This contest period's winners were Debbie M., Marilyn T. and Rebecca T., who each received a copy of THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki and THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abi Dare.
Anna Servati
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
This was an emotional story based on true events surrounding Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage that involved the kidnapping of children and their illegal adoptions. Although I enjoyed how the author weaved the stories together, I enjoyed the past story much more. The present-day story with Avery was a bit long but the mystery she is trying to uncover kept the pages turning and gives a little reprieve from the heart-wrenching story of what happens to Rill and her siblings.
Richard N B
The Ravenmaster by Christoph Skaife
Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London. This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
Linda
The Lucky One by Lori Rader-Day
Told from two points of view - we have Alice, kidnapped at two years old, but quickly rescued by her policeman father ("The Lucky One", as many kidnapped children are not found), and Merrily, raised by a single mother. There is one man who is connected to both girls, and as the story goes along, we find out the connection. It was a slow read. The plot was interesting but could have moved faster. The ending was pretty exciting - good plot twist there! Not sure I’d have finished though, if I didn’t feel that I needed to review it; just moved too slowly for the most part.
Mamie
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
Enjoyed the author's portrayal of the women of Brewster Place, their loves, their challenges, and their intertwined lives.
Jeanne
Penny for Your Secrets by Anna Lee Huber
PENNY FOR YOUR SECRETS was a bit slow-moving in the beginning for me, but it was a thrilling suspenseful mystery set in the 1920s. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I was impressed with the character she created in former British Secret Service agent Verity Kent. Verity is in an emotional turmoil having recently reunited with her presumed dead husband and having to try and prove her friend’s innocence in the murder of her husband. The ending will surprise readers and leaves the door open for another book in the series.
Marcia
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Enjoyed reading this and I didn't think I would. I watched the first episode in the HBO series years ago but couldn't get past the graphic abuse and sexual scenes. For some reason, I could read the book. It was a good page-turner that grabbed my interest.
Jayme
Clean Eating, Dirty Sex by Lisa Davis
This book is about really in low carbs with a slice of keto. There are tidbits of new information and several of the recipes do look good. The bottom line in this book: Eat your veggies + cut out sugar + activity = feeling better which leads to better sex. Of course it does! This would actually make a fun wedding shower gift present to throw in with the pots and pans, and I do love the title!!
Lucy
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
Love the character development and writing style. I selected this book for our book group after hearing the podcast interview!
Laurie
A Good Man by Ani Katz
I read this beautifully-written family saga in one sitting, mesmerized by this profound examination of masculinity. Amazing, disturbing to the max - read it!
Alice
Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard
Very good historical fiction. My group seems to be enjoying it. We discuss it in a week.
Elly
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Impressive character development and sad history of the Japanese and U.S. occupations of Korea. The culture and strength of the sea women as well as their relationships is enlightening.
Mary
A Very Stable Genius by Phil Rucker and Carol Leonnig
All about president #45. Lots of frightening details about Trump. I found it hard to read during the impeachment trial.
Gerry
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
Enjoyable story of a young orphan boy and a dance-hall girl whose paths cross mysteriously in 1930's Malaya in a town stalked by a wild tiger. I liked the two main characters, the setting, and the details about Chinese mythology and culture, but found that the story dragged a bit for me, and didn't always hold my interest. Perhaps a print version rather than audio (although it was read well by the author) would have been a better choice for me.
Gerry
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
My initial reaction as I read the first couple chapters was along the lines of, "Well, she's no Stephen King!" The whole time travel idea seemed terribly contrived, without the realism that King somehow manages to inject into even his most fanciful novels. But soon, this warm story of a young mother trying to save her child's life began to resonate with me, to the point that I didn't want to stop reading, and in fact, finished 3/4 of the book that first day! Yes, there were cheesy moments, and a lot of sentimentality, but THE DREAM DAUGHTER was still a very engaging and enjoyable read, and I'm glad I experienced it.
Gerry
The War Outside by Monica Hesse
3-1/2 stars. THE WAR OUTSIDE is a YA novel set in an internment camp, Crystal City, housing both Japanese and German families during WWII. The story centers on two teenage girls, one Japanese-American and the other German-American, but both American citizens born in the U.S., whose fathers were arrested and accused of acts in support of the enemy. It’s narrated in alternating chapters by each of the girls, sharing their perspectives on the events that led to their imprisonments, day-to-day life in the camp, and their own developing relationship, with hints of sexual attraction. Themes of racism, loyalty, and revenge add layers of complexity to the story. Based on actual events that occurred in the U.S., this is definitely a worthwhile read.
Gerry
The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
Bryson is a very engaging writer who can take massive amounts of information (based on his extremely thorough research) and distill it into a fascinating narrative. His story of the human body is divided into chapters covering each of the various systems and organs, and includes a combination of detailed descriptions and fascinating anecdotes. While I can't say I came away with any life-changing insights, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am astounded, given the number of things that can go wrong, that so many of us are able to enjoy good health and function at all!
Gerry
Here We Are: American Dreams, American Nightmares by Aarti Namdev Shahani
Shahani's memoir started off strong, but suddenly in the middle took a jarring twenty-two year leap forward in time, and the narrative began to drag. Toward the end, the story picked up and re-engaged my interest in this naturalized American citizen who worked for years as an immigration activist and advocate. The Shahanis are South Asian family that immigrated to America, settling in a highly diverse neighborhood in Queens. They became "illegals" by overstaying their visa and then the family was torn apart by the father's arrest and imprisonment on "aggravated felony" charges stemming from his unwitting involvement in a money-laundering scheme perpetrated by a Mexican drug cartel.
Gerry
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
4-1/2 stars. This was an engrossing and completely enjoyable historical novel based on the lives of Maud and L. Frank Baum, and of the writing, and later the filming, of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. An afterward by the author details the minor changes to the historical record that she made in the interest of better storytelling.
Gerry
Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbøl
This is the second book in the Nina Borg series, a mystery series set primarily in Denmark. It's a very timely story, centering on emigration from Hungary and other countries in eastern Europe and the Middle East to Scandinavia, and issues of racism and resentment that both drive and result from migration. In this story, grinding poverty and an unexpected find lead a young man to desperate straits to help his family survive, highlighting the conflicts among migrants and native citizens, and drawing nurse Nina into a complicated and dangerous plot as she seeks only to ameliorate suffering among those unable to care for themselves and their children. The ending was less than completely satisfying, and seemed a bit contrived.
