Shannon Ragan
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
I love the relationships between the 3 sisters of this book and their love of reading given to them by their parents. It's an easy read with a few surprises and life lessons along the way but well worth the trip.
Pattie Berryhill
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
Short story, twisted tales of animals. Very entertaining
Sandra F
Empire of Sand by Robert Ryan
I quite enjoyed this book about the adventures of Lawrence of Arabia during World War I in the Middle East. The story was populated with real life characters and contained a lot of information about the Middle East during that period.
Sandra F.
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
I have read all of Louise Penny's books and loved them all. However, the division of this book into two storylines did not make this book as good.
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Associate by John Grisham
Grisham is really just churning them out now. This is a serviceable enough book to read on a beach or an airplane to merely pass the time. But you'll have forgotten it by the time you get home.
Lisa S.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
I don't know how I missed this book. It has been in my bookcase for years. If you have any Irish in you or just love true stories this is the book for you. I have such compassion for those who lived in the slums of Ireland. The writing was amazing and I was lost in the story for days. If you haven't read this pick up a copy of this amazing story.
Sharron
The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey
Interesting story of dysfunctional Irish family separated by mental illness, sickness, and the beginnings of the Irish resistance. Eileen was the warrior in the family determine to bring them all back together in the yellow house, she so loved.
Paula Barclay
The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
This is the 2nd book of a 3 book series. I love the characters, each so very different. A real page turner.
Molly Frederick
Ella Finds Love Again by Jerry S. Eicher
I love all his books!!! They have great stories and you don't want to put them down!!!!!
Lois Lilling
Curiosity by Joan Thomas
The book was satisfying and enlightening about discoveries in paleontology, as well as class distinctions in the 1800's in England.
The characters were well described and the "romance" was different.
Maxine Urso
Up in the Air by Walter Kirn
Just started it but like his journalistic style.
Becky Chome
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith
Smith's book is very enjoyable. The cast includes the owner of The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency, her mechanic husband who has a yen to try detective work, her secretary who believes for a short while that her job may be beneath her, and an apprentice mechanic who tries his hand at a different job.
Sue Beckwith
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Storyline went not quite where I was expecting it to at first. I feel like I know Mary Beth, the mom. When I finished, I just said, "wow!"
Cheryl English
The Dark Gate by Pamela Palmer
A great thriller with a lot of mystery. The story keeps you guessing.
Susan Vasi
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
If you love letters, words and puzzles you'll love this quirky little book!
susan krohner
The Odds: A Love Story by Stewart O'Nan
O'Nan is right on the target with this book - again. He intermingles the points of view, just like in a real marriage. He has a super strange proposition for his characters, but, oh what we would do for love.
Sigrun Schulz
Secret Daughter: A Novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
This kind of book is not one that you can really "enjoy." It just contains too much to be sad and outraged about. However, I also found it moving, riveting and very informative about India. It binds two families who are tied through their love and concern for a little girl. The story takes us from her birth in India, in 1984 to her life with adoptive parents in the U.S. It concludes with her return to India to find her birth parents. I recommend it especially to women, though some parts of the story are told from the viewpoint of the men, and to readers who would like to know a little more about the realities in India from 1984 to 2009.
Heather
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
The story of a young Muslim boy growing up in the U.S. Wonderful read! If this doesn't end up on the New York Times Best Sellers List, I'll be shocked!
Candace Bliss
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres
This book details the lives of many people who would ultimately end up dead at Jonestown at the hands of Jim Jones. It is a sad and fascinating story that details the workings of a psychopath and the victims he murdered. I can't say it is fun to read because we all know how it ends. It does however give life to the people who suffered at Jim Jones' hands and gives us a better understanding how smart people can fall for a con man who would ultimately be their murderer.
Amanda Carlin
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
This is the perfect ending to the mind blowing Hunger Games trilogy. Throughout this entire trilogy, the story keeps getting better and better. The third installment definitely delivers.
Evelyn Herhkowitz
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
Wonderful book. Very suspenseful.
Allison
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Great story about life in England during the first world war.
Janet P Bedell
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak
A historical fiction book that reads like your best friend telling you a story! The descriptions are so vivid that you can actually see the ribbons on Catherine's gown as well as seeing the narrator hiding in the walls to spy on various court person in St. Petersburg, Russia, winter palace.
Judy Ross
V is for Vengeance by Grafton
5 Stars I missed her neighbor Henry in this one, and was happy to see one in this series where her life was not in serious danger through most of the story.
Stacey K
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Fantastic final book of the "Girl" trilogy! I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I sincerely hope that Hollywood makes movies out of the second & third books of this series.
Lori E
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Loved the book. Not my typical read, but liked it enough that I'm reading the second book in the trilogy already.
Mary Rodriguez
Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman
A good read for anyone who enjoys reading a love story about 2 messed up people.
Sophie L.Zaretto
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Beautiful story of motherhood in two continents and two cultures. One of my best reading ever.
Richard Godsell-Jures
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
What a story! I didn't think like this kind of book, because it's about gamers and I wouldn't know how start an online game let alone play one. Surprisingly, the story was more of an adventure with danger and mystery throw in the mix. It just goes to show you a good story is worth reading even if the story revolves around gamers. Of course, the future in this story looks fairly dim.
Sue Nuti
World Without End by Ken Follett
A follow up to Pillars of the Earth, World Without End vividly describes life during the 1300's in Southwest England. The everyday problems of people suffering with hunger and war are described in accurate detail. Many of the towns and castles described in the story still exist today. This book is a travel log with a great story.
barbara semeraro
Late Edition by Fern Michaels
This story, the second in the "Goldmother" series, is about a very rich woman who owns a tabloid newspaper that she purchased (unbeknown to her daughter) so her daughter would have a job. She spends millions helping her friends and others who need a break.
This little group of friends has been into having seances. The late husband of one of the group appears in one seance and advises that he has been murdered. So the group sets out to solve the mystery of who murdered the man who died two years ago.
It is a mindless, quick read that is definitely not on a par with the last series of the "Sisterhood".
Richard Godsell-Jures
He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson by Christopher Conlon
This author has taken Matheson's stories and ether added too or made it part 2 to his great books. An interesting read, although some aren't as well written it still a great read.
Michelle/The True Book Addict
Lifting the Wheel of Karma by Paul H. Magid
This book really is amazing. It's the perfect length, for if it had been longer, it would have lost it's impact. Of course, this is a novel, but the main character Joseph is so real, it seems almost an autobiography. Joseph has been tormented his entire life by nightmares and visions. Little does he know that these occurrences will lead him to his destiny in life.
Richard Godsell-Jures
The Iron Lance by Stephen R. Lawhead
The Crusades as they really were. Gruesome, blood thirsty, hateful and a waste of human life. And a great read for those of you who like Historical Fiction and Lawhead does a wonderful job of portraying the realness and brutality of the time.
Michelle/The True Book Addict
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I truly thought I would love this book. I didn't. I really wanted to like it too. I had seen a couple of film versions and I love the story, but I just could not get into Hawthorne's writing in this book. I found myself skimming large sections of rambling text. One thing I will say is that Hawthorne did succeed in making Roger Chillingworth (aka Hester's long lost husband) a thoroughly disgusting character. I remember watching the most recent version of the film with Demi Moore (ugh) as Hester and Robert Duvall as Prynne/Chillingworth. Duvall portrayed the character very well. Every time he was on the screen, my skin crawled. Now I can see that his portrayal was quite close to the spirit of Hawthorne's character. As my skin crawled watching him in the movie, so it did as I read of him in the book. Of course, I can't fault the book on its themes. It is a commentary on the rights of women during Puritan times and the strength of a woman to endure the constraints put upon her by those times. As seems the case over and over is that the woman is set to endure the great trials and succeeds, but the man is weak and cannot endure. Perhaps a treatise on the true strength of women is one of the underlying messages here. So although I say I did not like this book, I can still recognize its importance in our canon of classic literature.
