a summer that turned Veronica "Ronnie" Miller from a rebellious, self-obsessed teen to a caring, mature adult. It is an amazing read. You truly see the growth and goodness of human nature. I highly recommend it! |
| Lydia Denning (jld45@hotmail.com) |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. |
| Merle |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Incredible eye opener of the '60s early Civil Rights era, written from the perspective of the Southern housekeepers. |
| Kay |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Not only is this novel worth the six year wait for THE DAVINCI CODE sequel, but I'm enjoying this book more than I did the first one---and I loved THE DAVINCI CODE! Maybe it's because the setting is in Washington D.C., or maybe it's just because Dan Brown is a fabulous writer who knows how to tell a story. Fantastic read! |
| Fran |
| Into Temptation by Penny Vincenzi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It has been a while since I read the first and second book of this trilogy, so I needed reminders of what previously occurred along the way. Penny Vincenzi has a way of writing that draws the reader in, and it was easy to fall back into the lives of the Lytton family and all its drama. A fitting end to the trilogy. This final book seemed a little long at times and wasn't my favorite in the series; however, it held my interest. I did enjoy it overall. |
| Marsha |
| Takedown by Brad Thor |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you are a fan of Vince Flynn's thriller books, then you will enjoy Thor's protagonist, Scot Harvath. Harvath is a former Navy Seal and works for a government agency that specializes in anti-terrorism projects. Let's hope this is all fiction! |
| Tanya |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
It amazes me how an author can write a great book the first time. The characters are wonderful, and I enjoyed getting to know them. If you want to read a book that touches your heart, read this one. |
| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
| Day After Night by Anita Diamant |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another good book by the author of THE RED TENT. DAY AFTER NIGHT is a story of several young women incarcerated in a displaced persons camp by the British following WWII. The camp was located in what we now know as Israel. The characters are well developed, telling of their lives before and after the war. It was a compelling read and hard to put down, thus it read quickly. |
| T. Thomas |
| Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother-Daughter Sto by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful book! A journey both physical and spiritual for mother and daughter. |
| Patricia Schrot |
| Julie and Julia by Julie Powell |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
If I had not already seen and enjoyed the movie based on this book, I would not have bothered to read the book. I almost didn't finish it as I found I profoundly disliked Ms. Powell, her foul-mouth, and her sarcasm. She's not a person whom I would enjoy meeting. After reading this book It was no wonder that Julia Childs refused to meet her. Good for you Julia! |
| Patricia Schrot |
| Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a sequel to his book RULES OF DECEPTION. As a sequel, this book did not disappoint. It is a very good thriller as Dr. Ransom who works for Doctors Without Borders is invited from his work in Kenya to London to speak at a medical conference. Murder, bombings, and his wife whom he hasn't seen in six months are all intertwined. Dr. Ransom tries to follow his wife through Europe to Italy and France to try to stop his wife Emma, but has no idea what she is up to and whom she is working for. A very good thriller with some good surprises and a good twist ending. |
| Kathleen Sornsin Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net) |
| The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a wonderful book! I laughed. I cried. I truly felt I was THERE. Garth Stein brings to life a compelling story of life and love, told through a dog named Enzo. I couldn't put it down and can't stop thinking about it! |
| Kathy Vallee |
| If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is a romance by Hooper, and I have to say I did not find it nearly as good as her other books on the FBI. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| At The Stroke Of Madness by Alex Kava |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I have always loved her work and this one is just as great as all the rest. They have to catch the madman before he spreads a virus that will kill mankind |
| Michele |
| The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just finished my second reading of this book within the past few months. I rarely reread a book so soon, but this book is fantastic and rates as one of the very best I have ever read. I have even bought copies to give to my book-loving friends. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The year is 1327, and a fierce power struggle is taking place between the newly elected Pope, John the XXII, and Louis the Bavarian, newly elected King of the Holy Roman Empire, over the theology of Jesus. Brother William of Baskerville is dispatched by the Pope to investigate allegations of heresy made against Franciscan Monks. His mission changes however when upon his arrival at the monastery he is informed of the mysterious death of one of the order's members just days before. Thus William, at the Abbot's request, must turn detective to solve this crime. William possesses a wry sense of humor and an exceptional deductive ability, which he will need in order to solve this mystery. With the help of his scribe, Adso, William searches deep into the secrets of the abbey and their mysterious library, to which only a privileged few are allowed admission and where secrets are protected at any cost. THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco is one of the most interesting and well-written murder mysteries that I have read in years. Eco has done a fabulous job of creating a two-man team that truly rivals Doyle's Holmes and Watson. What really stands out is Eco's ability to set up the main plot with an authentic description of the theological battles that enveloped the early Church. Division theology is as common now as it was then, the difference being we no longer sentence people to death for disagreeing with us. My favorite parts were the long and, at times, ridiculous debates the monks had over such mundane topics as why Jesus slept in Bethany while visiting Jerusalem. This book gets two thumbs up in my opinion and I only wish Eco had turned this into a series. |
| Patricia Schrot |
| The Fall by Simon Mawer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An interesting story about two young boys, Rob and Jamie, who become friends. The story has flashbacks to WWII when Rob's mother Jamie's mother were also very good friends. The story follows their friendship as Jamie follows in his Father's footsteps and becomes a mountain climber and persuades Rob to join him. It is about the women in their lives and about their Fathers. A good story about people, love, and betrayal. |
| rita p |
| Absolute Fear by Lisa Jackson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A suspenseful story including all the fear you could never image. I couldn't put it down. Definitely a page-turner. |
| Patricia Schrot |
| Solomon vs. Lord by Paul Levine |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The first in the series about Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord who are both attorneys representing a trophy wife for a charge of murdering her husband. Steve is raising his 11 year-old nephew who has a learning disability but is also a savant. He also spars with his father who was once a judge. Steve has some interesting friends who are very loyal to him and add humor to the story. |
| Jon |
| Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very good first novel. A murder mystery set in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I look forward to reading future works by this talented author. |
| Billie Johnstone: Dade City Library B.C. |
| The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This novel has a very interesting topic. It takes place in Victorian England when poor young women didn't have many choices for employment. The young lady in the book becomes a wet nurse just like her mother. Her mother could always earn money being a wet nurse because she was always pregnant. Susan Rose, our young lady, is very promiscuous and therefore able to be a wet nurse. The book is unusually written: sometimes Susan Rose would do the speaking to the reader, and at other times her employer would tell the story. Sometimes I was confused as to who was speaking because some of them were her mother's employers. I found this book so saturated with the misery that the young girls endured at the hands of the master of the house. It is no wonder the girls became pregnant. Susan Rose tells her tale in her own language, that of the lower class Victorian English dialect. I found her to be a strong, cunning, scheming survivor. |
| Lauren Steen |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a great book. It's not quite as great as THE DA VINCI CODE but still great. |
| Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com) |
| Dream When You Are Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A novel if an Irish-American family during WWII. It was a great book for our reading group! It tells about stateside life during the war and also about the relationships of the three daughter and of the "boys" they corresponded with. A great read. |
| Patricia Schrot |
| Vanished by Joseph Finder |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was looking forward to this book, but as I was reading it sounded so similar to another book I had read about a missing husband. While it was a good read, it just was not quite as good as I had hoped. |
| Jeff |
| Sahara by Clive Cussler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A real page-turner. |
| Lisa D |
| Therapy by Sebastian Fitzek |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is an awesome read. Great psychological mystery. |
| Julie H. |
| Purses and Poison by Dorothy Howell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Murder strikes Holt's Department Store again, and purse-loving Haley Randolph finds herself in the hot seat once more! This is a quick romp of a mystery with Haley questioning her relationship with Ty Cameron, Holt heir and golden boy, going to school, and trying to solve more than one mystery. More questions arise at the end of the story, leading us to hope there's another title in the works. |
| Sharon A |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Quite an interesting read and well researched, historically speaking. |
| Beth G. |
| The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A dead body is found in the Bistro in Three Pines, but nobody seems to know who the dead man is. Chief Inspector Gamache and his team solve the crime after many twists and turns. There are a lot of interesting characters in Three Pines. Cozy mystery fans will love this book. |
| Terro |
| Smash Cut by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Fast read set in my hometown of Atlanta, which it made it all the more enjoyable |
| Terri |
| Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Bought this book based on the BookReporter. LOVED it. Pages kept turning as the plot thickened. This was a new author for me, and I can hardly wait to read KILLER VIEW. |
| Annief |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the sequel for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO, and it's just as good. The plot involves sex trafficking in Sweden, and the main character is Lisbeth Sanders, the expert computer hacker. The book delves into Lisbeth's background and why she is like she is. Full of suspense and a page turner. |
| Annief |
| The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in by David Grann |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the story of Percy Fawcett, a legendary British explorer, who, in 1925, went in search of the fabled El Dorado in the Amazon. He is accompanied by his son, neither of whom were ever heard from again despite numerous rescue efforts. This is a nonfiction book but it is every bit as suspenseful as a thriller. It's a real page-turner. |
| Margi |
| Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another Deaver page turner! This book features Kathryn Dance the kinesthetics expert who has appeared in earlier Lincoln Rhyme novels. A killer is on the loose, and all eyes are on a blog where peers have vilified the suspect. It seems like anyone who has posted to the blog is not safe. It's up to Dance and her staff to figure out what's going on. |
| 216amyc |
| Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A beautifully written book about a young woman on her path to becoming a geisha. |
| Nicole |
| The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'm enjoying this book about Jane Boleyn, Katherine Howard, and Anne of Cleves very much. I'm still reading, but I think that it will be one of my favorites of hers! |
| Mary Ann Linder |
| The Front by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Reads quickly. |
| Heather McDonough |
| The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Old-style ghost story with a modern twist. Kiernan is an amazing writer. |
| Jill |
| The Promised World by Lisa Tucker |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I like, like, like Lisa Tucker and this book did not disappoint. Billy and Lila are twins who have a secret past that even their respective spouses don't know about. A tragic event leads to unveiling the mystery of their hidden lives. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars. A young adult novel about India and the struggle for freedom from British rule from the caste system and from the traditional roles for women. |
| Teresa (steinertt@aol.com) |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Love it! It's startling vivid. And it's heartbreaking how ignorant people were in the 1960's about their black domestic help. |
| Leann S |
| True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Set in the places made familiar by the other Sturgis and Delaware books, this title focuses on two brothers, one a detective and one a private investigator, and their rocky relationship. They are thrown together in their search for a missing coed. The book never really grows legs, and it kind of stumbles through to the conclusion without really drawing the reader in. It lacked the drama and tension that are usually present. |
| Darcy |
| The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Written in 1931 and awarded the Nobel Prize, this book remains a classic, and it is as good this time as when I first read it 50 plus years ago. |
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
| The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book. I love the setting at the Nantucket resort. The characters were very vivid, and I felt like I new them. Three-quarters of the way through, the story took a very interesting turn. I am really hoping for a follow up on these characters. |
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
| The Drifter by Susan Wiggs |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was very interesting! Loved the characters. Jackson had a very hard life that he shared with his friend, Carrie. He always felt that he needed to look after her. He was looking for help and found Ms. Leah Mundy, who is the neighborhood doctor. The characters personality really made this story come alive. There were no down time reading, and it stayed interesting throughout the book. |
| Bill |
| The Siege by Stephen White |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A departure from the "Alan Gregory" series, the book focuses on suspended Boulder, Co., police detective, Sam Purdy, and his efforts to find the daughter of a missing future in-law. Most of the action takes place at Yale, where a suspected terrorist has taken an unknown number of students as hostages. Sam gets caught up with the CIA, FBI, and local and state law enforcement personnel in trying to figure out what is actually taking place. It is a great story, well told, and kept me guessing right to the end. |
| Leslie |
| The Road Home by Rose Tremain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Eastern European Lev goes to work in London to support his mother and child. Through twists and turns, both happy and sad, he makes it. A great read. |
| Julie H. |
