This contest period's winners were Jan Z., Katrina C. and Maryanne J., who each received a copy of DEVOTED by Dean Koontz and THE LAST ODYSSEY by James Rollins.
Janet
Dangerous Currents by Kathryn Knight
Delightful romance with serious implications.
Shirley
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Wow, this book could be what is happening in our America today what with government officials trying to do away with abortions and controlling all aspects of citizens of the USA. Scary futuristic novel that makes you think, really think...scary as hell.
Joy
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
A novel about actress Hedy Lamar who later becomes a spy.
Sandra K.
Secrets of Death by Stephen Booth
The reader gets to a lot of information about suicide, maybe too much information. This is a good series set in the Peak District of England. Lots of lovely descriptions of this beautiful area.
Jeanne
The Cost of Honor by Diana Munoz Stewart
THE COST OF HONOR by Diana Munoz Stewart is #3 in the Black Ops Confidential series. This is my first book by this author and I thought it was well written, suspense-filled and contained lots of action. The main characters in this romantic suspense story, Honor and Tony, were likable. It was a fast-paced story filled with danger, suspense and drama. The only negative for me were too many very graphic, explicit sex scenes which, for me personally, were a bit much and not necessary. Overall, it was a good story and I enjoyed reading it very much.
Jeanne
Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong
WHEREVER SHE GOES by Kelley Armstrong is a gripping suspense novel filled with twists and turns. It is the complex story of Aubrey who is a mother and a wife separated from her husband and daughter because of the secret she’s kept hidden for years. She would rather let them believe she has to leave because she’s unhappy rather than let her secret out. One day Aubrey witnessed the kidnapping of a young boy and no one believes her. Kelley Armstrong takes readers on a complex, captivating, suspense- filled journey as Aubrey struggles with her past and her quest to find the missing boy. This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author and I am hooked. It is one of those read-in-a-day, can’t-put-it-down books.
Laurie
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
I laughed and cried along with main character, Casey, a creative complex writer/artist! Book review clubs will find many discussable themes! Lily king’s EUPHORIA is my next read. Awesome author.
Sally-Jo
The Guardians by John Grisham
It surprised me how many people are incarcerated that are innocent. Our legal system is broken. This story was filled with so much corruption. It was an eye-opener.
Maryanne
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
Full of twists and turns. Mysterious events and characters make a very exciting read.
Tessa
Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr
Subtitle: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune. I remember the news coverage when Ms. Clark was “discovered” living in a hospital room while her several mansions stood empty. I found this book completely fascinating. And yet… This story made me so very sad for this woman who, for all her wealth, lived such a lonely and limited life.
Simonne
Watching You by Lisa Jewell
Suspenseful novel with many storylines introducing several characters who could have “done it” besides the main suspect. Although there are many reasons not to like the main character Joey, one can’t help but root for her despite her aimlessness and wandering into dangerous territory.
The same is true for Freddie Fitzwilliams, who at first seems creepy just watching everyone in town from his bedroom. A good page-turner. The back and forth between chapters only go back a few months, so there is not a lot of long-lost stuff to haunt characters (well, not much anyway).
Simonne
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Wow! Lots going on in the mystery. Typical back and forth in time introducing more and more of the characters. Still not quite sure who is who between the past and the present.
Elizabeth
A Reasonable Doubt by Phillip Margolin
Good read. Interesting learning about magic shows.
Donna
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
The story follows two timelines involving a mural painted for a small southern town. The mural was defaced and the restoration artist tries to find out what happened to it and the original artist.
Bob
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
Very good book, looking forward to his follow-up book.
Nina
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
This was a good mystery with great character development. The changing of characters every chapter made it a difficult read though.
Helen
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
A page-turner with lots of twists and turns, will not be able to put down!
Sean
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Paula Hawkins novel INTO THE WATER is a terrific look at families, secrets, truths, and lies. Told from a multitude of perspectives, this book shows how one's action can affect so much. She delivers a broad range of emotions from both male and females and keeps the reader guessing even after the book ends. I highly recommend.
Susan
We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White
It tells the tale over the years of two friends that met in college and how their lives took different paths.
Lois
Persons Unknown by Susan Steiner
Good mystery. Kept me reading.