Gerry
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
This was not an easy read. First and foremost, the topic is challenging, and requires the reader/listener to make a significant change in perspective and to grasp new terminology and concepts. But Kendi's message still comes through clearly: racism is fundamentally a matter of policy, and anti-racism requires examining policy and taking steps to insure that policies are changed (or replaced with new policies) to insure a level playing field with equal opportunities for all, and most critically, to eliminate biases that negatively impact minority groups. Kendi's is an idealistic view that makes some sense, but remains under-developed with respect to the hard challenges of implementing change.
Gerry
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Recorded in podcast style with a full cast, this was an excellent audiobook with a compelling plot and very engaging characters. The bulk of the narrative is in the voices of two main characters: Sadie, the older sister and primary caretaker of a young girl who was murdered at age 13, and West McCray, an radio personality and reporter who is assigned to investigate Sadie's story when she goes missing. It's not so much a mystery -- much of the backstory is explained fairly early in the novel -- as an exploration of family ties and especially of the relationship between the two sisters. Very well done!
Gerry
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
It's disappointing that I can give this eagerly-awaited biography of Harriet Tubman only two stars. While the content was worthwhile, and I did learn a good bit about this heroic woman's life, the writing was surprisingly poor, with frequent errors of syntax and grammar, and a flat, staccato style. Dunbar's repeated references to what Tubman and others "probably" thought, or "may have" felt were also annoying. It's ironic that she criticized Sarah Bradford's authorized biography of Tubman as poorly written, when her own biography falls so flat, like a hurriedly-written term paper. I won't return to this author, and just removed another of her books from my Want to Read shelf on Goodreads.
Gerry
The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay
THE RAIN WATCHER is an atmospheric novel with very little action, but is so well-written that it gripped me completely right to the end. The focus was less on plot than on the relationships among the characters, a family of four who had gathered to celebrate the 70th birthday of the father, Paul, an acclaimed arborist whose passion for plants and trees had often taken precedence over attention to his family. Over the course of the novel family secrets are revealed, and the complexity of their relationships becomes clearer. The ending left me less than completely satisfied, as I'd anticipated it was building to a different conclusion, but did add to my understanding of Paul's personality and his life's passion.
Gerry
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
I really enjoyed listening to this fictionalized account of the women of the "Packhorse Library" sponsored by the WPA in rural Kentucky in the '30s. Life was not easy for most in that area, but women especially suffered from discrimination and a culture that made them essentially possessions first of their fathers, and later of their husbands, too often to be used and abused with no recourse. I'd been only vaguely aware of the traveling library project, and enjoyed learning more about it, and about the courageous women who ran it. This novel was quite different from others I've read by this author, but no less engaging, with its combination of well-drawn characters and a good story.
Gerry
The Overstory by Richard Powers
I suspect I’m in the minority, giving this Pulitzer Prize winner only three stars. I loved parts of it, but disliked the overall organizational structure. Too many characters were introduced in the early chapters, then abandoned for a long while during a slow-moving section focusing on the nature of trees and forests. By the time the characters returned (often using different names) it was challenging to recall who was whom and what their backstories were. The details about the life of the forest were informative and interesting but went on far too long, and interrupted the flow of the story.
Gerry
Normal People by Sally Rooney
4-1/2 stars for a beautifully written story of two young people struggling to find their paths in life, and to understand their relationship. Connell and Marianne are polar opposites in so many ways, but they have one thing in common: their hesitancy (or perhaps inability) to understand their own feelings and to express them clearly to another person, even when that person is the most important in their lives. From their first friendship in high school and through their university years, they come together and separate over and over, repeatedly misunderstanding each other's feelings and intentions, and always afraid of hurting or being hurt by expecting (or asking for) too much. Readers can't help but love them both, despite their flaws.
Gerry
Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
The daughter of prominent Washington, D.C. insiders, Meredith is a classic example of rich white privilege. Her classmate Niru's family is equally wealthy, but he carries the double burden of being black and gay in a society that values neither. Their friendship is complicated by Meredith's crush on him, which he cannot reciprocate. The first three-quarters of the novel were narrated by Niru, and touchingly portrayed his struggle over coming out and coping with the reaction of his conservative parents. Then the perspective changed in the last quarter, as the remainder of the story was narrated by Meredith rather than Niru. She had been a likable enough character in Niru's narrative, but I came to dislike her in the last part of the book.
Gerry
Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse by John Lithgow
Perfect impeachment week listening! A combination of original poems with short summaries of the individuals and events they lampoon. Less about Trump himself than about others who are or were in his administration. Horrifying to realize how much corruption and chaos we have lived through in the last three years!
Gerry
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
I'm not a frequent sci-fi reader, but this one caught my eye in a review by Anne Bogel. It's told in alternating chapters focused on two main characters: Augustine, an old scientist who declines to evacuate with his colleagues from the Arctic research station in the face of warnings of unspecified imminent danger and Sully, a female astronaut who left her ex-husband and 8-year-old daughter behind to pursue her passion for space exploration and is now one of six astronauts returning from a voyage to Jupiter when they lose all contact with Mission Control on Earth. Each is facing his/her mortality and ultimate alone-ness, questioning past decisions, and speculating about future possibilities, which look increasingly grim for both.
Janet
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
Always love her books!
Sally-Jo
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Interesting character dynamics. A story of forgiveness and relationships that are co-dependent. I never warmed up to the mother nor felt much sympathy for the stepmother. I would have liked to know more about the stepsisters who I did feel sorry for. Overall, a good book.
Linda
In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
This book is our February book club selection. It's a good book about three characters that meet, and two are immigrants dealing with adapting to a new culture and country.
Ilene
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
THE GREAT ALONE starts in 1974 when Ernt Allbright comes home after being a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a broken man. He thinks all will change when he gets a letter from one of his fellow prisoner’s father saying that "his dead son left him a cabin in Alaska.” So off he goes in a broken-down van with his wife Cora and 13-year-old daughter Leni and all their worldly goods. The cabin isn’t what they thought it would be. The area is in a wild remote corner of Alaska. Wild animals have taken over the shack and there is no running water and electricity. What a nightmare! Neighbors try to help make it a little livable. And then winter settles in, they never experienced anything like it. PTSD causes Ernt to become abusive toward Cora.
nancy
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
This book has a unique premise. The main female character is very artistic and the main male character is math figures-oriented...talk about opposites attracting!!! It took me a few chapters to get into it but the more I read the more I could feel my artsy side being drawn in.