| Sleepless Nights by Sarah Bilston |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A nice return to Q's life after her story in BEST REST. Sleepless Nights actually bounces between both Q and her sister, Jeanie, who has come to the States for a long visit, presumably to help care for the baby. However, baby Samuel is a handful and colic, which leaves Q. to wonder about the next step in her career. Both she and her husband Tom have some decisions to make about the community in which they'd like to live. Bilston does a great job making the novel timely: both of their high powered NY attorney firms are facing struggles and layoffs in the face of the present economy. |
| Joan |
| The Lost Child: A Mother's Story by Julie Myerson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although it's more than one riveting story told at the same time, I didn't see the connection. There's the story of Mary Yelloyen, who made a beautiful scrapbook in the 19th century, and the story of the author and her son, who became addicted to drugs in the 21st. And then there's a third story: how his parents coped (or didn't). I found the story of the 21st century so personally familiar and riveting that I think that's why the older story got lost. I would love it if author Julie Myerson did some more research and maybe presented the story of the Yelollyen family on its own. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Isabel Dalhousie is the author's latest "detective." But really, she's just a curious spinster in Edinburgh who gets involved in the questionable death of a young man. She's not Precious Remotswe. Uneven plotting and an unsatisfactory ending. I love this author, so I'll give one more in the series a try before I pronounce final judgment. |
| Barbara S. |
| Plum Island by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great suspense novel. Kept me reading and reading through the night. Forever twisting plot with a great main character that is sort of out of style but is never the less still a joy to know. Sexy and funny a great mystery. |
| Joan |
| The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A page-turner set in Iowa (who knew?), this is the story of two seven year-old friends who are found missing on the same early morning. Everyone assumes that they have gone missing together...and although this is not true, they are found together. Told from many points of view, it's a riveting story and one I read without a pause. Enjoy! |
| Chris |
| The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A grad student moves in to her deceased Granna's house in the summer of 1991 to clean it up for sale and discovers a mystery in her Gran's Bible, which is tied to the Salem witch trials. As she begins to unravel the mystery, we get glimpses of 1682 through the eyes of the Dane family and the hysteria that sentenced innocent women to death. Slow starter, but once the book begins jumping between 1682 and 1991, things speed up and the mystery sucks you in. |
| L. Hann |
| The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lisa Gardner will have you on the edge of your seat. She has a way of writing that brings you right into her story. You feel like you are there. Excellent read! |
| Linda W |
| Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Lots of suspense. Great story. |
| Beverly |
| Of Blood and Sorrow by Valerie Wilson Wesly |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Engaging mystery with a female PI doing what she enjoys making enough to support herself and son. Nice cast of supporting characters including a sexy male friend. Beautiful writing is an added plus. |
| Marsha |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a thought-provoking novel that makes each of us question our courage and tenacity to stand up for the truth and our convictions. Too many of us ignored the problems of racism in the South and elsewhere, but we all benefit from the ones who stood up for change. |
| Liz G. |
| Sepulchre by Kate Mosse |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A well-written dual story/time novel with dark, supernatural tones. I loved how the characters were detailed but naturally flawed. They really popped from the scenery. |
| Heather Pearson |
| Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is amazing. Nineteen year-old Nayeli has traveled from her small Mexican village to find warriors/men to return to her village and help save it from the drug lord who have taken over. |
| Marjorie Clark (marjorie_clark2000@yahoo.com) |
| Thne 7th Victim by Alan Jacobson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great thriller with lots of plot twists. |
| Jules |
| Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
His books are always nail-biters with twists and unexpected turns. Sometimes the graphic details are a bit shocking, but they fit the storyline. I find that the Mitch Rapp stories are ones that both my husband and I like to read. Much to my surprise, I find that many of my friends like his books, too. |
| Deborah Grimsley |
| Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The best post-9/11 book so far. Interestingly enough, the time period is pre-tragedy beginning when the Twin Towers are brand-spanking new with a man walking a tight rope between them. From there, disparate stories begin to become connected. This is the type of book that requires a notebook and pen to jot down the truly gripping lines and absolutely beautiful language. |
| Donna |
| The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Somehow, I missed this one growing up. Oh, it's wonderful! |
| Sharon Haas |
| New World Monkeys by Nancy Mauro |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Four stars now but might be five by the time I finish. Found the story to be intriguing---a couple on the verge of discovering they are no longer coupled, faced with something that needs them to be united. All the little subplots are fascinating as well. Usually, I don't like books that delve too deeply into a marriage in trouble, but this book is really more about who we are and finding that out than about marriage |
| Pat (patcook@adelphia.net) |
| The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Lucia Graves |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
As gripping as his THE SHADOW OF THE WIND. LOVED them both. So rewarding to read a beautifully written and GOOD novel! |
| Julie |
| The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Baltimore, 1849. The body of Edgar Allan Poe has been buried in an unmarked grave. Quentin Clark is a young lawyer and ardent admirer of Poe's who puts his own career and reputation at risk in a crusade to find out the truth behind the writer's death. After discovering that accounts of Poe's last days are riddled with unanswered questions that the police are ignoring, Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving international political agents, a female assassin, and the corrupt Baltimore slave trade. In order to unchain his now imperiled fate from Poe's, Quentin must turn master investigator. This was a book I really enjoyed and couldn't put down. |
| Linda |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a moving story of "sisterly" love between two best friends. Can't live with them, and can't live without them! |
| Susan B |
| Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another brilliant addition to the "Reacher" series. I am glad that Child has returned to the "narrator" format. |
| Kay from savannah |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A good and insightful read, that reveals the reactions, feelings, thoughts of a whole population of women and men who were the "help" in the 50's in the South. Lots of characters, some humor, and a strong central plot to tie it all together. Made me think about this population today in our society....how far have we come? Thought provoking . Only downside---a bit too long, as so many books today have become. |
| kay from Savannah |
| That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book evolves and ultimately finishes with not a bang but resolution and human grace. The characters are alive, and the setting is just pure Cape Cod. A good read, but a little slow as most books that are light on plot. |
| Mike C |
| The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I was skeptical about this book when I first picked it up. I mean, the title is kind of cheesy. I have to tell you all though, it was totally worth it. There's mystery, suspense, romance, death, betrayal, redemption...everything. It's written so well, too. I don't think this book is as popular in the US as it is abroad, but it should be. Just read, and you'll see what I'm talking about. |
| Alicia |
| Persuader by Lee Child |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love Jack Reacher and this is just another one of his great adventures. |
| Nicole H. |
| Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I just loved this book about a baker in Rwanda and the people and stories she comes across. It's a very touching book. |
| kaye |
| Getting Rid of Rosie by Lynda Simmons |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Samantha and fiance Mike dreamed of owning their own restaurant based on a Irish Pub. When Mike impregnates Sam's best friend, Rosie, those dreams are shattered. Mike does the "honorable thing" and marries Rosie. Sam is left on her own to open a pub and is having some success with it and happy in her life until the day she sees Mike and his brother, Derek, looking in the window of her restaurant. It turns out Rosie died from a car accident several years ago, and Mike is having a hard time moving on. Derek encourages Sam to pick up where she and Mike left off, but the catch is Rosie is haunting Mike to keep her alive, at least in memory. Rosie makes it very difficult for Sam to get back with Mike until Sam decides she has had enough ghostly interference. With the help of her cook, Eva and Eva's psychic mother, they takes matters in hand to banish Rosie. After a lot of ghost busting maneuvers, Sam comes to a startling conclusion concerning Mike and Derek. If you are a fan of chick lit and light romance with a little bit of paranormal thrown in for good measure, you might like this one. A somewhat predictable but still fun read. |
| Karen Mead (klm39@optimum.net) |
| Twilight by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of the best books I've ever read. |
| Sydney Mathis (tosyd@one.net) |
| The Eight by Kathryn Neville |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book seriously kept my interest from cover to cover. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| They Came Like Swallows by William Maxwell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars A good discussion book, but it was not what I was expecting. The author does manage to paint a portrait of the mother --- yet gives her virtually no voice. Interesting, but not great. |
| Sue, Saratoga |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The book had lots of promise when it began. However, the second half was predictable and less than riveting. A journalist has to write an article for the 60th anniversary of the round-up of Jews by the French police in Paris. The journalist finds she has a slight connection to one of the families. |
| David W |
| Me, Cheeta by "Cheeta" (with James Lever) |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A clever and surprisingly well-written pastiche of Hollywood memoirs. The book is at times rather moving and is often laugh-out-loud funny. If you have any interest at all in films of the '30s and '40s, this is a must-read. |
| Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net) |
| Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
An okay book as far as Urban fantasy goes. However, there's too much explicit sexual content bordering on pornography. Also, excessive corny sarcasm from the main character. If either of the above are a problem for you, I would not recommend it. |
| CherylStillwell |
| Every Where She Turns by Debra Webb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Dr. C.J. Patterson returns home to Huntsville, AL to bury her younger sister, Shelly, a former prostitute and drug addict who has been murdered. Distrustful of the local police department in general and Detective Braddock in particular, C.J. arranges a leave of absence from her prestigious residency position at John Hopkins, so that she can remain in Huntsville and solve her sister's murder. The author's uses the "Red Herring" technique so effectively that I compiled a list of eight suspects. Although I did, and I believe most readers will determine the identity of the killer; I did not feel cheated because the author still managed to produce a surprise ending. |
| Manhattan Recommends |
| Boomsday by Christopher Buckley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Biting political humor from a master of the art. |
| sal williams |
| The Lonely Silver Rain by John D. MacDonald |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read the new mystery writers constantly, but every so often the heart returns to the master of the "helpful guy" heroes and just need a Travis McGee fix. Rain gives up a good one here; an excellently plotted, follow the druggies, avoid being assassinated, and make love to beautiful women saga that has you rooting for McGee all the way through. MacDonald was a master and rereading a Travis adventure is like relaxing in a warm bubblebath Try him, and you will feel that way too. |
| Sharon |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Compelling novel about the atrocities committed by the French police and government in rounding up French families of Jewish descent during WW II. The fathers are first removed from their families and then the mothers are torn from their children. All end up in Auchwitz. There are two stories in the book. The story of the child Sarah who escaped from the police and is desperately trying to return to her Paris home where she locked up her younger brother in a cupboard to avoid him being taken. And Julia a modern journalist who is researching the history of these events and finds that the family of her French husband took over the home of Sarah when it was vacated. The two stories appear to be separate until they start intertwines with each other to the climax. Engrossing but at the same time heartrending. Highly recommended. |
| Ronni Fox |
| The Hogfather by Terry Prachett |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Don't go by the awful TV special, this book, like all Prachett's books, is a hilarious and cynical spoof of modern life. This one is a send-up of Christmas. |
| Jean M |
| Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Good thriller. |
| Cheryl M |
| Chosen To Die by Lisa Jackson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I was hooked by the 2nd page when Regan seemed to come alive as you felt her frustration. And after that page the book became a page turner; I couldn't put it down. Didn't see it coming as far as the Star Crossed Killer and also Padgett Long. Great read. |
| Irish |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book was so good.Very graphic, very brutal and very good reading. It sure kept me on the edge. Highly recommended to all. I can't wait till next year when the new one comes out. |
| Andrew Gordon |
| Shattered by Michael Robotham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent thriller. Psychological thriller at its best. |
| Cindy |
| The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As she does in her short stories, Lahiri portrays the identity conflicts of the children of Indian immigrants to America. This book was also made into a pretty interesting movie which portrays the coming to manhood of a young man and his various love interests and how he comes to respect his parents more in adulthood. |
| Richard N Bartels |
| The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Shaara turns his attention to the D-Day invasion. Lots of info on Rommel and the plot by Hitler's generals to assassinate Hitler. |
| Kaye |
| Hollywood is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A fun read set in Hollywood with Taylor Henning in her new job as second assistant to Iris, a driven woman in charge of production at a major studio. Taylor knows her stuff, movie-wise but she is somewhat out of her league when it comes to social knowhow. After committing a huge faux pas at the advice of the first assistant, Taylor learns that working in Hollywood needs to be defensive. She turns to Iris's daughter Quinn for advice. Quinn, a jaded teen, starts to hand out a few bits of advice but she has her own agenda. She will extract her payment from Taylor at a later date and it won't be pretty! This is a quick and fun read. Lots of name dropping, romance and friendships in this one. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is an odd book. Strangely compelling. The language is simply beautiful. But I'm full of doubt at the end (and maybe that was the author's intent). I don't know to whom I'd recommend it. |
| F Tessa Bartels |
| Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