Linda
No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez
I would have rated this 5+ but there were parts of the book that seemed to jump around. The storyline was great and you go from one suspense to another. Hard to put the book down. Cassie Larkin is driving home one night when she sees a man attacking a woman. She calls 911, then jumps out to help. The man tells her he will let her live if she will let him kill the woman. She can’t do that. He runs up to her car and takes off. Now, the man knows who she is and everything about her as her wallet was in the car. She works with the police but knows she is virtually on her own when her husband disappears while taking their daughter out on Halloween night. Who is behind this and why is she being targeted? One word--"revenge".
Linda
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens
Sara Gallagher finally finds her biological mother but the woman wants nothing to do with Sara. She hires a private investigator and learns the woman was the sole survivor of the Campsite Killer. The woman’s parents were murdered and she was raped but got away. DNA proves that Sara is the daughter of the killer. When this is leaked to the media, Sara gets a call from a man claiming to be her father. He wants to meet her and she works with the police to catch the man. But he is always too crafty to be caught. Then Sara’s fiancé is shot and she thinks it was the killer but he says no and is concerned about Sara. He kidnaps Sara’s daughter and she has to follow his orders to get Ally back. If he didn’t shoot Evan, who did?
Linda
Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson
Kate Priddy has never been to the U.S. before she switches apartments with her cousin Corbin Dell. When she sees Corbin’s luxurious apartment, she knows she got the better deal as he is in her small London flat. The day after her arrival, Kate learns that a woman in the next apartment has been brutally murdered. Another apartment occupant admitted he watched Audrey in her apartment and saw Corbin with her on several occasions but Corbin had told Kate he barely knew the woman. Kate also meets a man named Jack who said he dated Audrey in college and still missed her. Police can't find this mysterious Jack. Corbin is on his way back to Boston as he thinks his old friend Henry Wood murdered Audrey and he thinks Kate is next.
Linda
It’s Getting Scot in Here by Suzanne Enoch
The three MacTaggert brothers have been summoned to London by their mother and one will have to wed an English lady she has selected for them. If not, she will cease funding their castle in Scotland. The eldest brother Coll drew the short straw but is determined he will not wed a Sassanach. Niall, the youngest brother, tries to make amends to Amelia-Rose Baxter for Coll’s rudeness and he and Amelia grow to like each other. Her parents will never approve of a marriage to Niall because he has no title. Amelia and Niall grow desperate as her parents try to force her to marry for a title and they try to find a solution.
Tammy
"Flutter of an Eye" by Tammy Spears
The review is by the New England Book Critic who rated my inspirational poetry book as 4-1/2 stars on Amazon.com: "Flutter of an Eye" is a short collection of poems written by Tammy Spears in homage to her mother, who recently passed away in 2007 from lung cancer. The chronology order of the poems reflects the last two stages of the grievance process: depression, and acceptance. The first arrangement of poems reflects memories of the poet's mother and the poet's future without her. Towards the end of the book, the poet reflects on the blessings she has in this life. "Flutter of an Eye" is meant to help and inspire those who have lost a loved one.
Ilene
The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
Libby’s husband dies in a car crash at the start of the book. She is left with two small children, a house she can no longer afford, and is in a dead-end job. So she tries living with her narcissistic mother when she gets a letter from her mother’s estranged sister who invites her to live on a working ranch to help her. Maybe this is the change she is looking for. The chores are many and since Aunt Jean has an arthritis problem, it looks like Libby will be doing most of the work although there is another hired helper Danny. He is quiet and a little odd, and there is a little mystery associated with him. The kids love the ranch, so many animals they fit in right a way. So many great characters, anther great book by Kat.
Stephanie
The Revenant by Michael Punke
I saw the movie prior to reading the book. I prefer the book because the movie took liberties and was more disturbing. Hugh Glass really existed but the book is fictional, but I love that the people and historical timeline is accurate. It is a book of survival and determination. It is also a troubling period where the Native Americans are losing their way of life and that alone can make you question history and how things were mishandled. Everyone is trying to survive, and unfortunately there is a great deal of selfish and cut-throat behavior. As someone who enjoys nature and prepping is of interest, this was a great book.
Jean
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
This is a fascinating story, but the book had so many details and so many (real) characters to keep track of I got lost.
vera
Something New by Nora Roberts
This contains two novels in one book. Impulse: After her aunts death Rebecca sells everything and catches her first plane and goes overseas. Wow, what a difference, but how does she tell the man she met that she isn't what he thinks she is. She never expected to get close to him. Lessons Learned: Publisher meets the author of a cookbook. Managing his tour in U.S. But could it turn to something more?
