October 23, 2015 - November 6, 2015

Alex from Tampa, FL Donna from Fairlawn, OH Esther from Fort Myers Beach, FL Linda from Urbana, OH Linda from Bethel Park, PA

Beverlee
The Martian by Andy Weir

I read it in a weekend because once I engaged with the people in the book I couldn't leave them!

Thomas
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

I enjoyed reading this book. It was very funny. I would recommend this book to anybody.

Anne
The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

I drove from Missouri to North Carolina for Bouchercon in Raleigh earlier this month. I wanted an entertaining mystery to listen to in my van and found an eleven disc set of Jonathan Kellerman's THE MURDERER'S DAUGHTER our public library. The reader's voice (female) was perfect, and the story was absorbing. What a good traveling companion!

myrna
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

A wonderful story about those who struggle in southeast Asia but survive because of determination.

Norm Levy
Saturn Run by John Sandford

Not your usual book by this author of the "Prey" series, but just as entertaining.

Rhonda
After You by Jojo Moyes

A wonderful follow up to ME BEFORE YOU. A chance to see how Louisa's life was unfolding. All the usual wonderful characters Jojo Moyes puts in her books.

SHELIA
Why Dogs Do That by Tom Davis and Peter Ring

Short but I learned a few things like: Dogs DNA is basically that of a wolf from which they are descended. Scientists cannot tell which breed a dog is by looking at DNA because they are all the same. The author highly praises dogs as a gift from God. Agreed.

Wendy
Daydreams of Angels by Heather O'Neill

This book is shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in Canada. It features short fiction with a twist of magic, which is not my cup of tea but I acknowledge that it is for a lot of people. The writing is very good. I would not be surprised if it wins the prize.

Thomas
Who Was Alfred Hitchcock? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso

A short but interesting book.

Carolyn
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I thought this was a wonderful book that held my interest throughout. I found myself sitting in the car long after I should have gotten out just to hear a few more bits of the story.The characters were rich and believable and were brought to life by the two fantastic narrators. Seldom do I listen to the author's note at the end of a book, but I was glad that I chose to this time. Ms. Grissom described her inspiration for the book and I found that very interesting.

Norene
The Doctor Wears A Stetson by Anne Marie Novark

Nice story.

JoAnn
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Great plot, good character development and a few twists at the end. A wonderful account of survival techniques in the throes of the enemy and the behavior of two sisters.

LINDA
Gabe: Hell Squad Book 3 by Anna Hackett

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, and the series just keeps on getting better and better! In Book Three, we learn Gabe Jackson's story since his twin died in battle, how he lost everything that mattered, and since he joined Hell Squad he took on more foolish risks to kill every alien as he sought revenge for his twin. Gabe had his DNA tampered with when he was part of a secret Army super-soldier project. He was stronger, faster, and deadlier than any human man and on a fast slide to a breakdown or being killed if he didn't let go. He was a loner and not one to mingle with others except his team, and they learned to give him a wide berth.

Karen
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen

This memoir offers various chapters, all of which offer not only a look into her private life but also basic practical advice that you might apply to your own life should you choose.

Nancy
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

I love her books and am so sorry this is her last one. A young woman opens an inn by the sea in winter. She is told no one will come in winter, but she has several people for her first week. The story revolves around the lives of the ones that come and why they are there.

Linda
Transcending Darkness: A Girl's Journey Out of the Holocaust by Estelle Glaser Laughlin

This book was a selected read for my book group. The author is a friend of a member. The member met the author on a tour of Polish concentration camps. The tour was sponsored by The Holocaust Museum.

Julie
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

A classic that our book group has chosen for this month tells the story of surviving off the land in Florida, told through the eyes of young Jody, who just wants an animal of his own to care for. He gets his wish, but then has to suffer the consequences.

Linda
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

I borrowed this book from the library but I need to own a copy. I've already told my son he should read it, and as I was leaving the library today saw one of the Sociology professors from the university where I work. Evidently I did such a good job, he rushed to the counter to see if he could check it out. Because of the the wording of this book, I kept wondering about the old rule that one drop of negro blood made someone a negro. How white are the rest of us? What is in our background that we don't know? I am sure I will re-read this book. It provoked so many emotions that I have to reflect upon. Coates' son and wife are lucky to have him.

Linda
Her 37th Year by Suzanne Scanlon

I'm much closer to two times 37 than I am to 37. Perhaps that is why I didn't relate or really understand this book. It's written as if it is a small dictionary. Different. I usually like different but this did not grab me.

Marsha
The Innocent by David Baldacci

This is 422 pages of heart-pounding excitement. Will Robie is a government hit man who is sent to do what other agents cannot. He crosses with a 14-year-old runaway from an abusive foster home, and they aren't sure who is being targeted as their lives become in jeopardy.

Gail
Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann

THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING is a keeper! I wish I could assign 10 stars to this book of four short stories. The writing is lyrical with clean lines and no wasted words as they slip from the page and gently wrap the reader inside each tale. The author’s expert use of puns adds wit to the otherwise often sober narratives. All the scenes unfold without extreme graphic descriptions, even when sex and torture are involved, making it easy to read and absorb, as well as enabling the reader to get the point without the foul language and excessive detail of some of today’s novels. All the stories involve the watching eyes of a camera, a person, or the blackbird; the eyes of a bird and the lens of a camera may see more clearly than the eyes of a human.

Fran
Yesterday's News by Kajsa Ingemarsson

I truly loved the main character and all of her insecurities. Loved the ending! It was the perfect way to fill an evening.

Gail
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Brian Stevenson, a descendant of slaves and a strong, honorable activist for a justice system that provides fair and equal treatment for all, especially those who are powerless and poor, without the resources for their own defense, began his career as an intern with the Southern Prisoners Defense Fund. After a visit to death row, in 1983, he learned that some prisoners on Death Row never had access to legal counsel when they were tried and convicted, or if they did, they had inadequate counsel. He was horrified by the injustice of the system. After graduating, he went on to found the Equal Justice Initiative, and dedicated his life to the cause of those people unfairly condemned to death or life in prison. This is the story of his effort.

Laurie
The War Reporter by Martin Fletcher

Fast-paced story of war, love and redemption set in Satajevo through the eyes of Tom Layne, television correspondent.

Jerry
The Cartel by Don Winslow

Bringing you inside the so-called "war on drugs", this novel brings to life the strategies, personalities, politics and very violent realities that go along with it. I found myself rooting for the lesser of many evils, and constantly switching allegiances along with the characters themselves. I can't think of a better endorsement of a book than it is an all encompassing, engrossing experience. It's one of the reasons I read fiction...maybe it's yours too.

Tessa B C
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

At 9:00 a.m. on a sunny June morning, nine-year-old Trish is in the backseat of her mother’s car cuddling her doll. At 10:00 a.m. she’s lost in the woods. I loved Trisha McFarland! She’s resilient, intelligent, and brave. The noises and violence of nature can be frightening and shocking to anyone; it’s easy to imagine boogie men and monsters lurking in the dark. King does a masterful job playing on those fears.

helen
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

Another great read by Alice Hoffman -- our book club loved it!

Lynn W
Thunder Bay (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series Book 7) by William Kent Krueger

Cork, against his better judgement, helps 90-yr-old Henry Meloux find the son he's seen in visions, but but has never met. Excellent, as always; couldn't put it down.

Mary
The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore

THE ADMISSIONS is a funny book about a California family facing the stress of college admissions as the oldest of three daughters, an overachiever, applies to Harvard, her father's alma mater.

Stacie
The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar

This story had a simple yet heartfelt flow. The characters were well fleshed out which gave you a sense that you actually knew them.

Stacie
After You by Jojo Moyes

I had such high expectations for this sequel to ME BEFORE YOU. Immediately I got the sense that the sequel was written to appease the readers that wanted to know what happened to Louisa after losing Will. I don't believe Jojo Moyes intended to write this and you could feel that. The story was so slow and boring. I actually had to put it down part of the way through; I just could not get into the story.

Gail
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Cleverly constucted, this short, moving story is set in a small, independent book store on an island reachable by ferry from Hyannis Port. The title character, A.J. Fikry, is the bookshop owner and recently widowed. His life takes an abrupt turn the day something is left in his shop.

Stacie
The Devil in Jerusalem by Naomi Ragen

I love Naomi Ragen. Her novels about the secretive lives of traditional Jews have always kept me entertained. The stories are not always happy but they have a depth and quality that I love. THE DEVIL IN JERUSALEM was very different from her previous works. It is a much darker story with a storyline that is sometimes difficult to read. I could not put it down but conversely I wanted to at times because the protagonist angered me so much. Although this was a departure from Ragen's previous books, I still liked it and would recommend it.

Geri
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Confusing at the start, activating in the end! GONE GIRL-ish, but I liked the characters much more in this one.

Anita
Everything She Forgot by Lisa Ballantyne

This was an interesting book. It starts with a woman getting into a terrible car crash in England. A man helps her get out before her car goes on fire. The rest of the book tells of things that happened, that somehow she could not remember. The reason I only gave it 4 stars was because I was able to figure out parts of the end. I like a mystery which leaves me guessing.

Dorothy
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

The fifth book in the Inspector Gamache stories. We once again find ourselves in the isolated village of Three Pines. Familiar characters now hold new secrets. An unknown body appears in the village bistro. New people in village have secrets of their own. Who is the dead man and how did he turn up in their village? The story unfolds with both humor and horror. Beautifully written.

Jeane
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

I listened to the audiobook of this novel and I am so glad I did. It was read with just enough Italian accent that I felt as if I was in Italy. Edoardo Ballerini did right by this novel. And the novel itself was a wonder. Spanning 50 years, it was tied together flawlessly.

Sharon
X by Sue Grafton

Kinsey doesn't need the money but inactivity bores her, so she takes on the task of finding a man (ex-con) who was the baby this wealthy woman gave up many years ago. Through many twists and turns, Kinsey discovers that she is the one who has been conned; that her perception of a now deceased investigator who she thought was immoral was incorrect (to a degree), that a person she had admired was corrupt, and that her new neighbors were super con artists, willing to rip off and abuse the trust of her landlord, Henry. Good read, no extreme violence or gore. Delight to see the unfolding of the relationships until the end where I did think it got a bit preachy and sappy.