3.5 stars A love story of ridiculous proportion. Florentino loves Fermina from the moment he sets eyes on her, but must wait over 50 years before he can consummate their love. In the meantime, there are many adventures. Some disturbing scenes of pedophilia. |
| Helen |
| Pepper Pike by Les Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the first of a series of great old-style private detective mysteries that is set in Cleveland, Ohio. It is such fun and a great pleasure to those of us who miss Sam Spade or Travis McGee. |
| K. McNamara |
| Dear American Airlines: A Novel by Jonathan Miles |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I was really looking forward to reading this book. Who hasn't been stranded in the airport and wanted to write a super-long letter to express the angst and stupidity of the whole ordeal? Miles's style and insights just don't appeal to me, his humor is more brash than insightful and humorous. I found is language and bit crude and it's not that I haven't been screaming the same profanities (in my head) under similar circumstances --- just misplaced, in my opinion. I wish Jen Lancaster wrote this book, then I'd be sure to LMAO! |
| Carol G |
| The Mist by Carla Neggers |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lizzie Rush, educated by her spy father, helps to take down Norman Estabrook, a member of an international criminal network. Estabrook puts together an elaborate plan to kill those he blames for his downfall. I am about 2/3 through the book and it holds together reasonably well. It is evident that this is part of a group of books with recurring characters, and although it can stand alone, it is better after having read the previous ones. |
| Kelley Tackett |
| Dark Places by Gillian Flynn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I couldn't put this book down. There were so many twists and turns. I loved the character of Baby Day and her search to find out what really happened the night her brother killed her mother and sisters. I can't wait to read SHARP OBJECTS (Flynn's earlier book) next! |
| Kelley Tackett |
| The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I wanted to read this book because a movie is coming out based on the book. I was really disappointed. I hope the movie is better than the book. Miller is a gifted writer but this is not her best work. A very unsatisfying ending. |
| ck |
| Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Paris, July 1942 --- Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel'd'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking she will return in a few hours. This is a page-turner that involves WWII history and a contemporary journalist who is investigating the roundup. Fascinating story! |
| Jill Miller |
| Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very suspenseful, and several story lines keep you interested. |
| Sheila |
| Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another great read by an author who never disappoints! |
| Rosemary Sobczak (rosemarysobczak@hotmail.com) |
| Smash Cut by Sandra Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not one, but two, unexpected twists in addition to non-top action. Couldn't put it down. |
| Linda Sheehan (orchidfancier@gmail.com) |
| Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the most beautiful book I have read so far this year and I'm sure will be my favorite. It's the story of twin boys, Marion and Shiva Stone, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and their struggles and triumphs and their love for the same woman. They are raised by two doctors who love them deeply. Don't miss this book! |
| Bonnie |
| No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Mitchard follows the family in THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN later in life. Child abduction is still the central topic in this novel. It's handled well and the ending is satisfying. I just wish the characters were better delineated. I found it hard keeping up with them since none were really well-formed to me. |
| Asha S |
| Saints in Limbo by River Jordan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a book about the humans and their deep, hidden emotions. It made me think more about life. |
| Mandy Lauletta |
| Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
For those of you who have seen the show "True Blood" on HBO, this is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series that the show is loosely based on. I loved this book. It was very fluid in its story lines, so I finished it in a couple of days. As soon as I was finished, I couldn't wait to read the next one. I think if you have seen the characters on the show, you may like it even more since you can kind of picture them as you are reading. I am now on the 5th book and still can not put them down! |
| Debi |
| Paper Towns by John Green |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
What an emotionally intense YA novel! It kept my stomach in knots until the very end, which was quite weak. John Green captures the teenage spirit, to say the least! |
| Margaret Herrin |
| Southern Peril by T. Lynn Ocean |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you like Janet Evanovich, you should like T. Lynn Ocean. She is like a southern version of Evanovich. |
| Linda Chaput (linmoe@sympatico.ca) |
| Evil for Evil by James R. Benn |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Loved it. |
| Ginny |
| Trans-sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Bohjalian has a talent for developing arresting plot lines (in BEFORE YOU KNOW KINDNESS, the story revolves around the accidental shooting of a father by his daughter), which stands him in good stead here. A woman falls in love with a man about to undergo sexual reassignment surgery, and this love is reciprocated. Told from the point of view of several different people involved, it works as a piece of literature, and keeps the reader enthralled, if occasionally wincing. |
| Steven Schwindt (schwindt68@hotmail.com) |
| The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Read it in two days on my Kindle. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This little gem is a must for dog lovers! (The dog doesn't die!) A very funny, beautifully written story about a dog, told from his point of view. Delightful --- highly recommended. |
| Rita Sheppard (arochel52@hotmail.com) |
| A trip to the Beach by Melinda Blanchard and Robert Blanchard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The authors describe their move to Anguilla to open a restaurant and all that they encounter during the process. You feel like you're there with them through every step of the way and soak in the atmosphere and way of life of the people of Anguilla. Recipes are also included as Melinda experiments for the menu. I thoroughly recommend this book to every one interested in island life, cooking, and people in general. |
| Debi |
| Dare to Die by Carolyn Hart |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A good cozy mystery for a rainy afternoon! Annie and Max try to find the murderer of a young woman who rode in on her bicycle to an island motel. I especially enjoy her "honorable mentions" of mystery authors found in the Death on Demand bookshop! |
| Asha S |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you've read THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, then you must read this book. |
| Beverley Justice |
| Angels & Demons by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent read! |
| Barbara LH (BHpurple@aol.com) |
| People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful historical fiction. A poignant story about the saving of the Sarejevo Haggadah and ultimately about hope and heroism during times of tragedy and war. |
| Karen Mermel |
| Intervention by Robin Cook |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Cook tries to emulate Dan Brown. Drops a good story line in the first 1/4 of the book and goes on to nonsense. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the latest in a fantasy series about a young lady raised by wolves who is found by those who believe her to be related to the King and is adopted by them. The wolves who raise her are not the kind of wolves we know, but are wise wolves. They are larger, stronger, and as smart as humans. She becomes involved with the politics within that world and in the last book is trying to find a cure for a curse that kills or seriously maims those who have a magic talent. This is a very good series if you like fantasy. |
| Jud Hanson |
| Marker by Robin Cook |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Dr. Jack Stapleton and Dr. Laurie Montgomery have reached a turning point in their relationship of 9 years---Laurie is hearing the ticking of her biological clock, and Jack isn't yet ready for a family. In addition, she finds out she carries the genetic marker for breast cancer after her mother is diagnosed with it and discovers she is pregnant. As if this weren't enough to deal with, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), for whom Laurie and Jack both work, starts receiving autopsy requests on healthy individuals, all from the local Americare Hospital. All the individuals were at the hospital for very minor procedures and all suffered heart failure and, as it turns out, share the common trait of genetic markers for chronic illnesses. With their relationship on-the-rocks, Jack and Laurie are determined to get to the bottom of these mysterious deaths. The stakes are raised when Laurie is rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery due to an ectopic pregnancy and unwittingly becomes a target for the as yet unknown forces responsible for the deaths. Marker by Robin Cook is yet another top-notch medical thriller by one of the masters of the genre. I will warn you now, if hospitals make you jittery, do not read this novel. This novel was written about six years after the completion of the first stage of the Human Genome project. The ramifications of this accomplishment is that at some point in the future, individuals could have their blood tested and be told if they possess the genetic markers for any given health condition such as diabetes or cancer. However, the flip side is that this information could be used by the health insurance companies to deny coverage. As always, Cook demonstrates attention to detail and gives the reader a glimpse of what the future may hold. As with his previous novels, I believe he is right on target. |
| Ginny |
| Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In HANNAH'S DREAM, author Diane Hammond takes a snippet of news footage about an aging elephant and her keeper and expands it into a marvelous novel. Hammond creates a vibrant and believable cast of characters to fill her fictional world, not the least of which is the amazing elephant, Hannah, whose uncertain future is pivotal to the story. I was quickly and completely absorbed by the story and so will any reader who has ever looked into the eyes of an animal and seen a familiar soul looking back. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This was a very unusual book, and I'm trying to decide how I really felt about it. In the beginning, there are 3 different stories here. Ryan is missing from Northwestern University and finally declared dead. Lucy also disappears from her small town in Ohio and runs off with her high school history teacher. Miles is searching for his missing twin brother. The lives of these characters finally connect in a fascinating way. I've had to reread the ending chapter to try to put the clues together, but it is really a very ingenious plot. |
| Irish |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It was a long time between books but in this one, the author covered lots of topics. Southerners are a breed apart.You get to meet a lot of different ones in this book. Everyone seemed unhappy and had such problems. At the same time they were very forgiving and liberal leaning while being politically correct. A very interesting read. Mr. Conroy has a gift of words that are descriptive and beautiful. |
| April Vrugtman |
| Silksinger by Laini Taylor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
SILKSINGER is a faerie fantasy tale that is beautifully told and unfolds breathlessly through the pages. Taylor has created a fantastic world of faeries that dares reality to intrude. Her characters, though small, are full of courage, heart and character and they fairly jump off the pages. A wonderful adventure full of self discovery and hope. |
| Carol Grubbs:Dade City Lib Book Club |
| Song Yet Sung by James McBride |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Fantastic story of both free and enslaved blacks in Maryland during the 1800s. The story centers on the "Dreamer," a runaway slave who sees the future (the 60s, 70s and now). The story includes the use of a code. Really great story. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Stalemate by Iris Johansen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Another book in the series about Eve Duncan, who is a forensic sculptor. Eve goes to the Colombian jungle to work on a skull believed to be the wife of a wanted criminal. His rival does not want her to do the restoration so that puts her at risk from him too. I enjoyed this book very much, just as I have the others in this series. It's very hard to put this book down. You want to keep reading it to find out what happens. |
| Robin B |
| The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a terrific historical novel set in the Niagara Falls area in 1915. The Falls are a major character in itself and the human characters are very well drawn. |
| Jane (JerJanKel@aol.com) |
| In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I picked this book without reading any hype on it and was pleasantly surprised at the content. I believe I will recommend to my book club and we might even do a road trip to see the locations mentioned in the book as we sometimes do that when a book is particularly interesting and when the location is accessible to us. It basically tells about the last leper colony in the U.S. and the government's attempt to combine federal prisoners with these patients in a facility in Louisiana. Very interesting. |
| Pat Johnson |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you enjoyed MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Lisa See, you will enjoy SHANGHAI GIRLS. I enjoyed this book because it had a very unexpected ending. The sister relationship in the book felt very real. The members of my book club enjoyed this book. |
| Sue Beckley |
| Drood by Dan Simmons |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Historical fiction similar to his last book, THE TERROR, in that it's a biography of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens, with a bit of supernatural elements thrown in. |
| Dot |
| No Time to Wave Goodbye by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This story picks up where THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN left off, only years later, when the children are adults and Ben has married and has a daughter. Who would every think that a family could go through a child abduction a second time? This book brings back all the raw emotions the Cappadoro family felt years before. Get ready to feel all these emotions, and the suspense keeps you turning the pages till the conclusion. |
| Ozarks Reader |
| Heaven's Keep by William Kent Krueger |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Other reviewers must have found something in this novel that I missed. The wife of Cork O'Connor is a passenger on a charter flight that goes down in the mountains of Montana. We read an entire novel to finally find her in a totally unexpected ending. A slow mover. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| Poppy Done To Death by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This Aurora Teagarden mystery is a fast read --- her sister in law is murdered and with so many who could have done it, the book keeps you guessing till the end. Then when you think everything is over, Aurora gets the surprise of her life. |
| Sandy |
| Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Tim is an average guy who sells cars. His daughter, Sydney, has vanished into thin air from the hotel where she supposedly worked, where no one has ever heard of her. This one has many twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. |
| Ivy Pittman (ipittman26@yahoo.com) |
| The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A classic piece of work. Not what I expected. Picture South Africa in the 1930s, where Kaffirs are subjected to the most horrible work conditions. Now picture a depressingly poor white couple --- Mary, miserable about choosing this life and Dick, refusing to leave it. But it is Mary's disgust of the native workers and her obsession with Moses that makes that brings this story to a peak. |
| Joan |
