This contest period's winners were Cherie A., Ivy P. and Mary M., who each received a copy of THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Fiona Davis and A PRIVATE CATHEDRAL: A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke.
Jean
Deadfall by Brian Lutterman
This is an excellent murder mystery in the Pen Wilkinson series. The heroine is Pen, a paraplegic attorney. Currently unemployed, she is now working undercover to investigate a murder and stolen technology. Pen is a heroine with smarts and gumption - nothing stops her. I was fortunate to receive an ARC; goes on sale in September. Unfortunately I do not write a review good enough for this book/series. Highly recommend.
Helen
The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman
A wonderful read, with beautiful descriptions of flowers and their history. Heartwarming, brings a smile during these stressful times.
shelly
The Mockingbird's Song by Wanda Brunstetter
In this second instalment of The Amish Greenhouse Mystery, we realize that it is over a year since the horrible deaths of Sylvia's husband, father and brother. Henry has introduced her to bird watching and she seems to be enjoying it. It is wonderful to see a smile on her face since she has been trying to deal with her two small children and helping around the house. Amy is excited as she is planning her wedding to Jared and helping out at the greenhouse. Once again acts of vandalism are taking place and although Amy, Sylvia and Henry feel it is time to call the police Belinda says no. She is afraid her son will find out about the problems and move back home.
Sylvia meets Dennis when he decides to rent her house to them.
Lynn
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
I really enjoyed reading this one. It’s the story of a young lady named Viv that disappears from her night shift job at a motel in 1982. The books switches chapter to chapter from Viv’s story to that of her niece who goes looking for answers to her disappearance in 2017. There were a couple occasions where I got mixed up as to whose story I was reading, but it was brief and I’m sure my own fault because the author makes a point of labeling each chapter as to whose it is. There is mystery, a little suspense, and even a ghost story included in this book. I definitely recommend it.
Susan
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
This is a wonderful women's fiction novel about family, work and friends (the triumvirate of women's lives) that includes a hunky musician/carpenter with an adorable little girl. It takes place in a fascinating bookshop in San Francisco the heroine recently inherited from her mother. This book spoke to me on several different levels. And if you've ever dreamed of owning a bookshop, this book is for you!
Jill
Playing Nice by JP Delaney
I read this in a day. It is a compelling read. I can’t even imagine how I would begin to handle having a child and raising him for two years and then find out he’s not your child...he was switched at birth. Psychological suspense at its best. I think my favorite of JP Delaney.
Linda
The Final Curtsey by Margaret Rhodes
Interesting life story of Queen Elizabeth's cousin. Bridesmaid to the queen and lady-in-waiting/companion to the Queen Mother, her aunt.
Allison
The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb
Interesting book.
Cindy
The Paris Hours by Alex George
As soon as I finished this book I wanted to start it again. Beautifully written, fast-paced and an intriguing story of one day in Paris with interconnected stories coming together at the end. A perfect read by an immensely talented writer.
Laurie
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
As I am a lover of fragrance, THE SCENT KEEPER kept my attention from page one throughout this creative, enchanting coming-of-age novel. Read it!
Sharon
The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land
Weddings, snow storms, and murder foul all make for another good mystery featuring the indomitable Jessica Fletcher and her amazing power to solve even the murkiest deaths.
Wanda
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
Wonderful story about three women and how their lives intersect. It includes some history of Key West and a little twist!
Sandi
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
I enjoy Ms. Tyler's writings and this one didn't disappoint. It was a quick and quirky read.
Peggy
The Boy From the Woods by Harlan Coben
Coben introduces a new, accident sleuth who I suspect we’ll see in future novels. I found the plot somewhat obvious and tired.
Mary Ann
The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
I usually enjoy his books but this one doesn't have me devouring it.
Cindy
A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs
As usual, Reichs serves up quite a mystery including a man in a trench coat late at night near her home, and a body with no identifying characteristics. She teams up with detective Slidell to unravel all of the mysterious clues.
Marguerite
These Fevered Days by Martha Ackmann
Excellent new book about Emily Dickinson, focusing on her family.
Mary
Waiting for Wednesday by Nicci French
This is the third in the Frieda Klein mystery series and one of the best. What I like is the way psychotherapist Klein uses her straightforward approach to help resolve some crimes in an environment where she is not always welcome. Authors French (husband-wife team) have a knack for creating plot lines that are complex yet believable, engrossing and a challenge to the reader. These attributes of an above average crime/mystery novel earned the book 4 stars from me.