Susan
Juliet by Anne Fortier
I like the mix of old and new in a re-telling of Romeo and Juliet.
Elaine Beierbach
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
I love thrillers!
Marie-Louise Molloy
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Love wolves and Rice has always been a fave...reading the review was riveting so the the read will be thrilling!!
Jean M
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
This is the first book in a long series list. It has a different concept from anything that I have read. It makes me wonder how the author is going to handle the rest of the Ripley books.
Jan Hummel
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
This is the first Kristin Hannah book I have read and I found it to be a great story. It is a story about a family who loses the father leaving two estranged sisters and an uncommunicative mother. As the story unfolds, I found it to be intriguing, suspenseful and very moving. It left me with a warmed heart at the end. I enjoyed her book and will definitely read more.
Brian McClafferty
The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
This is a carefully plotted, character-driven read. This is one book that you will not figure out until the very last few pages. It is a story built around love, friendship and murder. A deeply evocative writing style will draw you in immediately, and sustain you throughout the journey to denouement. This is a difficult book to review because the story arc involves bit-by-bit peeling back layers of detail. It moves smoothly from present to flashback and return. It is the reading equivalent of spending a languorous warm Spring afternoon in a beautiful garden followed by a flute of cold, sparkling champagne. I REALLY liked this book.
Pattie Berryhill
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
Twisted stories about animals. I loved it.
Rosemary Sobczak
Carte Blanche by Jeffrey Deaver
Always writes a page-turner.
Ann*
Believing In Horses by Valerie Ormond
I love horses so this is a book I will enjoy. The first few chapters are enough to get me really interested in it. Its about a 12-year-old girl who also has a great love of horses. Lots of info through out the story that is horse related.
lisa
The Vault by Ruth Rendell
Rendell writes superb crime fiction, stand alone novels and series. The Vault is the latest in her long-running Inspector Wexford series. Unlike other series authors, she never "phones it in" - the stories and characters are always fresh, engaging and psychologically complex.
Kathy Iwasaka
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi
This is not a book I would choose, but it is our book group's choice for this month. So far, I am not hooked, but the reading is fairly easy. I am also not a fan of open endings, so my opinion is probably tainted. At first the story switches back and forth between the killings and the history of Florence. Possibly when the story has a more dedicated focus - I am hoping that is the case - I will be more interested.
Barbara Coleite
D.C. Dead & Love In a Nutshell by Stuart Woods & Janet Evanovich
I really liked Wood's books...not real bloody. Enjoyable read. These two books were different but
were enjoyable. I would recommend them to anyone who wanted a fast read.
Ann Mountain
The Litigators by John Grisham
Grisham is a great storyteller.
Bill Hamilton
Cell 8 by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom
Another terrific book by these two. The action bounces back and forth between Ohio and Stockholm as a 17 year-old teenager convicted of murdering his girlfriend, sentenced to death, and found dead in his cell turns up six years later in Sweden. Is it him or not? Our grumpy old detective superintendent, Ewert Grens, last seen in 3 Seconds must figure out the who, what, and why. As with all of the Roslund and Hellstrom novels a suprise awaits the reader in the last few lines.
Jan Kanowitz
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
This is a fabulous book abut a highly educated woman doctor slipping quickly into Alzheimer's Disease. Her best friend, Amanda, has been murdered and Jennifer does not know if she killed this woman or not. Since Amanda's four fingers have been amputated and Jennifer was a hand doctor all roads point to her as the culprit. This book has many twists and turns and keeps you highly interested until the end.
Fran
Until Tuesday by Bret Witter and Luis Carlos Montalvan
Luis Carlos Montalvan shares his story as a wounded warrior who is given an amazing service dog. Together Luis and "Tuesday" forge their back into the world and develop an unbreakable bond. Interesting perspective on the Iraq war as well as the outcomes for our soldiers who risk everything through it.
Judy Cichon
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Historical fiction, but with such accurate detail that it reads like non-fiction. Although some of the characters from Gabaldon's "Outlander" series are here, one doesn't need to have read the series to thoroughly enjoy this book. Set in England and Ireland around 1760, several sub-plots weave around the main mission, in which Lord John Grey, assisted by Jamie Frasier, a Scot who was imprisoned for his part in Jacobite efforts to place Charles Stuart on the English throne, travel to Ireland to uncover suspected Jacobite plots. These points are secondary, however, to the characters involved and their interactions and relationships. Fans of Gabaldon's Outlander series will enjoy this and can consider it a "filler" until the next book in the series is published.
Raeesa Khan
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti
This translated version (originally french) tells the story of a young Israeli girl named Tal who writes a message in a bottle, addressed to a Palestinian in Gaza. Naim, a Muslim living in the Gaza strip, discovers this bottle and from there, a virtual friendship begins. Both Tal and Naim face the struggle of not knowing whether they'll live to see another day. Despite their obvious differences, they form a profound bond, while constantly living with the fear that their correspondence will be discovered. Among daily bombings, bombardments, protests and attacks, Tal and Naim write to one another with the hopes that if their civility with one another is possible, then there is hope for their two respective religions and territories. A beautiful story about life, and our responsibilities as global citizens. Today, many of us have this conviction or this belief that we are obligated to bring some significant change to the world, but "Message in a Bottle" teaches that sometimes, stopping to listen to another individual is one of the greatest acts of kindness we can commit to. This book has been adapted into a film, that will be released this month, "Une Bouteille dans le mer". A beautiful, thought provoking and eye-opening story that will stay with you.
Peggy Busch
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Another great read by Diana Gabaldon, my favorite author. This novel gives more back story on Jamie Fraser in the years when he was separated from Clare.
Donna K
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A beautifully mysterious book! I loved the dream illusions and how everything was in beautiful shades of black and white. I also thought the reference to Shakespeare's "The Tempest" was dead on ... "we are such stuff as dreams are made on". Erin Morgenstern must be a highly interesting individual to have created this wonderful story.
Tanya Brown
TESTIMONY by Anita Shreve
I have read Anita Shreve before, and liked her ... not this time. This book is confusing and hard to follow, going from one point of view to another. Without revealing to much about the story, I was disappointed in how the taker of the picture was revealed--too casual. I bogged through the entire book wondering "who took the picture, who took the picture?" and then it was almost as if it was an afterthought.
I can only dream of writing as well as Anita Shreve, but this book is not one of her best.
P. Britt
The Lampshade by Mark Jacobson
Subtitled: A Holocaust Detective Story from Buchenwold to New Orleans. An interesting but frustrating read with an equally frustrating ending. The author purchases a lampshade on the street after hurricane Katrina and is told it came from Buchenwald and made of human skin at the behest of Ilse Koch, aka "the Bitch of Buchenwald". Later, DNA testing proved that it was indeed made of human skin but further testing was contraindicated because of the conditions under which the lampshade had been stored. The author takes the reader from the Weimar March, the Buchenwald Table to several Holocaust Museums and the political machinations behind Ray Nagin's handling of the Katrina disaster. The attempts to find a home i.e. a Holocaust Museum or a burial place for the human remains are unproductive. As I write this, I'm thinking that I may re-read it and give it 4 stars.
P. Britt
A Morning for Flamingos by James Lee Burke
Love the Dave Robicheaux novels! Could not put this book down. The characters are complex and well-developed as is the plot. I don't know how I missed this book all these years ... I thought I had read all of his books. However, it was worth the wait ... fantastic book.
Crystal Blackburn
The Basket Case: A Father Dowling Mystery by Ralph McInerny
Murder and kidnapping are the crimes in this wonderful Father Dowling mystery.
susan
Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M. C. Beaton
Light read, good characters. Old favorites.