| Godchildren by Nicholas Coleggi |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is the story of murky finances, as practiced by the "godfather", and the intermeshed lives of his six godchildren. Although most of the characters are unpleasant (and in some cases, sociopaths), I enjoyed reading about them. In fact, I found this book to be a real page turner. |
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
An original story and a good preview to her earlier book THE SECRET RIVER. Again, we become involved in the lives of the aborigines and the future colonizers, prisoners and soldiers from Great Britain. |
| Robin B |
| Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Terrific domestic thriller by a writer who just keeps getting better and better. Teen daughter disappears into what seems to be thin air and father investigates finding nefarious doings in his town. |
| Ivy Pittman (ipittman26@yahoo.com) |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This is one of the BEST stories I have read in a long time. It is the story of a group of friends who don't start out as friends in Charleston, South Carolina. While their paths cross in the most casual way, the way their relationship grows over the years takes on some serious and unbelievable commitments that will carry them through the best and worst of times over the decades. |
| Michael Carter |
| The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Very Good --- you should read THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO first and stay tuned for the forthcoming THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST. |
| Beverly |
| Murder On the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful legal thriller that address a social issue that needs more attention. The characters are engaging and have great personality. |
| Antoinette from Calgary |
| Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An older book by this author. I could not put it down. I loved this book, which is about connecting and keeping the one you love safe. |
| Antoinette from Calgary |
| Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very well-written book. Events take place pre- and post-9/11. Very different view point as narrator is a man born in Pakistan who was in New York at time of attacks and how his life changed afterwards. The book is a monologue with the tension building right from the start. A very smart book. |
| suzannefromtexas |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lamb's story of a life interrupted by the shootings at Columbine. Caelum Quirk, a high school teacher, was not at school the day of the shooting, but his wife, a school nurse, was. The book has a lot of backstories, but it has held my interest. |
| Benita G. |
| Any Minute by Joyce Meyer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
It's about a gal who is always too busy for her family. That is, until one day, in a rush to get to work she goes over a bridge and her car nose dives into the water. While there she follows the light, and during this phase of nearly dying, like Scrooge, she is taken to revisit her past, and present. When she returns to life, her epiphanies allow her to change. |
| Carol |
| Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this book in two days --- good plot, unexpected ending. |
| Sherman Hughes (bricksiam@yahoo.com) |
| Wheels for the World by Douglas Brinkley |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
If you love cars and the automotive industry, you will appreciate this great book! I've read many books on Henry Ford but this book tells it all --- the complete history of the industry. |
| Crystal |
| The Red Dahlia by Lynda La Plante |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
DI Anna Travis and DCI James Langton (from La Plante's ABOVE SUSPICION) and the rest of the murder team have a grisly case on their hands. It's very much like the famous Black Dahlia Case from 1940s Los Angeles. Both cases involve a serial killer who commits horrific crimes against women and taunts the police and the press. The story in grisly yet gripping. The personal connection between Travis and Lagnton adds depth to the overall storyline and a break from the brutality. |
| Julie H. |
| Impossible by Nancy Werlin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Lucy comes from a long line of Scarborough women who have tried unsuccessfully to fight off the ravages of an age-old curse. As Lucy's senior year is underway, the handsome Padraig turns up at Soledad's workplace. This leads to the beginning of the curse's manifestation and Lucy will only have nine months in which to unravel the mysteries and tasks set forth in the old folk tune, Scarborough Fair, before she will go mad. With the help of foster parents Leo and Soledad, Lucy is in a much better position to battle the elfin curse. Aided by boy next door Zach, Werlin creates a great team to help save Lucy's life. I dare you to read this without a certain tune getting stuck in your head! It's a great tale of good and evil, and true love. |
| Julie H. |
| Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Catherine Cline knows from an early age that she doesn't want to stay in Ringgold, GA. She sets her sights over the mountains that surround Ringgold and every week at the DQ, dilly bar in hand, she dreams of turning 18 and leaving. This book was filled with warmth, humor and human foibles. It's characters were nicely developed, the ususal Southern style suspects in place. Fans of Southern fiction like Fannie Flagg etc should really enjoy Catherine's coming of age story. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a new series for the mother/son team of Charles Todd. This is also set in England during WWI, with the main character as Bess Crawford, a nurse serving in the war. I feel that this will be a fun and interesting series, and look forward to more installments. In this novel, Bess's ship is hit by a mine or torpedo, and everyone must enter lifeboats before the boat sinks. Bess suffers a broken arm, and goes home to recuperate. But a promised duty to a dying soldier forces Bess to leave the safety of home to take a message to the dead soldier's family. The events that follow put Bess in harm's way and help to solve an old murder. This novel is not as detailed as prior novels, and leaves much of the gore and horror of the war untold. But Bess is a very likeable character. |
| Kaye DeMaio-Hays |
| World Without End by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thought THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH was worth 5 stars; as a result, WORLD WITHOUT END is worth 6 stars. The characters are believable and easy to identify with. Not only do they have dreams and aspirations as we all do, Follett makes us dream and toil with them as they struggle to reach goals and improve their world. |
| Jeff |
| The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
First time I've read Trollope because I always thought he was dull. He's not. Far from it. I found this book very modern and thoroughly delightful. The characters are all deliciously despicable, and there are striking resemblances to the principals in our recent and devastating financial meltdown. |
| Karen |
| Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I have read all of Jodi Picoult's books and I found this one interesting, mostly because I work with children who have the disease that the book is about. I did not find this book to be as intense and riveting as Jodi's other books and I'm not sure I would have finished it if I were not a dedicated fan. |
| Jay French |
| Waveland by Frederick Barthelme |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This short book hit the spot. This is a story of a man dealing with his girlfriend and ex-wife while rethinking the next steps in life. He take action so as to chill. Interesting writing --- I often ended up reading a couple of sentences, then rereading a chunk, then rereading a chunk a bit further down. Seems like every chunk of a couple of sentences brought satisfaction. |
| Julie M |
| Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
So far so good....I'm not quite halfway done but this one is hard to put down. A sweet, sad, funny, honest story about first love, best friends, and loss. I am loving every minute of reading it. |
| Julie M |
| The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I usually love Sparks but this book didn't really do anything for me. I figured out the ending very soon into it and it was really preachy --- not a fan of that. |
| Julie M |
| Repeat After Me by Rachel DeWoskin |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I really enjoyed this book! An interesting story told through flashbacks and in current time. Not your run-of-the-mill love story, a must read. |
| Karen |
| The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I found this book to be inconsistent, at times I couldn't put it down and other times I skimmed through pages. I have loved all of his other book and I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE is my absolute favorite book. I am interested in Columbine and found that part interesting. The going back in time to the days of the foundations of the ladies prison was distracting to me and at times boring. Just wasn't on par with Lamb's other books for me. |
| Julie M |
| While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this book. Family drama told in a fun and heart-tugging way. Typical family issues, but still feels fresh and fun. |
| Julie M |
| Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book was my book club selection. It's not the type of book I usually read but it was a lot better than I expected. Nuns in a convent but also a bit of a love story and mystery thrown in. A good read! |
| Phyllis |
| A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Maderia Cutler returns home for her sister Sherry's wedding. After a murder at the engagement party, Maderia gets help solving the crime from a vintage wedding gown. A delightful story of witches, ghosts and romance. |
| Marsha |
| The Gate House by Nelson DeMille |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Continuing the story of THE GOLD COAST, John Sutter returns from a 10-year absence to attend the funeral of a family servant, only to be caught up in the aftermath of his ex-wife's problems with the Mafia vendetta. It is well written and witty and quite a treatise on the underworld life. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| Deep Fathom by James Rollins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This book starts out with an eclipse and a catastrophic earthquake all along the Pacific Rim. The President is in Guam meeting with the Chinese. When the earthquake hits, they board to fly back home but the plane goes down in the Pacific. An amazing crystal is found while searching for clues as to why the plane crashed. This book, as all of James Rollins's books, is filled with action and adventure. The ending to this one has a surprising twist that everyone will enjoy. |
| Jay French |
| That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A rare Russo not focused on happenings in a small town, but instead, is an engrossing story of self-discovery, this time of a middle-aged professor/screen-writer. Feels a lot like his earlier STRAIGHT TIME. I listened to this on audio --- well-narrated. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| Blood Sins by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the last in this series; still, I could not put this one down. I hope she is planing on writing more because she got me hooked on them. |
| Cindy H |
| At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell books are great; they're quick easy reads with just enough suspense to keep you reading. This one keeps you guessing with a twist. |
| Sandra F. |
| Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
At first I thought this book was a waste of time, but it turned out to be a very funny adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. |
| Sandra F. |
| Polar Shift by Clive Cussler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Clive Cussler is king of the thriller. I am never disappointed when I read one of his books. Kurt Austin has saved the world so many times. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I read this book for a book club, had always intended to read, but the sheer volume of pages always stopped me. The book is long, over 600 pages, with long chapters, and extreme description, but I actually enjoyed this story. The story is told by Jack Burden, a newspaper man, about a poor, self-taught man, Willie Stark, who becomes governor of Louisiana. The story bears resemblance to real-life Louisiana governor, Huey Long. Robert Penn Warren won the Pulitzer Prize for this novel. The novel contains all the elements of a Southern novel, but in the end, the novel has a universal theme of the corruption that power and money bring. The characters are very dimensional, and are not just good or evil, but have many facets. This book forces one to think and explore human nature. |
| shyeyes |
| Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
What a wonderful jaunt to the south! Jo-Lynn Hunter winds up in Cottonwood, Georgia because of a death in the family. She undertakes a renovation of a Victorian home that has been in her family for generations. Houses and people all have secrets, and some want none of them to get out. Strange incidents happen, and Jo-Lynn must find out what is truth and what is not. For someone who is in an unstable marriage, what a respite from tensions as home. Not only is she renovating a house, she is renovating herself. A very enjoyable and well-written story. |
| BookFestival |
| The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This a very well-written true story about growing up homeless and overcoming adversity. |
| Hedi Hopwood (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| The Defector by David Silva |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I found this book somewhat unsettling especially in today's climate regarding torture as end to make the world safe. You have to wonder if all this revenge and violence will make a difference. I have followed this series and I am wondering how the next book will play out and if the main characters will actually be able to live a life that they seek after a life of violence in the name of good. A very thought-provoking book. |
| Hedi Hopwood (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| The White Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
One of her best. I have read all of her books and found this one very interesting. I am glad that she moved away from the Henry series. I am looking forward to the next installment in the War of the Roses. |
| Tanya |
| Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Homer is a special-needs cat. His story is told by his adopted mom. Any animal lover will love this book. Homer is a true testament of living each day to the fullest. Special-needs animals, just like special-needs children, have so much love to give. Read Homer's story and feel some of that love. |
| Peggy |
| Dear John by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
DEAR JOHN is a love story. As the title indicates, it is about a military man who finds love. However, as long distance love affairs goes love does not last or as the song goes I fell in love with another. It is a nice read. |
| Mary Schreiner |
| A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
You will be hooked from the first chapter. A child's dreams give insight into the murder of another child. This is an excellent book. I could not put it down. |
| Kaye |
| The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