Sharon
Days of Gold by Jude Devereaux

First book by Devereaux that I have read. Somewhat predictable, romantic, one of those stories where everyone you might care about ends up with what they want. More than one villain, more than one hero. Set in Scotland in mid to late 1700s, Angus is the head of his clan, although all are servants of an Englishman who won the land in a card game. The Lord's orphaned niece comes to live with him and discovers that the day she turns 18, she is to wed the man of her choosing--as long as it is one of her uncle's cronies who will give him the money she will inherit.

Betty
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks

Almost all we know about King David is from the Bible, not history. THE SECRET CHORD fills in the blanks and fleshes David out -- shepherd, king, warrior, lover. A fascinating look at a bloody time in Israel during the Iron Age.

Linda
The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

This book was written in 2000 and for some reason I did not pick it up then, but am very glad I have read it now. It is a fictional story set during events that happened, the British invasion of Burma in1885, and the way in which the royal family was treated and all of the political chaos that happened because of it. Going on at the same time is another story of how a very poor orphaned boy became a very wealthy man by watching and learning from others and then forming the largest teak lumbering operations in India, and then on to rubber trees in India and Malaya. It is also a story of a young girl taken into the royal family as a nursemaid to the royal princesses. I do not want to say anymore but the story is a very engrossing read.

Wendy
Wild Storm by Richard Castle

I love the Castle series, but this book was kind of redundant to the ones before. I find Derrick Storm both adventurous and exciting but a little over the top when it comes to his capabilities. I think his earlier books were more realistic.

Rosemary
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Good plot but too much depravity for me.

Rosemary
Manhattan Mayhem by Mary Higgins Clark, Editor

A series of mysteries written by various Mystery Writers of America, all taking place in different sections of New York City. Well-known writers place these short stories throughout Manhattan, taking place from historic times to modern day. An unbelievable read that keeps you going from story to story, as they just keep getting better! One you'll want to share with friends.

Bev
Death Without Company by Craig Johnson

Since A&E pulled the "Longmire" series, I have been keeping in touch with Walt and the gang through Johnson's novel. The plots are compelling as I expected them to be, but Johnson's writing is smooth and sophisticated. Characters are gritty, for sure, but layered with humanity. Johnson plays the setting and scenery as additional characters germain to his storylines. His style is gutsy and earthy at times, but takes nice lyrical turns where appropriate.

Rosemary
House Calls and Hitching Posts by Dorcas Sharp Hoover

It's a collection of true-life stories about a country boy (Elton Lehman) who becomes the country doctor. He works among the Amish of eastern Ohio, treats their illnesses and injuries plus helps the Amish women give birth to their children in the home. He also created a treatment and birthing center as technology improved to help them. He received the 1998 "Country Doctor of the Year" award.

Linda
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I usually don't read post-apocalyptic books but have really enjoyed reading this one.

Donna
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Gilman

I never would have read this book based on the lame title, but our book club is reading it. I really enjoyed the story of the rise and fall of the Russian emigrant. I think more people would have read it book if it had a different title.

Pat S
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

This is my first time reading this author. I enjoyed the book as a whole and will read more of her works. My biggest dislike was the character "Billy". He was just too vulgar for my taste -- didn't appreciate his "stories" in the writing class at all. I think his character could have been rough, but just not quite so vulgar.

Pauline
Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan

This is a great debut for Lisa Regan. It gets your attention right in the first chapter and keeps you reading to the end. The characters are well developed. She could easily have grabbed her story from news headlines. A fifteen-year-old girl, Claire Fletcher, is kidnapped by a pedophile and held captive for seven years. He calls her Lynn. She can't bring herself to leave as her shame holds her captive. She is unable to take advantage of opportunities she has to escape, even when she ventures out and meets someone she still returns, even though she knows she will be beaten for it. One thinks of beaten spouse or girlfriend who stay in similar situations.

Cheryle
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

A quiet novel with meaning. The author has done a masterful job of bringing to light issues of elder loneliness and the quest for companionship. I listened to the audio version of this book and it was read in a manner that emphasizes the mundane lives depicted, but still conveyed the underlying truths.

Carolann
The Night Searchers by Marcia Muller

I have read all of the books in the Sharon McCone series and this one is a good one. I like it when she moves around San Francisco ... and she does a lot of that in this book. Years ago I was trying to read only private investigator books where the PI was female, and this series and the Mrs. Pollifax series were my favorites. Now I read all different kinds of books, but if I like the author, I have to read all their books.

Melanie
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian

I thought the author did a good job of making a historical situation come alive - I really felt for the characters. A good way to learn something about the Armenian genocide in Turkey.

BK
The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths

A WWII plane is found in a field of a manor house in England by a current day construction project. A pilot is in the cockpit. An archaeologist and the local police try to find out if the pilot was murdered and where his body was before it was found in the plane.

BK
Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach

The author of THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL has placed her new cast of characters in Wales at a B&B inherited by a hapless, over the hill, former actor. He decides to leave London and live in the remote area of Wales. Various guests arrive at his B&B to take study courses like auto mechanics or gardening. Some find new skills; some find romance.

BK
The Strangler by William Landay

Boston, November 22, 1963. The city and the Daley family are mourning the death of JFK and also the death of the family’s father. The three sons, a lawyer, a policeman and a burglar, are trying to hold the family together despite the old partner of their detective father who is imposing himself on their widowed mother. They all want to know who killed their father and why. This is the third Landay book that I have read. All three are page-turners with very different plots and characters.

BK
The Cape Ann by Faith Sullivan

Lark is a little 6-year-old girl in a small Minnesota town in 1934. She tells her story of living in the train depot with her parents. As with so many children, she was poor and didn’t really know it. Lark’s story is about her family, friends, and the town as only a small child can see it. Her greatest desire is a house of their own that she found in a book of home designs. She wants the Cape Ann design so she can have a bay window and a room of her own. I enjoyed the story in the same way I enjoyed Scout’s story in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

BK
Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indridason

Another Inspector Erlehour novel translated from Icelandic. The Inspector is haunted by the disappearance of his young brother during an ice storm. He comes across another disappearance of a young wife just after WWII. His investigation dredges up old ghosts for the still living old people who were part of the long ago event. I enjoy all of the Insp. Erlehour novels. I especially appreciate the good story development, good plot, good character development, and none of the vulgarity and profanity that too many U.S. writers seem compelled to include in lieu of plot and character.

Bill
Make Me by Lee Child

Reacher is once again in middle America and, being curious and having no specific plans, decides to get off the train at a train depot in the middle of nowhere to see if he can figure out why the town was put where it was. A woman steps out of the shadows to greet him only to discover that Reacher is not the person she was waiting for. So begins Reacher's next adventure as he eventually teams up with the attractive woman--ex-FBI and now PI-- to assist her in finding her missing colleague. The small town has secrets that keep Reacher and his new partner from discovering the whereabouts of her colleague. Clues uncovered by Reacher take them to other cities, finding bits and pieces of evidence that eventually lead them back to the small town.

Bonnie
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Quick read, but then you realize how much depth there is in these few pages. Some weighty philosophical questions here.

Stephanie
The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Let me preface this by saying this book is not something I would normally read but was recommended to me and I bought it and took it with me on a trip. It was simply amazing - they had me on the hook almost from the first page, and it was one of those books you pick back up every time you have five minutes to devote to it. On the surface it sounded like a remake of Jurassic Park but its far from that. It's about the unveiling of a very special zoo in China to a group of VIPs. The catch is that it's a zoo filled with dragons. So you can imagine how many ways this can go bad. It's action-packed and beautifully descriptive. The characters are well developed and you feel like you have an interest in them. Highly recommend.

Linda
The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea

This book could easily make one nauseous with the detail about what happens to a body in the heat of the desert when people collapse from the walk from Mexico. Don't let that stop you. Read this book. The book tells the story of a group of men, most who died, trying to find a better life by walking to the U.S. Urrea was able to interview members of the border patrol to flesh out the story.

Katherine
We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas

This is a sad but redemptive story of a girl that grows up as a child of alcoholics but through determination is able to grow from her situation and forge a happy life.

Mike
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

I enjoyed all of her books. I have reread this book because the movie has come out, and it has been so enjoyable knowing which actors and actresses play each character.

Sheree
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

I love stories about small town life and family relationships. She keeps you wanting to read what is going to happen next, and I feel like I am part of the community.

Jan
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

This is a charming book about a family who owns a bed and breakfast and always has major celebrations at Christmas. Except this time. There are secret affairs, family members hiding relationships, feeling lonely, feeling like failures, breakups, etc., the usual family stuff that comes out at holidays. It is a fun read and now there is a followup book, but this book stands alone.

Raylene
A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer

Medicine has come a long way in modern times, making injuries and diseases manageable. We mostly take our health for granted today, but prior to the discovery of antibiotics people could die from a scraped knee or a cold. Who knew penicillin would be such a miracle? It was discovered in 1928 by Alex Fleming but nearly forgotten until WWII. By D-Day in June, 1944, every medic going ashore in France carried penicillin in his pack. Photojournalist for Life magazine, Claire Shipley, learns of penicillin's discovery and the war department claiming patents on penicillin's production as an essential war weapon and is drawn to it on a personal level when her son becomes ill. This book is an educational read that won't put you to sleep.

Kathleen
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

THESE THINGS HIDDEN is an entertaining book about the tragic events of an evening and their consequences for those involved. It is told from the point of view from Allison, a twenty-one-year-old just released from prison, her sister Brynn who was with her on that terrible night, Charm, a young student nurse struggling to take care of her dying stepfather, and Claire, an adoptive mother who has had her share of heartbreak. As the story unfolds you are given glimpses back into what occurred on that fateful night and how each character was involved. Unexpected twists and turns make this a difficult book to put down and present an unexpected ending.

Amy
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

Although Maud's mind is cloudy, she knows one thing for certain: Elizabeth is missing. And no one cares. In this frightening realistic story, readers discover what it's like to have Alzheimer's and share the need to put the past to rest. Moving from past to present readers grow to love Maud and want to help her find all the missing answers of her past.

Linda
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

This was a delightful tale of someone finding her special niche in life.

Linda
Obsession Falls by Christina Dodd

This is an excellent book that follows Virtue Falls. Taylor Summers is the main character and has unwittingly become a pawn in a game played by the evil Michael Gracie and the philanthropist Kennedy McManus. She is both enchanted by and fearful of Gracie but fell in love with McManus even though he tended to keep his feelings to himself. She and Kateri Kwinault, formerly with the Coast Guard and now the town librarian, worked out a plan to finally rid the world of Gracie. When she saw a body floating in the ocean amid the helicopter wreckage, she assumed it was Gracie. But was it?