Wynn Smith
Watch Me Die by Erica Spindler
Watch Me Die is a well written fast-paced and suspenseful thriller. It is set in post Katrina New Orleans surrounding Mira Gallier, an artist who restores stained glass windows. A murder is committed at the site of one of her restored windows and the window is vandalized with the message: "He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead". Mira's becomes the prime suspect in the string of murders that follow. The murders have a religious twist to them and scripture is referenced many times. It is actually spooky.
Mira sets out to find the truth while the world around her spirals out of control. Shocking secrets are revealed that left my chin on the floor and another very unlikely suspect emerges that jolts the detectives working the case. (Lots of twists and turns).
Bonnie Gluhanich
The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg
I loved Berg's book of short stories. Most all feature feisty women I'd like to know. You'll laugh out loud and maybe tear up a bit. Pitch perfect.
Dennis Beierbach
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Scary stuff ... the kind nightmares are made of.
Tanya B.
A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore
If you like historical fiction, you will like this book. The author did a good job with the characters and I highly recommend reading it.
Julie
The Leopard by Joe Nesbo
This is a very satisfying murder mystery about a serial killer in Norway. There are many twists and turns and I really like Nesbo's writing style. I highly recommend this book. The only caveat I have is that you have to deal with a lot of Norwegian names of places and people. It might make it a little slow going in the beginning but once I got into the story, it just became part of the novel and it wasn't a problem for me.
Sandy McCullough
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
I almost quit reading this one after the first few chapters, but I am glad I stuck with it. It starts with a letter, lost for half a century and delivered to Edie's mother on a Sunday afternoon. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst Castle, where the eccentric Blythe spinsters live and where she discovers her mother once stayed during WW II. This is great Gothic fiction with lots of family secrets.
Marion Miller
Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
This is such a sad story of a friendship. We can all relate to it, especially when we lose an old friend or a relative. Here are two women who have so much in common and the loss for one is devastating. However, survival is important for the author and for all of us.
marion Miller
Come In and Cover Me by Gin Phillips
This was such a predictable story. I loved the archaeology part, but the rest of the book was a disaster.
Carol Anderson
Come To the Edge by Christina Haag
I've just begun reading this memoir of JFK, Jr. written by a childhood friend who was a romantic interest for a time.
Paul Holmes
The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark
The second in Mary Jane Clark's "Wedding Cake Mysteries" series -- and it's everything you'd want in a cozy, and more: Great suspects (all of whom could be the murderer), great location (a posh spa in the Hollywood hills) and a great heroine (27-year-old Piper Donovan, aspiring actress and sometime cake decorator). Loved it!
Ilene Harris
The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings
Good relationship book about a father and his two daughters, when the mother was in a boating accident, and is in a coma.
Alex
Potemkin, Inc. by Philippe Joly
A delightful book about start-ups. The clever use of the 300 years old legend of the Potemkin villages to explain how much perception matters and how it can be manipulated, makes for some very interesting reading. The book is basically using the author's own true stories and anecdotes taken from his personal journey as an entrepreneur, to illustrate and put into practice what to do with perception in a start-up business.
Colin Beierbach
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Have to love horror before you pick it up and read it.
Janet Nydegger
The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar
Women's fiction at its best - I loved the characters in this book and will remember them forever. The four women were college friends in Bombay in the 70's. They are now getting together for the first time in years because one of the women (now living in the United States) is dying and wants to reconnect with her former best friends.
michelle goedert
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
I am somewhat belatedly working my way through the Stephanie Plum novels and enjoying them!
Preston Song
This Little Piggy Belongs to the Devil by Vincent A. Palazzo
There is a simplicity that I really enjoyed while reading "This Little Piggy Belongs to the Devil" by Vincent Palazzo. It is a first person tale told by the book's Grandfather. It was like listening to my own Granddad retelling his stories. Mr. Palazzo has crafted a very personal story that slaps the smile right off your face before you know its coming. I still can't believe the ending.
Lynn Demsky
An Uninvited Ghost by E. J. Copperman
This is the second of the series and just as good as the first. The cast of characters is enduring, comical, entertaining --- makes me smile, laugh and great read! Will find the next one! Millie and Paul (the resident ghosts) remind me of the old Topper series!
Lynn Demsky
The Nine Musketeers by Bill Bernico
This was a great read! Brought back so many memories: 25 cents a week allowance, leather straps, the jingle-jangle of the ice cream truck, shaving, dating, music --- amazed me that with nine kids they could afford the ice cream truck. We only had 2 and couldn't afford it! A very good soothing, happy, entertaining, comical (in parts) read! All of today's teenagers and adults should read it!
Lynn Demsky
Granny Heist by Juliet Dillon Clark
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was fun, entertaining, surprising and well written. Hard to believe that Granny could get away with what all she did and then just sat on it! GREAT read! Will read more by this author!
Lynn Demsky
The Tribe by McCarty Griffin
This was not what I expected at all and very well written, great plot and you need NOT be a cat person to enjoy it! Adored how the wild cats called people two legs and interacted with them. Great being told by the cats! I really enjoyed how the cats reacted, inter-acted and survived! Most enjoyable read!
Marilyn Clement
World-Mart by Leigh M. Lane
Without giving anything away about the book. I will say that this is a book in the Classic Tradition of Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock's old TV series. Any fan of Twilight Zone will enjoy this book. This book can stand with the best in this genre.
Linda M
The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell
Mallory never lets me down (except when I have to wait years in between her visits). Katherine Mallory is a female detective unlike any one else. She's a loner, but has a coterie of men (her late foster father's poker buddies) looking out for her. She dresses too expensively for her salary, but is not on the take. She is a law enforcement officer, but stops at nothing to get her crimes solved - and very few complain.
This time out three bags are discovered in tree tops of Central Park about the same time as a young red-haired girl with William's Syndrome is found refusing to leave the area. The bags have bodies in them - one alive, one barely, and one dead. What does the little girl have to do with those three and can she help Mallory and her partner, Detective Riker, with enough puzzle pieces to put it together?
O'Connell always manages to take me to an edge I don't want to go to, but lures me with her marvelous story telling and beautifully seductive writing.
Gil
The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
A man must choose between saving himself or his wife after their plane crashes into the ocean. Many years before in World War I, his great grandfather is faced with a similar choice, regarding whether to stay with his unit after a devastating battle. The story moves back and forth to portray the outcome of the choices. Many surprises.
Opal Baker
Ember Rising Light by C.K. Mullinax
I am in the process of reading this book. It has a great storyline, wonderful characters and magical suspense.
Denise Beierbach
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
My fave!
Carol Ann Zimmerman
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
One of the most intelligently written books that I have read in a long time. The author has captured the story in a very personal way so as to leave the reader with the feeling that it is written as an actual autobiography. Lengthy, but well worth every page!
JoRN
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A book about life & baseball. A book about how one event effects others around you.
Bookworm
Bonnie by Iris Johansen
The end of the trilogy. Eve finds out what happened to her daughter Bonnie.
Sandy McCullough
The Sisters by Nancy Jensen
I absolutely loved this book! A huge misunderstanding between 2 sisters starts a story that goes on for 80 years. I had a little trouble with the names and who was the daughter of whom, but it was a wonderful tale.
Stephanie Ward
The Innocent: A Vanessa Michael Monroe Novel by Taylor Stevens
The Innocent is the second novel by Taylor Stevens that follows fearless heroine Vanessa “Michael” Monroe. Monroe’s best friend Logan contacts her from across the globe to ask for her help concerning his dark past involved in a religious cult called “The Chosen.” Even though Logan is openly gay, he reveals to Monroe that he has an 8-year-old daughter, Hannah, who has been kidnapped by the cult and he needs Monroe’s help to find her and bring her home. Monroe accepts the challenge of infiltrating this cult and finds herself in the middle of much more than she anticipated – including drug lords, high-ranking government officials, and the unspoken horrors of child abuse.
