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December 6, 2019 - December 20, 2019

 

This contest period's winners were Dorothy M., Elizabeth G. and Liz P., who each received a copy of CRISS CROSS by James Patterson and JUST WATCH ME by Jeff Lindsay.

 

Lisa
Child's Play by Danielle Steel

5
This book really hit home because my children are grown. There are so many realities in this fiction story. An adult child pregnant and how the mom feels embarrassed because they are not getting married. The son is engaged and not really feeling too sure about the wedding, and he meets someone that he instantly knows he truly loves. Another great Danielle Steel novel.

Jan
Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roper

3
This book is interesting, often repetitive, and full of pain. The most important thing I took from this is that we learn from our parents, family, teachers, close neighbors as we are growing up and it is very difficult to unlearn any of the stuff. As the author, the granddaughter of the founder of the hateful meanspirited Westboro church, grew up, she loved her grandfather and her parents and believed everything they told her. She was often on the picket line and as slurs and evil stuff was thrown at her, she learned to taunt right back. She is bright and she gave as good as she got. I was impressed with the powerful young author who felt a tiny crack in her belief and then worked until it became a big hole. Insightful.

Tessa
Evicted by Matthew Desmond

5
Subtitle: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Fascinating. Frustrating. Horrifying. Compassionate. Informative. Distressing. Enlightening. Desmond thoroughly explores the effects on impoverished residents of being repeatedly evicted and contrasts the plight of the poor with the profits made at their expense.

Shelley
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

4
Great coming-of-age story and so much more. Great characters.

Nancy
Button Man by Andrew Gross

5
Very good.

S
Twas The Nighshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay

4
Adam Kay's enjoyable follow-up to his bestseller THIS IS GOING TO HURT consisting of more diary entries about his experience as a doctor for the National Health Service in the UK.

Laurie
The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean

3
Coming-of-age family saga set in Australia in 1992 - an emotional dark thriller.

Jennifer
Pride by Ibi Zoboi

5
This delightful YA retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE features a Haitian Dominican family in Bushwick. The five daughters are atwitter when a new family with two handsome sons moves into the renovated “mini-mansion” across the street. Zoboi’s writing is lyrical; a beautiful blend of poetry and prose. She nails teenage angst and attitude and love and heartbreak in this book.

Pat
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

5
Compelling. A remarkable account of a tragic time in Irish history.

Judy
Blue Moon by Lee Child

4
Jack Reacher sits on a bus and watches an older man with a bulging pocket (sure to contain cash) and a younger man eyeing the prize. This sets Jack into a town with divided interests. He helps Aaron home to find that the money is to fund his daughter's cancer treatment. She has no health insurance because the company she works for went out of business. What happened to all of the assets sends Jack and three friends into the town's criminal elements. Will they find the money and save the Shevicks? Read this book and find out.

Richard N B
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

3
Subtitle: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. Who could have imagined such a volume written about that chart that hangs in every high school chemistry classroom? Kean’s enthusiasm and fascination for the periodic table comes through. But, it was just too much even for this admitted science geek. Some parts were far more interesting to me than others.

Noreen
Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

4
I'm a fan of fiction crime books but I won this nonfiction book. It was good and very interesting. A "regular" person helps solve cold cases and new crimes. In fact, Mr. Jensen is not alone. Lots of people are out there trying to do the same thing. Interesting data on how many unsolved cases there are.

Gerry
Inland by Tea Obreht

4
I loved this book for the beautiful writing more than for the plot. Obreht paints an amazing picture of the hardships of life in the American Southwest in the 19th century. Two separate storylines eventually come together with a thread of mystery and mysticism. I found Nora’s story to be the more engaging of the two but was curious enough about the use of camels by the military in this period to read more about this experiment.

Gerry
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

5
My husband is not a reader, so the fact that I gave him this book to read yesterday and he finished it this morning is a good indication of just how compelling this novel is. (I, too, read it in the same time frame.) Whitehead developed his characters well, and translated the horrific facts of history into a novel I didn't want to put down. He portrayed the horrors of the juvenile prison (a "training school" in Florida) and the lives of its staff and inmates ("students") with heartbreaking clarity. I was completely caught off guard by the twist at the end, a twist that only made the story more disturbing. I'm glad now that I don't give five stars lightly; otherwise, I'd need to rate this one even higher. It's a novel I won't soon forget!