Ann Marie
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
I loved the culture elements of this book, but the oppression of Arabic women was disturbing from arranged marriages to the pressure of having male children. But the most disturbing thing was the abuse at the hands of the women's husbands and not being allowed to read books is unfathomable to me. Great book on the Palestinian culture and well written. Heartbreaking, actually. I read it in a day/day and a half.
nancy
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
I don't usually like stories based in the future and the premise of this book is slightly far-fetched but somehow I found myself drawn into the storyline. The characters are well developed and the plot is slowly developed. Everything is neatly pulled together in the end and well explained.
Ann Marie
Normal People by Sally Rooney
This book showed a heartbreaking relationship between male character Connell and Marianne, the female character. Connell was at first popular and Marianne was an outcast, but roles reversed as they entered college. This book was great in the way that it made you feel that their messed-up lives of loneliness, abandonment, abuse and depression is all too real and portrayed in such a way through their personal thoughts and feelings. This book made me feel normal instead of abnormal and let me know that other people, like myself, can be popular and happy, even though on the inside we feel very much different than what we show on the outside.
Kathleen
Bread Bags & Bullies by Steven Manchester
"So many channels and nothing to watch." I chuckled at this because I remember those days clicking the remote, I also remember the days when there were no remotes, us kids were the remotes. Steven Manchester has done it again with a very readable and relatable book. The main character, Herbie, is a grown man and starts thinking of his past. So the story of the three boys depicted in the book begins. Herbie, 12 years old, his older brother Wally and younger brother Cockroach, appear to be very close even though they always fight. Isn't that what boys do? If you are around my age or younger you will be able to relate to this book.
Kristen
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
A really good mystery wrapped in a family saga-type story. Our book club really loved it!
Thomas
Treason by Stuart Woods
This was a very good book. All Stone Barrington books are very good.
John
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Romance explodes when Ramadan and politics collide!
Linda
The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan
The book begins with the death of famous author William (Bill) Sweeney, as his three daughters come together to mourn, and celebrate his life. They hold an Irish-type wake for him, and who turns up but a fourth daughter, although they don’t know yet that’s who she is. The story tells how they each come to grips with the situation - the three sisters, plus the one who just found out through a DNA test who her biological father was. The characters are well developed, each dealing with the revelations about their father in their own way. (And there are many revelations!)
I honestly did not want this book to end!
Elizabeth
The Wolf in Winter by John Connolly
I feel I should be able to jump right into the middle of a series and understand the characters and what is going on with them. THE WOLF IN WINTER is well into the Charlie Parker series. I didn't feel lost. While this novel's beginning is about Parker and his investigation into the whereabouts of the daughter of a homeless man, that soon leads him to a peculiar, even Stephen King-ish, small town in Maine. This town, more than any single character, is what this book is about.
Susan
Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra
I found this book, a memoir, much more interesting than EDUCATED. It's about a homeless family in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY.
Susan
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
The Island has been in the Milton family for generations but the trust fund that keeps it going is almost gone. What will the next generation do?
Gloria
Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline
It was a very well-written book and a very well thought out plot. It also taught a great lesson and just when you thought you figured it out there was one more twist that was totally believable but a big surprise.
Bonnie
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Exceptional book reminiscent of HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but takes place during the Depression. You'll love these characters.
Bonnie
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
6 stars. This is the most beautifully written book I've read in years. You'll savor the sentences. Meanwhile it's a wonderful story with a feisty young woman as its main character. I believe Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar for her role when this was made into a movie.
Donna
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A dying man writes a letter to his young son. It's slow reading but so beautifully written!
Linda
My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh
Lady Grace Wyatt wanted Mason Fredericks to notice her as a woman and not a fellow scientist. She gets an idea and enlists fellow scientist Sebastian Holloway to help her. Seb is a geeky but lovable fellow but certainly one who would not get second looks. His friend, the Duke of Rotherby, shows Seb how to dress and act in society and Seb becomes a hit. When he and Grace dance, Mason notices Grace in a different way. But is this what Grace really wants? Why is it she feels different when dancing with Seb than she does when dancing with Mason? When Seb looks into her eyes, her feelings are more than just friends.
Linda
The Earl Next Door by Amelia Grey
Lyon Marksworth first met Adeline Wake when he barged into her house thinking she was the madam of a brothel about to be opened in the neighborhood. She slapped him for even thinking that although she was highly attracted to the handsome man. Lyon apologized and left but could not forget the beautiful woman who was his neighbor. Adeline had had a disastrous marriage and now relished her freedom. Lyon wanted to be in love with the woman he was to marry and had never found the right woman, but he had a feeling he had just found her in his next-door neighbor.
Linda
Wyoming Heart by Diana Palmer
The book was okay but the character of Cort Grier ruined it for me. He was an egotistical know-it-all. Mina should have had more sense than to get involved with him. She should have gone for a gentleman like Jake McGuire. Cort left his Texas ranch and went to stay with his cousin Bart Riddle on his Wyoming ranch. When he sees Mina, he always make derogatory remarks about her and she usually hears them. She was a best-selling novelist who did not dress flashy but liked her hometown roots. He made a comment after they married that she needed to learn how to dress and host dinner parties. What an ass!
Linda
Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer
When Christina befriends a little girl, she has no idea her quiet concern for the girl gets the attention of the girl's uncle. Andy likes what he sees when he looks at Christina. Christina feels their romance is doomed because he is the son of the grouchy landlord who wants to raise the rent on her small shop as well as those of her friends. If so, they will be forced to close. There must be some way she can get Oscar Bittlesman to change his mind.
Linda
The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz
It’s been ten years since the body of Edie was found along with her suicide note. Lindsay was a friend to Edie, Sarah, Alex, and Kevin who all shared an apartment. Years later, Lindsay met with Sarah who says there were too many discrepancies for Edie’s death to be ruled a suicide and thinks that someone killed her. Lindsay sets out to discover who killed Edie without thinking that her own life could be in danger. Someone has been safe all these years and doesn't want Edie stirring things up.
Linda
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Six is the name of a 70’s rock band that catapulted to the top when Daisy Jones joined them. She and Billy Dunne, the leader of the band, had a love-hate relationship. Billy’s wife Camila saw the attraction between them when they sang together. She told Daisy it would be best if she left the band since she was not letting Daisy hurt her family. Daisy left the band as did another member. The band broke up and the remaining tour was cancelled. With all the drugs Daisy was using, I was surprised that she could even perform. Not impressed with this book and don’t understand all the hoopla about it.