Stevens’ second novel is a taut, action-filled adventure that takes the reader inside the secret world of a religious cult. The story takes awhile to pick up in pace, but once it gets going, there is no shortage of thrills and page-turning twists. Monroe has made an American heroine that can be compared to Steig Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander – complete with all the quirks that made her so different from other leading ladies. This book is a solid thriller with a good plot and a storyline that makes it stand out from others in the genre.
melinda lee
One Thousand White Women: the Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus
A well-written work of fiction. I found it very entertaining and thought provoking.
Lexi Henshel
Treasure Island!!! by Sara Levine
SO funny! Like a female version of Dave Barry's Lunatics, crossed with Franny Glass, Levine's slacker heroine leaves chaos in her wake as she tries to follow her new mantras picked up by obsessively reading and rereading Treasure Island - boldness, resolution, independence, and horn-blowing.
Reva Wamsley
Pentecost Alley by Anne Perry
A prostitute is murdered in a horrific way. Thomas thinks he has the murderer who goes to trial & then is hanged. But then another one is murdered in the same way. This book will keep you guessing as to who is actually responsible. I love these books for several reasons. They give you a good look at life in that era and they are also very well written.
Chuck Kotkin
Please God Let it Be Herpes - A Heartfelt Quest for Love and Companionship by Carlos Kotkin
Ok, I'm his Father. However, throughout his life I have told him the truth about everything he has done. If I did not like something I would tell him, and I would tell him why I did not like it. This book is fantastic!! Carlos has the knack to change the ordinary to extraordinary. For me he is a combination of Bob Newhart (the book is a funny book), Jack Benny, Mark Twain, and 98 percent Carlos. Carlos is a very wonderful human being. His way of perceiving the world is very uplifting. He can make you laugh and make you cry. I once literally almost fell off my chair reading one of his stories. Try this book out I am sure you will like it. If you like it, please tell all of your friends about it. I love my son and I love this book.
Patty Jester
Before She Dies by Mary Burton
Excellent book. Once you pick up the book you will not want to put it down until you have read the last page. Terrifying and very good story.
Ruth Dupchen
The One Who Waits for Me by Lori Copeland
This is such a good clean love story about three women who are running away when they cross paths with three men returning for the Civil War. The story captured my attention from the first page till the end of the book. I really enjoyed reading this book.
C Cyrus
Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
This was a great mystery and one I couldn't put down. This would be a good Lifetime Movie.
Laura Beierbach
I've Got Your Number by Sophia Kinsella
I am a follower of the author.
E Cope
The Boy In The Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol
This Danish book is well written with no gimmicks. It's suspenseful from the start with 3 storylines that merge into a tense ending. I found this international book much more realistic and unpredictable than many mysteries written by today's more popular authors.
Lynn
Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards
Whereas I enjoyed "The Memory Keeper's Daughter", I did not enjoy this book. I found the story to be slow and it didn't have anything to pull me back to reading so it took a long time to finish. I actually found myself skimming the last 150 pages rather than truly reading.
Sara Myers
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
I loved this book. I cannot believe I had never heard of the book until the movie was made. Since I did see the movie before I read the book, I would assume I knew what was going to happen next. I was very happy that I was wrong most of the time!!! I would highly recommend this read!
Linda McFarland
The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen
I loved this book. Lots of high sea adventure, a pirate captain and a British admiral's daughter meet under unlikely circumstances. There is lot bad blood between the two, but in time, all that is transformed into love. Such a wonderful thrilling romance book, and I highly recommend it.
Tanya B.
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab
3.5 on this first-in-a-series murder mystery.
Debbie M
The Confession by Charles Todd
Ian Rutledge fights his demons, but in this novel Hamish MacLeod is fairly silent. A man enters Scotland Yard and confesses a murder to Ian. The man is murdered before Ian can question the man. Ian must go to Essex to discover the answers to this killing. Of course, the answers are not easily found, and more killings are uncovered. The story presents the village life in the 1910's and 1920's in England. The townspeople do not want change or intruders. Todd shows the class distinctions and the rigidness of village life. An interesting tale is about the smuggling of goods from France by the English fisherman. The endeavor is not primarily for personal profit, but to thwart England's taxation.
Elaine Beierbach
I've Got Your Number by Sophia Kinsella
Cute and whimsical.
Valerie Giambona
An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo is one of my favorite authors. He has captivated me with War Horse, and hypnotized me with his stories. His stories deliver readers hope, An Elephant in the Garden gives you a different perspective on WWII in Germany. Not all Germans are Nazi's, and not only people were affected by the war. Mr. Morpurgo gives us hope for mankind. His books are wonderful to share with family, students and friends. He is most definitely on my top ten list.
Tillie Horak
The Good Father by Noah Hawley
Compelling story about a father who is seeking to clear his son, who was convicted of murdering a presidential candidate who was purported to be the next great president. His journey takes him through his life and what he could possibly have done differently that would have prevented this from happening. His search for the truth almost destroys his current family, and forces the family to move to a more rural area to start over and build a new life.
This book takes a hard look at how an adult child's actions affect his entire family. It looks at how parents look through hindsight to see if anything could have been done differently. It shows the true love of a parent and how they believe in their children through any obstacle.
I would recommend this book to a reading group. Lots of topics for discussion.
Sheryl
Outrage by Robert Tanenbaum
I can't believe I haven't read this series before. I really enjoyed and I look forward to getting caught up.
Sheryl
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
I loved this book! It was so cute and entertaining. I'm not really into romance books, but I could hardly put this down.
Sheryl
A Dark and Lonely Place by Edna Buchanan
I'm a big fan of Edna Buchanan. I knew this one was different from her norm but it really worked. I loved the characters and the way she made them evolve. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a mystery that has a little bit something extra in it.
sheryl
Her Last Death by Susanna Sonnenberg
This memoir was really well written, but it was just so far out that it was hard to read. I can't believe how this mother treated this poor woman. If you thought "Mommy Dearest" was bad, this will blow your socks off.
sharon cerasoli
The Submission by Amy Waldman
So far I am enjoying this book, well written and a great premise!
Linda Johnson
Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes
Ok telling of actress Hedy Lamarr's and composer George Antheil's work which resulted in an invention commonly used in modern cell phones. Originally used in torpedoes during World War II. Slim, stringent telling. Did appreciate that every time a monetary transaction was related, the author told actual time and today's value.
Jackie DAngelo
Weekend Warriors by Jimmy De Santo
This was a great read. The plot was action packed and very clever. The main characters were tough, tender and quite funny at times. This new author reminds me of Robert Ludlum, Elmore Lenard and Carl Hiassen.
Joan Cady
The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin
Just finished Rankin's 2nd in his new series, " The complaints" and had to share a great new series. I always love the Scottish scenes and detective work in Rankin's work but Matthew Fox and his crew were excellently drawn and the book was driven, driven by the characters. I wonder if it is heresy to like Fox better than Rebus?
Kathleen Kelly
The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney
Frank Delaney is a wonderful storyteller. If anyone is interested in some Irish history, then The Storytellers series is a must!!
Ingrid Stukey
Kissing in the Dark by Wendy Lindstrom
This is the 4th Book in the series and I loved every one of them, great read.
Ann Hill
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and Colton Burpo
A young 4-year-old boy experiences an out-of-body experience when he almost dies from appendicitis complications. His parents are blown away by his casual comments about being in heaven. It is a very thought provoking book.
Dennis Beierbach
Private Game by James patterson
I feel that James is losing his grip and pumping out books without too much thought.
Carol G
A PARTIAL HISTORY OF LOST CAUSES by Jennifer Dubois
A remarkable book for a first time author. Set in Harvard Square, USA and St. Pertersburg, Russia, the story of two people, one a college professor and one a Russian World Chess Champion are linked by a letter. A modern history of the former U.S.S.R.