Linda
The Hidden by Heather Graham

When he receives a call from his ex-wife, Krewe's newest member Diego McCullough hurries to Colorado. Scarlet Barlow is a historian and works in a museum cataloging its contents, among which are old weapons. One of these is believed to be the weapon used in two murders. Other members of the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters arrive and see the ghosts of murdered victims going back to the 1800s. The original settler and his wife were murdered for gold, which has never been found. The Krewe feels that the new murders are related to the one old but cannot figure out who the murderer is.

Linda
The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

This was an excellent book deserving more than 5 stars. Lots of suspense as you try to figure out who the bad guy is. Is it the handyman hunk known as the town bad boy? Or is the smirking ex-detective who is now the chief? Or is it the genial restaurant owner who is known as an all-around good guy? One is copying the torture and murders carried out by the infamous Dahlquist patriarchs over the years since the Murder House had been built.

Linda
Undercover by Danielle Steel

A great story of two people whose lives were drastically changed by tragedy and are brought together and find happiness. Marshall Everett was an undercover DEA agent on loan to the Secret Service’s presidential detail when he is shot. The bullet caused extensive nerve damage in his arm and his future as an agent is over. Ariana Gregory was trying to overcome the effects of being kidnapped, rescued, and then losing her father in Argentina. They meet in Paris when Marshall saves her from kidnappers again.

Linda
The Sheriff of Shelter Valley by Tara Taylor Quinn

Beth Allen and her son Ryan have found refuge in the small town of Shelter Valley. Beth is suffering from amnesia and feels threatened by something or someone but cannot remember all of her past. Gregg Richards, the sheriff, is attracted to Beth but frustrated that she won’t tell him anything about her past. Then he sees a postcard with a photo of a missing boy named Brian. He could pass for Ryan except for a different hair color. Is Ryan the missing child? Did Beth kidnap and run with her child?

Linda
Silk and Steel by Kat Martin

When caught in a compromising position, Lucien Montaine, the Marquess of Litchfield, is forced to marry Lady Kathryn Grayson. Knowing that she would be despised by Lucien for her act of treachery, Kathryn knew no other way to escape from the evil clutches of her guardian uncle Douglas Roth, the Earl of Dunston. Lucien was attracted to Kathryn’s beauty but it took awhile for him to forgive her for what she had done. Lucien was an organized man who had his life all planned out until he met the whirlwind known as Kathryn. I love the romance found in Kat Martin's books!

Linda
The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

Amelia Christiansen headed off to Europe to pursue her lifelong ambition of becoming a professional photographer. While in Prague, she met Roark St. John, a wealthy young man who was dabbling in photography while trying to find his purpose in life. After he met and fell in love with Amelia, he knew she was the one for him. But when Amelia saw him embrace another woman, she abruptly left for home. Roark soon followed but Amelia would not listen to his explanations. She loved him but felt he had lied to her. It was now up to him to show her how much he loved her. A sweet story but I did not care for the character of Amelia.

Linda
Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky

This is a book about second chances. Caroline MacAfee has been ousted from her position as host on a popular home improvement show. She is angry with everyone, but her longtime friend Dean tries to reason with her and now wants a more serious relationship with her. Jamie, her daughter, has broken up with her fiance Brad over his reluctance to assume responsibility with her over her young half-brother whose parents were killed in an accident. Jamie meets an acquaintance in the park with his young son. As they resume their friendship, love quickly blossoms and they both realize they have a future together.

Linda
Last Chance Hero by Hope Ramsay

Ross Gardiner, the fire chief of Last Chance, South Carolina, has been dating Lucy Grey, and the town matchmakers have hinted this is a perfect match. However, no sparks fly for either of them and both feel kind of stuck although neither would admit it. Ross is in love with Sabina, Lucy’s sister, and Lucy is attracted to Zach Bailey, an ATF agent investigating a suspicious fire in the area. The town is all excited about the coming wedding of Ross and Lucy, except for the parties involved. These characters need a good shaking as they acted too meek for me. They failed to stand up for themselves and let the town rope them into something neither wanted.

Linda
A Notorious Ruin by Carolyn Jewel

Lucy Sinclair Wilcott married a prizefighter in order to settle her father’s debts. Although they came from different classes, Lucy had loved her husband Devil. Since she married so far beneath her, she is shunned by some of her neighbors now that she is a widow. The Marquess of Thrale and Captain Niall came to visit her father, not knowing that he had passed away. She was attracted to Thrale but feels there is no future in it for her. Thrale has other ideas.

Linda
Without a Trace by Colleen Coble

Bree Nicholls and her dog Samson are part of a search-and-rescue team and spend their spare time looking for remains of the airplane crash that killed her husband and son. Although everyone tells her to let it go, she can’t until she finds and buries their bodies. She hears rumors of a strange woman walking the woods and thinks the woman might know something about the crash site, but the woman is nowhere to be found. One day, she holds one of her son’s shirts to Samson and he catches a scent and starts into the woods. Would this be another lost cause or has Samson really caught a scent? This was a great book.

Linda
The Spring Bride by Anne Gracie

Orphaned Jane Chance wants security in marriage and is not looking for love. But she felt some attraction for a handsome gypsy when he saved her from thugs. The gypsy, Zachary Black, meets her in the park for days after their encounter and always has some gift for her dog. She is engaged to Lord Cambury so she should not be having these thoughts about Zachary. But she finds she is in love with Zachary.

Linda
Safe at Last by Maya Banks

After 12 years of searching for his lost love, Zach Covington has found her, but Gracie is terrified of him and accuses him of betraying her. Zach has no idea what she is talking about but is determined to find out. He has no idea that he was betrayed by his father and closest friends. He wants the love they used to have and is determined to put that love back into her eyes. Zach gets in contact with his former friends and finds what they did to Gracie. He takes revenge for her and vows that he will never leave her again.

Linda
Last One Home by Debbie Macomber

A heartwarming story of three sisters reuniting after a long absence and how they regained their love and affection for each other. Cassie left home when she was 18 and pregnant and had an abusive marriage until she had had enough and left with her daughter and the clothes on their backs. She came to Seattle and got a job and started volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to earn hours toward her own home. There she met and fell in love with Steve, also a volunteer. She had contacted her sisters, and after a rocky start they all got together and once again became close sisters.

Linda
Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber

Rose Harbor Inn is a special place where its guests find comfort and healing. The inn’s owner Jo Marie Rose finally admits she is attracted to Mark Taylor, her mysterious handyman. He has told her he loves her but is leaving Cedar Cove but will not tell her why. Jo Marie is first baffled, then angry. Meanwhile two of her guests have returned for a high school reunion with high expectations that do not materialize.

Susan
The Footprints of God by Greg Iles

This is not my typical type of book yet I really enjoyed it. A bit of sci-fi mixed in with a terrific mystery/crime plot. I'm a fan of this author.

Rosa
The Blessings by Elise Juska

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the story of the Blessings, a large Irish Catholic family living in Philadelphia. Told in chapters that read like short stories, this book tells the story of what it's like to be part of a large family in which you are bound to be compared to your siblings, but you always have the love and support you need during the trying times. The book spans several decades as the characters grow older, and we see the effects of life on the strong bonds of family. I related to so many of these characters. The writing is lyrical and beautiful, poetic at times. This is one to be savored.

Lewis
Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo

A stand-alone novel by Jo Nesbo, this book is different from his Harry Hole series and from his other previous thrillers. This book is more psychological in nature. I liked it, although not as much as his others, especially THE SON.

Sally
The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain

Translated from the French, this is an absolutely charming, short novel. Having just returned from Paris, it truly resonated for me. It is the story of a Paris bookseller who finds the handbag belonging to a women who was mugged, and his search for her having no contact information, just the contents of her handbag, including her red notebook. Lovely and whimsical.

LINDA
Life to the Max by Mia London

I was given this book in return for an honest review. I'd never read this author before but will definitely seek more of her books! Quiet and reserved, Jeneva Reece is on a mission to buy a business and Captured in Frame will be hers as soon as she has saved enough money. Owning a business had been her dream for three years and now all of her hard work and no social life were coming to an end! When her boss told her to get her feet wet by designing a once-in-a-lifetime display to get a bid contract, she decided to give it her all and entered the hotel only to be greeted and shown to a conference room where she could strut her stuff. After her presentation she headed to the front door only to hear her name...

Chris
Trust No One by Paul Cleave

Loved the story and its take on the pain and horrors of Alzheimer's... and the twist at the end -- unexpected!

Kristine
Heartsong Cottage by Emily March

This was a good Christmas-themed book about finding love for a second time in a place you least suspect. Both of the characters, Daniel and Shannon, are well developed. You really feel for these two as they have lost people who meant everything to them and they eventually find that love doesn't stop and that they have a lot to continue giving.

Hedwig
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

I had to force myself to finish. The characters have become cartoons. They have ruined the context of the characters. The storyline was the worst I have encountered in a long time. I will not read any more of this series. I kept hoping that it would somehow turn around and become at least a good story. Very disappointed.

Linda
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer

This is not a new book, but it is wonderful. The story takes place during WWII on the Channel Island of Guernsey. The story is about how these people survived during the German occupation of their island, but more than that, it is about the people and all their foibles. It is quirky, funny, tragic, and all-in-all a wonderful read. I love a book that makes me think of the characters long after I've finished reading it, and this book certainly does that.

kathy
In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell

A Witchcraft Mystery. In this book Lily goes to a local art deco ball where vintage fashions are worn.

Paula
Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pamela Smith Hill

This is the annotated autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder that explores the history of frontier life and the communities where she lived during sixteen years of travel. Wilder wrote the classic series of the Little House books. This annotated edition offers detailed information through maps, federal census records, newspaper articles, and other primary sources. Wilder's writing about frontier life describes the living conditions and home building, area plant and animal life, and dealing with some of the most severe weather conditions. She lived during an exciting time in the westward expansion.