Sheree
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Excellent! Such a great book. Glad I was reading this while flying!
Michele
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis
Good beach read. Romance, mystery and some laughs all rolled into one.
Jayme
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Morgenstern is one of the masters in creating imaginative and divine worlds, and the world of “the story” is her newest universe in this hauntingly heartwarming book. I loved every play on words as the stories twisted and diverted and built on the theme of seeking and finding and fate and time. A contender for my favorite read of 2020.
Amy
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
I have been engrossed with loved parts of this book and have found other parts to be a bit of a chore to get through. For me, this book is part Downtown Abbey and part military history.
Michelle
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
There was so much that resonated with me in this book. King captured the raw pain of dealing with the grief of losing one’s mother so perfectly, it stopped me cold between sentences and I had to force myself to keep breathing at times. I felt like I could have written many of those sentences. Her waitressing descriptions were spot-on and it brought me right back to my years when I waitressed with my own mother. And the journey she brought us on with the protagonist with writing and trying to get published was insightful and exciting. I loved Casey, the growth she experienced and the relationships she had along the way. I loved her witty one-liners especially with Oliver’s boys. This was a different type of novel, full of reflection, humor.
Michelle
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Well, that was one of the oddest books I’ve ever read! Not my cup of tea for sure. Dark, gruesome, and just grossly weird. I actually wish it had been scary. It was not scary for me at all. The writing was meager at best. The beginning was super slow. I couldn’t stop reading after three-quarters of the book just to find out what happens and get it over with. Not my type of book.
Beatrice
The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
Captured me from the start. I couldn't put this one down until the end.
Betty Jo
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
The author does a great deal of research which helped me understand the many different levels and types of racism. This was one of the books I have read to become more educated about systemic racism in the U.S.
Jayme
On the Horizon by Lois Lowry
I dare you to not be moved - to not shed a tear. In this haunting and hopeful book of prose and poetry Lowry shows how everything is circular and connected through her reflections of WWII. I was so moved that I bought a copy for myself and a copy for my school librarian who worked with me to create memorable and insightful WWII lessons the last years of my teaching career. This book should be in every middle school library. Highly recommend.
Linda
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
I liked the messages I found in this novel that mostly tells a story about a family as the years go by.
The mother questions mistakes she made as a parent. Parents (and their kids) are flawed but there is still an unbreakable bond and hope for change and healing. I grew to admire a granddaughter and her friend, well-developed characters, who set a perfect morality example for adults to follow.
Vicky
The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
Love reading about a character that I can truly identify with - a 79-year-old woman who has lost her husband and has estranged relationships with her adult children. The book kept me interested to the end. It left me teary but satisfied that life can change in positive ways.
Lynn
Exit the Milkman by Charlotte MacLeod
Fun! Lots of literary quotes and adventurous vocabulary.
Rosemary
The Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases by Multiple authors; edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman
When our country's in a mess due to the Corvid19 virus and its economics and social problems, it's heartening to read and reflect on some of the greatest and most controversial of the Supreme Court decisions in the last 100 years. The writers (all well known and well read) reflect on the cases and give their personal pros and cons on the judgments and consequences of these rulings. This will get your gray cells engaged! Besides, how many murder mysteries and thrillers can we read while being isolated before we find ourselves solving them halfway through?
Dorothy
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
A page-turner with an ending that truly surprised me. I expected part of the resolution, but parts of it were stunningly unexpected.
Donna
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
A lovely novel about two ministers and their wives who share a history over 40 years. It kept me intrigued and only took a couple of days to read. Very good.
LouAnn
Cape May by Chip Cheek
I only read this because I grew up going to the Jersey Shore. I felt this book was unrealistic and basically trashy. I’m not even sure why I finished it.
Sandra K.
The Last High by Daniel Kalla
A real-life doctor writes a novel about the opiate crisis. It is a good read and provides a real picture of the devastation caused by these drugs.
Pauline
The Paris Hours by Alex George
Twenty-four hours with four characters in Paris, with lots of backstories about each. They all manage to connect and the ending will leave you breathless!