Amanda Ellerbe
Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs
I have been reading books by Kathy Reichs. After reading the first one I wanted more. All of her books are amazing! Can't wait for the new editions!
Jean V.
New Tricks by David Rosenfelt
I love the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt. A light, funny legal mystery. This is always an entertaining series.
Allison Gardner
The King's General by Daphne Du Maurier
Great story about England's Civil War between Parliament & the King.
Felipe Guimaraes
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
If you are looking for a good English mystery to unwind during a cold wintry weekend, look no further. Elizabeth George's new novel would be an excellent choice. It is a long novel with a big cast of colorful characters that will suck you in. George's prose is beautiful and she does an fantastic job in developing her characters.
Jessica Whelchel
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Don't be put off that this is another young adult novel. No vampires in this novel, although it did remind me just a tad of The Hunger Games. This is a coming of age novel about a girl in dystopian Chicago who must choose what faction to live in for the rest of her life. I loved the main character, a girl who has trouble conforming to the norms of society. She evolves into a self-confident and brave woman. I could not put this book down! A great first novel for Veronica Roth!
Donna
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
This author never lets me down. This is a great book!
Sonya L Moore
The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
So well written, I forgot it was listed as a suspenseful thriller - that is until I found myself tense & frightened. What a great read!!
Ronald Green
11/22/63 by Stephen King
A great combination of history and fiction. King is the best.
Gail
Let's Take The Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
So slow...
Marjorie Clark
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
Still reading but it seem, so far, to be just as good as "The Snowman."
Kristen Domena
Catch Me by Lisa Gardner
Loved it!
Ellen Elow-Mintz
No One is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel
In 1939 a small community in Romunia creates its world anew. Isolated by geography, the only intrusion is a woman washed up on their peninsula during a raging storm who assumes a special role in the community. Pressed up against the harsh reality of WWII, the "imagining" of this gritty "Brigadoon" is maintained almost until war's end. Based in part on the author's family's experience, this is not your run of the mill WWII or Holocaust novel.
Pam Dean
Mary: Mrs. A Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman
I'm rating this book 5 stars and I haven't even finished it yet. By page 24 I was hooked and sobbing. What an amazing historical novel about the life of Mary Todd Lincoln. Mary Todd Lincoln is the voice of the novel. It begins while she is institutionalized and the premise is that she wants to write her own memoir to correct all the misconceptions that have been written about her in the newspapers. As I get caught up in this amazing story, it dawns on me - "She's writing this memoir from the asylum - how much of this is fact or the rantings of a woman declared insane by the courts." I can't wait to see how it ends. In fact, I'm going to go read right now!
Jennifer Langdon
The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer
Olen Steinhauer became one of my favorite authors with his first novel, The Bridge of Sighs, which begins a 4 (or is it 5?) volume historical noir-crime series set in post-WWII Eastern Europe. The Nearest Exit is his latest in his new "Tourist" series. Though not as compelling for me as his earlier work, if you're interested in smart, character-driven espionage novels, The Nearest Exit is definitely worth the read.
Christy Jean Poser
Till Death Do Us Bark by Judi McCoy
Cozy mystery with the dogwalker who can communicate with dogs. For dog lovers everywhere, it's a series so you can enjoy for a few good books :)
fran
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
Typical Stephanie Plum. I laughed out loud in a couple of spots but all in all, same old same old. I usually love this series, but perhaps its time to retire Stephanie.
Mary Bryant
Killing Lincoln by Martin Dugard and Bill O'Reilly
It reads like a good novel and even though you know the outcome there are many facts that are new to me.
Irene Unger
The Twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg
Very frightening and realistic story about an Armageddon between Iran, Israel and the United States. In light of recent current events, this is one frightening read.
Michelle S. Pharr
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
Loved this book. It was tender, appalling and huge overtones of hope.
Michelle S. Pharr
Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay
A look into Russia of the cold war era which we really don't know about too much, and yet it isn't about that. It's the story of former ballerina in Russia who in her 80's is selling off her jewels in Boston. Each jewel has its own story and unraveling the mystery behind the jewels is fascinating. Each piece brings closure to the ballerina. The "Nancy" Drew auction assistant and a man who was adopted and wants to find his biological family.
Linda Hensens
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
This is one of the best novels I have listened to since Winter Garden! I have read all of her books that I know about, and I got to meet her last night in Raleigh! YAY! This book appears to be so realistic in terms of what happens when someone deploys and has to leave their significant other and/or spouse at home with their children. Tear jerker! Readers better get 3 boxes of Kleenex, cause you are SO gonna need it!
Susan Johnson
Trail of the Spellmans: Document #5 by Lisa Lutz
In the new laugh out loud Spellman story, Izzy becomes the normal one in the family. Her mom is busy with new hobbies, her brother is a stay-at-home dad and her sister seems not to be interested in sleuthing anymore.
Renee Booker
Night Road by Kristan Hannah
This is a very good book about a foster care system and the right guidance from others. This is so true of the foster care. If more of the readers take this book home, you will not only can not let it down. But want to make the world better by being a good foster parent. It also shows how we're nice to people until we feel they are a good person to put the blame on them instead of your own children. I give it A+ to run, not walk, to the store to purchase and sit & read over a nice cup of tea.
Patti DelValle
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
This book got my attention from page 1 and there was no lag at all. It's about a Jewish family that gets plucked up in the middle of the night and whisked away by the Germans. I can't really go into more detail as it will give it all away. It's a story of compassion & humanity. I have read quite a few books with this theme that had so much gore to it, I stopped. This book is not like that at all, but still gives you the picture of what's going on. More importantly, the author writes in a way that pulls you and makes you feel what they are feeling, thinking and you want to make an escape route for them and take them into your home.
Lynn Jarrett
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This book continues to leave me speechless!! I always try to place myself in the character of a book. This time it is absolutely overwhelming. I have to put it down periodically and walk away. Without giving away too much of the book, I will say I cannot imagine how Louis Zamperini held his own while in the POW camps during World War II. He truly is an American hero!!
Cheryl English
Serendipity by Carly Phillips
This book is exciting and is about getting second chances.
Lori
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Enjoyed the trilogy, but am glad that it's wrapped up.
Jean L
The Cheshire Cat's Eye by Marcia Muller
This is one of the Sharon McCone series. It is a quick fun read with a little bit of romance along with murder.
Jean L
Taken by Robert Crais
I believe that this is his best yet. I loved it. His writing gets better and better. Elvis is trying to find a young woman who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She and her boyfriend have been taken along with some illegal immigrants. Elvis has to call Joe Pike in to help. This is a really suspenseful book!
Summer Madkour
Passion by Lauren Kate
It was a good book. I liked how Luce was done with all of the mysteries and wanted answers.
Sharon
An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
Brown Taylor shares personal stories along with theology as she writes of finding God in everyday places, events, and objects. Her writing is delightful, her theology solid and liberal. Love it!
Judy Haskell
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
I'm about 3/4 of the way through and can't wait to find out if Beautiful Girl and Forty Two finally reunite and find their daughter!
Maxine Urso
Up in the Air by Walter Kirn
Good journalistic style.
Melissa Krampert
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
An amazingly difficult yet worthwhile story!
Sandy McCullough
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
This is the first book I've read by Tess Gerritsen and it won't be the last. The surgeon slips into women's homes at night and kills and takes a body part as a souvenir. Very suspenseful and the ending is great!
Dorothy
While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky
This was good. A runner collapses on the street and a good Samaritan finds her and calls 911. She is brain damaged and her mother won't accept it. She blames the good Samaritan. The girl knows her father had a bad heart but he doesn't acknowledge it. Her sister blames herself because she didn't go with her sister that day. Read on.
Colin Beierbach
Private Games by James patterson
He used to write better books.
Mary Rodriguez
Candy Apple Red by Nancy Bush
A good mystery for readers that enjoy a cozy read.
