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October 8, 2010 - October 21, 2010

Last contest period's winners were Fran, Lori M., Daryl S., Jud H. andPota, who each received a copy of CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTERby Tom Franklin, FALL OF GIANTS: Book One of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett and A NOSE FOR JUSTICE by Rita Mae Brown.

 

Sally
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
I am probably the last person on earth to read this first book in Stieg Larsson's acclaimed trilogy. It has definitely lived up to all the hype, and I cannot wait to read the two books that follow it. It is a fascinating book, with several plot lines intertwined throughout. Read it if you haven't!
 
Betty E.
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
Rating: 5 Stars
Such a vivid novel of the Vietnam War --- probably the most "real" novel about it that I've ever read.
 
Julie H.
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful story by Louis Sachar. It's a beautifully laid out story of family, young love and playing bridge. I admit the bridge part still kind of has me fuzzy-headed, but I think the target audience will forgive Sachar his addiction and read right along. Our hero, highschooler Alton Richards, has picked up the strangest summer job. He's driving his blind Uncle Lester to his weekly bridge game and turning the cards for him. His previous turner, Toni Castaneda, made the mistake of asking Uncle Lester if he was sure about a play. I'm still not sure about a lot of the bridge moves, but this certainly a story worth reading.
 
SallyAnn
Gone Tomorrow: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
I had never read a Lee Child book before, and I did not know what I was missing. GONE TOMORROW is part of the Jack Reacher series, but you can start with an end book without experiencing a loss of continuity. 


To this reader, Jack Reacher has a rugged Clint Eastwood aura, but he's not defined as a clear physical entity. He is an ex-military man with no ties to anywhere or anyone --- an enigma.


In GONE TOMORROW, he sees a woman on the subway in New York that appears to be a suicide bomber. She has all the characteristic tells. His military training makes it imperative for him to confront her as gently as possible. His encounter with her opens a Pandora's box of initialed government agencies and political figures.


 
Kathy V.
Mama Does Time: A Mace Bauer Mystery by Deborah Sharp
Rating: 5 Stars
A Mace Bauer mystery, and what a fun read! I love to try new authors, and this one did not disappoint. Mace works with wildlife, but she gets a frantic call from her mother saying she's been arrested for murder, so Mace and her two sisters have to work to free her as soon as possible. The characters really come to life in this book, and I love the flow and how it all comes together.
 
Kathy V.
Mayhem in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
Rating: 5 Stars
Maddie finds herself busy planing her wedding, but her wedding planner is found dead. Her soon-to-be husband bets that he can find shoes better than she can be a detective. She rushes off to prove him wrong and set up the wedding with the help of her friends.
 
Kathy V.
Alibi in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
Rating: 5 Stars
Maddie ends up in Paris --- it's the fashion week for all the designers, and she was picked to have her shoes on the cat walk. It's 48 hours till show time, and the top model is found dead, with one of Maddie's shoes sticking out of her neck. Not only does she have to clear her name, but she has to get all her shoes back from the police so they can still be in the show.
 
Brady
Roads: Driving America's Great Highways by Larry McMurtry
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a memoir that deals primarily with the author's love of traveling by motor car and his take on various roads in our country. Also, he names many titles by authors who specialize in writing about travel experiences, which I plan on reading in the future. McMurtry has a folksy way of talking in his books that makes for easy reading.
 
Kristie
The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace
Rating: 3 Stars
A fiction book based on the true story of the invention of the typewriter. A blind contessa's lover builds her a typewriter in nineteenth-century Italy. It was an good story for the most part, but some of the charcters seemed rather two-dimensional. The ending seemed rather abrupt, and it was too neat and tidy. A valiant effort for a debut novel, though.
 
Betty E.
The Wishing Trees by John Shors
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautiful novel. I am so glad I read this. It's the story of a father and his daughter who travel the world together and grieve together. I'm not a traveler, but this novel made me want to go to these places!
 
Kathy V.
Undercover in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
Rating: 5 Stars
Maddie has a job on the hit soap "Magnolia Lane," where everyone will get to see her shoes. But when the young starlet is found dead, Maddie wants to clear things up so the show can go on.
 
Marsha
Private Screening by Richard North Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
Presidential candidate James Kilcannon is assassinated during a concert by a Vietnam Vet, and Tony Lord, his attorney, becomes part of a wild media event. Excellent trial coverage and a love story to boot.
 
Marsha
The Spire by Richard North Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
Mark Darrow returns to alma mater as a favor to his mentor. It seems there has been an embezzlement scandal, and Darrow has been asked to look into things and take on the responsiblity of President. Darrow was a scholarship student, and this brings back many memories of his student days.
 
Sara M.
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
Rating: 4 Stars
If your feeling indulgent, LUNCH IN PARIS is a good choice. Mouth-watering food descriptions and deceptively simple recipes propel this part travel memoir, part light romance. Elizabeth Bard struggles with citing her chief passion --- amazing French food, or the whirlwind love affair she embarks on with the sexy, French Parisian, Gwendal. In the great tradition of UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN and EAT PRAY LOVE, Bard says it best, "Meals can, and do, tell stories."
 
Sara M.
The Convent by Panos Karnezis
Rating: 4 Stars
Short, but definitely not sweet, Panos Karnezis's novel, THE CONVENT, imagines the fallout after a baby is abandoned at a small, desolate convent in Spain. With a tense timelessness, Karnezis crafts a sparse tale of long-buried secrets, scathing humanity and passion in the most unlikely of settings. It's not at all what I expected --- it's better.

 
Bonnie
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
Rating: 3 Stars
I listened to this on audio book during a long drive. It passed the time and had moments of charm and humor, but it wasn't particularly memorable. Entertaining, but average.
 
Jeffrey B.
Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved by Timothy Egan
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful look at the start of the forestry service in the Bitteroots and the fire they all faced.
 
Martha D.
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
Rating: 5 Stars
Sarah Addison Allen is my new favorite author. I'm eating up every word she writes. This is the third book I've read, but I think it's the second she wrote.