Terry
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
This book will stay with me forever. Ms. Kidd's research is impeccable. Being a 'Cradle Catholic', it only enhanced my faith. I can picture the culture and the topography as vividly as if I lived then. You don't have to be Catholic or even believe Jesus was married. The book is about his wife Ana and her strength and the strength and power of all the women in this book.
Jan
Victim 2117 by Jussi Adler-Olsen
This is the latest in the Department Q series. Adler-Olsen is a mystery writer, and a collector (and describer of) weird folks. They are all detectives (sort of) who just do not fit in any "normal" department of the police force. But they are good - they solve a lot of crimes, especially murder, and Adler-Olsen creates them lovingly. We know these misfits and we feel their pain. And there is always pain because they do not fit anywhere. This adventure is based on a dead refugee found on the shore - except she did not drown. She was murdered. And a member of Department Q recognizes her and also recognizes the man in the newspaper photo, and the detective knows he killed her and why. A wonderful mystery. I suggest reading an earlier book.
Allison
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St James
What an enjoyable, creepy read. The story alternates between 1982 and 2017. After her mother’s death, Carly travels to Fell, New York to unravel the mystery of her aunt who disappeared before she was born. She gets the same night-shift job her Aunt Viv had when she disappeared from the Sun Down Motel, a place that’s stuck in a time warp. (The book’s cover perfectly sets the stage.) We follow Carly as she works to discover what happened to Viv. And we also learn how Viv, before her disappearance, was trying to solve several recent murders. THE SUN DOWN MOTEL is much more than a good murder mystery as the motel has some permanent guests from the afterlife.
Janis
The Palest Ink by Kay Bratt
This book is the story of Benfu, a privileged son from an intellectual family in the late 1960s before and during the Chinese revolution and his friend, Pony Boy, from a family in opposite circumstances. At the beginning, Benfu is already an accomplished violinist who is being betrothed as his life is just beginning. This book was so compassionate and well researched and it has completely overwhelmed me. The fictional story about both boys is beautiful and both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. But for me, I think the book, although written in 2015, should be a mandatory read for everyone because it is so very relevant to things going on today. This was one of the best books I have ever read and I can’t wait to read more from the author.
Sally-Jo
Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini
It was a good read. If it's based on facts, then she should have been in an asylum. In this day and age she might have been treated for her depression. She was an emotional abuser. Sad to think about.
Linda
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Outstanding book about the hardships endured by a mother and her son, trying to escape Mexican cartel while heading towards America.
Nancy
A Week at the Shore by Barbara Delinsky
I really enjoyed this book. I could not put it down. Mallory has made a life for herself in New York after she left her hometown 20 years ago, amid questions about a missing woman. She decides to return home after her father starts to have memory problems. Mallory feels her sister, Annie, may need help. She and her daughter go back for a week's vacation and she finds she is needed. Annie feels she has been left on her own by her sisters and they should have come sooner to help. Many things come to the surface during this week.
Susan
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
A family saga of three generations.
Karen
Circe by Madeline Miller
Fascinating for mythology buffs -- her side of the story.
Susan
Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins
Very good summer read.
Margaret
A Week at the Shore by Barbara Delinsky
A typical Delinsky novel, great summer read. Enjoyed the characters and the boy next store love.
Christine
The Long Walk by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman
This is a very early work by Stephen King, originally published under his nom de plume, Richard Bachman. It is not a horror story, but it is scary in its own way. It is a short book, but it is not light reading. The premise is simple: 100 teenage boys compete in a contest to see who can walk the furthest distance. It sounds simple, and in a way, it is, because that is the only action involved. This is not an easy or happy journey, and some may find parts of the book disturbing, but I found it to be an excellent story that will stick with you after you have finished reading.
Ginger
Known by Heart, Collected Stories by Ellen Prentiss Campbell
Campbell's newest short story collection looks at love after the fairy tale. Long married couples watch their marriages change as society changes. They discuss divorce, explore end-of-life decisions, choose to stay together or to part. The love between parents and children is explored in these stories as well, with several families popping up more than once, the children young in one story, middle-aged in another. Campbell's signature resilience and fundamental goodness is present in each work -- even when a story has an unhappy ending readers have faith that the protagonist will survive and, eventually, thrive. On the whole, an uplifting collection for challenging times.