Jan
Here: Poems for the Planet by Elizabeth J. Coleman, Editor
This beautiful book of poems is edited by Elizabeth Coleman, an attorney, a researcher, an environmental activist. Famous and not so famous poets are included - all directed toward our planet and saving the environment. The five sections of the book have poetic titles also: Where You'd Want To Come From, The Gentle Light That Vanishes, As If They'd Never Been, The Ocean Within Them, and Like You Are New To The World. Poets range from people you have never heard of to Wendell Berry to Nikki Giovanni to Margaret Atwood to a section of poems by children (including one by a first grader!). Coleman is a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and all the proceeds from the sale of this book go to UCS. Buy it! Help our planet.
Dianne
Gone by Midnight by Candice Fox
Good mystery with recurring characters to escape into in these unsettling times.
Lois
The Great Library Series by Rachel Caine
This series is in the YA genre. This series is a great read for anyone interested in how a group of young adults/teenagers are enlisted in The Great Library which controls their world. When this small group of teenagers find out what is really behind their so respected Great Library, they end up changing the system. How they go about that is what makes this such a great read.
Margaret
The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
Very exciting, excellent details, twisty and multiple shocking endings.
Dorothy
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
I enjoyed this murder mystery with the addition of ghosts and a disappearance. Thirty-five years after Viv Delaney disappears from Fell, NY, Carly, her niece, comes to find out what happened to the aunt who disappeared before Carly was born. The story is told from Viv's viewpoint and alternates with Carly's investigation thirty-five years later.
Connie
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Very good story. Keeps me reading; interesting relationships.
Anna Servati
The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey
Three stars because I learned about the Red Cross Clubmobile girls and their help during WWII. I really wanted to love this book but it felt like more of a romance novel than historic fiction. I liked the premise but as I got to know the characters and the story evolved I thought they were very superficial. It was just too convenient that the girls all fell in love practically at first sight. It was a little sappy and predictable with not enough history and character development.
Lori
Splintered Silence by Susan Furlong
Wonderful story of an outcast with PTSD and her human cadaver remains dog. Both have suffered trauma and end up in her hometown where we learn she is from a group of Pavees, similar to gypsy's. Great mysteries with excellent characters!
Katrina
The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica
I was not expecting the sort of twists that appeared towards the end the book. It gave off a very split movie kind of vibe and I loved it. This is the first book I have read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cannot wait to read more of her books.
Ilene
The Will to Die by Joe Pulizzi
Will Pollitt and Robby Thompson are partners in a marketing agency. They are out making a presentation when Will gets an urgent cell message from his sister, Denise, in Sandusky, Ohio saying his father has died. Now, Sandusky is the last place he wants to go back to after making a success of his self in the big city of Cleveland. His father was the owner of a rundown funeral parlor which he left to Will, only if he runs it for a year. After that, when he sells it, he will finally be out of all his gambling debt that caused his marriage to break up and caused him to not have enough money for his daughter’s tuition at Ohio State. Once he arrives and hears about his father’s insurance policy he discovers something fishy going on.
diane
The Night Window by Dean Koontz
This is the last of a series and all are excellent. It is very difficult to put down.
Norene
Exodus by Leon Uris
A great book.
Beatrice
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
Violet Speedwell who was made a "surplus woman" by the Great War escapes her domineering mother and moves to Winchester, home of the great cathedral. It is there that she finds meaning to her life by becoming a member of the society of broderers. Under the direction of Louise Pesel, these women embroidered and created the kneelers and cushions that are still in use today. There is also the addition of an illicit romance to help make this a great read. Enjoyed learning about the guild which was something previously unknown to me. Also got an insight into the technique of church bell ringing.
Danny
The Elephant of Surprise by Joe R. Lansdale
This is the latest in Lansdale's Hap & Leonard series. There is lots of action and humor and some good East Texas dialog.
Vivian
No Stone Unturned by Andrea Kane
This is the eighth addition to the Forensic Instincts series and one that blends the notion of team family as well as blood family in a case that spans centuries involves a hidden treasure and several murders. A fast-paced and enjoyable read, and I was delighted to learn that the author has incorporated the fictional jewelry-maker's product line into a real product line that readers can buy. Great story, great series, great jewelry selection!