Josie Cirinni lives a lonely life caring for a mother who doesn't seem to like her, she's in love with a mailman who doesn't notice her, and the only comfort she has is a secret stockpile of sugary food and romance novels.


Into this sad life comes Della Lee Baker, a wild waitress hiding out in Josie's closet. Della Lee torments, prods and pushes Josie into having a life worth living.


Everything about this book makes me happy. There is magic in every chapter. I did see a couple things coming, but I didn't care because it didn't affect the flow of the story.


The characters in this story captured me --- they made me want to know what happened to them and kept me interested. They were all complete and satisfying, even the ones I didn't care for very much.


I'm so glad I found this author. Her other books, THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON and GARDEN SPELLS, are both just as wonderful as THE SUGAR QUEEN.. I can't wait until her next novel, which comes out in March of next year. I'm waiting with baited breath.
 
Martha D.
The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir by Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch and Dan Welch
Rating: 4 Stars
I read this memoir with two sets of eyes. First, through my grown-up mom eyes that ached for the hardships these children went through. Secondly, through my pre-teen/teen eyes, as someone who went through similar circumstances. The story of the four Welch children as they each share their experience with the loss of their parents is touching, heartbreaking, shocking and thoroughly worth reading.
 
Judy O. (joswood@msn.com)
Room by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 5 Stars
What a fantastic book! It is almost impossible to put down once you have started reading. Jack is a 5 year old boy who lives in ROOM with his Ma. Jack has always lived in ROOM, but we slowly learn that Ma was kidnapped 7 years earlier by Old Nick, a man who comes to visit her every evening. Jack has to sleep in wardrobe when Old Nick is there. This story is completely told in the words of Jack, and it is absolutely mesmerizing. Jack and Ma plan an escape, and they practice and practice to make it right. You must read to see what happens. Because Jack tells the story it is not sordid at all; his world in ROOM is all he knows.
 
Judy O. (joswood@msn.com)
Healer by Carol Cassella
Rating: 5 Stars
Claire and Addison Boehning live in Seattle and are rich beyond all reason. Addison owns a biotech company which is testing a new cancer drug. The drug test seems to show a liver problem in the mice who were tested, and his whole business falls apart. Everything he owned was put into this business and he loses it all. Suddenly they are broke and living in a ramshackle ranch house in eastern Washington--far away from their beloved Seattle. Their teenage daughter, Jory, is suffering greatly. Claire, who had graduated from Medical School years earlier, finally gets a job in a medical free clinic where she earns very little. What happens to this family and to their dreams makes an inspiring and compelling story.
 
Lori M.
Death Echo by Elizabeth Lowell
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't been able to read a novel by Elizabeth Lowell in quite some time, but I finally got the opportunity to read her latest: DEATH ECHO. It is the fifth book in her St. Kilda's series, but the first St. Kilda's novel for me!


DEATH ECHO takes the reader on a literal ride through the waves and waters off the coast of Washington state and through the San Juan Islands with an unlikely pair of adults. A former, female CIA agent and a man of character who used to work for Special Ops in the military are thrown together in a yacht to try to find a stolen yacht named Blackbird that's carrying explosives of the worst kind and being operated by terrorists. Chemical explosives? Biological weapons? Only time will tell! 

The unlikely duo only have a week together to find the deadly yacht and very well save at least a couple million lives.

I am only halfway through Death Echo and it is now picking up speed at about the same speed the yacht is traveling in the novel. While semi-enjoyable so far... the previous four "St. Kilda" novels sound just as good or much better than Death Echo.


 
Reva W.
Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
Rating: 4 Stars
After I read STORM CYCLE, I decided to read this book. I enjoyed it just as much. Silent Thunder is a Russian Sub. Hannah Bryson and her brother are hired to inspect the sub and make sure it's safe for visitors before it goes on public display. While they are doing their job, there's an assault, and Hannah finds herself in danger.
 
Anna
World Without End by Ken Follett
Rating: 5 Stars
I waited for this book with much anticipation after reading PILLARS OF THE EARTH twice and watching the mini-series on Starz. I wasn't disappointed!! It's a wonderful page-turner. If you like reading about medieval times, then this is for you. Highly recommended.
 
Reva W.
KnockOut: An FBI Thriller by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 4 Stars
The latest book in the FBI series. A small-time sheriff in Virginia meets a mother and a daughter. The girl's father has just died, and now his family is after her for her special powers. She contacts Dillion Savich telepathically to tell him that she is in danger and needs his help.
 
Tanya
The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst
Rating: 3 Stars
A book author discovers her estranged son has been arrested for his girlfriend's murder while dropping off her latest novel. Can helping him clear his name put their relationship back on track?
 
Jud H.
Dead Witch Walking: The Hollows, Book 1 by Kim Harrison
Rating: 5 Stars
First in The Hollows series --- a great book. If you enjoy Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, you'll like this.
 
Richard D.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved it.
 
Shelley (Mystery Maven)
The Tomb of Zeus: A Laetitia Talbot Mystery by Barbara Cleverly
Rating: 4 Stars
With a fantastic, British, archaeologist heroine, Cleverly spins a mystery yarn that takes place on the Isle of Crete between the two European wars. Her tale is smart, compelling and pays attention to detail. It has turned me into a total fan of this British author.
 
Mary Ann
Cure by Robin Cook
Rating: 5 Stars
Naturally, Robin Cook has done it again with a fine medical mystery. Well done.
 
Fran
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
Tess Gerritsen's second book in the Rizzoli and Isles series was excellent. I cannot wait to read the third book in this series.
 
Jud H.
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
The second book of the Millenium trilogy --- a journalist must try to clear the name of girl that helped him solve a 40-year-old disappearance.
 
Mary Ann
Hide & Seek by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
A murder-mystery well done, as usual --- one of Patterson's early ones I just got to.
 
Jud H.
Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
Rating: 5 Stars
The story of an Arab's journey with Norsemen to fight a threat --- a good, quick read.
 
Selma S.
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book, and even though it was long and the print was small, I carried it around with me because I was so into the characters that I had to have them with me. A great love story --- so well written.
 