Linda Barraclough
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Two twin brothers, born from a unique union, and with a shared love of medicine, will continually amaze you with the dynamics of their passions and their bond to each other.
NANCY HOLLIS
Mrs Lincoln and Mrs Keckley by Jennifer Fleischner
The lives of two very different women during and after the Civil War.
Linda Johnson
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Wow!
It is so unusual that I like an illustrious award winner. Usually my response is "What did the judges see in this book?" The Sense of an Ending breaks that chain. This slim volume captivate me from the beginning. The chronology progresses swiftly from pre-university to retirement with the main character reflecting on happenings of 40 years previously. Something I find myself doing now that I'm the same age as Tony.
If you are one to read the ending before the beginning, you will spoil this book. It's a gift, beautifully wrapped and you will not guess what's in the box.
Susan Simon
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Stephen King is at his very best in this novel that transports us back to a different time ... love it!
Sue Beckwith
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Intriguing.
Sue Becwith
A Separate Country by Robert Hicks
My favorite genre -- Civil War Historical Fiction.
Bobbie Davis
The Blue Orchard by Jackson Taylor
Interesting story about pulling ones self up from living a life of poverty and where education isn't encouraged.
Sabrina Laitinen
The Possibility of You by Pamela Redmond Satran
Lovely story that is beautifully intertwined, easy to read but hard to put down!
Rosemary Sobczak
Breakdown by Sara Paretsky
OK but not great.
Marie-Louise Molloy
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
I love werewolves and Anne Rice really knows how to research a project!
Linda Williams
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
I always love her books and have read all of her alphabet books and look forward to the rest. This is one of the best and will certainly leave me anxiously waiting for W!
Pattie Berryhill
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
Silly story. Not much to it. I enjoy her books, but this one was a dud.
Linda Saveland
Private #1 Suspect by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
I really enjoyed this book. I Love the main character from previous books and this one was the best yet. It had a good story line and several lesser stories and was suspenseful enough that it was hard to put down.
Janet Bailey
A Good American by Alex George
I loved this book. It's the story of a German couple who come to America in early 1900's. One point of interest is they come through New Orleans, not New York. The story follows their setting up house and life and then tells the story of their descendants. Points of American history of made...just an all around good read, interesting as it's from a different perspective. Highly recommend!
Muriel Logan
Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue
I had enjoyed his previous book The Stolen Child and liked the element of fantasy in it. This book also had the element of the mystical in the idea of an angel being on Earth. A 9-year-old girl appears at the door of Margaret, whose daughter Erica disappeared ten years previously. In the book, the mystery of what happened to Erica when she ran away is unraveled but the little girl's appearance and actions are never completely revealed. The book is a bit of a page turner.
Janet Bailey
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Wow...what a book. Part mystery, part thriller. You're the ADA, a child in son's class is murdered and suspicions turn towards your child. What would you do???
Amy Baldwin
The Horsemaster's Daughter by Susan Wiggs
Such a good, meaningful book about heartache and then renewed love. Susan Wiggs cannot hurt a good storyline, she is such an awesome storyteller. It's refreshing in today's society with the horrible economy, losing jobs and homes left and right. To escape to a happier, easier time in a book is what everyone needs for a little bit of pleasure even if it's just a "story." There would be no alcoholism or drug addicts if someone would pick up a book instead of costly, detrimental excuses to "check out." Check out a book!
Marilyn Clement
H2O The Novel by Austin Boyd and Brannon Hollingsworth
A compelling read and great debut for Brannon Hollingsworth's first collaboration with Austin Boyd.
This book will hold your interest from start to finish.
James Dykes
All Hallows Moon by SM Reine
Just a very fun teen werewolf book.
ann hengst
Believing in Horses by Valarie Ormond
I like the book. Its told by a 12-year-old but I like it because I love horses and that's what its all about a girl who wants a horse. That's me when I was that age. You also can learn horse-related things from the book, too.
Linda Millikan
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak
The Winter Palace is a beautifully written, lush and suspenseful, look into the Russian Court and the beginning life of Catherine the Great. Every page kept you guessing what was going to happen next and who would be involved. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read this author's next book! I will also be reading her previous book.
Marilyn Slocumbe
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Just finally got around to reading this book...one of the best I've read in a long while.
Kathy Iwasaka
Betrayal of Trust by J. A. Jance
Back with another J. A. Jance novel, this time featuring J. P. Beaumont. I am only half-way through, but am enjoying revisiting these familiar characters and joining them on their quest to figure out this mystery.
Caron
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca skloot
This book, with the unlikely title, was an amazingly swift read. Flipping between the human interest aspect of how Henrietta Lacks' death from cervical cancer effected her family; the lack of permission and information provided to them by the scientists who discovered the immortal HeLa cells, and the amazing scientific advances these provided, the book covered it all. Rebecca Skloot is a wonderful writer and interpreter of the story, both for us and for the Lacks family.
Judy O.
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Is there such a thing as a "murder gene" that is passed down in families? This is a question that needs to be answered in this terrific courtroom drama. Jacob Barber is arrested for the stabbing of a school-mate, and it looks like he is guilty. What follows next and then after that is shocking and horrifying. A page-turner!
Dawn M. Thayer
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
I was so engrossed in the first novel in the Game of Thrones series that I had to continue reading.
patricia gibby
Fatal Undertaking by Mark de Castrique
Buryin' Barry is a wonderful character. I never seem to be able to figure out who done it until the end. These books are funny and a good mystery at the same time.
Helen W
The Informationist by Taylor Stevens
This was one of the most unusual books I have ever read. Our heroine makes Lizabeth Salandar look like a wimp. She can do anything and killing is what she does best. However, the background, which is many countries in Africa is what makes this book so interesting. I felt that I was there in the sweltering humidity and dealing with an endless chain of corrupt officials. Great read.
J Ipsen
Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
Fast paced, intriguing, Gabriel Allon back in the action of combating global terrorism. Set in the very different worlds of art and intelligence, the story moves from Washington to London to the desert of Saudi Arabia. Great story
Kathy O'Sullivan
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Wells
One of those books...when you start reading everything else gets put on hold.
Sherrill Boggs
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
This book was a fairy tale where flowers in the garden were used to cure the blues and other ailments. They were ingredients in food made and sold by the garden owner. If an apple from the tree happened to hit you and you took a bite you saw how you were going to die. This scared a lot of bad people.
Marsha
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and Julio Machado
This classic will endure as it tells a wonderful story about individualism, love, hate, power, manipulation and many other virtues and sins. Although rather preachy, the story has enough plot to sustain your interest.
Lisa S.
Out of Breath by Susan Salluce
I downloaded this on my kindle because it was .99 cents on Amazon, what I got was so much for that purchase. This is the story of a child lost to an accident and a marriage that was in despair before it happened. This takes place in Santa Cruz California and was captured so well with each page. This is also the story of a Grandmother's faith. You will feel and care about the characters, and there are many stories within the story. I left this book so thankful that I read it. You won't be sorry you took a chance on this story. I just hope the author keeps writing.
Lisa
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
For many years I have heard about this book and been urged to read it. It has sat on my nightstand for many years. Being of Irish and having a Grandfather from County Cork, I saw all that my Mother lived with growing up with an Irish drinking father. This story looks at the whole family and how they survive. I picked up the next book Tis, but don"t waste the money. Angela's Ashes is an amazing tale and one that should be read.
Kathleen Carn
Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card
I hadn"t read one of Card's stories for awhile. I really enjoyed this one and now I can't wait to see what will happen to Bean's children next.
Frankie
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
This is an excellent, but difficult read. It is a story about what happened to a particular family in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The news coverage at the time didn't begin to tell the story of the horrors of what happened to some families that survived the storm. This family and many others will never truly recover from the scars left by not just mother nature, but by our own government. The hope is that if enough people read this and understand what can happen, then maybe we can work to prevent such atrocities in the future.