Joanne
Golden in Death by J. D. Robb
Classic JD in this, her #50 in the series. Why is someone killing off people by sending them a golden egg filled with a poison gas? And Peabody blows her cork when a snotty person they interview goes off on Peabody’s parents. Great plot with the usual cast of characters.
Carol R.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Some people did not want to read and discuss this book although they knew it had great ratings. The reason was did not want to read another book about WW II. We are reading it and I am VERY glad to have read it and am reading other nonfiction books to add information to our discussion. What a well-written book and I am very glad I read it. More people should read it.
Margaret
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
Very insightful in these days of 23 and Me.
Rosa
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
This book has been much-hyped. Reese Witherspoon has even chosen it to be her book club pick. And the praise is well-deserved. Emira is a twenty-something black babysitter for Alix, an upper-class white woman. One night, as Emira is with 3-year-old Briar in a high-end grocery store, she is stopped by the store security guard and is accused of kidnapping. The consequences of this incident for both Emira and Alix are the basis of this story. Kiley Reid offers interesting, thought-provoking commentary on race, class, the definition of success, and so much more, in this cleverly written novel. It reads like a beach read but is more serious and relevant than that.
Jean
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Our book club read this for our Jan selection. It is a very well-written, descriptive, thought-provoking book re: the immigration crisis on the U.S. southern border. It follows the life/flight of Lydia and her son from their Acapulco home to the U.S. border. Although Lydia has met the jefe of the local cartel in her book store, she doesn't realize it until her family is massacred prompting her flight. It is covering some current issues and a non-put-downable story.
Sean
The Man From St. Petersburg by Ken Follett
I'm a lover of historical fiction and Ken Follett. This novel had all the normal Ken Follett devices - drama, lost lost, naive females coming to know the world, and at times it was very slow. The book isn't bad at all, but at times the cliches were too prevalent. The last third of the book sped up and made the book worth it. The overall piece of fiction was just an okay read. Ken Follett is capable of more but this passed the time.
Phyllis
The Sunday Potluck Club (The Sunday Potluck Club, #1) by Melissa Storm
I have to admit when I started this book I wasn't sure if it was one that I would enjoy, but I did enjoy it. It's about a group of women that meet through parents going through and dying from cancer. It's a study in how they all deal with loss differently. In between all this Amy finds Trent and his daughter also dealing with the loss of wife/mother from the same disease. It's about friends and the length they will go to support each other and the interesting situations they get into and out of.
Milena
Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday
MERMAID INN is a witty, small-town second chance romance that I absolutely adored. It has a charming lakeside town setting, interesting characters, humor, and heart. Eve and Sawyer were childhood sweethearts, but Sawyer betrayed Eve and broke her heart ten years ago. Eve left Moonflower Bay and didn't return for ten years until she inherited her beloved aunt's inn. Now she is back in Moonflower Bay, she can't escape Sawyer, who is the town's police chief. Sawyer wants to make amends with Eve and their chemistry is as strong as it was when they were teenagers, but will Eve be able to forgive Sawyer for his betrayal? Second chance romance is my favorite trope and Jenny Holiday nailed it! I cannot wait to read more books set in Moonflower Bay.
Laura
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Fun story about a widow and a washed-up baseball pitcher. It's a nice light read.
Helen
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
Just reread the book. It's the best book I read last year and possibly the best book I've ever read. The way it was researched and created makes it brilliant. Makes me want to read more of Lewis's books. I recommend it highly. Am getting very good comments from others to whom I've recommended the book. So far, everyone loves it.
Elizabeth
Mercy House by Alena Dillon
Evelyn was never wanted. Her father even bargained with God to bring his son home from the war, and he would put Evelyn in a convent. Evelyn's brother did come home, and she did go to the convent. She and two other nuns opened Mercy House for abandoned and abused girls.
Jan
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Miller became known to us when she was raped and two international students chased down her rapist and held him until police arrived. The rapist was a star swimmer at Stanford University. The rapist's family had lots of money and put all types of people on the stand to swear to his wonderfulness. Miller was not wealthy and did not know the ropes; depended on a public defender (who did a wonderful job) and her family. After horrible invasive examinations just after the rape, not understanding what happened to her and unbelievable horrors with memories and dreams and a sense of alienation, the case finally went to trial two years after the rape. Eventually, the "kindly" judge sentenced Brock Turner to 6 months in jail! Moving story. Painful.
Jan
Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
A slow book about adult maturation. The prose drags; we discover some characters more deeply than others. Some we hardly know. There are a couple of quick fill-ins at the end. There is no mystery, there are no surprises. This book and this author have been widely praised throughout the world. I only read it because my book club is discussing it. What did I get from the book? We all have different spaces, attitudes, feelings and they are not always discerned by others. Frankly, I knew this stuff before. Four very different people end up in a large apartment in Paris and help each other in various ways. I do not recommend this book for any book club. It really gave me nothing new and it was slow enough to be boring at times.
shelly
The Prince and the Wedding Planner by Jennifer Faye
Bianca, Gia and her brother are shocked to learn one of them is illegitimate. Bianca read the notes in her mother's diary and know all are wondering which of the siblings is really not a Bartolini? They know they will have to have a DNA test for the results but the fact that the stipulation in the will is that whoever can generate the most income will get the families estate.
Bianca is a wedding planner and is working at one when Leo, the prince, has decided to attend his friends' wedding. He is taken back with Bianca and feels she would be perfect to help plan his sister's up and coming wedding. Giselle is thrilled as she seems to be battling constantly with her mother about the wedding plans.
Linda
The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes
The book is initially difficult to follow, then becomes intriguing,and again confusing at the end, as one is left wondering which character's inner voice is speaking when. Not the best Jojo Moyes book.
Jennifer
The Truants by Kate Weinberg
This book started strong, there was no need to struggle through the first 50 pages, as it got going right away. I enjoyed the first 2/3, despite a lack of any really likeable characters, but the ending felt like a lame cop-out, and was completely unsatisfying. I was left feeling like I'd been tricked into wasting my time.
Elizabeth
The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo
It is 1492 and we meet Rodrigo Borgia - Pope Alexander VI who has four children and a mistress. Ms. Palombo did extensive, amazing research for THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS and gave us a detailed account of the activities at this time. What a wonderful history lesson with information that was new to me.