Selma S.
My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book --- an interesting insight into to what a women who lived during the Civil War had to go through in order to become doctors.
 
Jud H.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
Rating: 5 Stars
First of the Millenium trilogy --- great book.
 
Kellie
Orser: A Skater's Life by Brian Orser With Steve Milton
Rating: 2 Stars
This was a short autobiography of a Canadian skater who was in his prime when I was growing up. I remember the Brian vs. Brian campaign during the Olympics in Calgary. I didn't realize Orser was the first one to successfully perform a triple axel in competition --- an interesting tidbit of trivia. This book was alright. I suppose if you are a competitive Canadian skater, this book might be more meaningful. It is not a literary work of art by any means, but it does provide some interesting insight on the sport of men's figure skating. Orser, interestingly enough, is currently the coach of the #1 ranked female figure skater, Yu-Na Kim. If you are a big fan of men's figure skating, I would recommend this book. Otherwise, skip it.
 
Glenn
Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. Maynard has crafted quite a charming story with a lot of heart.

 
Augusta M.
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
A young woman carefully plans her escape from an abusive, alcoholic husband. Taking on another identity, she settles in a small, North Carolina town, where she meets a wonderful man, who is caring for his two young children after his wife's death. Gradually they fall in love. This is soon overshadowed by progressively more intense suspense, as the disturbed husband she ran away from tracks her down. With just 60 pages to go before I finish this book, I'm hoping that love will prevail, and that she will finally be at peace with her new life in North Carolina, finding happiness with the man who truly loves her. A devoted fan, I've read all of Sparks's books. Once again he proves his amazing talent! 

 
Bonnie
Body Work: A V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky
Rating: 3 Stars
Your usual entertaining mystery. If you lined up several of her books in a row, it would be hard to pick out one from another.
 
Priscilla
Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Hark by Syrie James
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the story of Mina Harker, who is torn between two men, one of whom is Dracula. It is an interesting story!
 
Corky
Whose Little Girl Are You? by Bethany Campbell
Rating: 5 Stars
With one phone call, Jaye Garrett's life is changed forever. Summoned home by her mother, she learns some very disturbing news. Her brother Patrick, who currently lives in Belgium, needs a bone marrow transplant.


She immediately volunteers to be a donor, and this brings the second blow of the day. Jaye learns that not only are she and Patrick not brother and sister, but their mother is not biologically related either of them --- she bought both babies on the black market more than 30 years ago.


Now Jaye's job is to work the scheme backwards to find Patrick's biological family in order to save his life.
 
Kaz
Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Rating: 4 Stars
Doris Kearns Goodwin delivers a moving memoir with WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR. She reminisces about her coming-of-age in a Long Island suburb, Rockville Center, in the 1950s, during the height of the rivalries between the New York baseball the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants and the Yankees. I am a die-hard Dodgers fan, and the author talks about her love of baseball being the basis of her relationship with her father. We see how her childhood changes with the introduction of television into suburban homes, the gradual phasing out of neighborhood shops such as the local butcher and pharmacy, and finally we see her say goodbye to her neighbors, as families move away from the city. I loved the addition of personal photographs to her memoir, along with the more well known photographs of Ebbets field, or the famous photo of Jackie Robinson stealing home. It is a beautifully well-written memoir that is full of nostalgic memories from the author's childhood.
 
Sharon N.
Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Ha by Tony Horwitz
Rating: 5 Stars
The author and a friend retrace the steps of Captain Cook's explorations. Great for those who love history and the ocean, this book gives insight into the hardships of early explorers.
 
Laura Ann
A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the by Tori Murden McClure
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent memoir. Very interesting and insightful.
 
Jackie C.
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Rating: 4 Stars
I am a Laura Lippman fan, and this book is not exactly what I expected, but it was still an enjoyable read. It is keeping me waiting to see what will happen next.
 
Pota
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Rating: 4 Stars
I am thoughly enjoying this book, so much so that I can't stand to put it down. It's about a teenage girl who was kidnapped by a man she saw digging in the woods. I don't want to say too much and spoil the book, but suspense readers will love it.
 
Debbie
Sizzling Sixteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 2 Stars
Janet Evanovich seems to be lossing her Plum spirit. The story is no longer as funny or as stimulating it was when Evanovich first began the series. The characters that originally sent the reader into laughing fits have become toned-down and flat characters. Grandma and Lula have lost their punch, and even Morelli and Ranger do not incite romantic urgings. This latest story proved that a serial novel can die an untimely death. I believe that Janet Evanovich has lost her charm.

 
Sherilyn M.
Cry in the Night: Rock Harbor Series # 4 by Colleen Coble
Rating: 4 Stars
The story was put together well. Characters were well developed and easy to relate to. The story revolves around Bree Matthews, a young widow who is a search and rescue dog trainer. 


Strange things begin to happen in Rock Harbor. A cry in the night comes from the supposed Windago, people are dying, babies are turning up in the cold, and Bree finds out her dead husband is not so dead. 
I enjoyed the story, and I could relate to Bree and her protectiveness of her son. Will definately look for more from Colleen.
 
Sean from OHIO
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Rating: 5 Stars
It's funny. This book kind of looks like it might be a romantic, Nicholas Sparks type book. Well, it's not. Serial killers, drug addicts and more are what, I believe, first-time novelist Chelsea Cain gives readers. This book is filled with twists and contains tight dialogue written in an interesting story-telling manner, which I don't think I've read before. I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Great stuff!
 
Susan J.
The False Friend by Myla Goldberg
Rating: 4 Stars
Several little girls walk along a forbidden road, two of them leading the way. One child never returns. 20 years later, one of those girls, Celia, sights a VW bug and is flooded with memories and with the lie she told, and she decides it is time to make amends...if only she can get someone to believe her.


I first thought I was going to be reading a mystery, and while a mystery is part of the story, it is secondary. This book is really about friendship, family and relationships. It is also about how mean children can be, perhaps not even recognizing their meanness, especially when they want to belong, want to be part of the favored group. It is about how all of us create our own reality, whether or not that matches the reality others believe.