Katherine
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

5
I enjoyed learning about the history of the Kentucky librarians on horseback and the hardships they endured. The expectations for the women in the 1930s and 40s were clearly defined yet the characters pushed those limits in order to help others. The men stereotypically made the rules and punishments were harsh for the non-conformers.

Gerry
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

3
A young woman from London accepts a well-paid position as a nanny on a country estate in Scotland. There are unsettling rumors about the house and its history, and strange noises and occurrences heighten Rowan’s unease. The events leading up to the death of a child are set forth in a letter from Rowan to a solicitor she hopes will defend her against a charge of murder. Ware keeps the suspense building to the end of this haunting story in which nothing is quite as it seems.

Gerry
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

3
This book generated a lively discussion in my f2f book group. The biggest debate centered on whether Christopher Knight could truly be considered a hermit, since he lived in close proximity to others and regularly visited their vacant cabins to steal what he needed, and of course, on the immorality of that stealing. But there were many other points of discussion as well. What could make a young man simply leave his home and settle in the woods for so many years? How did he learn the survival skills he demonstrated? And the author -- was he justified in repeatedly barging into Knight's life and that of his family members to discover the details about Knight's life? I have to like a book that makes readers think and discuss as this one did.

Gerry
The Library Book by Susan Orlean

2
THE LIBRARY BOOK is really two books blended together. The first, and the one that attracted my attention, is the story of the fire that destroyed much of the LA Central library in 1986. The second is a rambling rumination on the history, functions, and value of libraries. It seemed the author didn't have enough material on either topic to make a complete book, so chose to intersperse chapters on the two topics, in a rather random sequence. In the end, it all felt interesting but inconsequential.

Gerry
The Rabbit Girls by Anna Ellory

2
I received a complimentary copy of this novel in return for an honest review. I begin that review with mixed feelings. In some ways, Ellory has succeeded in developing a compelling story, but it is the horror of the events she describes that hold the reader's interest, not her writing, her organizing of the story, nor her flat, stereotypical characters. The "rabbit girls" of the title are a relatively minor part of the story, perhaps added for historical impact, or perhaps just to ratchet up the horror. Their story is told in brief references, and anyone not already familiar with it would learn little from this novel. I found the plot just interesting enough that I wanted to finish, and the whole book problematic enough that I'm glad I did.

Rosemary
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

5
As usual, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing. Just when you KNOW who "done it", there's another twist. A teenage boy breaks into neighbors homes and hacks their computers to learn their secrets. Meanwhile a woman missing from her home is found dead in the trunk of her sunken car. Are they connected? Who did it? Are the answers found on the hacked computers? A mystery well worth reading!

Elizabeth
The Overstory by Richard Powers

4
I have never read a book like this - a story about trees and people who look at them so differently than the rest of us. I have always taken trees for granted but I never will again.

Katie
Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay

5
Thrilling!!!!

Susan
The Adults by Caroline Hulse

4
What could be wrong with spending your Christmas with your ex and their significant others just for the sake of your seven-year-old child at a magical place? You find out in this book.

Pam
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher

5
Loved the main character and the writing style - with the main character writing a journal/book about his life after the world has been devastated in various ways and puzzling about what society was like in the past. There's plenty of action and a great twist near the end.

Liz
Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen

4
Cute story about a little black designer dress and how it effects nine different women.

Linda
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

5
Tate and Sam fell madly in love when they met in London. She told Sam she was the daughter of Ian Butler, a famous movie star. Sam betrayed her and told the media where she was. She had hated what he did while still being in love with him and that is what made it so hard for her. Fourteen years later, she is filming a movie based on a book that Sam wrote. They finally come face to face and both realize the love they shared is still there, but is it great enough to overcome the feeling of betrayal?

Linda
This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger

5
A beautifully-written story of four children escaping from a harsh school by way of a canoe on the river. They aim for St. Louis where the aunt of two of the boys live. The school’s superintendent, Thelma Brickman, has put out wanted posters for them and tracks them to several areas where they were but they got word and were back on the river before they could be apprehended. The narrator is Odie O’Banion who is twelve years old and just wants a home. When the kids get sidetracked in St. Paul, three decide to stay there and Odie continues on to St. Louis by himself.