We first meet Inspector Armand Gamache, head of homicide at the Surete du Quebec, when he is called in to investigate the death of an elderly man found on the floor of Olivier Brule's bistro. Since the town of Three Pines does not have its own police force, nor does it have sidewalks, traffic lights or even a mayor, everyone in town knows each other but no one seems to know the dead man. Or at least not that they will admit. The mystery deepens when the coroner announces the man was not killed on site but elsewhere and moved to the bistro. Who would do such a thing? And why? Does someone have it in for Olivier? The citizens of Three Pines begin to question could it be one of them. When a man long thought dead shows up in town, Gamache and the investigative team wonder if this is just coincidence or did he have something to do with the crime. Narrowing down the motive proves to be the hardest part of the investigation. I became very fond of Inspector Gamache as he methodically searched into the past lives of the suspects looking for the murder motive. After all, his theory is that to catch a killer you don't move forward but backwards into the past. Characters are revealed layer by layer where nothing is as it seems on the surface and the reader is always learning another facet of these fascinating people who call Three Pines home. Even the victim is not what he appears to be at first glance. Trying to solve this mystery is like entering a maze; you think you are going in the right direction until you hit a dead end and have to go in another direction and start all over again. Penny does a superb job of leading the reader down the garden path only to find it is the wrong path. Penny deftly creates a vivid atmosphere that is almost dark and brooding, like the forest that surrounds Three Pines. It was very easy for me to get a vivid mental picture of the characters and places. The detailed descriptions are fantastic.I particularly liked her description of something as simple as the fire in the fireplace: " it was not the roaring flames of a bitter winter fire, but a soft almost liquid flame of early autumn." This is not a quick read thriller novel, but a complex character driven mystery that is more slowly developed and should be savored by the reader. Combine wonderful writing with an intriguing mystery and this book is a winner. I will have to say though that about one third of the way in, the story seemed to bog down a tad but in no time at all it picked right up again. Although The Brutal Telling is the fifth book in the Inspector Gamache series, it reads like a stand alone novel. This was our first time reading Louis Penny but it definitely will not be the last for us. |
| Crystal |
| False Scent by Ngaio Marsh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Superintendent Roderick Alleyn and company form Scotland Yard CID investigate the murder of a theater actress on her 50th birthday. She is done in by Slay Pest (insecticide) in her perfume atomizer! The mystery is clever, absorbing and witty. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren |
| Rating: 1 Stars |
|
I go through a lot of anxiety when I decide to quit a book in the middle of it. I really did give this one a chance. I really like the leader of my book club, who chose this book; however, I just couldn't take it anymore. I never read such a bunch of babble before in my life. If all the babble was pulled out of this book, it would probably be 100 pages. As opposed to it's 437. This quote is an example. "If there weren't any other people there wouldn't be any you because what you do, which is what you are, only has meaning in relation to other people. That is a very comforting thought when you are in the car in the rain at night alone, for then you aren't you, and not being you or anything, you can really lie back and get some rest." Huh? Half the time I couldn't tell where I was in this book. Is he talking about the present? The past? The future? Did this happen already? No idea. I just wish he would tell the story, which is about a mafia type politician --- the Governor of a Southern state in the 1930s. The narrator was something like the press secretary of "the boss". But the author takes the reader off on so many tangents, I couldn't keep anything straight, let alone have a clue about the actual plot. I was always asking the question, what does this have to do with the storyline? Will I find out later? The answer to that question is no because I'm closing the book on page 157. |
| Chris |
| The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wow! I never knew any of this. A real eye-opener. |
| Hedi Hopwood (hedihopwood@comcast.net) |
| Fear the Worst by Lindwood Barclay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very nice thriller. I read it in two sittings. Keeps you interested till the last page. |
| Ruth |
| A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Unforgettable story of the Nazi invasion of Italy. |
| Pearl |
| The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent historical fiction with memorable characters and beautiful story that lasts forever. |
| Ellie |
| The Sense of Paper by Taylor Holden |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Wonderful story filled with vivid characters and locale. |
| Judy |
| The White Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The War of the Roses as told through the voice of Elizabeth Woodville, who secretly marries King Edward IV and then takes her place of Queen only to discover that the throne is fraught with danger for her and her offspring. Interwoven in the novel is the story of Melusina the water goddess and reputed ancestor of the Queen. It's an entertaining story although it takes a bit to get the who's who straight. |
| Kari G |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The book started out very slow. If I weren't reading it for a book club, I would have put it down. Once I got past the first 50 pages, it turned into a book that I didn't want to put down. Very well written. I'm looking forward to the next two in the series! |
| Beverly |
| In Firm Pursuit by Pamuel Samuels-Young |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A wonderful legal thriller featuring a female lawyer who was very much wants to make partner, yet is trying to balance finding the truth with her personal goal. Vernetta Henderson finds out that this is not always easy, nor is balancing her personal life with her supportive husband. |
| Anne |
| Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Emotional and unforgettable story which resounds forevermore. |
| Julie H. |
| Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Cody has had an unusual childhood, growing up with a dad in the CIA, always undercover in some city or another. With Dad in danger, Cody is sent to suburbia to live with Aunt Jenny. Riding a school bus, gym class, locker combinations all befuddle this world traveler. A fun read. |
| Beverly |
| The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Every now and then I read a book that makes me grateful for my life. THE LAST BRIDGE is one of those books. This is the story of a very dysfunctional family, whose terror was out there for all of the town to see and no one did anything to help. While each family member believes that they have learned to escape the horror and move on with their lives, they learn otherwise once their mother commits suicide. I read this book in one sitting. |
| Beverly |
| Obama's Blackberry by Kasper Hauser |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Cute read --- some are really laugh-out-loud funny. Others are duds. It probably will be enjoyed by those who are addicted to the BB. |
| Beverly |
| Step By Step by Bertie Bowman |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
A memoir that shows that diligence and hard work pay off. Would be a good read for middle-school and high-school students on how to pursue your dreams and stay true to yourself. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I listened to this on cassette, and Barbara Rosenblat does a wonderful job with the reading. This story centers on Judy Carrier, as Mary DiNunzio is recuperating from her gunshots from MOMENT OF TRUTH. Judy is a little like Stephanie Plum in character, but a gentler version. From the novels, it appears that Mary and Judy are too busy saving the world to ever sleep. Bennie, the owner of the law firm, has been sidelined as an over the hill old maid, which I feel is cruel. I enjoyed the parallel stories of Italy in the 1940s and Philadelphia in current times. The dialogue and adventures are very lighthearted, and cause many laughs. A fun read. |
| Sandy |
| Black for Remembrance by Carlene Thompson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was an awesome book full of suspense. It only took me two days to finish. |
| Emily |
| A Woman in the South Pacific by Sheree Lipton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Sheree Lipton, a travel writer and photographer, writes about her experiences and adventures in the South Pacific from the 1960s to 2000. Her adventures begin in Palmyra and the Fanning Islands, and continue through Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Uvea, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Tonga. She tells of the warm-hearted islanders who she met and who welcomed her into their homes. The accompanying photographs bring her narrative to life and introduce the reader to a world that few have seen or experienced. I highly recommend the book! |
| Nancy |
| A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and 20 years after publication, it has come out on CD, so currently I am listening to it and loving it all over again. |
| Glenn |
| Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A different type of JP novel. This one delves into the after effects of the end of slavery, and lynchings that continued into the early part of the 1900s in the southern United States. Even though this is a fictional account, it put a "human face" on the horrible practice, with the way the lynchings were described in some of the scenes. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel Swan Peak by James Lee Burke |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My biggest fear is that the epilogue presages the end of Dave Robicheaux stories. In this episode, Dave, his wife Molly and his friend Clete Purvis take an extended vacation in Western Montana on the ranch of an old friend, Albert Hollister. Unfortunately for them but fortunately for the reader, they become entangled with the Wellstone family, wealthy immigrants from Texas, and are also asked to help the local sheriff with a double murder of a pair of college students. There are also many sub-plots: Clete's dalliance with Jamie Sue Wellstone, Leslie Wellstone's wife, Jimmy Dale Greenwood, a half Indian singer's battle to maintain his pride and avenge a terrible wrong, Clete's struggle to come to grips with past events that involved him in Montana, years ago, the redemption of Candace Sweeney and Troy Nix, two lost souls meeting on the road, and the constant fight both Dave and Clete have with ghosts from their past, separately and together. All of this is illuminated by James Lee Burke's almost lyrical writing. His ability to capture a Montana sunset as well as the inner demons of an alcoholic in words is unsurpassed. His characters are unpredictably predictable. His heroes are way too human to not make mistakes. His villains are evil, clever and even the worst of them have some redeeming qualities. He is able to make Montana come alive as well as he does Louisiana. He is able to describe the wellsprings of anger in poor southern whites better than any author I've read. He describes the peccadillos of the very rich in ways I have never considered. He also somehow implicitly shows the impact combat has over time on the soldiers involved. He captures the dark side of the human condition while also showing the power of love, friendship and a sense of justice. I can only hope Burke has more of Dave Robicheaux to share with us. |
| Soraya (soraya.am.i@gmail.com) |
| Dragon House by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This novel caught my eye at an airport bookstore the other day. What a lucky discovery. This is a beautiful, moving novel that brought me to tears (of sorrow and joy) on several occasions. Congrats to the author, who I haven't read before. |
| Marsha |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tatto by Steig Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Set in Sweden this is a mixture of murder, romance, dysfunctional family, and financial intrigue. It is the first of a trilogy that will leave you waiting for the next two. |
| Renee |
| So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Enger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Follow up novel to the brilliant and oft re-readable, PEACE LIKE A RIVER. This is an author who fully understands the power of story and story telling. |
| T. Thomas |
| The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by by Katherine Howe |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Very well done. A little slow at the beginning, but it all comes together. |
| Brady (bradylee@myway.com) |
| Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Didn't know such an activity existed 'til I read this book. This non-fiction story is a jaw dropping explanation of what fulfills the author's life by running. I am not a runner myself (I hate it), however,the extremes reached is fascinating to read about and the "normal" life of Dean Karnazes is happy indeed. You should be amazed ! |
| Soraya (soraya.am.i@gmail.com) |
| The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I went back and re-read this novel, years after my first experience with it. I must say that I enjoyed it just as much the second time. What a great story. I can see why this launched Amy Tan's career. |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I wanted an improvement over the first book in the series, "Genghis: Birth of an Empire". Iggulden seems to focus on the more dramatic happenings and does not get enough into the depths of the history as I would like. I had the same problem with his Emperor series. This book basically covers Genghis Khan's uniting of the Mongol tribes and his subsequent invasion of China which foundered on the walls of present day Beijing. There is a great deal of bloodshed and what seems to be gratuitous violence especially in the Mongol camp. I cannot fault Iggulden's research which he summarizes in the back of the book but some of the events seem unrealistic. Without any proof, I think he does a lot of speculation as to what Genghis Khan's relationships were with his brothers and his sons. I was fascinated at the description of the Mongol Army's tactics and its make-up, including not just the warriors but everyone's family as well. Just feeding such a mass of people must have created immense logistical problems, though they depended, to a certain extent, on ravaging the countryside for rations. It is an exciting book, for sure, and was an easy read but I wanted more. |
| Marsha |
| Heart of the World by Linda Barnes |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Carlotta Carlyle chases kidnappers to Columbia to rescue her "little sister" in a heart-pounding adventure that reveals Columbian history as well as DEA problems in the USA. |
| Margi |
| Mortal Friends by Jane Stanton Hitchcock |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
MORTAL FRIENDS takes place in Washington, DC amid political intrigue, a serial killer, and a bit of marital infidelity. This is a light read and very entertaining. The plot focuses more on character relationships than the crime, yet the crime binds them all together. I recommend this book and would read another by this author. |
| Gina |
| Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Not even half way through this novel but have already had several laughs...love the main character and her "ghostly" sidekick! |
| Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com) |
| Thriller 2 by edited by Clive Cussler and various authors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I love these stories as much as the ones in THRILLER. They were great. I really enjoyed the one by Marcus Sakey --- it was about Nick, who helps Cooper, who owes a long shark some money. They are both in the military and they both served in Iraq. Nick thinks he is helping a Cooper and he also finds out if Cooper is really a friend. This book is a great read. The story by R. L. Stine is also a good. |
| Bonnie |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larrson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Excellent mystery, starts out slowly, but then builds so that you can't put it down. Very well-written. |
| Eric |
| Sum by David Eagleman |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Great things come in small packages! This book of 40 short short stories meditates on 40 possible afterlives with wit, creativity, and profundity. From an afterlife in which you live your life events reshuffled, to an afterlife you play the background characters in other people's dreams. In it you'll laugh, you'll think, and you'll cry at how honest it is at depicting our humanity. Absolutely wonderful! |
| Ed Hahn (ed_hk@yahoo.com) |
| Outlander by Diana Gabaldon |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