The writing was often lyrical, occasionally a bit too flowery, but I enjoyed it. A somewhat typical passage is: "Huck was convinced of the redemptive powers of sibling communication, a faith consecrated inside the silent cathedral of the only child." Huh? I liked that style, but recognize that not everyone will.


I also liked how the author does not feel compelled to force conclusions on the reader and lets each of us draw our own. This was especially apparent in one of the later chapters about a former friend named Lee.


While this book will not be everyone's cup of tea, I thought it was a sweet, contemplative look at friendship and family.


Note: the quote was taken from an advanced reader's copy, provided to me by the publisher for purposes of review, and may be different in the published edition.
 
Laura Ann
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everyt by Elizabeth Gilbert
Rating: 3 Stars
Parts of it are interesting and funny, but nothing grabbed me and made me want to finish the book. Will watch the movie and see how it compares.
 
CJ @ coffeecrackers.blogspot.com
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is spooky in its very own original way. That's what I can say about HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY. However, my feelings towards this book are all mixed up. A part of me really loves the book, especially the characters, and another part of me feels a little bit uncomfortable with the story, like "woa, woa...Niffenegger, where are you bringing me to?" The great thing about this book is it's characters. I don't say that I love all the characters in this book, but I'm really impressed that they manage to annoy me so much --- Julia with her bossy tone, and Valentina, who can't even decide anything by herself, and Martin with his obsessive-compulsive craziness. And Marijke...oh, what the heck is she thinking leaving Martin on his own after spending decades with him? And Elspeth, erghh!! She looks stupid as a female ghost who's stuck in her own apartment. And Robert, sort out your feelings man. They are all so weird, weird and weird! Great! (This is why I love the book. Haha!) Another great thing is the way Niffenegger describes the Highgate Cemetery. Normally, the graveyard is not my favorite place, you know, with all the gloomy and dark sensations, but in this book the way she explains the cemetery makes me feel like going there myself. It's so beautiful and historical. At least that's what I think. This is such a page-turner because the mystery behind all the confusions and messed up identities make you think, What will happen next? What's the secret? Who's who? However, I think the ending is not fair to Valentina. To many subplots also make the book a little bit messy and not as neat as the THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. But all in all, Audrey Niffenegger, you really did a great job to confuse me and to annoy me with all the weird, weird characters. Congratulations! This is the weirdest book I've ever read, and it's totally different from THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. I love it!

 
Carole
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Rating: 1 Stars
The author must have written down every single thought that entered her mind! She wandered so far off the subject that I forgot what she had been talking about. I would list this rambling book as one of the worst I've read. I couldn't wait for it to end; I finally threw it away before I finished it.
 
Karen T.
The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Homes Gathe by Michael Capuzzo
Rating: 5 Stars
After watching AMW and finding out that Frank Bender, the foresenic artist, had terminal cancer, I felt very sad. I went to the library a week or two later and saw THE MURDER ROOM. I noticed that it was all over the internet on book websites and that it was a good book to read. I checked it out, and it was a great read. It was about Frank Bender and his friends, who solved real crimes, and how they did it. They were meant to meet and form the Vidocq Society. It is one of those books that you can't put down.
 
Julie
A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful study of two marriages and two wives. One is very conventional and orderly, and the other is extroverted and lives her life and runs her family with wild abandon and total honesty. The two meet and become friends, and the influence of one over the other affects their families and their marriages. A very good read.
 
Jean
Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt
Rating: 5 Stars
Another winner from David Rosenfelt. If you haven't read this author, you must. ALL of his books are really good. He is one of my "must read" authors.
 
Jean
Play Dead by David Rosenfelt
Rating: 5 Stars
Rosenfelt is a fabulous author! I love his main character, the wise-cracking, dog-loving attorney Andy Carpenter. This book is fast-paced and fun.
 
Elizabeth http://silversolara.blogspot.com/
Room by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 5 Stars
What hold could Old Nick have over Ma that would make that room her world? Why didn't she just leave? Or maybe she wasn't able to leave?


Jack's fifth birthday definitely wasn't what a normal five-year-old would be delighted with, but Jack was happy to spend the day with his Ma in their ordinary, same-as-always routine. They spent every day in the "room," with the food and clothing that Old Nick provided for them.


Ma doesn't allow Old Nick to see Jack, but she never tells Jack why. Ma and Jack's days are creatively spent inventing things, measuring everything in the room that has been Ma's space for the past seven years, reading books and changing the characters to suit them, and watching the clock so they know when it is time to eat or sleep. They never leave their "room," and Jack really doesn't know any better, or know anything about the outside world except what his Ma tells him when they read books.


As much as Ma tries to protect and shelter Jack, he begins to question what is beyond the walls they live in. Ma tries to divert Jack's attention to other things, but sometimes it is unavoidable...especially on the night when Jack overhears a conversation between Ma and Old Nick about him and the life Old Nick provides for her.


One of Old Nick's comments that stuck in my mind was, "I don't think you appreciate how good you've got it here, do you?" (page 69). To me, that statement would seem highly questionable...how good could life be, simply living in a room and never going outside?


I grew to hate Old Nick and how he treated both of them. When you find out the "whole" story, you won't want to stop reading.


This book is about fear, abuse, control, a mother's love, and wanting the best for your child. At first you may want to put the book down, but don't do it....you will share Ma's fear of Old Nick and her dependence on him, and also the heartbreak of Jack's acceptance of the only life he has known. You will fall in love with sweet, innocent, literal Jack, and you will think about both characters and their experience long after you turn the last page.


To me this was actually a "creative" thriller...excellent storyline. I really liked the book. 5/5.
 
Cathy M.
The Killing of Hamlet by Ann Morven
Rating: 5 Stars
An intelligent whodunit that grips the reader from the start. Set in an English village, it links modern murders with secrets from Shakespeare's boyhood. This clever plot is supported by compelling conflict between the characters.
 