Linda
A Devil of a Duke by Madeline Hunter

5
Amanda Waverly is hired as secretary to the eccentric Lady Farnsworth. Amanda comes from a family of thieves and had given up that life years ago. Now she is being blackmailed into stealing items in order to free her mother. She met Gabriel St. James, the Duke of Langford, when she needed access to his neighbor’s house to steal an item. When Gabriel learns the thief entered through a window, he remembers Amanda coming to his room earlier and telling him she came through the window. Once he hears her story, he is determined to help her. Gabriel, known for his many liaisons with women all across London, has fallen in love with a most inappropriate woman.

Linda
19th Christmas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

3
Tips come into the police about a planned heist to take place on Christmas day. Although Lindsay Boxer would rather stay with her husband Joe and daughter Julie, she is called in. She and her partner Rich Conklin check out some of the many tips but none pan out. Police are spread thin following up on all of the tips. The leader of the planned heist is a man known as Loman, but no one seems to know who he is or anything about him. Maybe I missed it but the book never said why Loman planned to "get even" with the owner of BlackStar. Seems like the book was hurried up to be published in time for Christmas shoppers.

Linda
Sins of the Fathers by J. A. Jance

5
J. P. Beaumont is contacted by an old friend asking for his help in finding his daughter. Alan Dale shows Beau a photo of Naomi and Beau is shocked. She looks just like his daughter Kelly. Beau remembers Alan’s deceased wife and his one-night with her before she and Alan married. Could Naomi be his daughter? As he searches for Naomi, he gets involved in one murder investigation that brings to light suspicious deaths of two elderly women.

Linda
Killer Instinct by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

3
A bomb goes off in Times Square and Dr. Dylan Reinhart finds one of the victims is his friend Ahmed Al-Hamdah, who was with MI6 when Reinhart was with CIA. Elizabeth Needham, now an agent with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, was sent to Boston to investigate the death of a professor. When she hears about the bomb, she heads back to New York and saves her boss’s life when she spots drones carrying bombs. Elizabeth and Dylan team up to combat further attacks planned by a Muslim leader known as the Mudir. Lots of characters and jumping around and it was hard to follow.

Linda
Baltic Dance by Kevin Scott Olson

3
Michael Quinn is now freelancing with the CIA and has just been given a job to rescue a Latvian intelligence analyst who has been kidnapped by Russia. A scheme is planned to rescue Karina and get her out of Russia by a cruise ship. Outlandish but it works!

vera
You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

5
I won an ARC of this. Mia's life looks great. Doctor for a husband and seems everything great in her marriage. Share a nice home. Several miscarriages, but both still want a baby. But yet she is still having dreams about a stranger. Can she work through her dreams? Keeps us reading. Well written book.

Elizabeth
A Bookshop in Berlin by Francoise Frenkel

5
Françoise Frenkel always loved books, libraries, and especially bookstores. Her dream was to open a bookstore, but would her dream about opening a French bookstore in Berlin in 1920 be a good idea? She was successful until 1935 when the police started showing up and confiscating books from her shelves and newspapers because they had been blacklisted. Besides scrutinizing her books, they questioned her travels. This was just the beginning of her hardships and ordeals. DO NOT MISS READING THIS BOOK.

Francisca
A Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar

3
3.5 stars. Joukhadar uses dual storylines (2011 and 12th-century Syria) and two young heroines to tell this story of family, loss, perseverance, grief, love and success. I liked both Nour and Rawiya, and loved some of the supporting characters. I preferred Nour’s modern-day story, probably because I’m less inclined towards “fairytales” at this stage of my life. Still, Joukhadar gave me a compelling read with well-drawn characters and some interesting parallels. At one point Nour reflects on a scar left on her leg: “Life draws blood and leaves its jewelry in our skin.” This novel doesn’t draw any blood, but will definitely leave its mark on the reader.

Thomas
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

4
Very good book.

Rita
The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg

4
THE CONFESSION CLUB once again puts this wonderful story in the town of Mason, a town where it seems like everyone there cares about everyone; even people who are just passing through or are moving there permanently. If you are looking for a book that makes you just feel good, then read this book.

Ivy
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

5
Narrated by Danny, Maeve's brother, the story is a sad two-fold story about choices, manipulation and abandonment. If one has ever seen the dissolution of a family then this one is sure to be one that will resonate.

Linda
Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel

4
Mr. Appel writes the most original books - this is the second one I’ve read. The characters are so unique, and well written, and I never quite knew where the story was going next. The dialog between the two rabbis - oh my gosh, so funny. As i read, I kept imagining this as a stage play - between the interesting characters, and the great dialog, it would be fantastic! So, so good!