It was a bit of a chore but I finally finished this 627 page monster. So many people have touted this book and the whole series as outstanding that I may have let my excessive expectations color my enjoyment of the story. The story involves a woman named Claire Randall who steps into a Stonehenge type circle and is dropped 200 years into the past from 1945 to 1743. She meets, marries and falls in love with a Scottish Laird, Jamie Fraser, and decides to stay in the past. There are a lot of ups and downs in their relationship and in Fraser's life as he is wanted for murder by the British authorities. I often have trouble with first person accounts (the MOBY DICK effect) and this story was no exception. Claire's constant reflections on her situation became boring. Her stupid behavior in many situations was frustrating. I never thought I would say this but there was too much emphasis and too many detailed descriptions of Claire and Jamie having sex. Jamie's stubbornness in the face of obvious danger was also frustrating. On the positive side, the supporting characters are excellently drawn. The descriptions of life in the mid-eighteenth century are very well done. The main villain John Randall is truly evil but also believable for that time. In summary, the story just dragged too much for my taste. It occurred to me that maybe I just do not have the sensibilities to enjoy a romance/adventure novel such as this. I think I'll wait a couple months and then decide if I want to try the second volume in the series or just go ahead and list it on Bookmooch.com. |
| Helen |
| Signs in the Blood by Vicki Lane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Actually the first in her series, I only recently read it. Terrific mystery with great subplot from the past and a beautiful mix of Appalachian folklore. She is a terrific author. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of a young medical student named Deogratis who lived in Burundi in Africa during the genocide of 1994. This is the true story of how Deo was able to escape this awful time by using his wits. He meets people who help him get to America, where he spends much time sleeping in Central Park and working as a grocery deliverer for $15 a day . He meets good people here, too, who help him go back to college. This is such a gratifying story, and it shows that there is much goodness in the world. Tracy Kidder goes back to Burundi with Deo, where the young man is establishing a medical clinic for the impoverished people there. Just a heart-warming, compelling story! |
| Maureen |
| Labor Day by Joyce Maynard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I almost put this book down at the very beginning. I'm glad I continued to read. It's probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. Loved the characters and the story was very touching about how an escaped prisoner can become such a presence in once person's life. |
| Merry Waldrip |
| The Last Child by John Hart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is the story of a thirteen-year-old boy looking for his twin sister who was abducted. His father has disappeared and his mother is lost in alcohol and an abusive boyfriend. He risks everything and searches the dark side of town looking for her. This is an excellent book with good characters and plot. This is the best of John Hart's three books and his first two were exceptional. |
| Cheryl Stillwell |
| American Libre by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The Mexcican-American community erupts in a revolution to reclaim America. The revolution is sparked by the fatal shooting of a person of Hispanic descent, who was an innocent bystander, during drug raid. The fatal shooting by the police is followed by a riot in the Hispanic section of San Antonio, Tx. Several forces combine together causing a division between the American citizenship and the Hispanic community; a recession, the governor of Texas' response to the looting in San Antonio, and the separatist movement among Hispanic-Americans. Eventually, what began as a riot in Texas leads to the deportation of all illegal aliens of Hispanic descent and the internment of all Hispanic citizens nationwide. This novel definitely gives the reader food for thought. The leaders of the separatist movement advance arguments for the return of the southwestern states to Mexico, similar to the arguments that the U.S. and other nations used to justify the establishment of modern day Isreal. This is the ultimate novel for book clubs and high schools history classes. |
| Esty from PA |
| The Likeness by Tana French |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I usually don't like mysteries because I find the endings often contrived. But this one I really enjoyed and the author followed through with a very logical ending. I plan to read her first book INTO THE WOODS. |
| Betty C (base982@aol.com) |
| White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I normally jump right into Rachel's world in this series,but, for some reason, I'm having trouble here. Maybe it's been too long between visits. All my favorites are here assisting Rachel with her newest troubles and I'm hoping the pace picks up soon. |
| CC |
| Homer and Langley by E. L. Doctorow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a fascinating look at an unusual situation. Doctorow took a true story and made it real for the reader. Excellent read. |
| Kathleen |
| A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I started reading the stories about Emerald O'Brien, the main person in this story and quite like them. The author tells some good stories, haven't tried any of the charms yet. |
| kathleen |
| Exposed by Alex Kava |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was a good story, but seemed to long. |
| Ron Roseborough (RRoseb3424@aol.com) |
| The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From little known historical facts, the author creates a character to whom we are drawn with the allure of exotic locations, cultures, sex and international intrigue. A young Chinese princess, in the early twentieth century turmoil between China and Japan, is thrust from her home to the not so welcoming arms of a well to do family in Japan. Here she is educated in Japanese tradition and culture. Feeling abandoned by her Chinese family; sexually used by the men of her Japanese family; she finds solace in using her newly learned skills to try to advance herself in Japanese society. Eventually, she trades her services to the Japanese government to act as a spy against her native Chinese. The book's intrigue draws us as easily into the book, as lovers are drawn into her bed. The author's style is very captivating. We are lead smoothly from one richly detailed scene to another. The author paints a portrait of young woman, who is both smart and ruthless in her struggle for acceptance and her need to succeed. |
| Beverly |
| Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Historical fiction at its' best Wonderful character development, beautiful writing, interesting storyline with enough twists in the story to have you reading all night long. |
| Betty C (base982@aol.com) |
| Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another hilarious ride with Stephanie, Granma, & LuLu. I have read all the #'s titles and I look forward to the next. This is the only author that I read that I know will deliver every time. I "roll on the floor laughing" with every book. Can't wait for the long promised movie, just hope they can capture the stories as well as my imagination, although I doubt it. LuLu is going full blast in this book trying to avoid being killed. And as always, the gang's all here to help. |
| Janis A. |
| End of the Spear by Steve Saint |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
This is a true story of a man who comes to live with and love a very basic, brutal, primitive tribe in Ecuador. They were responsible for the death of his father and others. The book tells the story of how he and his family came to live with and help them while he learns of the story of his father and comes to love these people. It is very good and gives lots of food for thought. |
| Kaye |
| Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Kate, a young former Amish woman, along with her two siblings, has kept a secret for years. Sixteen years ago, Kate was brutally attacked and raped. Somehow, she managed to shoot the attacker and she thought she killed him. Since the Amish prefer to keep these things to themselves and handle it their own way, her father and brother took care of the body. Or so she thought. When Kate left the community she took her nightmares and secret with her. Now horror has come to the small Ohio town of Painters Mill and Kate Burkholder is back as chief of police. The MO of the latest killing is exactly the same as murders, dubbed the slaughterhouse murders, committed 16 years ago. Could he still be alive or is there a copy cat serial killer out there? When Kate has to investigate the latest crime, she hesitates to call in outside help because they might uncover more than just the perpetrator's identity. The City council and the mayor go behind her back and call in several other agencies to help with the investigation. The county sheriff, Nate Detrich, along with an agent from BCI are called in. Who does the BCI send but John Tomasetti; an agent the bureau could do without. He's a former rogue cop, just barely holding onto his job, who needs pain killers to get him through the day and booze to get him through the night. His involvement in this case may be his saving grace. In the end, he might just surprise the agency and Kate along with himself. Even with all his vices, I found John to be a very likable character with his own code of honor. This is a well paced, excellently written thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat with the gripping suspense, chilling detail and very believable dialogue. I liked the way Castillo set the scene and ratcheted up the suspense. One caveat if you are squeamish: there are some gruesome details of the murder victims. Do not let that deter you from reading this book as it will be easy to just skip over those parts if you are so inclined. SWORN TO SILENCE is the first in a planned series. Highly recommended for fans of mystery, thrillers or police procedurals. 4.5**** |
| Andria Plonka (plonkaac@sbcglobal.net) |
| Awakening by S.J. Bolton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A brilliantly told novel with a wildlife veterinarian as a main protagonist, if you are not wary of snakes now you will be by the end of the book. |
| Andria Plonka (plonkaac@sbcglobal.net) |
| Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
An unusual mystery in which words and how they are used play a major role. Set in a bookstore, one of the staff is dyslexic. |
| Tanya |
| South Of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I must say this is my first Pat Conroy book and I am now a fan. I can't wait to read more of his books. I had a little trouble keeping all the characters straight in the beginning but I grew to love all of them. The book centers around a group of kids who meet and become friends in high school. All come from different backgrounds which really adds to the storyline. I would highly recommend this book. |
| Beverly |
| Ruined by Lynn Nottage |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I read this award winning play in one sitting. Shows that no one is a winner in a war. Shows the pain of women as they are used as pawns and control as they rape and ruin them. |
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Await Your Reply by Chaon |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Wow!! This is intrigue and mystery from the very beginning. You must be aware of the characters every minute or they may change identity. |
| L. Hann |
| The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent. I could not put this book down. Ranie is called to a shooting at the local elementary school. She is trying to figure out if the shooter is really her bosses son. Lisa Gardner takes you on a trip of twists and turns and places you would never expect to go. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Never Tell A Lie by Hallie Ephron |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Ivy and David are having a yard sale when a customer comes up to Ivy and tells her she is a former high school classmate named Melinda. She says that she played in their house when a child and David asks if she wants to see the inside. He takes her inside but no one sees her leave. When she is reported missing and the last place she was seen was at the yard sale, suspicion points to David and Ivy. When key evidence is found at David's place of business, the police charge him with tampering with evidence and take him to jail. Ivy goes to the old house where the classmate lived while in high school and finds pictures of David taken without his knowledge. Is Melinda really dead? Who is doing this and why? I read this book in one afternoon and couldn't put it down. |
| Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net) |
| The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a newly imagined version of Alice in Wonderland. Don't be expecting the Disney fairy tale because it's far from it. If you thought the Queen of Hearts (Redd in this story) was a monster in the Disney version, wait until you get a load of Alyss' Aunt Redd. When she says off with their heads, she really means it. And the ambiguous Cheshire Cat that we remember...well this one sounds like he might have just stepped out of an X-Men movie! All the other characters are here as well, in different ways, shapes and forms. And there are a few additional characters. Alyss' parents are the Queen and King of Wonderland. And for all the feminists out there, Wonderland is a "Queendom", not a Kingdom. In this story, the Queen holds the power of the realm. So you know what that means...Alyss is next in line for the thrown. It all makes for a pretty exciting story that keeps you engaged throughout. I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm listening to an audiobook, if it's not an engaging story, my mind tends to wander. My mind did not wander once as I was listening to this book. This is actually the first book in a series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of them in the future. |
| Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net) |
| Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Although I love a good paranormal/horror novel and this one has a great premise, I was somewhat turned off by the high level of sexual content and the overly contrite sarcastic comments of Liz Phoenix, the main character. This is the first book in the series and I'm not so sure I'll be reading the rest of them. |
| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
| The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
A very good read from start to finish. A 15 year old murder had similarities to a current one. Pete hopes that if he can solve one of them, then the other one will be solved. |
| Lori |
| Monster by Walter Dean Myers |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was very interesting how the author wrote this book. The main character told his story written as a movie script. He was on trial for murder. This is a quick easy read and worth the time. |
| Linda M. Johnson |
| The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This is not the first time that I read this book. My book discussion this month is on Gregory Maguire's WICKED (also not a first read) so I thought I'd prelude by reading the original. This book is not like the movie. Yes there is a kernel (or wizard) of truth, but the book is so much more and yet so much simpler. Among the trivial notes - the slippers are not ruby nor does Oz allow horses (in the book). |
| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
| The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Steinbeck has never let me down. This book is so timely under the present economic situation. The story of the Joad family who lose their home to foreclosure during the days of the dustbowl. They optimistically set off for California where they hear jobs and opportunities are waiting. Once again, man's inhumanity towards fellow men (and women) is less than anticipated. A must read. I'm ashamed it took me so long in my life to read this treasure. |
| Gina |
| South of Broad by Pat Conroy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The beautiful flow of Conroy's prose is his forte. This book is a mystery and a romance and a tale of friendships over the decades. The story captures the South in Charleston but also captures the human heart. Excellent. |
| Irene - Saratoga Springs NY |
| Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Admission is an extraordinarily well researched book about the frenzied sequence of events prerequisite to that sacred letter of acceptance from THE College of one's choice. This book was quite the education in starting infants on the right track to commander not only the best college, but also providing access to acceptable associations to deliver entry into the preeminent circles of life. Portia Nathan, an admission representative for Princeton travels throughout the Northeast to ferret out the best of the current crop of high school students upon whom to bestow the promise of a ticket to Princeton. A paper trail of SATs, extracurricular achievements, letters of recommendation, and parental subterfuge cram each student's folder. Apprehensively, the indispensable essay dominates the paper pile, and the weighted folder awaits the first reader's assessment. The process continues as the folder passes to the second reader, and on to the selection committee for discussion and final determination. Lest we lapse into a coma, Korelitz is kind enough to include sub-plots, which reveal the undercurrents within Portia's seemingly stable life, which crumbles under the weight of a portentous secret. While I was not surprised at the daily strictures today's high school students endure, not only at school, but also at home, I am grateful such mechanics were not the standard during my college application days. |