Francisca
The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin
On January 12, 1888, a massive cold front brought plummeting temperatures, gale-force winds, and blinding snow to the northern plains. The blizzard caught the people on the prairies totally unaware and unprepared. Children left for school on a bright, sunny, mild day and found themselves either trapped in their schoolhouses or struggling to find their way home in the blinding snow and plummeting temperatures. Hundreds of them died. It’s a gripping tale and told masterfully.
Ginger
The Orphan's Daughter by Jan Cherubin
THE ORPHAN'S DAUGHTER alternates between two timelines: the late 1980s when the protagonist, Joanna, cares for her dying father, and the late 1920s, when her father was a ward at the Hebrew National Orphan Home in Yonkers, New York. Joanna has always shared her father's love of philosophy and, like him, has sought a life of the mind. Unfortunately, her father has never taken her seriously; he wanted a son. When she was young, he dismissed her intelligence and failed to protect her from his lecherous colleagues. Now, as she alternates between tending to her dying father and reading his memories, she questions him in new ways. The result is a feminist coming-of-age tale and a smart investigation of inter-generational trauma.
Janice
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
As an identical twin myself, I really appreciated how she got everything right about that. The idea of "passing" or in a sense and more broadly "reinventing yourself" is compelling.
Gwen
One Good Mama Bone by Bren McClain
Stumbled on this book while researching for a book club discussion of THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK. I was so taken with the moderator, Bren McClain, that I had to follow up and read her book. It turned out to be a wonderful find. The characters, human and animal, were very well drawn and compelling. The strength that mothers in both the animal/human family relationships will connect and leave you moved to the core. These characters will stay with you long after the last page is closed. I was compelled to read this almost in one session - just could not leave the story. It shows the strength of a mother's love, family bonds, human/animal bonds, and just how far some mothers will go for their young. This and so much more is offered.
Debbie
Contempt by Michael Cordell
After reading a lengthy Martha Grimes mystery, CONTEMPT presented a respite. The characters and setting skimmed the surface compared with Martha Grimes. As a prolific reader, I need to balance the books. CONTEMPT delves into the world of convicted felons and life on the outside for these hardened men. Thane Banning has been sent to prison for the murder of a young woman. He constantly shouts his innocence. Luckily, for Thane, after five years he is released from prison on a technicality. Life does not go easily for Thane, a real estate lawyer. He must defend a fellow prisoner on the murder of a policeman and in the process find the person responsible for his conviction. The story rushes to the conclusion without exploring all facets.
Debbie
An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten
AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO NO GOOD by Helene Tursten contains five short stories featuring Maud, an eighty-eight-year-old Swedish woman who handles life to her own tune. The first story features Maud and an artist who wants to trade apartments with Maud. Both women intend on getting their way. The reader feels sorrow for the ordeal of “poor” Maud and her dilemma. The story ends in utter disbelief as each of the following stories unfold in Maud’s devious plans. The stories quickly relate the heart of the matter and push the reader further into Maud’s mindset. What a character! Maud should work for the FBI with her intelligent, cunning, and disguises.
Debbie
The Knowledge by Martha Grimes
Another journey into the world of Richard Jury, Melrose Plant, and Marshall Trueblood. Lucky Melrose Plant must travel to Africa to learn about the mining of gems and a local artist. The best character award goes to Patty Haigh, a ten-year-old girl, who follows the killer from London to Dubai to Africa. The world of the London taxi drivers amazes me with their knowledge of the streets, sites, and lore of London. Again, the Starrdust windows of animation present a world of imagination and wonder. So many layers of mystery and corruption in this story that what the readers believes at the beginning of the story completely changes by the end of the story. What an adventure through the different cities and countries.
Elizabeth
The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis
What is it like to be the last of the Moon girls? Ms. Davis outdid herself with THE LAST OF THE MOON GIRLS. We are treated to her beautiful pull-you-in storytelling skills and storyline, a strong female character, a mystery, family ties, and love.
Sandy
The Angels’ Share by Ellen Crosby
Another great wine mystery in the wine country series that includes facts on winemaking and historical facts of Virginia.
Gil
The Paris Hours by Alex George
Loved reading THE PARIS HOURS and did not want it to end. It is about four people living in Paris in 1927 who want to move forward but are haunted by the past. They are a puppateer who fled from war in Armenia and entertains children, a newspaper journalist who aspires to be a novelist, and despite all the evidence to the contrary believes his baby daughter survived a bombing because her body was never found, a painter seeking to make money from his paintings because he is indebted to a loan shark, and a young woman who is caretaker to a prominent writer and has a secret she has told almost no one. Although these characters are quite different from each other, the author brings them together in a very surprising ending.