Sandy
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
I couldn't stop reading this book and finished it in two days. The story of each member of the Lee family and the exploration of their race issues and the search for the killer of their sister and daughter make it very hard to put down. Almost as good as LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE.
Ruth
The Other Wife by Michael Robotham
My very first read by this author - I hope to read more of his books.
Cheryl
Summer Breeze by Anita L. Roseboro
Loved this story! I was stunned. It pulled me right into it's tangled web. I loved the characters, and the mystery as the story unfolded. Can't wait to read more by this author.
Cheryl
Death, Taxes and Cheap Sunglasses by Diane Kelly
Loved this book! Loved the mystery, comedy, and excitement. I couldn't guess what was going to happen next. I felt like I was on a wild ride with Thelma and Louise. Love, Love, Loved it!!
Tessa
Grace Among Thieves by Jullie Hyzy
Book Three in the Manor House Mystery series, starring Grace Wheaton, curator and manager of the estate/museum in the North Carolina mountains. As cozy mysteries go, this is a pretty good series. I like Grace, who is generally calm in a crisis, and obviously competent at her job. She does seem to have a blind spot where romance is concerned but she helps the police find the culprit, further securing her future at Manor House.
Jan
Incident at Twenty-Mile by Trevanian
This seems to be a typical Western book (although I have little experience with this genre). An almost deserted town survives because the silver minors come to town on the train once a week. They drink booze, they eat and sleep some at the boarding house and bathe. There are also three "ladies" to take care of their other desires. A young man wanders into town and manages to get a little work from several businesses. He has little history to tell but is genuinely nice to everyone. He did bring a homemade long gun with him and a few bullets. He tries to sell it but no one is interested. There is also a young virgin, daughter of the owner of the general store. Who saves the town when the three escapees from the prison for the insane arrive?
Jan
Temper by Layne Fargo
This debut novel was tepid, trivial, turgid and used every stereotype possible. The controlling actor/director, the young one striving to be accepted/to make it, the jealous other (fill in the blank) - all staged around a small theatre group - the theatre director and the actor - both manipulating, both jealous - so many times there were just words on the page, not the passion I expected with a title of "temper." The passion is only quiet and comes at the end, if you can get there. So much is contrived - finding the old lover (after 15 years) and bringing him back to surprise her. I did not understand why. It took me a long time but I received this book for free from the publisher (Scout Press) in return for an honest review.
Lois
Persons Unknown by Susan Steiner
Good mystery. Held me together during a forced stay indoors.
Patti
I Still Dream About You by Fanny Flagg
The book is a great comic mystery that takes place in Birmingham, AL. I like the way Flagg weaves funny parts into her murder mysteries. It makes for an enjoyable read and fun to solve her who-dun-it! Flagg doesn't put gore and guts into her writing, which I appreciate. You will like this book!!!
John
Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
This is the gritty tale of a young man in his late teens who steals lottery tickets from customers at the gas station where he works.
Gil
The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey
Carl and Duffy are in their 80s and share a room in a nursing home. One night Josie, Carl's 23 year-old granddaughter, climbs through an open window, needing a place to stay. Josie's got problems. She drinks too much and is trying to get away from an abusive boyfriend. Carl did not marry Josie's grandmother, didn't know his daughter, Josie's mother, and did not even know about Josie. But he wants to make amends and Duffy, a bachelor, wants to leave a legacy of having helped a young person. Their efforts are not easy and you don't know whether to laugh or cry at their attempts because they need walkers and wheelchairs to get around. A good story about relationships between generations
Gil
Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald
Eva had been struck by lightning and found near her mother's house. Kat, her mother, had been murdered and Eva is a prime suspect. Eva does not remember how she got there and who can blame her. She was struck by lightning. The story goes back and forth between Eva currently and Kat 20 years ago. The events and associations of 20 years ago had a bearing on the murder. Kat and Eva had migrated from London under mysterious conditions, eventually settling in Seattle. Much of their lives are hidden by lies including Eva's true identity. Many surprises when the whole truth is revealed. A very good book that held my interest from start to finish. Thank you Simon and Schuster for the chance to read it.