| Jen |
| The Last Girls by Lee Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
The story drags at times. It goes back and forth between present day and the college years of the participants. |
| BevE |
| Feelin' the Vibe by Candice Dow |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is one steamy story, definitely not for the under 18 crowd. FEELIN' THE VIBE is the continuation of the story of Devin Patterson and Clark two people who were meant for each other but due to life's circumstances have parted ways. This is the third novel of their story, two professional people who long for love and fulfillment in their careers. If your looking for a romance this is it! |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Below Zero by C. J. Box |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Believing that his foster daughter, April, had been killed during a confrontation between the FBI and the cult known as the Sovereigns, Joe Pickett didn't know what to believe when his daughter told him that she had received text messages from April. Yet the information relayed in the text messages led the Picketts to believe that the messages were from April. No one could believe that April was able to flee the fiery inferno caused when an FBI sniper hit a gasline at the campsite where the Sovereigns were holed up. When Joe contacted a friend at the FBI for assistance in locating where the text messages originated from, he met up with his old nemesis Portenson, an FBI agent who loathed Joe. The FBI would help in return for Joe telling them what was in the text messages. It seems that April was with a known Chicago gangster known as Stenko that the FBI was after. Was the sender really April? If so, how did she escape the trailer that she was last seen in? Why was she with Stenko? Another great book by C.J.Box. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Dead on the Dance Floor by Heather Graham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
As the prize dancer collapses and dies on stage, the police rule the death as accidental due to the ingestion of prescription drugs and alcohol. But fellow teachers at the dance studio have doubts. Why would Lara take the relaxation drugs prior to her dance? Lara was having an affair with one of the students, a Miami police officer. Doug called in his brother, Quinn, a private investigator, and asked him to do a little prowling around by enrolling in dance classes. While at the dance studio, Quinn falls in love with the manager, Shannon. Shannon tells him some odd things that have occurred. Who is behind Lara�s death? Was her death connected to other strange deaths in the area? A good book. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Honora Keely was born and raised in Galway, Ireland, and she loved sitting on her favorite rock and looking out over Galway Bay. It was here that she met her husband-to-be Michael Kelly. After their marriage, they faced many hardships imposed by the British and the potato crop failure. After this came the fevers, which killed so many of Honora's family and friends including her beloved Michael. When the British tore down their homes so that bathhouses could be built on Galway Bay, Honora and her sister Maire decided it was time to leave Ireland and boarded a ship bound for America. The book continues with their adventures in America where they reconnect with family and friends. Although the book is relatively thick (551 pages), it will be hard to put down as you become involved with Honora and her family. |
| Beth Cummings (mtc350@gmail.com) |
| The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The author was born in a Thai refugee camp in 1980. There her entire extended family - grandmother, uncles, aunts, cousins - were together for almost seven years. This after a long separation during the Vietnamese War. Then her parents decided to immigrate to the United States - St Paul, Minnesota. This engaging book documents the difficulties they encounter trying to adjust to their new life. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
|
As President Will Lee is looking toward the re-election campaign, his vice president dies during surgery. Lee and his staff decide on a governor to be appointed to fill the vacancy and to also be Lee's running mate during the campaign. After he agrees to the appointment, the governor tells Lee that a divorce is in the works. Although not pleased with this, Lee and his staff have gone too far to turn back. As the campaign is carried out, rumors of womanizing are detailed. Besides the campaign, there is a rogue former CIA agent who turns up. The book hints at what happens to this guy but the powers that be in Washington do nothing to try and stop him. I have been a fan of Stuart Woods but his later books have not been as good as earlier ones. |
| Maryann |
| The Condition by Jennifer Haigh |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
I was disappointed with the book. I wanted more. Turner syndrome is a unique diagnosis and I wanted to learn more about it, having a daughter with Down Syndrome the whole dysfunctional family disappointed me. |
| Maryann |
| The Help by Kathryn Stockett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I so enjoyed this book. The story was set in Mississippi in the 1960's, made you realize just how racist the world was back then and really still is today. What a learning experience and wonderfully written story. |
| Maryann |
| The Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great collection of short stories about a generation of Bengal immigrants coming to America. |
| Maryann |
| The Girl Who Plays With Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A great Swedish crime novel. Elisabeth Salander's story is wonderfully told. |
| Ozarks Reader |
| Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Penny Vincenzi novels have to rank right up there with my very favorite stories. BEST OF TIMES was....as all her books are....a very long, complicated story. There are many characters that are seemingly unconnected but as the story gos on, surprising as it may seem, are suddenly all totally involved with one another. |
| L. Keene |
| The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Historical Fiction: Being set in a time after the American Revolution allows the reader a glimpse of America in the making. Hamilton is setting up the national bank and imposing taxes on luxuries-in this case home brewed liquor, which is used for money. The hardship the mostly fictional characters face reminds us of the courage our founding fathers faced, yet their determination is what built the country. The story follows two characters as they endure the adversities of this time in American history. |
| Irene - Saratoga Springs NY |
| Split Estate by Charlotte Bacon |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
How can a family reconcile their studied indifference to a deeply disturbed woman who provides daily sustenance to their lives? How will a husband, a son, and a daughter recover from her final self-destructive action: his wife and their mother jumping out of a window in the New York City apartment where they shared the seasons of their lives? Overwhelmed by his own loss, Arthur is ill fit to render care and compassion to his teenage children, bewildered and confused in their efforts to decipher why fate has inflicted such a tragedy upon them. Unable to envade New York City as a suitable place for his family to heal, Arthur packs up his family and drives to the small town of Callendar, Wyoming, his mother's ranch, his beginnings. There we meet the matriarch, Lucy King, who manages her dwindling ranch, and wonders whether this new arrangement with her son and her grandchildren will provide the solace, they sorely need. As ranching loses its luster, and neighbors sell mineral rights to their land, Lucy struggles with her own personal demons. The personal resolution of each character's conflicts is a study in human nature and endurance at its best. Charlotte Bacon persuasively captures each character's persona as they undertake essential daily struggles and in so doing, discover the inner strength vital to advance beyond grief, and move forward. |
| Angela Satalino |
| Love Walked In and Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Read the first and had to read the second right away. I felt immediate connection to the characters. |
| Anita Nowak |
| Heartsick by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I thought this was an excellent and scary thriller. It was really difficult to put this book down, once I started reading it. However, a warning to those who are a bit timid about reading explicit material, it is very graphic in nature regarding the torture and mutilation of one of the victims. If you can get past that, you will enjoy the fast pace and interesting novel. I also have Ms. Cain's next book, SWEETHEART which continues (from what I understand) where Heartsick left off. I am anxiously looking forward to reading it. |
| Rita Powell |
| The Eleventh Victim by Nancy Grace |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Very good suspense; some mistakes in spelling and typing, which surprised me. All in all, a good read which kept me interested until the very end, although I did figure out the suspect early on. |
| Stephanie O |
| Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
The sequel to the bestselling and truly innovative, THE HUNGER GAMES, brings us back to unique protagonist Katniss, an opinionated anti-damsel, and her fascinating futuristic world. What makes this series so intriguing is the geography and future culture created by author Suzanne Collins, and the amazing cast of characters. |
| Audrey Anderson |
| Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
My niece gave me this book so I went ahead and started it. I enjoyed it. It moves along for the most part - a few slow areas. I think anyone would enjoy this book. The title is the sections of the book and each section is devoted to the topic specified. She takes you on a journey to heal her heart and in the end transforms herself, or maybe I should say finds her true self and learns to love it. |
| Eva |
| The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Excellent! It's the second book in the Millennium series. I suggest you read the THE GIRL WITH DRAGON TATTOO first, to get to know the characters. A real page-turner. |
| Fran |
| Cold as Ice by Anne Stuart |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Easy read, no brainer... which was what I needed right now. I liked the suspenseful nature of the story, which started from page one, however found the whole premise of the romance predictable. |
| Linda Bentzen |
| Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Relin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This is a wonderful book. Greg's experiences in Pakistan and Afghanistan are heart warming. Our politicians should listen to him. |
| Linda Bentzen |
| Flashback by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Good read for relief from very serious books. |
| Julie |
| Most Wanted by Michele Martinez |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
If you like this author you really like this book. Martinez introduces her main character in this book, Melanie Vargas. Vargas is a young mother of a six year old daughter and must raise her alone. She is works for the federal prosecutor's office in NYC. The suspense comes about when Melanie must solve a gruesome murder with a sadistic monster doing the killing. |
| Beth Cummings (mtc350@gmail.com) |
| Shanghai Girls by Lisa See |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Once again Lisa See has created a riveting book about China. This time about sisters growing up in an upper middle-class Shanghai family. Then their father loses his money gambling and they head for America - to Chinatown Los Angeles. Most of the book takes place in LA. |
| Beth Cummigs (mtc350@gmail.com) |
| The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book is about an American couple who move to India to work for an American corporation. They have recently lost a young son to a case of meningitis and are trying to start living again. The husband becomes obsessed with an Indian boy he befriends. The wife struggles to learn cope with Indian life and to understand her husbands obsession. |
| Maryann |
| The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Eleven childhood friends from Ames, Iowa tell their story of friendship. The bonds they established from elementary school through adulthood. We all can make a personal connection with this book and stories dealing with the power of friendship. |
| Martha Brown |
| The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In an elegant hotel In Paris a concierge who was born a peasant hides her knowledge of philosophy, the arts, and literature. On the fifth floor of this hotel an intellectual 12-year-old hides herself and her intelligence from the mundane, ordinary culture she sees around her. These major characters in this heartbreaking story express their profundity in separate, essay-like chapters that take you to the heart of all that matters. As you read, you are grabbed, unaware, by the characters and the growing drama of their lives. Excellent and provoking! |
| Cheryl M (Mash1195@aol.com) |
| My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A bittersweet read with an unexpected ending. |
| Cheryl M. (Mash1195@aol.com) |
| Chosen To Die by Lisa Jackson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Currently reading so rating could change. By the 2nd page I was captured by this book. It is definitely a page turner and the characters come alive. |
| Phyllis |
| The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The story is set in Paris, 1815, after Napoleon has surrendered at Waterloo. A young medical student, Daniel Connor, has arrived from Edinburgh and finds himself drawn into the emerging theories of evolution and the shadowy world of thieves. It is a blend of history, philosophy and intrigue. |
| Linda Smith |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great character development, well written and a compelling story. |
| Holly |
| Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I like this series more with each book. I started out with the first book thinking it was just sort of "meh". And I also wondered how long Cain could drag the cat and mouse game of Archie and Gretchen out. It's sort of like one of those television shows where two main characters like each other, but find for one reason or another they can't be together even though they long to be. And you keep watching to see just when the shows' producers will finally let them get together and then you continue to watch to see the aftermath of the relationship. Well, in Book 3, Cain has found a way to have Gretchen be central, but then again not really. I won't say anything more because I don't want to spoil the story for you. In the end you really don't know just how much Gretchen was involved in the whole story or not. I really liked how Book 3 evolved and I liked that throughout the book Archie finally seemed to mentally be on the road to recovery. I'll definitely read the next one to see where Cain takes the story from here. My only problem with the book is the gory-ness of it. There are some extremely graphic parts and I tend to read while I'm eating lunch and whatnot. Not a great book to read while you're eating. But if you can look past it or gore doesn't bother you then read this series! The back of the ARC touts, "Stephen King placed both Heartsick and Sweetheart on his 10 Best Books List of 2008, and praised Cain's "ferocious" writing." I have to say this book certainly evokes classic Stephen King with its torture theme and Cain doesn't hold back ata all. Anyone who has read Misery, this is definitely in the same category as that. I think Mr. King would approve of Book 3 just as much as he did of Book 1 and 2. |
| Holly |
| Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