Becky
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

5
Sepetys writes teens beautifully and accurately. Her teens are impetuous, naïve, full-hearted, empathetic, selfish, quick thinking and foolhardy. THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE tells of teens caught up in the tyrannical world of General Francisco Franco in the aftermath of the Spanish Revolution of 1939. Sepetys tells of tyranny, torture, death and bull fighting.

Linda
The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

4
I’ll start by saying I did not expect to enjoy this book; it was a book club pick. So, I was pretty happy when I found myself not wanting to put it down - always “one more chapter”. (The chapters are pretty short, so that was good, too). Kimberly, our protagonist, has a failed love life, yet wants to be a romance writer, and signs up for (or rather, her father signs her up) a romance writers retreat, where her favorite, but reclusive, author is a keynote speaker. Predictable at times (yes, she was bound to end up in a relationship with said author, though there were many twists and turns along the way) but a really fun read nonetheless. Kimberley’s father was an absolute gem — loved him! Sometimes a happy ending is just what we need!

Jan
Jump Back, Honey by Paul Laurence Dunvar

5
This beautiful book of poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar is illustrated by six accomplished artists. While most folks would consider this a child's book, I consider it an any-age book. I loved reading the poetry and the history of Dunbar, especially those poems written in dialect. This is a lovely book for children and adults alike and introduces us to Dunbar.

Jan
I am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown and Jason "Rachel" Brown

5
What a wonderful book about self-image and believing in oneself - co-written by Karamo Brown and his son, Jason "Rachel" Brown. When Jason was 9 years old, Karamo found out that he was the father of this child. Karamo gained full custody of Jason and also adopted Jason's half-brother. Together they have written a special book about loving oneself. They repeat, "I am perfectly designed" whether things are going well or bad. They repeat, "I am perfectly designed" when people are mean or sweet to them. This fantastic book would be a good gift for any child with self-issues. It is for children. I can see any parent reading this book again and again with a child just to reassure him or her of love and self-worth.

Elizabeth
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

5
Although one third of all book reviews are fake, i.e., they are written either by people paid to write good book reviews or by friends of the author, this is not one of them. You can believe it: MIRACLE CREEK is probably the best book you will read in a long while. Although the book flap says that the main characters are a family and a single mother, the book is actually told from the viewpoints of several characters, and I would say that each of them is also a main character. Simply put, two people die in MIRACLE CREEK, and a single mother is put on trial for the murders. But what really happened?

Becky
The Rise of Magicks by Nora Roberts

5
This third and final installment in the CHRONICLES OF THE ONE gives a satisfying and fully anticipated conclusion to the series. Roberts is a good writer who has command of her characters and storyline. While the conclusion is apparent from the first pages of the series, that does not take away from the tension and dread of the survivors of THE DOOM who are establishing a new, kinder, gentler world – after 20 years of killing and war.

Marilyn
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

5
Interesting storyline made this a great read.

Tessa
Heist Society by Ally Carter

3
First in a series featuring Katarina Bishop, born into a family of art thieves, but desperate to get out of the family business. Or is she? This is a fun, fast, young adult novel with a likable main character and a totally implausible plot. I did like the intricate plotting, and was glad that the romance was kept somewhat on the back burner.

Tina
Leopard's Wrath by Christine Feehan

5
This was a awesome addition to the Leopard series by Christine Feehan. Ania was a great heroine. She had a strong independent character that sometimes clashed with the hero Mitya, but she was able to hold her own no matter what came her way. Mitya got closure and ended one threat (his father Lazar) to himself and his cousins. Hopefully we'll learn who the new unknown threat is in the next book (Sevastyan's story).

Tina
The One You Fight For by Roni Loren

5
This is the third book in THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY series. It's my favorite so far in this series. The series is about a group survivors of a school shooting and it's now like 10 years later. It shows there struggles, PTSD, and overcoming a tragedy. This particular books H/h was about Shaw/Lucas (one of the shooters brother) and Taryn (whose sister was shot and killed). My heart broke for them and their families with all they had to go through afterwards and were still going through. Luckily they met and found strength, peace, and joy in each other and gained their lives back. This is a great emotional series but with happy endings.