CJ @ coffeecrackers.blogspot.com
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm so hooked on this book.The story is fascinating and well-crafted, and I finished it with a long sigh of satisfaction. The story is told from Jacob's point of view, and it's told alternately by his current 93-year-old self and his former, younger self. Sara Gruen did a great job with the very first chapter, creating a gripping scene that kept me wowing and made me flip the pages to find out more. I love the idea of circus life, and getting to know the real life of the performers and the circus animals really was fantastic. I always think that those who make jokes and all those circus things are entertaining. And yes, it is. But in this book, Gruen unravels all the questions that pop out of my mind. What are their real lives like? How do they train the circus animals? Are they getting paid well? etc..So, I was so involved in the story of this circus worker that I felt like I was there myself, and I'm sure that I will never look at the circus the same way again. This book can be funny, sad, romantic, disgusting, fantastic and breathtaking all at the same time. But the final result is satisfying because it ties so well into the overall story. All in all, this is such a great read, and I recommend that all of you readers out there to get a hold of this book.
 
Linda H.
Queen of the Night: A Novel of Suspense by J.A. Jance
Rating: 4 Stars
At first this book was confusing because there were so many characters and situations involved, that I had to keep flipping back the pages to remember who the different characters were. The queen of the night is a night-blooming flower that blooms one time from sunset to dawn. Parties are often held to observe this longed-for sight. In Tucson, Jack Tennant is preparing a special viewing for his wife Abby. It is their anniversary, and he has arranged a dinner for them to view a spectacular cactus that has over 100 buds on it. But their celebration is shattered by gunfire, and Border Patrol Agent Dan Pardee eventually finds the bodies of Jack and Abby, along with the bodies of an Indian couple. The only witness was a small girl, who was the daughter of the slain Indian woman. She is taken to the hospital, where she meets Dr. Lani Walker who, as it turns out, is related to the child. As Dan and Pima County detectives search for the killer, Lani and Delia Ortiz, the tribal chairman for the Tohono O'odham Nation, deal with the problem of what to do with the girl.
 
Judy O.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay
Rating: 3 Stars
Antoine Rey is mourning the loss of his wife to another man, which happened a year ago. He is trying to deal with sullen teenage children and his feelings of inadequacy. He and his sister Melanie are in a terrible auto accident just as she is about to tell him a long-held secret. Melanie is badly injured, so the secret must wait. 


When the secret finally came, I had already figured it out. The best part of this book was the description of the Gois in France, a roadway that is covered by tide waters two times a day. Not enough going on in this book for my taste.
 
Pat S.
Hurricanes in Paradise by Denise Hildreth
Rating: 5 Stars
A delightful entanglement of four women, who are all hurting from some aspect of life. They come together and help one another and keep God in the center of all things. Uplifting and humorous too.
 
Jean
Juliet by Anne Fortier
Rating: 2 Stars
I could not get into this book! I feel bad because I had eagerly been awaiting it. After about 100 pages, I gave up. The writing was a little sophomoric, and the switching back and forth in time became a little confusing. Overall, the book simply did not grab me, and I found myself putting off reading it.
 
Shelly
Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
Rating: 3 Stars
The book started off rather slow, and things didn't get interesting until the last 40 pages or so.

 
Sheltiemama
It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a R by Peter Walsh
Rating: 4 Stars
When I read books on organizing, I wonder if I should be using the time to clean up my clutter instead. But I'm enjoying Peter's book, and I expect I'll get something out of it.
 
Anna
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
The third book in the trilogy about Lisbeth Salander is just amazing. The author was either a genius, or crazy or both. This is just like the first two --- impossible to put down. I was sad when I finished because I wanted to know more about Lisbeth. A great read.
 
Jane Ann
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
NO disappointment from Nick on this one --- he is as good as ever. Took me back to early years because I was beaten and had to run away. Wonderful characters and story. I can't say any more --- you gotta read it.
 
Linda H.
The Treasure by Iris Johansen
Rating: 2 Stars
Selene Ware, a former slave in a house of pleasure, has been rescued along with her sister and taken to a Scottish castle. Selene has always felt an attraction to Kadar, a man trained as an assassin who had helped her family escape. When Kadar is forced to return to the leader of the assassins, Selene is kidnapped as an incentive for him to return. Together they must find the treasure that the leader is seeking in order to be free of him.
 
Linda H.
Eight Days to Live: An Eve Duncan Forensics Thrill by Iris Johansen
Rating: 4 Stars
Eve Duncan's adopted daughter Jane MacGuire is an accomplished painter and has a showing at a Paris gallery. All of her paintings have been sold with three exceptions. One is a portrait of a dark, brooding man, and she has named the painting "Guilt." Although an exorbitant sum of money has been offered for the painting, Jane refuses to sell. The face she painted was a face that she saw in her dreams, and Jane has no idea who it is. But an ancient and powerful cult does, and they think that Jane deserves to die. Fearing for the safety of her loved ones, she has Eve and her husband Joe fly to Scotland to stay at a castle, where they will be safe. But Jane has to outsmart the cult to live. A very good book.
 
Linda H.
Night of the Blackbird by Heather Graham
Rating: 4 Stars
As Moira Kelly returns to the family pub in Boston to attend the St. Patrick's Day film festivities, she hears rumors of pending troubles. There are factions of Irishmen who long for the peace of a united country, while others like to be under the safety of British rule. A prominent Irish politician comes to Boston and agrees to be filmed by Moira, but she hears rumors that he is going to be assassinated. Who should she trust? Her brother seems to be gone a lot, but is he involved? And what about Danny, a lifelong friend of the family? Or Michael, Moira's producer and boyfriend? As Moira tries to find out the truth, her life is put in danger several times. A great story.
 
Linda H.
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods
Rating: 4 Stars
Holly Barker, former police chief of Orchid Beach, Florida, is now an agent with the CIA, but is back in Orchid Beach on vacation. She learns that her former superior in the Army, James Bruno, has been selected for the new police chief, and she warns the female officers that Bruno was discharged from the Army due to rape allegations. Another former CIA officer is also in Orchid Beach, but under an assumed name. Teddy Fay was employed by the CIA and supplied its agents with false identities, disguises and the like, so he is familiar with disguising himself. He faked his own death after killing people he disagreed with and became a fugitive himself. Now he is in Orchid Beach as a vacationer. Several women have been raped and killed in the area. Holly was dragged from her car by the rapist one night, but was rescued when a couple saw what was happening. Holly feels that Bruno is guilty but is not sure. A very good book that will keep you guessing.
 