Elizabeth
The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books by Edward Wilson-Lee
We all know of Christopher Columbus, but I, for one, was not aware of the life and accomplishments of his illegitimate son, Hernando Colon. Overall, an excellent book for those who love history, books, and libraries. Colon's almost maniacal idea about creating, organizing and categorizing a "universal" library of the world's published items was a voyage unto its own. He hired librarians to write summaries of each book and devised a code blueprint of his library; he took advantage of the technological development of the printing press by allocating most of his purchases to printed books instead of manuscripts, thus obtaining large numbers of books printed between 1453-1500. Read Wilson-Lee's book to learn the fate of Colon's library.
Laurie
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
Amazing story about the collusion of a small African village and an American oil company. Very well written and interesting.
Kathy
Snow Angels on the Moon by Russie Lane
A lightkeeper rescues five young campers from an overturned sailboat and his son finds them forty years later to help give his sick father a longer lease on life. This is a true story and was just fascinating to me.
Bob
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
Good read...looking forward to more of his books.
Priscilla
The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
Enjoyed the book. Surprised at the ending.
Carol
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
LONG BRIGHT RIVER is a heartbreaking story of two sisters that both struggle to survive living in a crisis of opioids. Very timely in this time of opioid addiction.
Susan
The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell
Simply put - a beautifully written novel that I will never forget.
Kathleen
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Imagine thinking that you are ill when in reality, your mother was poisoning you. DARLING ROSE GOLD by Stephanie Wrobel is a Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy story of Rose Gold, told in alternating chapters, Rose Gold and her mother Patty Watts. In this the reader learns what happened to Rose Gold in her childhood, but also after her mother was arrested and jailed for five years. Most people know about Munchausen by Proxy and how it messes up a life.
Cindee
Akin by Emma Donaghue
This is a wonderful story of two people, one young the other old, who both face isolation. The story is how they connect and help each other. Very sweet and just perfect for these stressful times.
Pat
The Guardians by John Grisham
Grisham never fails...this is a heart-wrenching effort by lawyers to free the innocent. Powerful.
Pat
Unknown Valor by Martha MacCallum
A very well-written, personal account of battles of WW II, but especially Iwo Jima. It resonated to her and is written very well. She is a great newscaster...and a great author.
Pat
The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
I am moved and fascinated by the Holocaust and continue to learn new things about it all the time - as I did with this fabulous book. Incredible story. We must never forget this horrific time in history.
Jan
The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves
The writing is beautiful. This is a slow moving book - a couple, married for 40 years, stopped talking to each other. He was never very verbose and tended to be shy in social situations; she was the life of the party. They had one child, a daughter who grew up and went to college but never finished. Through the years, each of them realized that the daughter was struggling with life, maybe drugs, not communicating. Each of the parents discovered things but did not share them with the other, wanting to "spare" the other one the pain. The book begins when they have not spoken to each other for six months. Through flashbacks, each of them provides details about their wonderful romance, the child and their love. A crisis brings resolution.
Anna Servati
The Unremarkable Heart and Other Stories by Karen Slaughter
These were some very dark and disturbing short stories. The narratives were all excellent. These stories are not for everyone but I couldn't wait to take a walk so I could listen. Very thought-provoking and sometimes shocking.
Rachel
We Are Water by Wally Lamb
Okay, we’ll it wasn’t great. It took me 6 weeks to actually finish it. But after thinking about it, it wasn’t that bad of a book. The story was slow. It didn’t get to the point until the last maybe 50 pages? But the story as a whole was good. And I don’t really regret reading it.
Francisca
Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Book Two in the Little Beach Street Bakery series, this is an enjoyable chick-lit romance with food. There’s the usual drama one expects from new-adult relationships, life choices, career moves, etc. Wonderful cast of supporting characters. It’s a fun, fast, light read. Perfect for anytime you want something entertaining.
Ilene
The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr by Susan Holloway Scott
Veeys’s life starts out in her native India. She is an outcast daughter of rape by an English soldier, her mother dies at birth. She is then raised by an over-burdened uncle who sells her when she is 8 years old to a French woman who is unbearably cruel. Then she is bought by the husband of Theodosia Provast of New Jersey. This is how she came to live in the American colonies. There she is treated kinder but still strict. It is just the eve and start of the American Revolution. They give her a new name; she is now Mary. Theodosia’s husband dies and Theodesia then marries Aaron Burr. He has an affair with Mary and fathers two of her children. So much great storytelling and I learned a lot about the Revolutionary War.