Janis Apgar
ROOM by Emma Donoghue
Absolutely loving this book! The story of a 5-year-old boy who has lived his entire life in an 11' x 11' room! He tells the story. The writing is phenomenal, his perspective is incredible and the whole concept really makes you think!
Elaine Williams
Prophet's Prey by Sam Brower
I like to mix in a nonfiction book sometimes, and this one -- an expose of the FLDS cult and leader/prophet Warren Jeffs -- was arresting from the first page to the last. Brower was on Oprah shortly before her show ended and I jotted down his name then. He was an investigator who investigated claims of child molestation and forced under-age marriages in the FLDS church. His findings will shock you. If you are interested in this type of nonfiction or crime book, you will probably be hooked and amazed, as I was.
mary ferwerda
Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers
Gook club book for us. We all thought it was a great book
Crystal Blackburn
The Drop by Michael Connell
In the 17th entry in the Harry Bosch series, the LAPD detective is three years from mandatory retirement through the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) and working in the Open-Unsolved Unit. While working a cold case with a new and confusing lead, Harry and his partner, David Chu, are also assigned an active, new case which appears to be suicide. Of course neither case is simple or straight forward.
Jean L
Zero Day by David Baldacci
The latest from Baldacci, this is a good one but I can't give it the top star score because I found that the end spends too much time with technical nuclear prose so I was disappointed with it.
The main character is an US Army guy who is nothing short of Superman. As I was reading, I kept thinking that there are several threads left dangling so this may be the first of a series. Stay tuned.
Denise Beierbach
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Ohhh, nice and scary.
fran
The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky
I enjoyed this book by Barbara Delinsky. A family spirals out of control when a mother decides to cover up her daughter's part in an accident. Interesting, character-driven plot.
Sylvia Simpson
11/22/63 by Stephen King
The best book he has written since The Stand. Enjoyed the history he portrayed in the 50's & the 60's. The description of the Kennedy's on that day is remarkable. Could not put it down.
Pat O'Donnell
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Loved it. Another home run for K. H.
Terese Bibeau
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Probably the best discussion books my book club has read. Our meeting usually is about 2 hours long with 1 hour of book discussion and 1 hour of chit chat. We discussed issues this book presented for over 3 hours.
Amanda Merrell
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
Good read a break from her usual laugh-out-loud mysteries. An enjoyable romance with a bit of a mystery to solve.
Josephine A. Kaszuba Locke, Book Hugger and Ace Reviewer
THE HOUSE I MADE FOR HER by Thomas Moran
A man is in the Intensive Care Unit, connected to all life-sustaining apparatus, and he narrates his story. He goes in and out of coma, and two nurses are specific to his care. As he watches them he dreams of how he would help them, where to take them on journeys, where the Irish lasses are in their real worlds. Moran's book is the best of the best in poetic prose ... his narrator fluently portrays his thoughts, he can mouth words or use an alphabet board to communicate ever so slightly. The storyline is grabbing, the cast of characters are hauntingly precious and strong, and Moran delivers writing that pushes the reader to want to read it in one sitting.
Mrs JaneAnn Clear
The Next Always by Nora Roberts
As expected of NR, it was very enjoyable book I read in a day. Plenty of recoup time from cancer surgery so pile on the books I say thats a way to escape the pain. Now I have to wait for the second one of this Inn Boonsboro trilogy coming in May.
Rhoda Campbell
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
I have read all of her books to date and enjoyed most of them. They are light easy reading with humor attached.
Asha Smith
The Wedding Letters by Jason F. Wright
If you've read the Wednesday Letters, you'll enjoy this one. Anyone about to be married, or already married, read these books.
Asha Smith
Paper Angel by Billy Coffey
This book is more than inspirational it is also thought-provoking!
Nikki Youngren
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
I really enjoyed this trilogy which surprised me a little since these are "young adult" books & I'm far from a young adult. The action is non-stop with a main character that you can love. I will say that I'm so glad I read this trilogy when all three books had already been published. I don't think I could have stood the wait between publishing of each book. I think my favorite of all 3 books was the second, Catching Fire. I look forward to the release of the first movie "The Hunger Games" in March.
Andria Plonka
Shatter by Michael Robotham
I read this one when the British edition came out in 2008, but am now rereading it to review. Surprise, surprise it is still excellent
Bahareh Kompani
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
A must-read. It was hard to get into but after a few chapters I couldn't put it down
Lynn
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
I loved this story!! It's a "Lifetime Movie" kind of fiction that gives you a good cry. I also read her non-fiction "Riding the Bus with My Sister" and liked this one better.
Barbara Scott-Cannon
The Next Always by Nora Roberts
A riveting romance with a lot of twists that add flavor to the story. The decorating ideas alone would keep most women turning the pages.
debra duggan
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
I'm glad to have an insight to Asperger's and the effect on a family. I enjoyed the strong characters and I could see them as real people. The ending was a let down; I wish the author wrote one more chapter.
Melissa Ferr
On Folly Beach by Karen White
Great book! Karen is one of my favorite authors. Love how the book goes back and forth between two time periods. Karen makes you feel like you are in the scene.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton
Beautifully written memoir by a woman who became a reputed restaurateur and chef in an atypical fashion.
Elizabeth Conway
Yeats is Dead! by Edited by Joseph O'Connor
I am loving this book! It is a crime fiction novel set in Ireland. Every chapter is written by a different author. As a result, something happens in every chapter I never saw coming!
Lynn Demsky
Murder is a Bad Day to Have a Baby by Jennifer Bennon
Can’t decide if I liked it or not, three sets of kids were born on the day their grandmothers were murdered, Mom had no mom, kid had no grandma --- just strange, sad … but, I did finish it and did enjoy the ending!
Lynn Demsky
Hemingway's Ghost by Layton Green
Learned a few things about Hemingway I didn’t know, a lot about the Key West and people who lived there ---- really an enjoyable short read! Great!
Lynn Demsky
Thicker Than Blood by Blake Crouch
This was supposed to be a page turning horror and compared to Steven King or Dean Koontz’s books was PURE CRAP, not worth reading, finished it and was glad to have to over with! Still wondering why I finished it.
Lynn Demsky
An Uninvited Ghost by E. J. Copperman
This is the second of the series and just as good as the first. The cast of characters is enduring, comical, entertaining --- makes me smile, laugh and great read! Will find the next one! Millie and Paul (the resident ghosts) remind me of the old Topper series!
Darlene Reilly
The Lying Games by Sara Shepard
This book and the next two is a read that will span from teens through adults. I can't wait for the movie to come out.
Bonnie Gluhanich
I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
Cute little trifle of a book, but it's no "I Feel Bad About My Neck". You can pretty much read it in one quick sitting.
Julie
The Leopard by Joe Nesbo
Very good murder mystery. This is the second in a series. The first book the author wrote in this series is called The Snowman. I would recommend reading that one first as there are several references to this killer (the Snowman) in The Leopard. If you don't mind reading a lot of Norweigian words for towns and peoples names, as are in Stieg Larsson's novels, this is a great read about a serial killer loose in Norway.
dianne mongelli
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
This is an excellent first book. Readers are immediately engaged with the characters and setting, Alaska. A hard cold frozen land where Mabel and Jack have fled to make a new life without the children they always wanted but were not able to have. From the very beginning the reader is drawn into this story of the snow child.
Debbie M
A Darkly Hidden Truth by Donna Fletcher Crow
This is the second book of the Monastery Mystery series set in current day England with a parallel story in early, religious England. Crow delves too thoroughly into church history and religious practices. The parallel story is about Gillian/Julian set in 1370's who becomes an anchoress. An anchoress is a woman who renounces the world and secludes herself for religious reasons. Felicity hears Julian's story as Father Antony and Felicity investigate murder and the disappearance of church icons. Along the way, Felicity and her mother, Cynthia, learn to appreciate one another. I feel at a loss many times for not knowing more about church history and feel that one needs to be a priest to understand what is happening.