Linda H.
At Home in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller
Rating: 4 Stars
Ashley O'Ballivan operates a bed-and-breakfast in Stone Creek. She and Jack McCall met in college and had a serious romance, but Jack left suddenly. Now, several years later, he has arrived at Ashley's house in an ambulance. Ashley doesn't want to trust him, but she realizes that she still loves him. Her family doesn't agree, and they are determined to get Jack to leave for good. A good story.
 
Linda H.
The Exile by Andrew Britton
Rating: 5 Stars
After leaving the CIA, Ryan Kealey is now working for Blackwater Worldwide as personal security for President Zuma of South Africa. When the presidential cavalcade gets ambushed, Kealey's vehicle, which has the President and his Chief of Staff in it, gets blocked in, and there is a shootout. After this shootout, Kealey is contacted by John Harper, his former boss at the CIA, who asks Kealey to do a "favor" for him. A shipment of arms is being smuggled into Sudan, and Harper asks Kealey to stop the shipment. Along the way, he gets caught in the center of a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the American government. Along with his three previous books, this is an excellent book that will hold your attention to the last page. It is tragic that Andrew Britton died in 2008.
 
Joy Q.
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this when it first came out about 15 years ago. I enjoyed it as much this time as I did the first. It gives really good insight into the Cherokee Nation, woven through a series of different characters who all come together in the end. Truly a masterpiece, as are all of Kinsolver's books.
 
Arthur H.
Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Great by Larry Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
Told in their own words, the fascinating, grim and heroic accounts of 22 combatants, mostly Marines and all now in their 80s, of the 36-day battle for Iwo Jima in February and March of 1945. Intense accounts of horrifying events told well and, most surprisingly, with objectivity and calm intelligence.
 
Sarah P.
Death of a Dancer by Caro Peacock
Rating: 2 Stars
This is the second of three books by this author, whose first novel to be published in the US was A FOREIGN AFFAIR. This book is much weaker in plot though, and it doesn't have as much flavor as her debut novel. 


But if you read and liked Liberty Lane's first adventure, then give it a try!
 
Anita N.
Hardball: A V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky
Rating: 5 Stars
I have read some of Ms. Paretsky's novels --- some I liked a lot and some not too much. This one was one of her best in my opinion. It starts out with V.I. Warshawski, private eye, accepting a case to look for a young man who dissappeared 40 years ago, and it ends up having quite a lot of twists and turns. Then, strangely, Ms. Warshawski finds herself in danger, and she starts learning about secrets within her own family that relate to this case.


It is a very fast read!
 
Lorna
Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 2 Stars
I got about half-way through and decided I couldn't waste any more time with this. The story line is good, but there are just too many other things going on. An obituary writer believes that the diving "accident" that killed a former rock star is no accident. He begins to investigate and stumbles onto more things than he bargained for. Carl makes me laugh, and that's really all I got out of this one.
 
Barbara M.
My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira
Rating: 4 Stars
Set in the Civil War era, this novel is about Mary Sutter, the last woman in a long line of midwives and the best of all who have come before. But her goal is to be a surgeon, which is unheard of for a woman.
Although she is able to overcome all obstacles to fulfill her life-long dream, her decision threatens to cause a family rift. This story just kept me turning the pages until there were no more left.
 
CC
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everyt by Elizabeth Gilbert
Rating: 1 Stars
Am I the only person who hated this book? I thought the author was self-absorbed and full of herself. Her attitude totally spoiled the book for me.
 
Myrna
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Rating: 3 Stars
This is an enjoyable, if not compelling, story about a young woman who leaves her family in Ireland to find work and herself in Brooklyn, NY. A little like reading Maeve Binchy, but without the warm wit.
 
Rosemary S.
Body Work: A V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky
Rating: 3 Stars
Not quite up to her usual standards, but enjoyable nonetheless.
 
Dale
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
Mysteries are not usually books that I would pick up, but this book was great. After finishing this I had to go on to read the next two in the trilogy. A great writer and really enjoyable reads.
 
Jean L.
Dark Harbor: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods
Rating: 4 Stars
Stone Barrington tries to find out who killed his cousin and his family. I like this series.
 
Jean M.
The Short Forever: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the books in the Stone Barrington series I am catching up on --- I really like it.
 
Joanne
Room by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 5 Stars
A very intresting concept. This book is about a mother and a son who are held captive in a room, how they live, and her desire for them to be free of their captor and the room.
 
LaVonne S.
Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan
Rating: 3 Stars
Okay, but definitely not the best sequel I've ever read.
 
Pattie B.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rating: 5 Stars
The cultural stories of black maids who work for white families in Jackson, Mississippi. I especially loved the dialect.
 
Allie
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
Rating: 3 Stars
Great story about the Salem witch trials.
 
Debbie
Saturday Morning by Lauraine Snelling
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a Christian book, with much mention of God and His powers. The format reminded me a little of Francine Rivers, but Snelling does not invoke the use of Scriptures and religious history like Francine Rivers does in her novels. SATURDAY MORNING is set in San Francisco, and although it presents glimmers of that magnificent city, Snelling does not delve into the city's psyche. The story centers on the misfortunes of Clarice, Julia, Clarice, Hope and Andy, and the stories are all interesting, but they are not fully developed, and they do not fully expose the inner struggles that each woman faces. Where is their anger and frustration? The hardships are like a little sandtrap or a pestering gnat --- just a minor disturbance in the course of a great life. The story is interesting, but their hardships are too calm for real life.
 
Sarah P.
The Ministry of Fear by Graham Greene
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm a BIG fan of Graham Greene, but I don't feel like I'm overstating anything by giving such a high recommendation. This book is quirky, well-written and easy to read. Everything is so tidy, and it comes together to form a well-thought-out plot.