Barbara
A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George

My review of the latest Elizabeth George book in the Inspector Lynley series: First, I believe I have read them all (I hope I haven't missed any!) and I love the characters. I was happy to see that Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers was again a prime character in this book, along with Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata. They make a great team solving crimes. I can just hear their London accents in my head as I read. Administrative assistant Dorothea Harriman is also featured prominently, a first, which was also enjoyable. I hope we continue to see more of her. I am not a fan of the boss, Isabelle Ardery, but I know stories need tension, so I can deal with it. Lynley as always, is doing what he does best. I liked him here.n

Hazel
The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

As a fan of steampunk and an ultimate Jim Butcher fanatic, I hesitated to start a new series by this amazing author. But I took the plunge. Imagine my amazement -- thrilling new world(s), action enough to satisfy even the most antsy reader, and characters that I can definitely become as attached to as I have Butcher's Harry Dresden and his "family". The "Word of Mouth" should say, "Pick up a copy of this book and read it as quickly as you can!"

Francisca E B
The Ocean in the Closet by Yuko Taniguchi

This beautifully written, poignant novel tackles the aftermath of war and how those aftereffects ripple through multiple generations. I feel I learned a little of the Japanese mentality by seeing things from Hideo and his wife’s points of view. I thought Taniguchi captured the way in which a child thinks, the kind of logic a child would use in piecing together an explanation for what is going on around her. I loved Helen – her tender heart, her courage and resilience. And Hideo’s quiet strength, endurance and healing heart. And while there is clearly no happy resolution, the novel’s ending looks to the future with hope.

LINDA
Unwrapping Her Perfect Match by Kat Latham

I was given this book in return for an honest review, and I loved Gwen and John's story! Gwen Chambers was given money by her sister to bid on her boyfriend for a charity auction since she couldn't legally do a bid, and she didn't want the captain of the London Legends rugby team ending up with another woman. But instead of bidding on Liam she bid on John Sheldon! At six foot one, John was the only man tall enough so she didn't need to look down, and his hasty pick up line was so terrible that she wanted to laugh at the big guy for trying so hard! John Sheldon had been captivated since his eyes saw her and he made a bet with his team mate that he could go for more money than him, saying a quick prayer that he wouldn't get humiliated.

Susan
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

STEVE JOBS is an In-depth novel of the co-founder of Apple. Isaacson beautifully details Jobs' life from his birth through his battle with cancer which takes his life. The reader sees his genius in his business dealings and his cruelty to his employees and his family. A fascinating read, but a little too much detail in his business ventures.

Maya
The Martian by Andy Weir

Great book and very interesting!

Linda
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

There are all different types of families. This novel describes three sisters and their relationships with one another in great depth and feeling.

Susan
Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

I expected to be emotionally engaged in this book considering the subject matter of school shooter and missing child, but there was a distancing inherent in the writing that never cost me a tear. I could not help comparing it with Jodi Picoult's ONE HUNDRED MINUTES, which was a page-turner.

Lynn
She's Not There by P. J. Parrish

The sister team has done it again with this stand-alone. I read in the author notes that as they collaborate on novels, one concentrates on plotting and the other on characterization. They have each excelled here! An engrossing mystery of amnesia, wealth, and deceit that kept me riveted.

Alex
The Confession by John Grisham

I hadn't read a John Grisham book in several years. I go through phases of reading one author's books for quite a while, then fizzle out when I hit a less than stellar book. This book started me rereading Grisham again! I stayed up late into the night to learn why someone would confess to a murder when someone else is on death row for the same crime.

Lois
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz

Fast-paced psychological thriller until the end when you discover some answers to questions. Characters are so believable and interesting. I enjoyed the book.

Sharon
What You Left Behind by Samatha Hayes

The book was well written with many clues and red herrings. But it was a frightening book as well. Bullying, adultery, mental illness, autism, teenage pain, shoddy police work and brilliant police work, family jealousy all were part of the book. I think I rated it low because I just do not like the genre "thriller" even though I enjoy a good mystery. I say it was well written because it disturbed me so much, made me feel quite paranoid, looking behind myself, around corners and wanting a tranquilizer.

Hedwig
The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

The book started out flying along but in the end it became nothing. I would not have even finished it except reviews won't be printed without completion of the book. In defense of the book I have never been a fan of Ms. Atwood but I keep hearing how wonderful her writing is. I do not think I will try any more of her books. This book had the potential to be really great but ended up simply being about sex and not the pretext it tries to point to -- free will.

Lynn
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

Enchanting! This title began my foray into non-thriller Scandanavian titles. I haven't yet read Backman's debut bestseller A MAN CALLED OVE. Still, I am confident he got his second effort exactly right. It has warmth, humor, magic and mystery. On my favorites list.

Lynn
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Another non-thriller international offering that will be released in the U.S. in January. I feel fortunate to have been allowed an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. A woman from Sweden arrives to visit her book-lover pen pal, only to find that Anna has just died. The setting, characters, and plot development will delight you, whether you are a bookseller, librarian, romantic, or storyteller.

Kris
Zeroes by Chuck Wendig

This book captures you at the first page and never lets go - exploring hackers and their crimes and their consequences - it's a thriller for sure! I loved it and would highly recommend it to everyone.

Marsha
The Hit by David Baldacci

A skilled assassin, Will Robie, is sent by his U.S. Government, to take out a fellow assassin, Jessica Reel. In the process of locating her, he finds she is on the track to uncover mole inside their own agency who has plans that will send shock waves throughout the world.

marleen
Manhattan Mayhem: Crime Stories from Mystery Writers of America by Mary Higgans Clark (Editor)

Some great stories (3), some average, some so forgettable - I can't even remember them. These are all short stories by very published mystery writers. The very best one was from Jeffrey Deaver called the Baker of Bleeker St. and had such a surprise ending I was floored. I have always loved Deaver's works. Another was called Evermore by Justin Scott, an author I had never heard of, but will look for in the future. This was such a different story that went back and forth in time about how (supposedly) Edgar Allen Poe got his stories. The last of my 3 favs was by Persia Walker, another author I had never read called Dizzy and Gillespie. Great story that stuck. All the stories took place in Manhattan locations.

marleen
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I finished this book in September and I am still crying over it at the end of October. This is a beautifully written and researched novel. Ms. Hannah is a remarkable writer who apparently can write about any decade, any era, anything. This is the first book of hers I have read but probably not the last (if I can take the heart-wrenching). This takes place in France as WWII breaks out and tells of the horrors and bravery of the people in Paris and in the farmlands. Two sisters go two different ways, both not knowing that they are each in their own ways fighting the war and the Nazis. Hard to read, difficult to put down. Wonderful to see how brave these people were. I loved ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE but this was a different.

marleen
World Gone By by Dennis Lehane

This is the sequel to LIVE BY NIGHT, which left off with Joe Coughlin losing his wife. It was an excellent book. This book was not. Dennis Lehane is one of my favorite authors but this is my least favorite book that he has written. Joe is in a spin. He is doing his job but isn't aware of things around him. He loves and takes care of his son as that is all he has left. Joe knows he is the smartest, yet being the smartest may not be the ideal when you are working for the mob and Meyer Lansky.

Cindy
Front Runner by Felix Francis

Felix has picked up where his father (Dick Francis) left off and delivers compelling horse racing mysteries. Great plot. Gets your pulse racing along with the horses.

Sally
American Assassin by Vince Flynn

The first installment of the popular Mitch Rapp series. An interesting thriller.

Rita
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A delightful and charming debut novel! It will make you cry, laugh and fall in love with Ove and his quirky neighbors! It is a story you will cherish and will want to read over and over again. A true gem!

Nissa
Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

Great mystery thriller book.

Hedwig
The Searcher by Simon Toyne

Great book. Did not see the twist at the end coming, which is surprising for me! Fast-paced with excellent characters and storyline. I am going to add Solomon Creed to my list of favorite must-read characters. It was great to find a new author and character. Read in two evening sitting. Chapters short and leaves you wanting to read just a little more.

Judy O.
The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

This is the story of "The Amazing Arden", a magician during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The story starts in Waterloo, Iowa, and since I'm an Iowan this piqued my interest. Enough said. I did not like the book and would not recommend it.

Lynn W
The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

This sequel to THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS just wasn't very interesting. I put it down several times and finally had to make myself finish it.

Monika
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

This book was written in the mid 1950s but published in 2015. It is a sequel to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It is best to read that book first to understand Jean Louise Fitch's reminiscences of the time past since the trial of the first book. I was really moved by her fear of being pregnant. It brought back memories when I grew up in Switzerland at that time. There was no sex education in the schools in those days.

Monika
McKnight in Shining Armor by Tami Hoag

Heroine Kelsie Connors is struggling to keep it all together. She has two kids, a house full of animals, and several jobs to provide for everyone. One day Alec McKinight comes into her life and changes everything. As a love affair evolves the two become inseparable and are truly in love, which ends in a happy conclusion.

Monika
The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory

This is a fictional account of Kateryn Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, the first English Queen to publish under her own name. She is a busy woman uniting the royal family, ruling as regent of the kingdom and creating a circle, advancing the Protestant movement. Only the death of Henry VIII saved her from a death by fire because there was a warrant out for her signed by the king. Henry VIII died while masses were being said for him. Let's hope that the stink of his leg does not permeate all of heaven while the rest of the country burns in hell.

LINDA
Courage Stolen by R. Scott Mackey

I was given this book in return for an honest review and can say that the series keeps getting better and better! Book Four begins as Ray is hired to find the Monarch Project from a small university that had the potential to slow America's dependence on fuel fossil energy and it would make billions. The project was ransomed for twenty millions dollars and Ray must keep the police from knowing or the three years of hard work will be destroyed if it leaks. Ray gets caught up by finding a dead body and the police thinks he's to blame, then discovers a plot to blow up a government dam. Just another day in the life of a former college professor turn private eye.

Monika
The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

This is the story of Sarra, a mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the 20th century. Jean Gibbs, a New York editor, finds part of the manuscript and has to travel from NY to the Blue Ridge Mountains to find the rest of the story. It would be really interesting to go to the Blue Ridge Mountains and find the patches of herbal medicine that are apparently hidden in the forest.

Marsha
The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

Creepy story to read on Halloween week. Not his best collaboration. Somehow I had to keep reading to the outcome but I had pretty well figured it out. There are much better Patterson books to read.

Sean
Inferno by Dan Brown

Robert Langdon's back and his adventure this time is better than the last, but still nothing close to his first two exploits. Here, Dante's Inferno plays a huge role and Langdon does his normal teaching while running for his life shtick, which is obviously unnerving at times. There are some very good twists but they are outdone by implausible ones. The book was a fun read but very preachy at times, and the ending while unexpected, wasn't great. Overall, a quick, enjoyable read.