Lynn
The Fallen Architect by Charles Belfoure
A very enjoyable read about the English variety circuit theaters circa 1900.
Francisca
Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern
3.5 stars. Three people running from their past (or present) find the help they need at the library. The novel is told in alternating view points as each of the three central characters reveals his or her back story and experiences in current time. The first time there was a “flashback” it caught me off guard, but I quickly grew used to the style. Halpern gives us a wonderful cast of supporting characters as well. There are moments of humor to balance the heartache and disasters. I’d love a sequel to find out how they cope in the future.
Barbara
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Funny and delightful!
Lindy
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Great character development.
Debbie
The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan
THE UNQUIET DEAD presented a chapter of history that I overlooked. A man falls to his death from an English hillside. Was the man pushed or did he commit suicide, or did he accidentally slip and fall to his death? Rachel Getty and her boss, Esa Khattak, gingerly search for answers in a death possibly connected to the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica. Author Zehanat Khan artfully maneuvers through the persecution of the Muslims in Srebrenica. These unfortunate people were starved, beaten, raped, killed, and imprisoned. Zehanat Khan displays the horror and the beauty of the Muslims. The story also shows the human errors of people such as Christopher Drayton and Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty.
Debbie
The Sentence Is Death by Anthony Horowitz
THE SENTENCE IS DEATH by Anthony Horowitz provides humor and a tongue in cheek detective story. Ex-inspector Hawthorne exhibits Sherlock Holmes tendencies, while the sidekick author, Anthony Horowitz bumbles among missing all the clues. Horowitz, like Dr. Watson, records the progress of the investigation. The story displays humor and many red herrings. Who killed the divorce lawyer, Richard Pryce, with an expensive bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite wine? As Hawthorne and Horowitz follow the clues, another man dies. Suicide or murder? Does the drowning death of a fellow cave dweller play into the deaths? Horowitz also uses the novel to laud his television script writing endeavors.
Debbie
The Will to Die by Joe Pulizzi
The last three books have informed me of unknown subjects. THE WILL TO DIE exposes the demise of private funeral homes due to more people electing cremation over embalming. I also learned about life insurance policies becoming insurance settlements and the deception of these policies. THE WILL TO DIE details rampant white supremacy in smaller towns, and the policing and scrutiny of citizens. The storyline races and intensifies as Will Pollitt learns what is happening in Sandusky, Ohio. Another funeral director/owner has installed himself as the Supreme Leader and like Hitler has chosen what people will populate and work in Sandusky. The story reads like 1984. Another author, Mark de Castrique, also outlines the problems of family.
Helen
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Fascinating read of an enchanted world.
Kimberly
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
Wow! What a clever thriller. I thought EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS by Peter Swanson was excellent. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't add any plot details to the summary. All I can say is that the book should really appeal to avid readers. I loved all of the details about the day in and day out of the life of a bookseller. The mystery was fast-paced and the ending left me floored. A word of warning - your TBR list will grow while reading this even though there are spoilers galore. Well done Mr. Swanson. I wholeheartedly recommend this gem to anyone who enjoys books and thrillers.
Marybeth
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Well written. Suspenseful. Very touching. I feel I know the characters!
Marybeth
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
Love the writing and character development. It’s so creepy. Keeps me guessing and second guessing. Love the exotic setting.
Tessa
I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all the details of their complicated relationships, and while these period elements added color to the story, the book failed to really move me.
Gil
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille
John Sutter returns from London to New York after being away for ten years. He left because his wealthy wife Susan was unfaithful and killed her lover Frank Bellarosa, a mafia don. Upon his return, Susan wants to forget the past, reunite with John and remarry him. This presents two problems for John. His once and future in-laws hate him and threaten to disinherit her, 50 million dollars. Second, Anthony Bellarosa, the current don seeks revenge on Susan for killing his father. John narrates the book and adds to the commentary with sarcastic asides. The book was well written, easy to read and I am glad I read it.
Linda
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Thank you to Netgalley and the author Lucy Foley for my copy of this book. A glitzy wedding on a small island off the coast of Ireland - Will is a reality TV star, Jules runs a successful online magazine. Ms. Foley does a great job on atmosphere - the island is rumored to have ghosts, there are cliffs, caves, and bogs, and a wild storm. She also does a great job drawing some very unlikable characters - especially the ushers! What a horrible bunch! And how she connects everyone to Will - Olivia, the Plus One’s sister Alice, Aiofe’s brother Loner. One thing I didn’t care for was the way the POV changed so often, and the timeline was pretty jumbled. But all in all, an enjoyable read, with a few good surprises.
Laura
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Book written by a therapist about her patients and herself as a patient seeing a therapist. Very interesting, funny and informative.
Laura
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Really enjoyed this sequel to A HANDMAID'S TALE. I love the Hulu series of A HANDMAID'S TALE and this book seems to pick up decade or so after the last season of the show. In theory, you don't have to have watched the series but it really helps to understand it in my opinion.
Kathy
The Perfect Stranger by Wendy Corsi Staub
Wow, what an interesting and thought-provoking read. THE PERFECT STRANGER centers itself on what defines family, trust, love and support as it follows a blogging group of cancer patients. The hope and support they feel for each other is dramatically tested as one of their members is shockingly murdered. The characters are well developed and the plot winds through each of their perspectives as trust turns to suspicion and they question both themselves, family and each other. Wendy Corsi Staub keeps you guessing till the end!
Lisa
Analee, In Real Life by Janelle Milanes
Analee, 15 y.o spends her time playing an online role playing game & develops a crush on a guy she's never met. A male classmate, trying make his ex jealous, proposes they fake date. The writing was nothing spectacular & the story was predictable. While I was sympathetic toward Analee as she still grieved her mother who died years prior, she was also very annoying. I disliked how negative she was and her view on life and her family. There were instances where the author made it appeared that Analee changed & was happy but eventually she returned to criticizing everything & everyone including herself. There was too much self doubt and no self love which I found to be a big issue. Being YA, this may appeal to teenagers but it wasn't for me.
Thomas
When You See Me by Lisa Gardner
An excellent book. I really enjoyed reading it.
Lisa
The Outsider by Stephen King
I saw the first episode of the series which made me want to read the book. The book started out strong, I was completely engrossed in the characters, the mystery and the setting. I favored one particular character and her role in trying to solve the mystery. Unfortunately as the story continued and the twist revealed I wasn't into it. I felt as though the storyline became a bit cheesy, definitely unbelievable and didn't end as strongly as it began. Overall a good book, but there are better King books for sure.