Elizabeth
The Whisper Man by Alex North

5
A great scary mystery for October or any time of year! A crime novel with spooky elements. The characters are very realistic - everyone can sympathize with a child's fears and a parent's loss. Father/son difficulties in expressing love, a father's/son's feelings about the loss of a spouse/parent, the psychological effects of the dysfunctional family, childhood fears about the "boogie man" or "bad people," and the horror of a child's disappearance are at the heart of this thriller. Great atmosphere, setting, and supernatural elements add to the suspense that intensifies as the story progresses. "If you leave a door open, soon you'll hear the whispers spoken, THE WHISPER MAN will come for you." An exceedingly good debut novel!

Tina
All Riled Up by Lori Foster

5
You can't go wrong with anything Lori Foster writes. All her books have a little of everything you would want in a romance - great characters, easy to read, steam, suspense, and a happily ever after. This book is the last in this Road To Love series that follows the Crews brothers. Mitch (an unknown half brother) and Charlotte (an adopted of sorts sister) make a great couple. When Mitch comes to town to meet his half-brothers and introduce himself in hope of making a new life for himself, he also meets Charlotte and gets way more than he could have hoped for -acceptance, understanding, forgiveness, family, and a second chance for a new life. The Crews family is awesome!!

Allison
The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rinehart

3
Slow read.

Laurie
The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung

4
An emotional read as main character math wizard Katherine takes the reader on a journey that begins in 1859 Midwest U.S.A. onto Europe. Legacy, identity, family secrets, love story are just a few of the themes that are perfect for discussion. Brava!

Jackie
Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

4
A sequel to THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, this is another great book by Heather Morris. It has me rooting for the characters and really understanding the horrible things that occurred at that time. Many different emotions happening throughout the reading of both books.

Sandy
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

5
One of the best books ever!! Took me a couple chapters to get into the story but once I was in I couldn't put it down. You will not believe the ending!!

Thomas
19th Christmas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

5
Enjoyed reading this book at Christmas time. It was very good.

Pat
The Deserter by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille

5
I haven’t read DeMille in a while (can’t keep up with all authors I love), but so happy I read this one. Full of surprises - great read!

CAROL
Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde

5
What an absolute gem of a book!! Yes, it's a coming-of-age story, but more than that it's a reflection of the time in that era of the Vietnam war. The book touches on so many subjects: war, divorce, mental illness, suicide, drug addiction - all serious subjects handled delicately. Along with the serious subjects, the angst of growing up was shown with humor and sensitivity. The characters are wonderfully depicted and the atmosphere of the times seems very accurate. I loved how the author tied everything together in the end. A very satisfying read!!

Beth
Calypso by David Sedaris

4
Not as funny as some of his other books but still insightful. He shows a vulnerability I haven’t seen in previous books. He is very open about his family, which makes me feel better as we all have less-than-perfect families and his candidness about his own is refreshing.

Gretchen
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

5
Couldn't put it down, it's so good!

Sean
The Past Is Never by Tiffany Quay Tyson

5
Tiffany Quay Tyson pens a beautifully-written southern mystery that, at its heart, is all about family. The novel ties multiple stories into one cohesive look at an amazing set of events that bring people together, or tear them apart. I wasn't sure what to make of them book during Pansy's disappearance, at least initially, but it came together so well. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author. Simply put, I loved it.

Nancy
The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton

5
This book made me more aware of how much some Jewish parents were willing to blindly sacrifice for the chance to give their children a life away from the Nazi aggression and suppression that they were under. They hoped by giving up their children now to let them go to England; they could be raised in a nice family until they were reunited after the war.

Nancy
American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton

5
Talk about making waves in Washington! That’s exactly what Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter did upon her arrival in the big White House! She was a gum chewing, cigar smoking gal. Alice even got in a HUGE feud with a well-known cousin of hers, Eleanor. I know Alice used her position to her advantage and she doted on her beloved father.

Linda
The Trouble with Honor by Julia London

4
Honor Cabot meets George Easton when she goes to a gambling hell and plays against him and wins. Easton is the bastard son of the Duke of Gloucester and considers himself unworthy of a lady of quality like Honor. That doesn’t stop Honor as she has fallen in love with him. Honor knows it is past time for her to marry but she wants to marry for love and that would be Easton, but he refuses to consider it. Honor has to come up with a plan.