Debbie
Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs

Nothing is better than a cozy mystery and the wonderful tea and food mentioned in Laura Childs's latest novel. I would love to have Theodosia's shop and her employees. The characters could be better developed, but still the story is fun with all the silly events and people. Max does not seem too upset about his loss of a job, and the police seem not involved in the murders. Laura Childs provides fashion, elegance, impressive food to sway the reader away from lack of character and setting and plot. The journey is whimsical and fun.

Debbie
The Alienist by Caleb Carr

The first chapters of this novel nearly ended further reading of this impressive novel. The story presents the new techniques used to track and locate serial killers. Laszlo Kreizler is a doctor of the mind in New York in 1896, and many people are not open to these new methods. The story involves many historic figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and J. P. Morgan. The conditions in the slums of New York are terrible. John Moore, the narrator, works for the New York Times, but has joined Dr. Laszlo Kreizler and other people in their quest to find the killer of young male prostitutes. Two Jewish brothers, Marcus and Lucius Isaacson, utilize fingerprinting and other methods of finding the killer.

Richard N B
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

A wounded soldier walks away from the hospital, determined to return to his love on Cold Mountain. Meanwhile, that young woman, raised to be a flower of Southern womanhood, is finding her way alone, with the help of a homeless waif with reserves of strength and the knowledge to survive. The novel moves back and forth between Ada/Ruby and Inman, giving different perspectives on this time during the Civil War.

Monika
The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin

This is a fictional account of some historic figures like Bay Middleton, who spent five years with Sisi the Austrian, who was married to Franz Joseph, piloting her through the hunting season in England and Ireland. Her son Rudolph, Charlotte Baird, Earl Spencer and Chicken Hartopp also play a role in this fascinating novel.

Monika
Wyoming Bold by Diana Palmer

Psychic Melissa Baker saves a former border agent Dalton Kirk from being killed after he moves back to his ranch in Wyoming. This story has a happy ending and is a moving romance novel.

Brenda
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

I just finished ROGUE LAWYER by John Grisham and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the book until the end. I don't want to give anything away but I was terribly disappointed at the ending. I enjoy Mr. Grisham's writing style and he keeps me hooked all through the book. This book would have rated 5 stars except for the ending. But I look forward to Mr. Grisham's next book as I have read all of his books to date.

Myrna
Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

A beautifully written story of one woman's loss and the impact it has on many others.

Wendy
Bus on Jaffa Road by Mike Kelly

Compelling.

Joyce
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

An interesting book on a disfunctional mixed race family in the 70s. Both parents have issues from their childhood that they want their favorite daughter to avoid.

Thomas
Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

Very good read and funny too.

Thomas
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

It was a very good read. I really enjoyed the book.

Karen
Make Me by Lee Child

A great mystery that keeps one reading and turning the pages until the mystery is resolved. Jack Reacher is traveling by train when he encounters a town with an intriguing name, Mother's Rest. His quest to find out the origin of the name takes him on a journey to locate a missing private detective and a depressed young man bent on suicide. Sadly, greedy people prey on suicidal individuals and will eliminate anyone who interferes with their business.

Heather
The Scent of Secrets by Jane Thynne

I was a little doubtful at the beginning of this book but then became completely absorbed in the story. British/German actress Clara Vine becomes an anti-Nazi spy and is asked to befriend Eva Braun. This is really a fascinating espionage story!

Sandy
The Escape by David Baldacci

Just finished this one a minute ago and loved every page of it!! So many surprises! Can't wait to read the next one.

Ivy
Fear of Dying by Erica Jong

An enlightening, funny and introspective trip into the lives of a married couple told from the wife's perspective. Jong hits a home run in her traditional sarcastic and humorous take on life.

Esther
The Bone Tree by Greg Iles

This is the second part of a trilogy, with the first book being NATCHEZ BURNING. I tried reading THE BONE TREE when I hadn't yet read NATCHEZ BURNING and realized I was missing too much detail and background, so I read NATCHEZ BURNING first, then moved on to THE BONE TREE. I've read and enjoyed several of Greg Iles books in the past and with the first two books (more than 1600 pages) of this trilogy, he has outdone himself. This is an epic saga with a huge, diverse cast of characters and action on almost every page. Don't let the length of these books scare you away - the pages fly by. I am now eagerly awaiting the third book. Highly recommend.

Michele
The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

Jillian Cantor has imagined a woman who lives on the same floor of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in the years immediately prior to their arrest and execution. Millie is married to a miserable older Russian man who treats her poorly. She and Ethel become friends, as neighbors sometimes do. They are both young women with young male children and have much in common. As the friendship develops, Millie is drawn into the spy conspiracy which caught Ethel and Julius. Fascinating story. I could not put this book down!!

Karen
X by Sue Grafton

A complex mystery that kept my interest from beginning to end. X has three mysteries that private eye Kinsey Millhone is trying to solve: a list in code from a late colleague, searching for a child put up for adoption by a now wealthy woman, and a suspicious neighbor. Along the way, she learns that she is fallible. People are not always what they appear to be, sometimes blame is assigned unfairly, and some people are evil and dangerous.

LINDA
House of Shadows by Darcie Coates

I was given this book in return for an honest review and was amazed and so caught up in the story that I never noticed it was a genre I never like reading! Sophie Hemlock attended a play escorted by her uncle and was admiring the ladies in all their silks and feathers, but one man stood heads taller and she was captured by his looks and dark eyes. When he caught her staring at him she blushed and looked away, but the next moment he stood behind her. Once her uncle introduced them. he stated that he had business with her father and intended to come the next day, but Sophie intended to not be there. But her plans were foiled when he came earlier than expected.

Sheree
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

I loved how she developed the characters so that you wanted to find out more about them, past and present.

Susan
Small Blessings by Martha Woodroof

I enjoyed the book because while some characters seemed to be larger than life their flawed pasts made them human and likable. The characters were not at all how they appeared. Life can be messy.

sue
The Witches by Stacy Schiff

So interesting. Not text-booky at all.

Barbara
We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Very readable story of two young Mexican-Americans with similar upbringings with the exception that one is legal, the other not. Wonderful insights into the culture of poverty, the role of family in success, and the vagaries of how the criminal justice system deals with delinquent behaviors. I'm so very glad I read it.

Anna
Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

I could not put this book down - it reads like a mystery thriller. I learned a lot about Lincoln's assassination I didn't know before. I highly recommend it.

Anna
Into the Wild by Jon Krauker

A sad but very well researched account of Chris Mcandless's trek into the Alaskan wilderness. Very well written.

Helen Wright
The Thames Rivers Murders by Ashley Gardner and Jennifer Ashley

This is Book 10 in the Captain Lacey series of Regency mysteries. This has been an excellent series with good historical background and excellent plots. Captain Lacey has been wounded and is no longer with the army. His adventures and murder solving are exciting and continue to be very interesting. There is an ongoing romance (very happily) and all sorts of interesting characters. Great series and ideal for Regency lovers looking for something a little different.

Barbara
You're the Best: A Celebration of Friendship by The Satellite Sisters

I won this book and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed it very much. I could relate to many areas of the book. Definitely a lovely book to share with friends.

Rebecca
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

I bought this book for my granddaughter after we saw a play "Letters to Sala" about a Polish girl taken to a German work camp in WWII. I thought that NUMBER THE STARS would be an excellent extension on the theme of a teen's experience in facing Nazi persecution.

Gail
After the Storm by Linda Castillo

In the latest installment in Castillo's mystery series, police chief Kate Burkholder investigates investigates a 30-year-old murder in the Amish community after human remains are unearthed following a tornado. Meanwhile, Kate deals with personal complications in her relationship with John Tomasetti.

Susan
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

It was a very entertaining novel about romance.

Nina
Rent Collector by Camron Wright

This novel is a tale of discovery and redemption. A young mother struggles to survive by picking through garbage in Cambodia. The rent collector teaches her to read and opens up a whole new world. This novel was inspired by real people.

Martha
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A story, both poignant and funny, of a man whose generous heart conquers the effect of his curmudgeon outer self. He is a rule-bound person whose routines and boundaries are constantly thwarted by others. New neighbors, a young couple with two children and expecting another, bring new experiences and requirements for action to this retired man heavily saddened by the loss of his wife. This novel definitely captures the heart of any reader. You just have to love Ove.

Martha
I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

A lighthearted story which will be dear to many Alabamians, involving a former Miss Alabama, a successful midget realtor, a thwarted suicide, a stately historical mansion in an upscale Birmingham neighborhood, and a skeleton hanging in a very old steamer trunk. Flagg always brings a lot of humor to her stories and this one does not disappoint.

Frank
The First Bad Man by Miranda July

Looking for love in all the wrong places. Miranda July's debut novel is hard to describe. Cheryl, the main character, believes that love can survive across hundreds of lives but doesn't know how to love someone in this life. Seeing her world through her eyes and in her mind gives the reader an insight into a world that is tender, funny, and ultimately one well worth visiting.

Susan
After You by Jojo Moyes

I did not think I needed to know about Will and Lou since ME BEFORE YOU left me sobbing with grief. The author does a great job of portraying the survivors of an act that in the previous book lends a more sympathetic view. I was surprised at the attraction of living in NYC for a Londoner, especially for a nonprofessional with an intercontinental relationship with a loving man. I guess Lou is still healing, which accounts for this behavior.

Norm
The Company She Kept by Archer Mayor

Another terrific police procedural by one of my favorite authors.

Donna
Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

I found it hard to connect with the characters. Didn't understand their actions, however, with a tragedy like that I'm sure no two people would react in the same way.

Linda
Longbourn by Jo Baker

A novel about the servants from Austin's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Jo Baker nicely dovetails the characters from the classic with the story of what takes place in the lives of the characters who serve Longbourn. She gives the reader a very graphic picture of what life was for that class of people.

Mary
My Angel Without Wings by Lucy Perillo Buttermark

This short volume is the heartwarming memoir of a mother from Staten Island and her mentally challenged son, John. As John grows up he brings joy to family and friends through his perseverance and positive attitude.

Patricia
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Love Liane Moriarty! Great storytelling.

Betty
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

I understand why these books are called "the best historical novels" of all time. O'Brian is a complete master of the time period and the seafaring ambiance. Even when there are pages and pages where nothing is really happening, this book is still engrossing.

Fran
Fragile Innocence: A Father's Memoir of his Daughter's Courageous Journey by James Reston, Jr.