Barbara
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
I haven't read a gritty police mystery in a long time and after reading LONG BRIGHT RIVER, I'm wondering why. This book has plenty of surprises, a great plot, very well-developed characters, and tons of atmosphere. It's a story about two sisters growing up in a dysfunctional family, One, Mickey, becomes a police officer and the other Kacey is trapped in addiction. When Kacey goes missing Mickey goes on the hunt to find her. Set in various neighborhoods in Philadelphia, the city is almost another character. There are lots of plot twists and turns and quite a few surprises. Many authors are writing about the current opioid crisis and LONG BRIGHT RIVER really hits the mark, showing the hapless despair and desperation of its victims.
Dianne
Everything I Never Told You by Celete Ng
Our book club starts with describing the book we read in one word. Members described this book as depressing, sad, heart-wrenching. What followed was a great discussion of the relationships between members of the family, the history of inter-racial marriage, and the effect of the loss of child on each family members. Hannah broke our heart as the 'forgotten" child. We decided our next choice would be lighter. But, the first line will probably not grab our attention like the first line of this book.
Milena
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
LONG BRIGHT RIVER is a beautifully-written, heartbreaking novel that deals with some hard topics such as drug addiction, violence against women, police corruption, and complicated family relationships. It's a slow burn mystery about a string of murders in Kensington, a run-down neighborhood of Philadelphia. At the heart of the story is a complicated relationship between two very different sisters: Mickey, a police officer who patrols the streets of Kensington, and Kacey, a drug addict who lives on the streets of the said neighborhood. I enjoyed LONG BRIGHT RIVER. It's a thought-provoking and relevant book, perfect for a book club discussion.
Patricia
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
Really enjoyed all of the background about writing and film production of The Wizard of Oz. Letts is a great storyteller.
Elly
The Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See
Lisa’s writing is rich with Asian culture and traditions. This novel was Informative about the women free divers of Korea and the terrible times they endured under the Japanese and Americans.
Marsha
25 Days 'Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander
I love a good Cinderella story. Kate, a soldier's widow, is determined to make Christmas wonderful for her 6-year-old son. With little money, an unstable job, plus problems at her son's school, it looks like a dismal holiday. When this lonely woman meets a very lonely man the magic begins.
Vera
A Rainbow Above Us by Sharon Sala
Bowie James back in Blessings to restore his Granmothers home. But it seems the feud is still going on. He's let know from the first day back they want him out of town. But he's no longer just a teen that they nearly killed and forced to leave Blessings with his mom. Can things change and can he stay long enough to gets Gran's house back? Would recommend to others.
Whitney
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
This story is truly a testament to a mother's love and what lengths she would go through for her son. I learned so much about the migration journey Mexicans must endure to get away from the danger in their country and get to America. It is awful and both mentally, physically and emotionally draining. I fell in love with all of these characters. It has opened my eyes very much, and I will be doing my share of research to understand why this story is found so offensive. But the overall message of the book was one of family and the price of survival.
Jayne
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
One of the best books I have ever read. Loved reading about a side of 9/11 that I never thought about.
CHRISTINE
Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
This is one of the best books I've read in ages and addresses the meaning of friendship -- what makes a friend -- in this digital age in which we live. If you love gardening, learning the derivations of words and the Latin names of plants, literature, and travel, you will love this book. It's a gem.
Pam
Twenty by Debra Landwehr Engle
Well written and emotional, this quick read was thought-provoking. What makes a life worth living? Loved it.
Lana
A Very Stable Genius by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig
This was a good, easy read, but I didn't gain a tremendous amount of new information from it as I have a subscription for the Washington Post and found that I had read of it already. I do admit though that the information was much more fleshed out in the book. The scene in the Tank of the Pentagon was though new to me and made me so angry while breaking my heart. I believe the book to be factual and would recommend that every voter read it before the 2020 Presidential election. I fervently pray for our country's future every night before I go to sleep.
Kathy
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
This is quite an intense book, but well worth reading. It leaves no stone unturned in family dynamics that include suicide, the love and hate relationships in a dysfunctional family and those lives that have been touched by the members of the McCall family.
Karen
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
The year is 1932 and Violet Speedwell has moved from her family home, where she lived with her unhappy mother, to Winchester. Living on her own is not easy because she has so little money. She enjoys going to the the Winchester Cathedral and becomes fascinated by a group called the Broderers. Their project is to embroider colorful cushions and kneelers for the cathedral. She joins the group and makes new friends. She is curious about the bells and is given a tour of the bell tower and a lesson about how they work by Arthur. They develop a serious friendship even though he is married. She helps two disgraced friends. Her mother is helped by the two ladies to break out of her grief for her son and husband. Violet returns.
Darlene
Brother & Sister by Diane Keaton
It was interesting.
Laurie
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
Fictional history/family saga highlighting the life of Clementine, the strong wife of Winston Churchill. I learned so much about the two world wars!
Janet
All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig
Love books by this trio of authors. Well written and enjoyed the three different time periods and how they tied in together.
Sandy
The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
This one was a little hard to get into, but I am glad I stuck with it. Great ending!!
Tessa
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
2.5 stars. Katarina Bishop is back with her crew of teenage thieves. This time they are after the Cleopatra Emerald, despite legend that it carries a curse. There are a lot of twists and turns in this plot, and more than one intricate theft taking place. Not to mention cons and contra-cons. It's a fast read, and I like a lead female who is smart, determined and generally self-sufficient. But I didn't think it was as good as the first book, HEIST SOCIETY. Still, I see the appeal for the target YA audience.
Dorothy
Mortal Compass by Danielle Steel
Girls are admitted for the first time to an old boys high school where the wealthy send their children. They drink tequila after the school's Halloween event, one of the girls is raped, she ends up in the hospital and won't tell who did it. Read it. A good story.
Barbara
A Better Man by Louise Penny
A Gamache mystery - love this series!
Joy
Biloxi by Mary Miller
A widow adopts an overweight mixed-breed named Layla. Louis is more surprised than anyone that he ends up falling in love with the dog.
Betty
A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey
The second in the Inspector Alan Grant series. Good British detective story.
Carol
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
My group didn't want to read another WW II book but it is really a good read and a true story.