Linda
I Kissed a Rogue by Shana Galen

3
When Lady Lillian-Anne Lennox is kidnapped, her father calls on Sir Brook Derring to find her but Brook wants nothing to do with the arrogant duke or his daughter. He does his job and locates Lila in one of Beezle’s hideouts. Beezle is the leader of the Covent Garden Cubs gang but someone paid him to kidnap Lila and Brook has to find out the name. Lila is taken to a cottage on the Derring estate and a hasty marriage is performed between the two with the understanding that an annulment will be granted once the kidnapper is caught. While together, they fall in love and neither wants the annulment.

Linda
This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

5
In order to keep her greedy cousin Josiah from her fortune, Georgiana (Georgie) Caversteed hatches a plan. She will go to Newgate Prison and marry a felon bound for the gallows. She will be married, then widowed, and can live her life as she wants. The prisoner she had planned to marry was found dead so she married his cellmate who was due to be sent to Australia. Weeks later, Georgie spies Benedict Wylde at a ball and is shocked. No one is to know about their marriage but what is he doing here when he was supposed to have been deported? He comes to her with a grin on his face and addresses her as Mrs. Wylde and she finds she is attracted to one of the town’s most notorious rogues who happens to be her husband.

Linda
When the Marquess Met His Match by Laura Lee Guhrke

5
When funds are cut off for the Marquess of Trubridge, Nicholas comes to matchmaker Lady Belinda Featherstone and asks for her help in finding a rich heiress. She detests fortune hunters as she had been married to one but she agrees to help him. The more she is around him, she learns he is not the rogue he is made out to be and she was wrong in her initial assessment of him. When he tells her he loves her, she doesn’t know what to say but realizes she wants him as much as he wants her. What’s a respectable lady to do?

Linda
The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

4
Logan Kendrick is asked to escort Donella Haddon home from a convent by her uncle and clan leader. Since Logan is trying to do business with the Earl of Riddick, he agrees. On the journey, they are set upon by Mungo Murray’s men who try to kidnap her. Mungo feels his clan has been insulted and he intends to right the wrong done to the Murrays. Logan has fallen in love with Donella and will protect her from Murray. Mungo won’t give up and will continue until he sees his son Roddy is married to Donella.

Linda
Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

5
Phoebe Larson, Lady Clare, had heard horrow stories about West Ravenel bullying her late husband Henry when he was a lad in boarding school. She had made up her mind to not like him. But that was before she met him. Her father admires him for the way he has turned his brother’s inherited wreck of an estate into a profitable one. Phoebe likes the playful way he interacts with her sons. And then, there’s the sexual attraction between them.

vera
The Wild One by Nick Petrie

5
Won a copy of this. Took me several pages to really get into the book, but then Peter Ash is on his way to Iceland to try to find a man as his son that he has taken out of the country. The grandmother had hired Peter to find them. She says the man shot wife and took son? Not normal Peter's job, but even with trying to be forced to come home before he even leaves airport, knows something he has to do. Author has us hooked on the story and takes lots of risks, but Peter don't give up. Action-packed and would recommend to others.

Gretchen
The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen

4
Loved it. Did not want to put it down.

Tessa
Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight by Emily Brightwell

3
In general, I like this cozy series set in Victorian London and featuring the somewhat clueless Inspector Witherspoon and his house staff, who do much of the investigative work, while giving him the credit. However, I’m noticing how repetitious it is – not only from book to book, but within one book.

Betty Jo
Opioid, Indiana by Brian Allen Carr

4
It is hard to believe but this small book is a reflection of the lives of many young people in rural, poor America today. Carr's book has been compared to CATCHER IN THE RYE in the sense that the protagonist tells his story in a matter of a few days, and it is full of the emotions surrounding a teenage voice of a particular time period. The angst felt in 1951 seems innocent compared to issues many young people experience in 2019.

Dorothy
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson

5
Told in the form of letters between an English farm wife and a Danish museum director, the story evolves as Tina and Anders reveal more and more about themselves in their letters and ultimately emails which are more immediate.

Becky
The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber

4
I almost stopped reading this novel because of the stream of consciousness style of writing and the repetition of a certain phrase. However, by page 20 I was hooked. Samuel is missing and Deborah, his wife, is waiting for his return when she is surprised by a stranger knocking on her door seeking assistance.