Gary D. Munkens
The Day to Eternity by Joanne Monte
What an extraordinary read! The Day to Eternity, set during the Korean War, is a highly informative novel. The characters are carefully drawn with true emotions and fears, dealing with extraordinary situations. So many events occurred in this novel and none are predictable. The plot is engaging, paralleling the past and present. The characters come across as real people so that the reader experiences their pain and suffering. It's a book that's thoroughly absorbing from the first page to the last.
Elaine Campbell
Still Life With Murder by Patricia Ryan
Set in Boston, after the Civil War, the reader is introduced to Nell Sweeney whose adventures will be the subject of further books. It is entertaining, and offers just enough information to encourage you to read the next book. The possibility of recurring characters adds interest.
Metalfiend11
The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner
This is the first book I've read by this author. She is good but it has just a little to much romance for my taste. Other than that, the book was very good. It kept me guessing.
Marion miller
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
This book was a slow starter, but I'm glad I didn't give up. The story takes place on an ocean liner whose last stop is England. We get very involved with the 11-year-old telling the story, his friends and the characters on the ship. The author also fills us in with the characters' lives after the ship has docked. Very original!!
Bonnie Yee
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
I found this book to be a real page turner. It tells the story of a young Pakistani-American boy who is dealing with coming of age and his faith at the same time. It is well written and I highly recommend this book.
Kellie
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
#18 of the Stephanie Plum series-After the first few chapters, I was really excited about this new Stephanie Plum book because I thought it was going to be different. We were finally going to read about a shakeup in the Plum Series cast. Stephanie is back from a trip to Hawaii and the reader doesn’t know why she went, who she went with and why she came back a day early. Slowly, Evanovich reveals the answers. That was a promising factor as well. It kept me interested because I wanted to learn more. After finishing this book, I can say, yeah, this was different. I enjoyed the mystery and as always the funny escapades of Plum and her family and friends. However, the repetitiveness of plot and the same old drama between Ranger and Morelli has occurred AGAIN. I was left with the same disappointment I have felt in the last 8 books. I’ve heard Janet has written something like “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. But after 18 books of the same old Ranger saving Stephanie from a fire at the end of a story is really getting old. I think a lot of readers are getting fed up with reading the same story over and over. It’s funny though, we keep complaining about the series, but we keep reading the books.
Sandy McCullough
Midnight by Dean Koontz
The citizens of Moonlight Cove, California, are changing. Some are losing touch with their deepest emotions. Others are surrendering to their wildest urges. And the few who remain unchanged are absolutely terrified. This book is an old one, but will still remain one of Dean Koontz's better books.
Suz Reads
Time Riders by Alex Scarrow
Great book! I thought it was an original take on time traveling and with lots of action and interesting characters, I couldn't put it down! I would recommend it!
Suz Reads
The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld
Great book! This was a sequel to Peeps and was just as good. I like how the author tells this story from the point of view of each character and it continues the original story idea presented in the first book. I would definitely recommend this book but after reading Peeps first.
Scott Thompson
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
This book didn't receive good reviews when it came out a few years ago, but after reading this charming book I only can say the reviewers were wrong. I believe they looked for too much after his amazing book, Cold Mountain.
Beverly Wiese
Already Gone by John Rector
This book is exciting from beginning to end.I could not put it down. It has a little romance, some violence, and a lot of murder with a plot that keeps you guessing. My first story by this author, I intend to check him out.
Tracey swaine
Night Road by Kristen Hannah
I totally loved this book! Read it in 2 days! Anyone who is a parent of a teenager can really relate to the the subject matter! I laughed and cried! And when I wasn't reading the book I was talking about it!
krystyna glavin
The Innocent by Taylor Stevens
The plot is action packed, and it is a "thriller" book. It involves the secret world of a religious cult and the kidnapping of an eight year old. I found this book hard to put down.
Marsha
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
Inspector Lynley is sent undercover to investigate the death of a prominent family member in the Lake District. As he delves into the suspicious drowning, he finds that many family members have something to hide and the consequences of investigation becomes very interesting. Every character in the book is striving to sort out their lives.
Marjorie A. Langohr
Death Benefits by Robin Cook
This was my least favorite Robin Cook book. It was very confusing right from the start. I didn't like the characters at all. It started as a book about stem cells growing new organs, and went to murder by a very hard to get poison, and after that it just got worse. I was really disappointed in this book.
Debbie Sheffler
Home Front by Kristen Hannah
Not even finished with it and would recommend it. Real smooth read about today's problems, girl friends and family.
Jean L
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
Into Keldale's pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton. Along with the redoubtable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, Lynley has been sent to solve a savage murder that has stunned the peaceful countryside. For fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father's headless corpse. Her first and last words were "I did it. And I'm not sorry."
Yet as Lynley and Havers wind their way through Keldale's dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a shattering series of revelations that will reverberate through this tranquil English valley--and in their own lives as well.
This is the first of the Lynley and Havers series, a good story by a good writer. I plan to read more by this author. I don't know why I waited so long to become acquainted with her.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Far From Here by Nicole Baart
Reading the cover I was expecting a light romance. But this book has a lot of substance and is very well-written. The characters are believable, but I thought the ending was a little abrupt and maybe not terribly realistic.
Lea Ann
The Night Stranger by Chris Bohjalian
A strangely compelling tale. As the reader I felt/knew "bad" things were going to happen, but I couldn't not read each page. The book is a cross between a mystery, sci-fi and fantasy. It keeps the reader enthralled. I did find the ending a bit off-setting, but, I suppose, given what went before, it was to be expected.
Laura Beierbach
Private Games by James Patterson
I expected more pizazz.
Lynn Demsky
Horker's Law by Mike Lee
Just not my type of book...ugh!
Lynn Demsky
Enough with the Shorts Already by Bill Bernico
Entertaining, interesting stories!
Lynn Demsky
The Lion, the Lamb the Hunted by Andrew E. Kaufman
Very good read although I did figure out who Nathan was almost right away but the how, why, when etc was great!
Lynn Demsky
Boxer Shorts by Bill Bernico
I like his short stories --- wish he'd write a real whole complete book! Good for waiting(s) time(s)! Entertaining, interesting and make you think stories!
Lynn Demsky
Origin by J. A. Konrath
Very interesting, grabbed me from the first page and held my interest through to the end. End wasn't very believable though!
Lynn Demsky
Desert Places by Blake Crouch
Just wasn't very believable nor very entertaining although I did finish it!
Lynn Demsky
Darkness on the Edge of Town by J. Carson Black
Entertaining, interesting read --- although as I was reading it, I kept thinking I had seen it as a television movie.
Lynn Demsky
Watch Me Die by Lee Goldberg
Lee Goldberg's books are really GREAT reads! He never ceases to amaze me. Good read!
Lynn Demsky
Disintegration by Scott Nicholson
Caught my attention from page one. I couldn't put it down. GREAT read!
Phyllis Gronewold
The Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, The Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler
Years ago, I read and loved the fiction book of "Hawaii" by James Michener. His stories of Hawaii from the creation to modern times started my interest in Hawaii and their history. The nonfiction, "Lost Kingdom: The Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure" by Julia Flynn Siler was just as intriguing to me as the fiction version. To meet the rulers of Hawaii and see how an actual nation was lost to imperialism is a dramatic saga - Siler tells it in a lush, non-moralizing way that keeps your interest. I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads First-Reads program.
Judy O.
A Good American by Alex George
I wanted to like this book, as I had read some hype on it. But, I lost interest about half-way through as it just got boring. It was about Jette and Friederick who came to America from Germany in the early 1900s. They settled in Missouri where they began to raise a family. It just became so unrelentingly sad as people died one by one. Anyway, I did not finish the book. The first half kept my interest, however.