This year is the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The people living today who were in Auschwitz were children at the time. EVERYONE should read and know about the cruel and terrible treatment of people in Auschwitz.
Miriam
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
This is a thrilling story about the search for the Nazi war criminal - the Huntress. Engrossing read.
Sheila
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
This book give the word friendship a new meaning. Very well-developed characters and so many twists and turns. I had a hard time putting it down!
Sheila
The Borgia Confessions by Alyssa Palombo
I love historical fiction. THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS is one of the best books about the Borgia family that I have read to date. I love historical fiction and reading new authors. While it is a fiction book, a lot of it is factual. Alyssa Palomar did some amazing research. The story is told by Cesare Borgia and Maddalena. I enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down! I look forward to reading more books by this author. If you're a fan of historical fiction then you have to read this!
Ilene
The Abolitionist's Daughter by Diane C. McPhail
THE ABOLITIONIST'S DAUGHTER is a great historical fiction set before and during the Civil War. It starts when Emily Matthews begs her father Judge Matthews to save a slave from being auctioned off from his family. Judge Matthews is an Abolitionist who runs an illegal school for the slaves. Great writing involving two families in the South and the affects the war has on them. A little reminiscent of GONE WITH THE WIND and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I love the book, such good writing. Thank you Kensington Books for the chance to read it.
Marilyn
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
People either like Olive or call her the old bat or worse. It was great to have a later life continuation of this beloved character. She as always clearly gives her opinion but she also displays love and understanding to a cancer victim, nursing home residents and a Somali nurse aide. You’ll laugh aloud when she heads to Walmart early in the morning to buy Depends so no one can see her making the purchase. Olive has survived a heart attack but she now has a closer relationship with her son. She is indomitable.
Linda
The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
A well-written book about how four families deal with the prospect of a school for exceptionally gifted children opening in their town, and the lengths those parents will go to, to help their own kids claim a spot. The four moms have been friends for years, helping each other through all the things life throws at them. The only characters in the book that were really likeable were Silea, Ch’ayna, and Atik. The four families that the book is centered on were happy to lie and cheat. But they were so well-drawn - the author crafted them well. The story is told from multiple points of view, including that of a teenager, through her vlog. A great read!
Cheryle
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman
What was it like for ordinary citizens of Germany during the Holocaust. There are a lot of books written these days about the Holocaust and many are excellent, but THE PLUM TREE takes a slightly different perspective and looks at ordinary people living during that time. The author's family is from Germany and many of her scenes are taken from memories of her ancestors. The main character falls in love with a Jewish man which creates tensions and troubles. Early during the war the family is untouched by it, but eventually the father is drafted to serve in the German army and is sent to the Eastern front. The two young people are separated and cannot risk seeing each other upon punishment of being sent to a work camp. Excellent read!
Sheree
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
It was so well written and it made you think about the topic. It is a very timely book, especially since Dwayne Wade is also speaking out about his transgender daughter. I would highly recommend it!
Cheryle
The Tall Woman by Wilma Dykeman
"A tall woman casts a long shadow" is a quote from this very interesting book written many years ago. I saw a recommendation for it and was not disappointed. It is set in Appalachia and tells the story of family, struggles, and love. Most families had large families which created problems of how to feed and clothe everyone. The Civil War is happening and the men are called to serve. In the focus family the men are divided as to their loyalties and one serves the Union and the others the Confederacy. Those who return to the mountains after the war is over are injured both in mind and body. A very readable historical fiction read.
Cheryle
A Lost Child by Michelle Cox
This historical fiction work is set in 1930s Chicago and is the fifth in this series. I received an ARC as a member of the author's street team. I received the book one day and finished the next. It is a fast read, but no means without substance. It is an investigation to try to find a German mother who had abandoned her child to come to America. The man who takes care of the child must work so he puts the child in an orphanage. The husband and wife investigators find out the woman has died as a result of hospitalization in an asylum due to epilepsy. The child also displays symptoms of the disease. An excellent book, the best in the series.
Sandra K.
Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves
This the last book in the Shetland series of mysteries. It was a wonderful way to end the series and I look forward to her new series.
Bonnie
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Beautiful, graceful book about a special needs young woman and how she copes with the world. You'll cheer Zelda on all the way.
Michelle
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
A very compelling, eye-opening story that shined a spotlight on the horrors that can occur to migrants fleeing violence and danger and trying to make their way to el norte. In her own words, Cummins writes that she was trying to be a bridge to show people that these are human beings and to show the hardship and suffering that most endure. I felt this book came from the heart, with good intentions, and that she achieved what she set out to do. It was at times disturbing and brutal, but I believe, true to the plight of many migrants. I feel it opened my eyes, and I think it will do the same for many others, and hopefully evoke compassion. I thought it was well written and intense. I couldn’t put it down, it kept me up reading.
Dorothy
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Richardson did her research and wrote a stellar historical fiction that focuses on the Horseback Librarians in KY during the Great Depression. The story is engaging and the characters are warm and strong. Overall, THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK provides readers with a good story.
Gretchen
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
A true story of the survival of a young boy and girl who persevere the concentration camp.
Melinda
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Fun read.
Helen
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neal deGrasse Tyson
An easy way to get caught up with how the universe works and makes sense of even the deepest subjects.
Debbie
The Island by Ragnar Jonasson
THE ISLAND starts slowly and builds intensively, I almost ceased reading. A local policeman finds a dead young woman and the hunt begins for her killer. Police arrest the father and charge him with the murder. The story resumes with the four surviving friends of Katla, the dead young woman, ten years after the incident. Benedikt, Klara, Alexandra, and Dagur journey to an island to reminisce about Katla. Another member dies - is it suicide or murder? Detective Inspector Hulda jumps into the investigation and falls into the earlier death of Katla. Ragnar Jonasson presents a story seeped in the beauty and hardness of Iceland. Jonasson portrays each of the characters in vivid detail. The short chapters bounce back and forth.
Rebecca
The Moonshiner's Daughter by Donna Everhart
I enjoyed this book; one reason is that my daughter and I own a home in the mountains of western North Carolina so the geography was familiar. I also am familiar with moonshine operations as I now live in Kentucky. I have known people with anorexia and bulimia and what a serious problem it is. How the author connected everything made reading this book very enjoyable.
Julia
Educated by Tara Westover
Unbelievable true story of Tara Westover's coming-of-age and education while growing up in a very dysfunctional family. It's riveting reading.
Linda
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, and Goodreads, for my copy of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY.