THREE BEDROOMS, ONE CORPSE by Charlaine Harris is the third book in theAurora Teagarden mystery series. Book 3 finds Aurora sampling the realty business in her mother's real estate office after quitting her library job in Book 2. An alarm sounds through the real estate world when it appears there is a serial killer on the loose who just might be a real estate agent! Oh, and Aurora also seems to find love again. I have to say, this has been my least favorite in the series so far. I just didn't find the mystery very interesting. I also wasn't convinced of Aurora's relationship with her new beau, Martin. She seemed to fall in love way too fast and he just doesn't seem like a good fit for her in my mind. However, I'll continue to read the series to see where Aurora's story goes. |
| Holly |
| Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
The novel starts out with a typical exchange between a divorced father (Tim) and his teenage daughter (Sydney). They argue, she leaves the house mad, heading off to work. He, of course, feels awful about their argument and looks forward to her returning home in the evening to work things out. However, she never comes home. None of her friends have seen her. And when he goes to the hotel where she supposedly works, they tell him they do not know who she is and that she's never worked there. Huh? This starts Tim on a chase throughout the rest of the book to find out what happened to his daughter, hoping she's still alive, and saving her from whatever she's gotten herself into. As Tim delves deeper into the mystery of Sydney's disappearance, he slowly becomes a suspect with the police and not only is he chasing Sydney's kidnappers, the police are chasing him. I enjoyed this suspenseful novel. It was a fast read and it held my interest. There was not much that bothered me about it. I think I enjoy Harlen Coben's writing just a bit more, but Barclay definitely deserves a read. |
| Holly |
| Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
FLAWED DOGS is the somewhat sad and nearly tragic story of Sam, a pure-bred dachshund who finds his way into a young girl's heart. Heidy has been kicked out of an all-girls school and ends up living with her uncle. Sam enjoys his life with her there, until Cassius--another dog resident at the house--creates a devious plot to get rid of Sam from the house so Heidy would then have room in her heart to love him. Because of Cassius' tricks, Sam is cast aside (and thought to be dead) from the house and must learn to survive on his own. He survives losing his hind leg in a hunter's trap, escapes from a university research lab, resides in the National Last-Ditch Dog Depository, and finds his way into the care of the Rough-Handed Man who tries to win money with him in a dog fight. All of this leads Sam to find a poster for the Westminster Dog Show featuring none other than Cassius! Sam begins to plot a revenge plan that requires him to utilize the canine friends he's made throughout his journey. Dog show chaos ensues. I was actually just a tiny bit disappointed in the story of the book. It was written quite well, it was just a bit on the dark side and kept getting darker until the very end. Sam had such a good spirit it made me sad that he had to go through all he had to go through. And here I am talking about a character that is a dog! So I guess I have to say Berkeley Breathed did write a good book that could make me feel so much about an animal character! Much of the story is written from Sam's point of view, so his character really comes alive. It actually reminded me quite a bit of Elise Broch's Masterpiece. Not similar in type of story or anything like that, but in how Broch managed to bring the character of a beetle to such life. The images in addition to short chapters make this a great book for a reluctant reader or a reader transitioning from chapter books to full-length middle-grade novels. And it is definitely worth checking it out just for the illustrations! |
| Jean M |
| Divine Justice by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Another Camel Club winner. Our little group triumphs again. I love these characters. I hope the author continues writing about them |
| Kathryn McNamara |
| Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I'm loving this book. A woman wakes up 7 years in her past and gets to make her decisions over again with the wisdom and memories of her past in tact. It's a great story and very thought provoking. Highly recommend for a book club. |
| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
| Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Kay Scarpetta and Benton Wesley are temporarily in New York City at the request of NYPD. Kay has been asked to examine Oscar Bane, a "little person" suspected of killing his girlfriend Terri. Oscar tells Kay that he loves Terri and would never do anything to hurt her. As Kay examines him, she finds that his injuries seem to be self-inflicted. Kay's niece, Lucy, is trying to locate the source of vicious rumors posted about her aunt on the internet. Are these in some way connected to the death of Terri? Marino is now with the NYPD and is investigating the murder along with a hotshot detective named Morales, who wants to do things his way and without reporting to anyone. Cornwell's earlier books were great but this one was not very good. Several pages were used to discuss various fonts used in emails. There is a lot of technical jargon that you just have to skip over when you read this one. For 500 pages, it was way too long. |
| Donna Cruze |
| Silent Killer by Beverly Barton |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I won this book from Bookreporter.com, and I should finish it in the next couple of days. It's great! I love the premise -- someone is killing clergymen by setting them on fire -- and the connection to Knoxville, where I live. Now I want to read the rest of Barton's books. |
| Monica |
| The White Queen by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I didn't know much about the War of the Roses, so everything in the book was a surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a typical Gregory book with strong women characters. |
| Diane Dubay |
| Out by Natsuo Kirino |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I picked this up out of the blue and so far I love it! (the only reason it is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because I am not yet done) - a great mystery by a Japanese crime writer that is new to me, but I am sure I will be reading more of her ... every time you think you know where the story is going it kind of turns in on itself and adds a plot twist - the characters are great, it is gritty but still has some funny lines and is very well written! |
| Tsemidey (Tsemi@aol.com) |
| Silent Killer by Beverly Barton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This book grabs you from the opening prologue until the last page you turn. What a thrill ride it was to read! You won't be able to set it down. |
| Tia |
| The Quickie by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
It was a pretty good book, but I didn't think this one had the pizazz of other James Patterson's book. It was usual Patterson fare, short chapters quick read, but I didn't get excited over this one unlike Beachroad, Beachhouse etc. In a way it seemed this main character's problem could've been resolved earlier and not so drawn out. If you like Patterson I recommend that you read it, but this wouldn't be the book I would base my love of reading Patterson on. |
| Judi R |
| The Rising of the Moon by William Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I had to search for this book and do not understand why it is out-of-print. It is a must read. It is a wonderful portrayal of the Irish immigrants struggle for acceptance and political power in Boston. Nothing in the book is predictable! It is very well plotted and very surprising. Each chapter is better than the next. A long read but well worth the time. I would love to find a book of this caliber about the struggles of the Portuguese in America. |
| Dara Berryhill (dara34293@aol.com) |
| Borderline by Nevada Barr |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Interesting tale of border crossing between Mexico and the United States. Mystery of who is behind the killing of a pregnant woman and the shootings of Americans who found her and delivered her unborn baby as she died with a penknife. |
| Dale |
| The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Even though this book is considered a young adult and I have long since past that stage in my life, I am enjoying the writing very much. Using the symbolism Death as the narrator is quite original and creative. |
| Patty Shogren (p12a11s49@aol.com) |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by stieg larsson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Slow start, then had a hard time leaving it alone. good mystery, love the characters.will read book number two by this author. |
| Sandy |
| Die For Me by Karen Rose |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
A chilling story about a psychopath who makes video games, but has to kill for real first. It was great!!! |
| Dan |
| Drsagon House by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
DRAGON HOUSE is a courageous story of Vietnamese street children and the American woman (following her dying father's last wish) to try and help them. John Shors' novel is so well written that you feel that you are there experiencing what these characters are going through; not only the pain, but also the love and compassion. I learned what life is like in a country that I have never visited. This is a book worth reading. |
| Dan |
| Abandon by Blake Crouch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
In 1893 the entire town of Abandon disappears under mysterious circumstances and then 116 years later, a team of explorers go to the town to do some research and take photos. When two of the guides are attacked in front of the rest of the group, the mystery becomes even more mysterious. Alternating between the two time periods, Crouch has the reader watch as events unfold in the past, and how the tension builds up as we discover what the real reason these people are here. I, at first, was skeptical, thinking this was a supernatural type of story but was completely and happily surprised that this was as suspenseful thriller based on greed. |
| Debi |
| Days of Little Texas by R. A. Nelson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
With a touch of magical realism, Nelson creates a tale about a teenage evangelist who must confront his own evils. It's a YA novel with a coming-of-age theme. Little Texas, the teenage preacher, meets and defeats the devil on an island with an evil past. |
| Debi |
| Undone by Karin Slaughter |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
WOW! Talk about a page-turner! Even the ending didn't fizzle out! A doctor and two police detectives, each with their own secrets, try to find a serial killer who hides his victims underground and tortures them. It sounds gory, but the author concentrated on the hunt, not the violence. |
| Jeff |
| The Leopard by Guiseppe di Lampedusa |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
If you've never been to Sicily, this wonderful novel will transport you there. If you have been to Sicily, it will bring you back there and show you all the detail and color and drama you missed. The Visconti film is great. The book is better. |
| Terri (terri.loeffler@sbcglobal.net) |
| Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
ODD THOMAS is a short order cook who communicates (sort of) with the dead. He attempts to forestall a mass murder with minimal information, while being an "ordinary" person with an extraordinary "gift." Very compelling picture of a young man just trying to deal with the repercussions of this "gift" while attempting to lead a regular life. |
| Patty Shogren (p12a11s49@aol.com) |
| Swimsuit by James Patterson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Daughter gone missing, some parts a little gruesome. Typical murder mystery by Patterson. Not one of my favorites. |
| Ann Brim |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
This was a different book for me but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Was a page turner about the building of a cathedral and the lives of the people in the town and area around it. It is a long book but great story about every day lives. |
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| Moment of Truth by Lisa Scottoline |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Another installment in the saga of Mary/Judy/Bennie/Lou, set in Philadelphia. In this story, Jack Newlin, comes home and finds his wife killed. Jack thinks that his daughter has killed her mother--so Jack stages the scene to appear that he did the killing and then he calls 911. Enter novice criminal lawyer, Mary DiNunzio, as Jack's lawyer. Mary not only bumps along trying to defend Jack, she falls in love with him. As usual, Lisa Scottoline, prods her readers about the strength of a parent's love for a child. I listened to this as an audiobook, and was compelled to block out any distraction. The story did not end as I expected, but the ride was fun. |
| Paula Krapf |
| Blindspot: A Novel by Jane Kamenski and Jill Lepore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
Historical fiction set in Boston pre-Revolutionary War - a great mix of politics, passion, ribald humor and disguises. On the one hand, the book makes note of the colonists' growing discontent with England and their desire to be free of the yoke that bound them - yet most owned slaves. Meanwhile the narrative, in alternating first person accounts, is lively, entertaining and full of plot twists. |
| Brenda Rupp |
| The Little Book by Selden Edwards |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
|
This book is promoted as a time travel book, there is only one time jump, then the book has a lot of history. It wasn't what I was expecting, I was looking for something a little more light and fun. Someone did do a lot of work studying history for the time the book is based in. I really think they shouldn't pass this off as a time travel book as they each, father and son, jump to Venice, but they never leave again. |
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
| Dragon House by John Shors |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
I loved this fictional story about Vietnam and its street children. Author John Shors actually spent time there getting to know many of these children and observing their sad lives. I got to meet him at a book signing in Des Moines, and was interested to hear that a percentage of the sales on the book go toward establishing a center for street children in this country. You will not be able to stop reading this heart-warming, but suspenseful book. |
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| Finger Licken' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
|
#15 of the Stephanie Plum Series-OK. I have read all of the books of this series. I have read a lot of reviews on Amazon.com. I agree with some of these. These books are getting redundant. How many cars can Stephanie burn? How many times can she leave Morelli? How many times can she go work for Ranger? The plots are getting lame. This series needs a shake up. It's stagnant. However, the humor was really good in this one. I found myself laughing out loud. For all those readers out there who are turned off by the potty talk, get a grip. This was funny stuff and I bet you smirked and didn't want to admit it. Evanovich is very unique. She has found a great story line, great characters and her humor is dead on. She just needs to shake up the plot a little bit. We have been reading the same plot for the last 5 books of the series. |
| Ron Roseborough (RRoseb3424@aol.com) |
| The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
|
From little known historical facts, the author creates a character to whom we are drawn with the allure of exotic locations, cultures, sex and international intrigue. A young Chinese princess, in the early twentieth century turmoil between China and Japan, is thrust from her home to the not so welcoming arms of a well to do family in Japan. Here she is educated in Japanese tradition and culture. Feeling abandoned by her Chinese family; sexually used by the men of her Japanese family; she finds solace in using her newly learned skills to try to advance herself in Japanese society. Eventually, she trades her services to the Japanese government to act as a spy against her native Chinese. The book's intrigue draws us as easily into the book, as lovers are drawn into her bed. The author's style is very captivating. We are lead smoothly from one richly detailed scene to another. The author paints a portrait of young woman, who is both smart and ruthless in her struggle for acceptance and her need to succeed. |
| Kathy Vallee |
| Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Well I would have to say that these books just keep getting better, her books under the title of A Bishop/Crimes Unit Novel. Are so hard to put down. In this one they are after a psychopath who seems to step out of every ones worse nightmare, So they track him all the way to Dani's hometown. |