During the Blitz in London in WWII, Arthur Rowe goes to a carnival and wanders into a fortune teller's tent. The fortune teller instructs him to guess an unlikely weight for the cake in a contest. He does so and wins it, and from that moment on everyone is after his cake!


Although this is one of his earlier works, this is a great book to read if you want to sample Graham Greene's work.
 
Sarah P.
The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
Rating: 3 Stars
As an animal lover, I really enjoyed reading about the main character's love for his elephant, especially since she was so cute, but like most stories with an animal at the center, it doesn't really end happily. 
I was also displeased with the lack of conclusion to a main event that occurred about 3/4 through the book. The author just glosses over a death and fast forwards a year or so.
 
Cathy W.
Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor. by Capt. Dale Black with Ken Gire
Rating: 5 Stars
Dale Black's near-death experience at the age of 19 changed his life forever. This book is the amazing story of his experiences in heaven and the battle he fought when he returned to earth.
 
Tanya
Saturday Morning by Lauraine Snelling
Rating: 4 Stars
A great book about friendship. The book starts a little slow, but once the character development is there it is very good. Everyone needs friends like these.
 
Brady
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan
Rating: 5 Stars
I have read all of this author's books and they are 5 stars...in toto. This is a story of Grogan's life in his youth, and the touching experience of his father and mother in their later years.


He goes into great detail about the things he did in his youth and his struggle to be successful in his newspaper reporting career. Now he is a most successful author and deserves every accolade possible. Whatta man, whatta family!
 
Barbara M.
Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
Rating: 4 Stars
This story is set in Colorado during the 1940's. It takes place in a farming community that becomes a site for one of the Japanese internment camps. The story centers around the town's reaction the the camp and the people sent who are to it --- most of which is not good. The main farming family in the story has compassion and even hires some of the Japanese to work on their farm. But when a murder happens, of course the Japanese are blamed, and the family is criticized for their empathy toward the "enemy." Their family values are challenged, as they must be amended for them to "do the right thing." It is told from the point of view of the farm family's young daughter.
 
Diana K.
Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best thrillers I have run across. Well plotted with well defined characters. All the loose ends are neatly tucked away with a twist to the ending. Just because it looks like a random kidnapping and disappearance story, don't be fooled. I have reserved all of his previous titles. Hope they are as good as this one!
 
Donna Watts
Running Blind by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
This the 4th Lee Child book I have read and I'm just starting the 5th.
This book is fast paced, full of action,
and the end will surprise you.
I am reading them in order, but it's not necessory.
 
Gil
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Rating: 5 Stars
A powerful story about a young Nigerian girl, who finds herself in a London detention center, and what happens to her when she is released and contacts a young couple that she met in Nigeria. The story tells of the horrific things that happened when she met them, and tells of her efforts to avoid going back. 



 
Anna
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
This is advertised as a young adult book, but let me tell you anyone young adult or older will LOVE it. I'm trying to get my book club to read it, but the fact that it's a Holocaust story is a turn off for some of the other members. But the characters are real and inspiring, and the story is beautifully written about an ugly part of the world's history. Highly recommended!!
 
Anna
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a well written book. My book club had mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it --- the ending was suprising.
 
Anna L.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm halfway through this book, and I can't put it down --- now I see what all the fuss is about. Read it!!
 
Stacey K.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Rating: 5 Stars
The fact that it has taken me this long to read this masterpiece is a travesty! This is definitely one of the classic love stories of all time. Heathcliff and Catherine are the very definition of "tortured" lovers --- this is a novel that I will read over and over!
 
Stacey K.
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
Rating: 5 Stars
Great historical fiction! Ms. Moran makes the reader feel as if what she is writing is actually an historical account of Nefertiti's life. She is now one of my new favorite authors!
 
ewhatley
Think of a Number by John Verdon
Rating: 5 Stars
This is John Verdon's first book, and he knocked it out of the park. It is very well-written, exciting and full of suspense from beginning to end. I really appreciated the lack of romance; I prefer my thrillers to be free of "mush." If you enjoy reading thrillers, this is a must-read. And if Verdon keeps writing, we're in for some future treats.
 
Anna
61 Hours: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
Incredible tension, believable plot, and Jack Reacher is, as always, the man with a plan.
 
M. Archer
Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead
Rating: 4 Stars
A unique retelling of the legend of Robin Hood. This version is set in an earlier time period than the traditional story, but it includes all our favorite characters: Robin, Tuck, Little John and, of course, Maid Marion. This is the first book in a trilogy, and it is devoted to explaining how Robin came to be the noble outlaw, robbing from the rich so that he could give to the poor.
 
Jan
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
Rating: 3 Stars
I absolutely loved THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT, though I listened to it as opposed to reading it. That was my first Brady Udall book and I was really looking forward to reading THE LONELY POLYGAMIST. I am a little disappointed in how slow it reads. I think that I would enjoy it more as an audible book. That said, the premise is interesting. A man with 4 wives and lots of children just doesn't find himself really fitting into his lifestyle and works very hard to find a place to be alone, which causes some problems. The character is very similar to the Edgar Mint character-- sad but lovable misfit just too innocent for the world. I would recommend the book, but only as an audible. I'm ready to get this one done and it's a long one.
 
Bridget
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Rating: 5 Stars
I could not put down this book! It's the story of life on a plantation in the late 1700s/early 1800s as seen through the eyes of a white child who was raised by slaves, then accepted into the world of the white family. Lots of tragedies, but so well done that at times it felt as though I was holding my breath as the scenes unfolded. I will be thinking about this book for a long, long time.
 
Bridget
The Queen's Lady by Barbara Kyle
Rating: 3 Stars
Good, but a little far fetched. One of Thomas more's wards ends up as a lady in waiting to Katherine of Aragon. The lady in waiting is a fervent Catholic at first but converts to the Protestant cause as she sees people she once admired persecute others in the name of religion.
 