Margo
The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George
What a super fabulous book. This book is a great read. I don't want to give any spoilers but it's a must-read. I loved this book. I could not put this book down - so fabulous.
Bonnie
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Not great literature, but certainly a fun summer read.
Bonnie
Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger
These short stories stand the test of time. I read them again after about 50 years and they're as good as the first time.
Bonnie
The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben
You always know what you'll get with Coben - a page-turner that'll keep you guessing til the end.
Bonnie
I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
Ephron is everywoman. These essays make you laugh and think and easily identify.
Bonnie
Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
Fun read about the crazies trying to get their kids into an elite private kindergarten.
Richard N B
Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man. The authors did extensive research, including interviews with survivors and their families. The result is a detailed, thorough and still intimately personal story.
Gwen
Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmunds
I liked this far more than I thought I would. When the "western frontier" was anything west of Albany, NY, and a revolution was brewing, neighbors fought against neighbors. This novel follows the evolution of one family, Lana and Gil Martin, as they marry, try to create a family, farm and community when the odds are against them. Their property is burned in wanton destruction by jealous Tories, their friends die in battles, and Congress seems both far away and not at all concerned about their imminent demise at the hands of the British, Tories and Native Americans.
Ivy
Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith
Suspenseful page-turner. Lost souls tend to find and nurture lost souls, which is the case when a man newly released from prison comes across a wandering mother and child. In spite of the dangers that both face, one more critical than the other, a bond is forged. Tense and far from predictable, this one takes off and doesn't let up until the last page.
Elizabeth
Someone's Listening by Seraphina Nova Glass
Finally successful and happy, but then Faith’s life fell apart. SOMEONE'S LISTENING is filled with twists and pretty much unlikable characters that have bad habits. You will be confused about everything happening just like the main character, but that is what makes SOMEONE'S LISTENING a good read.
Joyce
The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor
I really wanted to like this book. I liked some things, especially the way the author evoked the atmosphere of her uncle's pub on Long Island and her descriptions of Dublin. The main character is an American profiler trying to solve her cousin's disappearance in Ireland almost 25 years ago, and I liked that idea, too. But here are my problems: 1) far too large a supporting cast of relatives, friends, and peripheral characters who didn't seem necessary to advancing the plot; 2) too much time spent wandering around the countryside by the detectives with no results; and, 3) an ending that is so much of a shocker that I just found it implausible, based on how the killer's character is developed up until we're told who it is and how it happened.
john
Blue Moon by Lee Child
Just started reading this author. I was uncertain if I liked this, but now am a fan and trying to read all his books. Everyone read Child's books.
joy
Golden in Death by J. D. Robb
Love all her books. Also writes under Nora Roberts --- did read a couple but just don't care for at all.
Everyone should try the IN DEATH series. I keep all that series and even reread, something I never thought I would do. Try this series.
Cheryl
Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
David Goggins is so inspirational. He narrates his book, and then gives side stories that go along with each chapter. You will see how he overcame many obstacles in life to be the best person he could be. As a Navy Seal and Army Ranger he became a powerful force and motivator. I loved this book.
Elizabeth
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Loved this book! Historical fiction fans and those who have visited the New York public library will be fascinated with this book and again get to enjoy the pull-in writing style of Fiona Davis. THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE is another fabulous read that you do not want to miss.
Betty
The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Of the 75 books I have read so far this year, this is one of the best! The writing quickly pulled me in, and I became totally lost in the story. Definitely a selection for my book club. The pacing of the story is superb! It is a complex book, introducing us to a wide array of wonderful characters. But they are gradually introduced and well developed so I had no difficulty keeping track of them. My attention never once waned from the story. The plot lines were masterfully controlled so that as one would start to lag, another would pick up. The story tugged on my heartstrings, while also filling me with disgust over how some people could be so cruel and heartless. I am in total awe of the writing in this incredibly special book.
John
Traitor by Amanda McCrina
This is a YA novel about how hard it is to trust other people in the middle of a world war, and how important it is to design book covers so that it looks like a YA fantasy novel even though it isn't.