A beautifully written portrayal from the eyes of a father who is watching his daughter struggle with a life-long disability. From the initial signs of fever at the age of two, Mr. Reston shares the journey he and his family endure when their child deteriorates from a healthy typical child to a cognitively impaired child with extreme behaviors. Mr. Reston also acknowledges the toll that his daughter's disability had on her siblings, which is not always known.

Jill
The Art of Adapting by Cassandra Dunn

This a book about a mother, Lana, and her two teenagers, Abby and Byron, adapting to life's changes following the separation of their parents. Yes, this has been done before, but this story has an intriguing twist on the plot. The mother's brother, Matt, moves in with the family following what can only be termed an accidental suicide attempt. He has Asperger's syndrome and it thus becomes a positive surprise when he interacts with the family over time, and helps each character's healing after the separation, and, in turn, helps himself with personal issues. The author does a good job showing how Asperger's affects a person's brain and behavior. She obtained insight from her uncle who has the syndrome, which added to the book's realism.

Thomas
A Full Life by Jimmy Carter

I thought the book was pretty good, but not as good as many I have read lately.

Kathleen
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

A quick, easy read, great for the beach. I think the book was a bit gossipy but I think that was the point!

Cheryle
The Survivor by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

This book doesn't quite live up to the previous Rapp novels. There is just something missing in the finishing of a book started by Vince Flynn and finished by Mills. Mills is close, but not up to par with Mr. Flynn. The spirit of Rapp just isn't there.

LINDA
Doctor-Patient Confidentialty by Eme Strife

I was given this book in return for an honest review, and whoa did the opening page hook me! Roni Gallow is an older student in her twenties and holding down two jobs and always broke. She's a music major and was referred by the college clinic to a doctor, but she has no healthcare and instead of getting the brother of the clinical nurse, she gets the world known Dexter Frost instead. It is not determined who Roni gets involved with as the cliffhanger caught me by surprise, and I can't wait to read book two!!

Monika
The Incorruptibles by Joan Carroll Cruz

This book is about Catholic saints who did not undergo decomposition after death. Unfortunately Bruder Klaus, whose dead body is displayed in the church of Sachseln in Switzerland, is not discussed even though he has been responsible for numerous miracles.

Sheldon
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

A package is delivered to Robin Ellacott containing a woman's severed leg. Robin works for PI Cormoran Strike and the two of them start a dangerous journey to determine the sender. Filled with suspense and plot twists of Harry Potter proportions, Galbraith has constructed another enjoyable thriller.

Monika
Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints by Colleen Swaim

The stories of eight daring teen saints: St. Teresa of the Andes, Saint Dominic Savio; Saint Kizito, Blessed Chiara Luce Badano; Saint Stanisalus Kostka; Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, Blessed Pedro Calungsod and Saint Maria Goretti.

Monika
Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz

The book documents 36 major miracles of consecrated hosts, which have turned to visible human flesh, which have bled or levitated or which have become hard as flint when received by a person in mortal sin. This should prove the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

Monika
Tiq Slo'w, the Making of a Modern Day Chief by Mary Louise Contini Gordon

This book is about Charlie Cooke who was one of the leaders in restoring and sharing native heritage in California.

Monika
Grace Takes Off by Julie Hyzy

Grace is the curator and manager of Marshfield Manor and visits Tuscany in Italy with her boss who becomes the target of a murderer. However, he is spared and two other people die.

Monika
The Tutor by Andrea Chapin

This is a fictional account of William Shakespeare's lost years. He gets involved with a widow who is smart enough to marry a man who is in love with her while she is in love with William, but he not with her. The man she marries is in love with her but she is not in love with him. This is a historical fiction page-turner.

LINDA
Cougar Romance by Paula Knight

I was given this in return for an honest review and I so enjoyed the story that I want more and thank goddess it's a series! Diana Grant was always a quiet and serious person. She was budding anthropologist and interested in only the facts. She had no time for romance, but ever since she saw a picture of Catahasa Yazzie, the young billionaire CEO of a property company in New Mexico, she felt drawn to him. Odder still is that she accepts a temporary position in his company, but what she doesn't know is that her boss has feelings for her also and he is hiding a secret with roots that go back to an ancient civilization.

Lynn W
The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap by Wendy Welch

The author and her Scottish husband, on little more than a whim, create a used bookstore that becomes so much more in their Virginia coalfield community. Adriana Trigiani cut the opening ribbon for her hometown's newest establishment!

Cathy
Shakespeare Saved My Life by Laura Bates

A nonfiction book written by an English professor who taught classes using the plays of Shakespeare in both college and in a Supermax prison. She profiles one prisoner in particular. Very interesting and I learned much about what life is like for the prisoners and how she changed lives through her teaching.

Jan
Land of Shadows by Rachel Howzell Hall

Hall has created a delightful sassy female detective who will not give up. This is a two-dead mystery, 20 years apart with a real twister at the end. I doubt that anyone could guess it. LA Detective Elouise Norton gets her man in the end but not before he gets several women. I loved this hip new detective and look forward to many more books from this new author.

Sharon
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

If you're looking for a book that will keep you reading past your bedtime, this is the book for you. Mean girls gone wild, secret clubs, a questionable suicide, plot twists. Great characters you'll love and hate.

Linda
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I was so quickly hooked on this book. I bought into the concept of an awkward geeky professor looking for female companionship. I kept equating Don Tillman, the professor, with Mr. Spock from Star Trek. Easy read full of humor. I was about half-way through the book before I realized the title has multiple meanings.

Sandra
The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

I just discovered this Danish mystery series and have fallen in love with it. This is the first book in the series and the story gripped me.

Monika
Daddy's Gone A Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark

The main character is Kate Connelly, a CPA who ends up in a coma after her dad's business burns down. A former employee, Gus, got actually killed in the incident. This is a page-turner which I read in one sitting -- could not put it down.

Monika
The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon

Leslie Stewart is the main character. She meets her dream man, Oliver Russell. Through a very unfortunate misunderstanding she decides to ruin him and ends up full of regret. I would have never guessed the ending; it is so unforeseen.

Monika
Live Your Life for Half the Price by Mary Hunt

The way she says it, "It's the money you don't spend that ultimately gives you the freedom to live the life you love."

Monika
Raising Financially Confident Kids by Mary Hunt

I don't quite approve of her approach to giving kids lump sums of money and figuring out for themselves to live for a month at a time with it. The book has some good ideas though.

Monika
Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

This is a YA book in which a brother and his sister are accused of witchcraft and are kidnapped to be executed.

Monika
Patron Saints by Thomas J. Craughwell

This book has saints for every member of your family, every profession, every ailment, every emergency. It is for everyone who is looking for help with their problems. I was brought up in this belief and enjoyed the book very much.

Monika
The Windough Sweepstakes System by Scott Kurland

This book helps with different approaches to entering sweepstakes and hopefully winning something.

Monika
The Kick in the Attitude by Sam Glenn

The writer calls himself the Attitude Guy. He writes about the best ways to create exceptional experiences for others. A lot in this book is common sense. However, it gives a lot of examples to see the good in others and in ourselves.

Monika
The Art of Seeing by Aldous Huxley

This book gives exercises to improve your eyesight. I have not made a lot of improvement with my eyes, but Huxley says he improved his vision double as it was when he wore spectacles. This is the same guy who wrote BRAVE NEW WORLD.

Marsha
Damage Control by J. A. Jance

Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Joanna Brady has her hands full balancing the rigors of police work with a newborn, teenager and a writer-husband who has volunteered to be a stay-at-home dad. Starting with the suicide of an elderly couple, one crime after another seems to continually challenge her task force. This is a good insight on the workings of a sheriff of a small county.

Vikki
The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore

I guess I feel that there are so many good colleges out there, that it was difficult for me to relate to the whole "getting accepted to Harvard" thing. The writer gave so much detail in areas that I didn't think it needed to go. For example, "Gabe surprised himself with the force that his fist hit the island (goddamn granite, on the ranch they'd had Formica, which had suited everyone just fine, though the fashionable East Coasters, hobbyists, really just weekenders, who had bought the ranch from his mother had changed that-they made the kitchen white." Did I really need to know how the people who bought his childhood home had remodeled their kitchen?

Tessa B C
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

I love the way Curtis writes. I totally believed in Kenny as a narrator and was charmed by him. I am all too familiar with the events in Birmingham during this period in America’s history, but the horrific events were no less horrific for my knowing what was coming. Children who are not so aware of those happenings may feel the impact of the story to an even greater extent.

Karen
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

This book kept me guessing until the very end! I almost quit reading because most of the characters are so unsympathetic. But something (good writing!) compelled me to keep reading.

Jean
Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No Whip Latte by Diane Kelly

Such a fun mystery! Humor and a well-written mystery. Try this little-known author. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Pattie
The 20/20 Diet by Dr. Phil McGraw

I am ready to start on losing 15 pounds. I shopped for healthy foods this morning. Great book, fun recipes.

LINDA
Dead Reckoning: And Other Stories by David M. Kelly

I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing and quite enjoyed reading about Hector Tren-Hump's crazy adventure! Hector is on his deathbed and had planned a wealthy afterlife through a computer company, but instead of the "buff" body and wealth he ordered, he finds himself at a place with a whip-slinging giant, totally naked with no money! Hector is sure that a mistake has been made, but he has no money to call his lawyer, wife, or children. He accidentally gets beat up and earns a little money, and as the CEO of his former company he has the idea of how to make more so that he can call his lawyer, but he's only concerned for himself. There are other short stories that readers will enjoy and taste Mr. Kelly's delicious humor!

Judson
The Successor by Stephen Frey

Good political thriller.

Judson
Black List by Brad Thor

Excellent thriller.

Maxine
Pretending To Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Once again I was totally immersed in the life of Diane Chamberlain's characters. Molly and Aiden, who so desperately want to adopt a child, and the secrets surrounding Molly, her Dad, her adoptive mother and her birth mother made this book another 'impossible to put down read'. Loved it!

Cheryll
Charade by Sandra Brown

A little far fetched, but I loved it!