Bridget
Guilty by Karen Robards
Rating: 4 Stars
Romantic suspense. I just love the way Robards writes in this genre. This is the story of a single mother who was raised in less than savory circumstances. She's managed to educate herself (at Drexel and Temple... a little too fictional) so she can care for her son when her past unexpectedly catches up with her. How she deals with things and the handsome detective who comes to her rescue make for good reading.
 
Harriet I.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Rating: 5 Stars
I cannot do this book justice with this review. It is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It's about twins who were born in Ethiopia --- their mother dies in childbirth, and their father abandons them...they are magical, brilliant, wonderful children. Their story unfolds in during coups and war, but in spite of all the deception, there's still lots of love. Please read this book --- it will change you, and you will love it.
 
Renee
The Ghost Walker: A Wind River Reservation Mystery by Margaret Coel
Rating: 4 Stars
I love when I bump into a good writer with lots of books to her name...great mystery series.
 
Angela S.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a thriller, mystery, can't-put-it-down book. I'm loving it.
 
Linda
Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
Rating: 4 Stars
It's been years since I've read Poe, and I am thoroughly enjoying his work again. This book was selected for The Big Read in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
 
Laura H.
Darcy's Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on th by Kara Louise
Rating: 5 Stars
Kara Louise retells Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, beginning on a transatlantic voyage from England to America. Darcy and Elizabeth meet while on board the sailing ship and deal with very different and also very similar challenges. 


I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this retelling. I didn't expect the nautical setting to work as well as it did. It was hard to put down, and I just loved it!
 
Dee B.
Naamah's Kiss: A Kushiel Legacy Book by Jacqueline Carey
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the seventh book in the series. I have every book in this series and have re-read all of them many times.
 
Kathy
Stone Cold by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
I love twisted, conspiracy stories, and this book is definitely one of them. This was one of those books that I stayed up all night to read.
 
Kellie
Secret Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 5 Stars
The ninth book in the Prey series. I went back and re-read some of the comments I had made on the earlier books in this series. One of the things that stands out is my earlier opinion of the main character, Lucas Davenport. He is definitely a ladies man, but his personality as a cop is what I find to be the most interesting. He has power; he seems to be able to take control of situations, no matter how violent they are, and do as he wishes, whether it's legal or not. He seems to get away with everything. My thoughts on this character come through another character in this book. This book was very suspenseful and very engaging. I enjoyed it. It's been a while since I've read a Prey book and I'm wondering why. I like the mystery, but more than anything, I like the way this author writes. He has developed Lucas into a very intricate character. He is good at his job, but not so good at managing his personal life. The writing has some humor and gentle banter between the people Lucas works with. I am looking forward to reading CERTAIN PREY, which is tenth novel in this series. This author is similar to a Michael Connelly or Robert Crais.
 
Kathy
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
Rating: 2 Stars
Set in early WWII, before America entered the war. A story about three, strong-willed women who end up in the same town. I would have preferred three short stories about these women set in the same era. Very anticlimactic, but a nice story.
 
Kathy
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
Rating: 4 Stars
Why do women marry? Why do women marry the wrong men? MRS. KIMBLE addresses marriage from the 1960s through the 1990s. What makes a woman want to marry? Social pressure? Need? Dreams? 


In this book, one man charms his way into the lives of three women and leaves them with questionable feelings of love, confusion and children, and this is nothing compared to what he takes from each marriage. I enjoyed this book. An easy read, but one that glossed over several decades. I would have liked to read more about the women throughout the years rather than over the years. Maybe it was written this way to show the protagonist's character. I recommend reading MRS. KIMBLE.
 
Ivy P.
The Fifth Floor by Michael T. Harvey
Rating: 5 Stars
THE FIFTH FLOOR moves, and quickly, to a shocking conclusion, but not before a host of characters come on board in this mysterious and pseudo-historical book.
 
Daryl S.
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
By far the best Stephen King book I have ever read. I've consumed all his books. Previously THE STRAND would have been my number one, but UNDER THE DOME has now quickly taken that spot. I completely recommend it to everyone.
 
Marsha
The Glass Rainbow: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
Burke is such a lyrical writer. Every description of nature is exquisite. The plot will keep you enthralled as Dave Robicheaux and Clete find trouble at the drop of the hat. You will love his characterization of these two characters.
 
Sangeeta L. P.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
Amazing character development, plot and sub-plots --- a thriller to the end.
 
Sangeeta L. P.
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 Stars
The character development in this book is amazing --- sub-plots within plots hook you all the way until the very end.
 
Sangeeta L. P.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Rating: 3 Stars
A good historical fiction book to some degree, but the end was disappointing...not sure what all the hype was about.
 
Reva W.
2nd Chance: A Women's Murder Club Novel by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
I am reading this series of books in order and finding that I enjoy them very much. In this book, the murderer seems to be killing people who are connected to the police, but why? Lindsey finds that she and her friends are in danger.
 
Sangeeta L. P.
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Rating: 4 Stars
A dark, engrossing and thrilling plot. Amazing descriptive literature.
 
Vickie N.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Rating: 4 Stars
A very informative and very interesting nonfiction story. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and what I learned from it. The things that happened were just very sad for the family.
 
GladysMP
Pale Moon Stalker by Shirl Henke
Rating: 5 Stars
This book's setting switches from England to the southwestern part of America, with the hero having an English title and the heroine being part American Indian. I think the book moves the Red River from the Oklahoma-Texas border to the Colorado-Texas border, but the plot is so very interesting that I'll forgive the author on that. The book is set in very early America and portrays America towns in their early beginnings. A very moving story.
 
Darlene
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a book to be experienced as much as it is a book to be read. The book contains approximately 300 pages of black-and-white drawings, but these pages speak and tell the story as much as the words do. Our book club felt every home with children should have and read this book.
 
Sangeeta L. P.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everyt by Elizabeth Gilbert
Rating: 2 Stars
I am a minority within the rest of the country because I did not trust the validity of this book. She was paid to have this once-in-a-lifetime journey, and there is NO WAY that you can be in the "palm of god" after only a few months of meditation. It takes experienced yogis decades to be at that level!!