JOAN
The Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni
As always Robert Dugoni keeps you on the edge of your seat while reading one of his books. Tracy Crosswhite series - Tracy returns to her home town with her husband daughter - she gets involved in a previous murder investigation. It relates back to the time of her sister's disappearance. Would highly recommend all of his books. They are all exceptional reads.
Linda
The Lucky One by Lori Rader-Day
Alice Fine was kidnapped as a child but was rescued by her father who was a policeman at the time. She works for a volunteer group who tries to match the unknown dead to missing persons and is totally shocked when she sees the face of a missing man and knows he is her kidnapper. As she tries to find this man and have him face justice, she finds more than she bargained for. Some people know more than they are willing to tell, including her father. Now a partner in a construction business, Harrison Fine is not the loving man she knew as her father while growing up. There is a darker side that eventually comes out. Thanks Goodreads for the book.
Linda
Old Bones by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Clive Benton visited Nora Kelly to see if the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute would fund a trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to search for the lost camp of the Donner party. Nora was not particularly interested until he told her about finding a diary written by the wife of Jacob Donner. She was also told about missing gold coins worth approximately $20 million. At the same time, FBI agent Corrie Swanson is investigating a theft of a body of a man named Parkin. She is called to the Donner site when a wrangler is found dead after a fall. He had stolen some of the bones and the skull belonging to a man named Parkin. Corrie knows the crimes are related. She has to find the link.
Linda
Whiteout by Adriana Anders
If it hadn’t been for the cliffhanger ending, I would have given this book a 5+ rating. Ford Cooper is a scientist working at the South Pole. One of his drilled ice cores showed an abnormality that was found to be a virus. The virus is wanted for nefarious use by Chronos Corporation and their hired mercenaries don’t care who they have to kill in order to retrieve the cores. Angel Smith is the cook for the research facility who missed her plane home. Now she and Ford try to evade the mercenaries and aim for the Russian research facility. As they get close, they see the mercenaries coming toward them. The only place to hide in the white emptiness are the crevasses.
Linda
Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch
Aden MacTaggert is the middle brother and a successful gambler. He meets Miranda Harris and she insults him for his gambling habit. When Miranda’s brother Matthew runs up an enormous gambling debt, she is told she has to marry the odious Captain Robert Vale to satisfy the debt or she and her family will be tossed in debtor’s prison. Vale is a cold man who is called Vulture Vale due to his beaked nose. Aden tells Miranda he will get her out of the mess and she trusts him. Along the way, they fall in love.
Linda
The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries
Lady Gwyn Drake is being blackmailed by a former suitor who was paid off years ago by her brother. Now Malet is back wanting more money or he will tell about their sexual encounter. Major Joshua Wolfe was injured during the war but wants back on duty. Instead he is offered a job of spying on Malet who is suspected of selling secrets to the French. If so, Malet will be hanged. Joshua catches Malet trying to kiss Gwyn and tells him he will awake one day to find Joshua’s sword at his throat and no one will either know or care what happened to him. The more Joshua is around Gwyn, the greater the attraction between them becomes and he is determined that no harm comes to the woman he wants as his own.
Margaret
Good Girls Lie by J. T. Ellison
A easy read thriller about a young student at a Virginia boarding school. Several sub plots that added a layer to the novel. Certainly not a Pulitzer Prize winner but a good read while being quarantined.
Brian
The Warsaw Protocol by Steve Berry
Awesome Cotton Malone thriller.
Sean
Beastie Boys Book by Beastie Boys
I have always loved the Beastie Boys and their book is no different. Hearing their humble beginnings and how they started out was by far my favorite part. Their history is fantastic and it's great to see their love for each other and their craft endure. I would have loved to hear more about how they met their wives and how MCA's death was dealt with, but this was a very good read for fans. Thank you.
Liza
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Unable to categorize this book: part historical fiction, part love story, part fantasy, part thriller. Two magical creatures (Chava is a golem made of clay to be the wife of a man who dies at sea on their way to NYC, Ahmad is a Jinni born of fire in the ancient Syrian desert) meet and become unlikely friends and soul-mates in turn-of-the-century New York. This book mixes historical 19th century New York with Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature and fables. A long book (500 pages), but enthralling.