Debbie
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

5
DARLING ROSE GOLD will be the book everyone is talking about in 2020! Seriously, this book is so twisted and disturbing and I loved every single page. DARLING ROSE GOLD is about Rose Gold and Patty Watts. Patty suffers from Munchhausen by Proxy and this causes her to abuse Rose Gold her entire life. Patty is sent to prison for aggravated child abuse due to poisoning and starving Rose Gold after Rose Gold testifies against her mother at the trial. The story begins as Patty is being released from prison and Rose Gold actually agrees to take her mother in to live with her. – Say what!!??? The story is told from alternating POVs, between Rose Gold and her mother Patty. While reading, you’ll be trying to figure out who is manipulating who!

Jan
Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

4
The title of this book of short stories was so interesting that I wondered if the stories were actually about men without women. It is. This award-winning author has a world-wide reputation and his stories demonstrate why he is so honored. There is not a spare word. Characters are completely developed for a short story and the reader can fully understand the longing, the need, the desire that men have for women from the readings. It is a quick read and a delightful read. Murakami has insight that I will never have and he writes about that insight. If you like to understand worlds in which you do not live, enjoy this book.

Shirley
Origin by Dan Brown

2
I loved THE DA VINCI CODE, also ANGELS AND DEMONS, and INFERNO. All three generated some tension, were fast-paced, and had some tension. This book was just strange - and not up to the others in content or excitement. The critical point of the book (for me) was - so what! I didn't think his formula worked with this premise and struggled to finish it.

Cindee
Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides

4
Although this book was very long, it was intriguing and well written. I loved the weaving of past and present and all the characters were so interesting. Definitely worth the time.

Linda
The Janes by Louisa Luna

5
Thank you BookishFirst for a copy of this book. Alice Vega is asked to assist in an investigation of two young girls who have been murdered, and asks her friend Max Caplan (Cap) for help. This book is action-packed, and the two main characters, Vega and Cap, are great. Alice, from her morning handstand routine to the rather unconventional weapon she keeps in the trunk of her car, kept me guessing all the time. Cap is a pretty tough guy, trying hard to be a good father to his teenage daughter. Twists and turns abound in this page-turner of a novel!

vera
Dead's Man's Hand by Renee Rose

4
Won a copy of this. Marissa has been warned all her life about the Tacone Family (Mafia). But when they need $30,000 for surgery for her young niece she goes to Gio for the money. He seems different than his brothers and dad. She doesn't want the family to know where money comes from. They become more than friendship, but will either family allow this?? At times book can have rough spots. Mafia love is not an easy road.

Debbie
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

3
PBS recently telecast THE CHAPERONE, a delightful fictional account of actress Louise Brooks. The production intrigued me, so I decided to read the book which explains, in detail, many scenes of the movie. Elizabeth McGovern, Norma, the Chaperone, reads the audiobook. Laura Moriarty writes a free-flowing novel with emphasis on setting and character.

Debbie
Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher

3
Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books alternate between an interesting story and a flat tale. The latest book in The Deacon’s Family series provided stimulation in the series of problems for the residents of Stoney Ridge. Jimmy Fisher returns to Stoney Ridge after a long absence and begins working for Sylvie King. Sparks fly among Jimmy, Sylvie, and Jimmy’s mother, Edith Fisher Lapp. Suzanne Woods Fisher provides a complete list of characters, which I adore. Fisher falls upon too much dialogue and the setting and characterization suffer. A few of the events that happen seem a little to unbelievable. The part concerning unwanted babies tears at the heartstrings.

Christine
Time Travelers Never Die by Jack McDevitt

5
You may learn a little history from this book, but don't let that put you off. I admit I am biased when it comes to time travel stories, but this really is a good book. Shel's father disappears after traveling to the past, so now, Shel, his friend, is trying to find him and bring him home. This book visits some important people and events in history, but it's not a boring school lesson. Mr. McDevitt is a talented author, and I recommend this book if you enjoy time travel stories.

Shelley
Surviving Minimized by Andrea White

5
Part Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and a touch of The Truman Show, this dystopian fiction is a fun book! With Instant Trees and holobums, the first couple of chapters contain tons of details describing a world completely different from what we know today. The main character, Zert, gets into some trouble and might have a fatal illness. In order to survive, Zert and his dad attempt to join a secret society of minimized people who will hopefully save the world one day. Zert has a great sense of humor, and after some ups and downs makes good friends in the new world. Written 20 years ago, this book is timely in its subject matter of human impact on the environment and political views of accepting people.