This book is a delightful, gentle story, about eight totally different people with a common interest, preserving the memory of Jane Austen by creating a museum in a cottage where she once lived. We have a descendant of Jane Austin, a small town lawyer, village doctor, widowed school mistress, farmer, young, but very intelligent housemaid, Hollywood actress, and a professional from Sotheby’s auction house. What a diverse group, and every character so very well drawn.
There are lots of nods to Jane Austen’s works - not so many as to put off those readers not familiar with the novels, but so fitting to have them there.
Jamie
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
For each child kidnapped, another must be taken. On Plum Island, a small barrier island off the northeast coast of Massachusetts, a 13-year-old girl is kidnapped. Her mother receives a phone call. However, it's not the formulaic ransom demand of TV and film: not only must a ransom be paid, she must also kidnap another child. And thus begins "the chain", with every family thereafter involved must follow the exact same rules: no press, no politicos, no law. That's where this completely original, witty, lyrical novel begins...and you haven't reached the 10th page. Each summer, a few books are invariably described as "unputdownable." I can assure you with THE CHAIN 'unputdownable' is an understatement. THE CHAIN pulls you in from page one.
Francisca
Quentins by Maeve Binchy
3.5 stars. I came late to the Binchy fan club, but better late than never. I really like her style of every-day drama – the kinds of ups and downs we all experience in life. Many of her books feature the same ensemble cast of characters, but they don’t have to be read in any particular order. This book starts with Ella Brady and her lover Don Richardson, but quickly encompasses Brenda and Patrick who run the upscale restaurant Quentins and all the many patrons and trades people who support it. Reading a Binchy novel is a bit like visiting with old friends.
Jean
A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd
I enjoyed this murder/mystery set in England. Although I do not know the area, due to setting descriptions, I could visualize the areas. It involves a Scotland Yard detective investigating a murder that had been previously investigated by a different detective to no solution. By following several "clues", originally ignored, the detective finally comes to an unexpected conclusion. I received an ARC of this book in a giveaway.
Dorothy
Genesis by Robin Cook
A real good read I couldn't put it down. Takes place at a hospital in NY. The body of a young woman shows up dead it appears it was from a drug over dose Her family says she never touched drugs. Dr. Aria Nichols starts to investigate. Read what she discovers.
Barbara
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
I really didn't know what to expect from a book about children who burst into fire, but this is a well-written, moving novel. Lillian's high school roommate and best friend, Madison, contacts her to ask her to watch her stepchildren for the summer. Madison, now married to a senator, needs someone to take care of her two stepchildren and keep them out of the public's attention. Lillian, who doesn't have much going on, immediately says yes. One catch - the kids, when stressed, burst into flames. This book is funny, funny, quirky, and heartwarming. Not all of the characters are likable, but all are interesting. This is a wonderful, satisfying read.
Thomas
Outfox by Sandra Brown
The book was very good. I enjoyed reading it very much.
Julia
Holly Banks Full of Angst by Julie Valerie
Well, the book sure has a great title, but the angst masquerades as craziness. Holly Banks and her family have moved to the village of Primm, where all sorts of insanity ensues. A lot happens in a very short period of time and I don't think I will really retain much of this story long term. The head of the PTA seems to be out to get Holly, the cable guy makes her question life choices, her mom (a newly annointed cat doula) shows up and the Psychic Betty schtick doesn't quite work like Bernadette's overseas personal assistant.
Kathy
The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon
THE WATERS OF ETERNAL YOUTH is a wonderful, rich read! The characters feel like your neighbors, friends and family. Maybe the in-laws (a count and countess) not so much! The descriptions of Venice and the Italian countryside are lush and wonderful - you can feel the coolness of the small streets and hear the seabirds and boats on the canal. The plot immerses you in the Venice and Italy of Commissario Brunetti, its secrets, quirks and customs. The scene is set at a beautiful Palazzo and weaves its way through a charity party, a Countess feeling life’s ending chapter, a beloved granddaughter forever a child and a special request...a request from the heart. I love Donna Leon’s books and highly recommend this one!
Janet
Rough Justice by James Harper
Thrilling, all out mystery with a fast pace and a great storyline of detective Evan Bockley.
Nicholas
Montauk by Nicola Harrison
I loved how Nicola Harrison painted a picture of how elite New York society of 1938 summered at Montauk. Through all the glamour of high society, the troubled marriage of Beatrice Bordeaux and Harry is put to the ultimate test. As Beatrice grows out of her assumed role as just another wealthy wife and finds real love may be possible for her after all, the reader feels her joys, pains and indecision in this moving novel in her quest for true happiness.
Deby
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Loved this book about a boy's quest to find where he belongs.
Elizabeth
Ten Days Gone by Beverly Long
What could the significance of ten days be for a serial killer? For this serial killer, ten days is the time frame between murders. How can they find the next victim before it happens? If you enjoy an intense, difficult investigation and last-minute tension, TEN DAYS GONE needs to be in your TBR stack. TEN DAYS GONE will keep you on the edge of your seat as all the clues come together for an ending you won’t forget.
Jan
The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck
The hype took me in. I read this. And it is not worth the time. No editor - just an author rambling on about her story. And not much of a story. Characters are poorly developed, the narrator is always scattered, not knowing what to do, shaking, not making clear decisions. I could not develop empathy for any character. Descriptions are rambling at times and almost non-existent at others. Save your time. It is not worth the hype.
Lillian
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The book is told from the viewpoint of the dog which I found interesting.
Tessa
Design For Murder by Carolyn G. Hart
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author/book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated.
Ronald
Ben Gurion: Prophet of Fire by D. Kurzman
I have read brief books about this man. This is the best. Material comes from primary source material, letters and papers.
Judy
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Fascinating novel about all-women diving collectives on the island of Jeju off mainland Korea. The story of Mi-ja and Young-sook takes you into an unknown world of sea diving, family bonds, traditions and enormous losses and secrets. Based on true events that have stayed hidden for decades. I literally could not put the book down because I had to know what happened next.
Emily
Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War, 1930-1944 by Anne de Courcy
La Pausa, Coco Chanel’s villa on the French Riviera, was the background for the “glamour, decadence, and survival” of the elite in the years of 1930-1944. A vast array of characters pursue a life of wealth, luxury and extravagance. In this nonfiction work, you witness the hedonistic lifestyle of people like Chanel, Joseph Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, Colette, Picasso and many more.