Marsha
Judgment Call by J. A. Jance

Cochise County, Arizona Sheriff Joanna Brady stumbles across a very interesting mystery while solving the murder of the high school principal. Social media plays a large part in solving this mystery. The solving of her father's killing is also addressed.

gretchen
After You by Jojo Moyes

I am a fan of JoJo Moyes and was looking forward to this sequel to ME BEFORE YOU. That book was a favorite of mine. Sequels never seem to be as good as the first (Harry Potter is the exception). While I enjoyed AFTER YOU and finding out what happened to Louisa, it didn't have the same impact on me as ME BEFORE YOU. The subject matter was so intense in the first book and the second book couldn't compete. Louisa doesn't have the desire to achieve what she is capable of and what Will wanted to help her attain. It was a worthwhile read.

Marie
A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd

Mystery, crime, and murder taking place during WWII in England. Great story about battlefield nurse Bess Crawford's persistence in trying to prove the innocence of the owner of the Ashton Powder Mill in causing the explosion of a gunpowder mill in Kent, England resulting in numerous deaths. This is the first book read by this author and will read more in the future. Won this book in the Harper Collins History Mystery sweepstakes. Thank you for this introduction to a new author.

Deborah
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles

Won this book from one of your contests! It took me a long time to finish because it could not hold my attention. Good storyline but too many characters and pages. It seemed that every time I picked it back up I had to refresh my memory in reference to all the different characters. I will be reading the second book to see what happens. Thanks, Bookreporter.com!

Marcile
Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

This book is like comfort food for the soul! I could not wait to dig into it and each bite had to be savored. The book details the planning and wedding of Dooley and Lace, with family and friends pitching in to make it wonderful. And it felt like a gathering of old friends to read again about Father Tim and Cynthia, Harley and Sammy and the Harpers. Plus, there are a few new developments - but no spoilers here! It was a book I hated to finish, but just thinking about it again warms my heart.

Sherrie
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

A somewhat slow first half leads to a killer second half! Early marriage, do we really know each other in such a short time, maybe not. Who is in control - husband or wife? The first half of the book is from Lotto, the husbands view on their lives together, and the second half of the book is all about Mathilde, the wife. Quite intriguing, and definitely suspicious.

KC
The Killing Room by Richard Montanari

Although I love this writer, I found this book to be a bit boring. I am now reading the next one in the series and hope it will be more entertaining.

Nancy
Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs

This is the latest book in the Temperance Brennen series. This book is just as interesting as the others. Temperance must find who the bones, found in the woods, belong to and why they are there. At the same time, she has received a marriage proposal. As the story goes on, the proposal is on her mind and what should she do about it.

Betty
The Chicago Way by Michael Harvey

This story was about a retired police officer who is working as a private detective. He is asked by an old police friend to look into an attempted abduction and rape from nine years ago. He decides to help, then, next morning he gets a call from a TV news station asking him about the shooting death of the very friend he was going to help. It seems to be a dangerous case as the more info he finds out, the more people are killed. A good read. -- I enjoyed it.

Patricia
The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg

Overall I liked this book but I felt like there were definitely plot issues. One thing that bothered me is that many times the author tried to create a cliffhanger of sorts - the narrator would discover some revelation. But the author wouldn't tell you what the person had discovered. Which is fine - but she would sometimes wait so long to reveal it, that I'd even forgotten about the discovery. And I was able to put together most of the mystery about 3/4 of the way through the book. Even though she tried to hide it by not having the police ask some of the most obvious questions ever (why would they never have asked Alex's parents when she'd had a baby before when the coroner told them she had??). So I was left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Tessa B C
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas

2.5stars. When her father dies, Mair discovers an exquisite shawl that had been kept wrapped in tissue by her mother. She figures it came from her maternal grandparents who had been missionaries in India, but cannot fathom how they would have the means to purchase such a work of art. So she goes to India to find out the story. This is a romantic epic that weaves two stories, present-day Mair and the historical story of her grandmother in India in the 1940s. Parts were interesting, but on the whole I found it melodramatic.

Deb
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

We loved the book. Our group of 10 met at our main library, The Toledo Lucas County Library, a wonderful old building, had a tour, and discussed the book.

Mike
The Nightmare Place by Steve Mosby

In this tense and suspenseful psychological thriller, a stalker dubbed "The Creeper" is sneaking into women's homes and attacking them at night. Detective Inspector Zoe Dolan is on the case, but she has very few leads to go on. That is until Jane Webster, a volunteer at a confidential helpline, gets a disturbing call detailing the crimes. Now both women are in a race to stop the next attack, before they too become victims of The Creeper.

Lynn W
After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

Wonderful!

Jessica
Broadchurch by Erin Kelly and Chris Chibnall

Just finished the book BROADCHURCH by Erin Kelly. I love Erin Kelly's psychological thrillers and I was surprised that she was writing a police procedural based on a TV series. I haven't seen the series yet but I really enjoyed the book. Good pacing, good characters and a surprising end.

Dianne
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

Readable but also very predictable novel about a community and individuals who experienced multiple plane crashes in a short period of time.

Marilyn
Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst

The latest in the Chloe Ellefson mystery series is perfect for anyone who loved the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE books and TV show. While Chloe and her sister take a trip to visit the Laura 'sites' and hopefully discover the origins of a quilt given to a family member, they stumble across a couple of murders. There are quilts, Laura artifacts, and relationships to sort out. Ernst tells a good story set in Wisconsin and nearby states--includes history and a local setting.

LINDA
Asking Angelina by Thea Dawson

I was given this book in return for a fair an honest review, and although I've never read this author before, I'm sure glad I accepted! Lauren Prescott had known she'd be a lawyer just like her dad and grandfather at an early age, so it was no surprise that she achieved good grades and entered college. She was the only one without a lab partner and this gorgeous guy strutted into class very late like he owned the room and turned his killer smile on her. She had become friends with Krista, they became roommates and Joey, her lab partner, fell into place and they quickly became the three musketeers. Lauren had no time for romance with working two jobs and a full load at college so was still a virgin at twenty-two.

Debbie
Die Again by Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series presents a thrilling race to find the killer. The killing starts six years in the past, when a group of people go on a safari in Africa. One by one, the people are killed. One of the women runs into the bush to escape, and against all odds she survives. Then killings start in the Boston area, and the team of Rizzoli and Isles must find this killer who guts his victims. The characters are dimensional, but could use more development. The setting propels this novel to greater heights, such as the description of Africa. As usual, Isles seems so unemotional and Rizzoli the extreme opposite. I have waited a long time to read the next book in this series.

Monika
The Associate by John Grisham

I love the ending of this legal thriller. I just hope some lawyers see the light like Kyle did and follow in his footsteps.

Monika
Clement VI by Diana Wood

This book is for the religious history buff because it deals with the pontificate and ideas of an Avignon Pope (1342 - 1352).

Monika
Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

I love the comparison the authors make between Kennedy and Lincoln. They might have also mentioned that both had big spenders for wives. Kennedy's assassination was mourned worldwide. It was the only time the nuns let us watch TV in the dining room during the six years I was in boarding school in Switzerland.

Monika
How I Write by Janet Evanovich with Ina Yalof

These are the secrets of a bestselling author. This is so much fun to read.

Monika
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir

The wives are Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr. What stuns me about this time period is the similarity between our times when sinister forces impoverish the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I can see them shoveling the coals in hell that will burn them to a crisp.

Monika
The World According to Cycles by Samual A. Schreiner, Jr.

This is an interesting book that predicts a good real estate market for 2015.

Monika
Nero Wolfe: The Last Coincidence by Robert Goldborough

When two people confess to a murder Nero Wolfe is convinced that neither one did it. He has to find the real murderer. Of course being Nero Wolfe this task is a cinch for him.

Monika
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

This is an international bestseller; so Rachel Joyce must know what she is doing. I expected a religious person behind the word pilgrimage, definitely not Harold Fry. Maureen hits the nail on the head when she realizes that she put up with Harold all this time because she would feel more lonely without him and she would not have a purpose to live by herself.

Linda
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea

Luis Alberto Urrea can read to me any time he wants to. Oy! What a voice and how well he reads. This book becomes magical with his voice. Although presented as a book of fiction, there is much truth told from 20 years of research and family tales of a distant relative who became known as the "Saint of Cabora." A story that mixes pre-revolutionary Mexico with folk tales and a touch of magical realism. A wonderful ride.

Rebecca
Still Life by Louise Penny

This is my first introduction to Chief Inspector Gamache and his Canadian mysteries, and this novel will certainly not be the last I read for sheer enjoyment. Gamache seems a real, interested, thoughtful chief who treats his force with the respect they deserve (does Nicole deserve his time and energy or will she go?) I'll have to go to A FATAL GRACE to find out.

Karen
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

Sebastian Rudd, a rogue lawyer, defends clients that are undesirable or unprofitable for other lawyers. Everyone deserve competent representation and a fair trial is his answer to those who ask why he represents these folks. His work is sometimes dangerous. He is often at odds with the police, prosecutors and judges that take shortcuts to obtain convictions. He hates injustice and will use whatever means he can to help his clients.

Becky
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

What a sad – and horrifying – life these children had foisted upon them by adults who should have cared for and loved them. It is hard to know where to start – with the father who wouldn’t give his children his name, a mother so blinded by faith she puts her children in mortal danger, a community that lives in abject poverty out of fear? faith? stupidity? It also shows the inadequacy of border patrols, government assistance, the safety net for children and women and on and on. Ruth Wariner’s calm retelling of her childhood living in a cult was difficult to read. The life of this family caught in the blindness of the mother to the toxic and heartbreaking reality of her family’s desperation and danger is written in straightforward prose.

Sharon
After You by Jojo Moyes

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great sequel to ME BEFORE YOU, which I loved. While the latter was so sad and gut-wrenching, AFTER YOU was a happier look at Louisa and her trials and tribulations. I love Jojo Moyes' writing and storytelling, and while it is definitely chick lit, it reminds me sometimes my mind needs something light and airy.

Linda
The Senator Next Door by Amy Klobuchar

This memoir is by our Minnesota Senator, Amy Klobuchar. She grew up in a very modest home in a Twin Cities suburb. She is an attorney, was the Hennepin County prosecutor, and ran for the Senate in 2006. She is married and the mother of a daughter, Abigail. Amy is the kind of woman you want as your senator, honest and hardworking, she can make a difference. Well-written and at times humorous. Don't miss this book.

Hedwig
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Great little book, should be required reading in school as it addresses issues the average child hopefully will never have to face. Crenshaw is very smart!!!

Hedwig
Early One Morning by Virginia Bailey

Tells a great story of a selfless act and the repercussions in trying to do good for the all involved and the lasting effects on the child and woman. Sad future for both. Not totally depressing with some light at the end. A very good story.