Barbara
The Dark Corners of the Night by Meg Gardiner
This book will keep you turning the pages until the very end. Really enjoy Meg's writing style and characters.
joy
Devoted by Dean Koontz
Love almost everything Koontz writes. Just finished DEVOTED.
john
The Last Odyssey by James Rollins
This is a new writer for me. I know he's been around and he writes in the type of stories I like, so I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
john
Devoted by Dean Koontz
My wife reads everyone of Dean Koontz's books and now I am hooked. Our library is closed for a time, so I will have to wait before reading more new titles. My wife has saved a few titles to read again, so I can read those. She adores all the books that have a dog in the story.
Meredith
A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos
It gave a good point if view from both sides and showed how there is still humanity left during war.
Elizabeth
Force of Nature by Jane Harper
The best kind of novels are both character-driven and plot-driven, not one or the other. That’s what we get with FORCE OF NATURE. This is a mystery in which we learn a tiny bit more and a tiny bit more as the story is told from various characters’ points of view. FORCE OF NATURE is a literary thriller. Although FORCE OF NATURE isn’t quite as thrilling as THE DRY, Jane Harper’s first mystery/thriller, it does continue with Aaron Falk, the Australian federal agent who is also a main character in THE DRY. Plus, FORCE OF NATURE, while maybe not as much as her last, is still an unputdownable book.
Cynthia
The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia
Beautifully-written historical fiction which takes place in northern Mexico in the early 1900s. It is a powerful story of the relationship between a boy and a disfigured young man with mystical powers. The characters are richly portrayed, with themes of love and commitment to ideals and promises binding them together.
Cynthia
Allie and Bea by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Delightful story of the unexpected relationship that forms between an older woman and a teenage girl, as they both face dire challenges and support one another.
Cynthia
The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
This novel introduces Jeffery Deaver's amazing forensic criminalist, Lincoln Rhyme. Rhyme's career had been cut short by a tragic accident, and he is now a quadriplegic whose burning wish is to commit suicide. When one of his former colleagues shows up, begging for him to help them find a serial killer, Rhyme reluctantly agrees and is drawn into a compelling, fast-paced race to stop the murders that are quickly mounting up. Add a potential romantic interest in the form of a female cop who unwittingly also gets drawn into the case, and you have a dynamite psychological thriller that is difficult to put down!
Joe
The Red Lotus by Chris Bojalian
I'm really enjoying the new one from Chris, the story is gripping and a good curl up with type of read, although when I got to page 19, there is a paragraph that mentions a joke about coronavirus in New York City and how that would affect city bikes. I know it takes a long time for a book to get written, edited and finely go through the publisher to our shelves!!! I've shared the paragraph online and people are agreeing how scary it is.
Mary
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
I loved this biography of a woman on a quest for her birth father. Every family has a secret or two, and this author's family is no exception. So intriguing.
Donna
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
One of the best books I've read this year. The character Kya and her struggle to survive as everyone in her life leaves is truly engaging. The underlying mystery is subtle at first and builds in tension as the stories converge until the end.
Jud
Bay of Pigs: The Untold Story by Peter Wyden
Very detailed account of the famous Bay of Pigs event. I really didn't know much about it to begin with but this book fills in a lot of gaps. Anyone who lived through this event should enjoy this book quite a bit.
Richard N B
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Book Three in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. Oh, I love Zafón’s writing! The book is very atmospheric; I can feel the chill of a wintery wind, smell the candlewax and dust, practically taste the delicacies offered at 7 Portes restaurant. There are twists and turns and changes in timeline that confuse, obfuscate, tease the reader and illuminate the plot.
Jan
Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
I received this book from a Goodreads drawing in return for an honest review. It is not my type of book; I do not read People magazine or watch many movies. If you do, this is the book for you. A naïve woman (and a writer who has published several books) married a rich, demanding movie producer. People ignored her but rushed to him; she had become used to being second fiddle. It is full of brand names of the rich and famous. Finally, she realized hat she did not love him and he decided to divorce her and did many horrible things (like send her off to a rehab facility). The story is about her degradation and his absurd behavior. But it is full of names and brands and places. I rated it up from a 1 because of the smooth writing.
Thomas
The Night Fire by Michael Connelly
An excellent book. I enjoyed reading it very much.
Thomas
Quick and Dirty by Stuart Woods
A very good book.