Cheri
The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Love is the most complex of all emotions, in my humble opinion, and that is made abundantly evident in THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE. Lynda Cohen Loigman takes us on a masterful journey into the relationships of two brothers, their wives, children and extended family, which, on the surface seems to be very simple and matter-of-fact. And for a day or so after I finished it, I thought it was just that - a simple novel about a family with issues. But I was wrong. I couldn't stop thinking about those people - how they thought and felt, and how they behaved, as a result of one feeling: love. Each character in Loigman's creation goes through gut-wrenchingly difficult situations.

Pam
Badlands by C. J. Box

Good plot, great descriptions of the landscape and climate. A little predictable, though there are a few surprises at the end. Of course, there's a pesky loose end, which will most likely mean another book featuring the chief investigator (Cassie Dewell).

LINDA
Shock Waves by Abigail Graham

I was given this book in return for a fair and honest review, and although this is Book Five, I sure wish that I had read the others! Jacob Kane and Jennifer Katzenburg were hit by a vehicle and their little car was crushed. Jacob was left for dead as the big man threw her in the his car and cut off her hair then placed it on Jacob before he left. She prayed as she left that he would be alive but it appeared that he wasn't breathing. Someone was calling his name, telling him to wake up, but Jacob was in so much pain that he didn't want to open his eyes. Then he heard the biker's foot steps and it all came crashing down on him! He'd been left to be tortured by the two bikers before they killed him and Jennifer had been taken.

Monika
Foreign Affairs by Stuart Woods

After reading those Stone Barrington novels I know what I want to be in my next lifetime: of course Stone B, the super rich guy after he inherits a considerable fortune from one of his wives who died. Like him, I will get any woman I desire ( I will after all be a man - none of this lesbian stuff for me) and have some exciting adventures all over the world. .

Monika
Miracles Can Be Yours Today by Pat Robertson

Wow, what a book! Pat needed over 1 million dollars to pay for religious business expenses. He believed in the Bible and received 1 million dollar winning lottery ticket in the mail without a return address and $500,000 worth of bonds also in the mail. I have to check out his belief system because he makes miracles happen, not to speak of his winning real estate deals he cornered for his religious organizations; truly remarkable guy.

Monika
The Mobile Wave by Michael Saylor

The author says for every job that is lost through the internet, 2.2 jobs are gained and most of the jobs in the future will be service jobs. I can't really visualize this but we leave it to the smart alecks like Michael to solve the future job problem. There is lots of information in this book.

Monika
Nostradamus: The Millenium & Beyond by Peter Lorie and Liz Greene

This is a terrific coffee table book; I pick it up every now and then and compare the transits and natal planets to the charts that are shown here; Nostradamus started out as a medical doctor. He reminds me of some modern medical doctors who run for president but really want to plug their books, include here their spouses and children.

Monika
The Spy Who Came for Christmas by David Morrell

When reading this book, keep in mind that David came up with the character Rambo, which might explain all the killing and kidnapping in this Christmas novel. I wonder if the author needs to fill his mind with extreme violence to get in the mood for writing a book.

Monika
The Mad Dog: Stories by Heinrich Boll

This German writer was known to write about WWII and its atrocities. These tales bear witness to humanity's struggle to cope with the emotional and psychological horrors of war. The author received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972.

Monika
Victor Hugo's Conversations with the Spirit World by John Chambers

The subtitle to this book is: A Literary Genius's Hidden Life. While Victor Hugo was in exile on the isle of Jersey to escape the reign of Napoleon III, he had channeled conversations with entities from the beyond. After his exile, he wrote LES MISERABLES.

Monika
Hometown Appetites by Kelly Alexander and Cynthia Harris

This is the story of the forgotten food writer who chronicled how America ate. Clementine Paddleford was long forgotten after her death until Cynthia Harris took a job as Manuscripts/Collections Processor. She was assigned to the Paddleford papers. Kelly Alexander came to research the papers to write a magazine article and later the two women wrote this book.

Francisca E B
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

What most resonated with me about this novel is how Jean Louise comes to realize that the father she adored as a child actually has some significant faults, and that his tumble off the pedestal on which she has kept him is perhaps more painful to her than to it is to Atticus. Lee puts the reader smack dab in the middle of this setting. Her prose brings the culture, the physical heat, the townspeople, the smells, sounds, tastes and sights of Maycomb to life.

Thomas
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

An excellent book to read. I enjoyed the book.

Becky
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

Grisham proves once again that he is not a formula writer – or at least his formula keeps changing – and always for the better! ROGUE LAWYER begins as a collection of apparently disparate short stories centered on a lawyer that is the epitome of NOTHING like a corporate lawyer. By the third “story” you begin to see the possible connections that will quickly become the plot of this tale. Along the way you meet a cast of real characters from the innocent wronged citizen to the “out of the ghetto” up and comer to the most vicious bad guys. This is a page-turner that will keep you up at night and just might change your opinion of both lawyers and cage fighters.

Nissa
The Spy House by Matthew Dunn

Great spy book. Will Cochrane must solve the unsolvable. Four international agents working on a secret mission end up dead and Will must solve who did it. It is a who-done-it book.

LINDA
Werewolves of New York: Eli by Faleena Hopkins

I was given this book for a honest review and loved Eli and Rose's story. This is Book Two and I never read the first. Eli Jackson and his three packmates are werewolves living in New York running an architecture firm. Rose's friend had just married Nathaniel, and they about to go eat when Eli's wolf smelled its mate and clambered to get out. Eli had pledged to not get married with one of his packmates, but this wolf was having none of that, and he had a hard time keeping away from her while his wolf wanted to just claim her in front of everyone. Rose Hendricks had been busting her butt to make junior partner in firm and at thirty there was no room for romance in her life, but since she met Eli he was hard to put off.

Claudia
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

The only reason this book kept my attention is because of the historical background concerning traveling carnivals in the 1800s. The clues throughout the book concerning the ancient book about a carnival and the families of the current time and how they found out that the people were all related kept me reading. This is something I probably would not have picked up to read except it involved a librarian and I'm a retired librarian.

Jessica
See How Small by Scott Blackwood

I feel like this writer was trying very hard to sound very intelligent and to write beautiful prose. However, it was very forced. While the narrative itself had so much potential it literally goes nowhere.

Jessica
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

I LOVED Chevy Stevens' STILL MISSING so I convinced my book club to read NEVER KNOWING. Stevens let me down. Her books are known for their twists, but this one was a stretch. Also, the narrator was the whiniest person ever, making her very unlikable.

Sandra
Ruby by Cynthia Bond

This is a wonderful, wonderful book! It does contain graphic material dealing with sexual abuse, racism, violence and madness. However, such material is necessary to the story. The character of Ruby will long be remembered by readers as the poster girl for courage.

Monika
Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

I am happy about the ending of this book. Romance and wealth go together so well. I wish it was like that in real life.

Monika
Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir

Fascinating bio of an unforgettable princess whose line descends to today's British monarchy. There was so much blood shed during that time in England. The royal parents usually died so young that their children grew up with little love and turned into monsters like Henry VIII.

Monika
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I read this book in my French class, then in my Native German and finally in English and did not understand a word of it. This author and Kafka just don't make sense to me. Maybe it's because I always had to put other people first and be happy with the leftovers. But it must be a classic because so many people just love it.

Monika
Notable Nebraskans by Jean Sanders

Twenty-five famous Nebraskans are written about in this interesting book.

Monika
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life by Russ Roberts

This is a wonderful guide to living a good life.

Monika
The History of the Popes by John W. O'Malley

This author is a Roman Catholic priest and university professor in the theology department at Georgetown University. This book focuses on the popes that shaped important moments in both church and world history over the past two thousand years.

Annette
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

Having read THE ROSIE PROJECT this summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was anxious to read the second book about Rosie and her husband Don. They are a couple who are wired very differently. Rosie being fiery and spontaneous and Don being quite the opposite, making spreadsheets and scheduling every minute of his life. But they fell in love and married and are happy until Rosie announces she is pregnant. The fallout from this has Don upset and wondering if this can be his life and worried about the future. There are many laugh-out-loud moments as they try to figure this out with some help from their friends. THE ROSIE EFFECT did not disappoint!

Linda
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

I listened to this book and that is part of the reason that I can't rate this any higher than 2 stars. The book was narrated by the author, which I didn't realize for most of the time that I was listening to it. From the first words, I felt that the narrator's voice was too young for a 50-year-old. It turns out that Genova is in her mid 40s, but between the voice and affectless voice, I was very disappointed. The story was stilted and seemed too clinical. There were moments which stood out displaying moments of Alice's floundering mental capacity. Perhaps if I read the book instead...

Brady
Moose by Robert B. Sherman

This is a memoir of sorts; not a chronology of a life, but bits and pieces of a most interesting life history filled with emotion and wonderful ambitions that were acquired the hard way. This is one of the brothers who wrote music for Walt Disney and really gives you insight into how songs are created and how important a spouse can be in an individual's life. Wonderful reading.

Monika
Skeleton Man by Tony Hillerman

I love reading about former Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Sergeant Jim Chee. In this novel we are transported into the Grand Canyon; fascinating read.

Monika
Play Dirty by Sandra Brown

Obsession and its consequences make this terrific novel a good read.

Monika
The No Spin Zone by Bill O'Reilly

If you want to catch up on Al Sharpton, James Carville, President George W. Bush, Susan Sarandon, Mario Cuomo, Senator John McCain and a few other famous people, then this book is for you.

Monika
Witchcraft in the Southwest by Marc Simmons

We should read this book to get a feel for the culture of the Spanish and the Indians on the Rio Grande.

Monika
The Mystery of the Invisible Hand by Marshall Jevons

People don't do a lot of things because the cost exceeds the benefits. In generic terms, this means every choice we make has a cost. I bet I could have done better in college than a C if I had a practical course in economics like this book delivers rather than the theoretical stuff that they fed us.

Monika
Who's Looking Out for You? by Bill O'Reilly

Is it the federal government, the Catholic Church, the big rich corporations, or the justice system? Find out what Bill has to say and be surprised.

Judy O.
The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

In 1953, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed in the United States for being Russian spies. This book is historical fiction based on that time in history. We are seeing it all through the eyes of a fictional young woman neighbor named Millie Stein. She and Ethel forged a fast friendship in the years before the executions when they both lived in the same apartment building.I really enjoyed this book and looked forward to picking it up each day.