ILene
The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks
THE SWEET HEREAFTER starts on a sunny snowy day with Dolores Driscoll, an excellent school bus driver, stopping and picking up each kid on the way to school, with a description of each. Following her as usual is Billy Ansel in his pickup truck, a recent widower, waving to his twin kids sitting in the back. All of a sudden there is a bus crash with the bus crashing through the barrier of a bridge. There is a rescue with some of those seated in the front making it and the rest were lost. Along comes Mitchell Stephens, the famous lawyer, to make amends for all the lost kids. We see how each family reacts to this great tragedy. Another great Russell Banks book.
Linda
The Final Curtsey by Margaret Rhoades
Biography of an interesting cousin of Queen Elizabeth. Details of family connections, friendships and troubles keeping up with royal set. She was a relative, lady in waiting to her aunt, the Queen Mother and her companion in her final years.
Tessa
Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan
I wanted to love this book. The author is from my hometown, the beginning of the book is set in Milwaukee, and then the action moves to a city I love, Paris, France. Plus, it’s a book about books. But, while the book has a great premise, some marvelously atmospheric scenes highlighting Paris, and includes MANY book references, it didn’t live up to my expectations.
Glenda
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
I love historical fiction where you get history with a fictional story wrapped around! I listened to this on audio and the narrator was superb!
Betty Jo
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
This young adult version of Kendi's STAMPED is fantastic. I am hoping to use it in my classroom. The language is easier to read and the research and historical background makes the subject more accessible to the classroom. All ages could benefit from reading this one.
Lindy Lou
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Interesting and compelling, yet bitter, jaded in tone.
Jan
He Started It by Samantha Downing
Downing's first book was outstanding. This one is not. She is a clear writer but the book drags at times; we are misled throughout the book, misdirected. This is not a fun book. When the reader has to constantly try to figure out what or who or when, the book just does not flow. Three adult siblings have to take a journey together in order to get the dead Grandpa's money and it is millions. There are so many red herrings, false leads, etc. that we never know who is supporting whom or which sibling is out to get another. I finished this book, because I loved her first, but I will be careful about putting her third book on my to-be-read list. I did not find the ending surprising as other reviewers have. This author can do better.
Elizabeth
The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Be prepared to stay up late as you near the end...it is GOOD is all I can say, and VERY clever.
Elizabeth
The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman
A MUST-READ!! It’s 1918, and the Spanish flu is running rampant.
Elizabeth
The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell
THE WIFE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH has everything a thriller promises. You will not be able to stop reading. Make this book a must on your summer reading list.
Sean
Easy Prey by John Sandford
Another solid Lucas Davenport novel but this one was different. While there are still heinous crimes we don't get much in the way of looking at things from the killer's eyes. I think I missed it. The ending was not typical and the book was a great police procedural, but I think the normal Sandford edge was missing. The book's best parts were how Lucas is trying to deal with the women in his life. Overall, not a bad book but the series has seen much better.
Melanie
One Year of Ugly by Caroline Mackenzie
Thank you again for sending me ONE YEAR OF UGLY. I just finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Given the topic (undocumented immigrants to Trinidad being forced into servitude to a criminal) it shouldn’t have been a light and fun read, but it definitely was. For some reason, it had the flavor to me of the Stephanie Plum books - maybe it was the general attitude of the narrator, together with the dysfunctional but loving family and the personality of the romantic interest of the main character. Good escapism, but I learned a little too, which is always a nice bonus.
Lynn
All Woman and Springtime by Brandon W. Jones
The subject matter is a tough one – human trafficking into sex slaves. The story begins in North Korea where two young, innocent girls live in an orphanage and work in a clothing factory. They are about to age out of the orphanage when their lives take a horrible turn in the wrong direction. They are taken to South Korea and sold into the sex trade. Their innocence and freedoms are stripped from them and they must find ways to adapt to survive. Or at least try to. It is a heart-wrenching story that makes you count your blessings multiple times throughout. And even though it is hard to read, you don’t want to stop reading because you need to know how it ends. You don’t want to give up on them. You don’t want to give up hope.
Trez
Crooked River by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Very good mystery thriller. Very exciting and once into the story, hard to put down.
Francisca
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
This is Book Two in the Blossom Street series, featuring Lydia Hoffman and the people who come to her Seattle yarn store for knitting classes. The reader follows the ensemble cast through ups and downs, financial hardship, and business success, failed marriages and new love. Enjoyable, mind-candy comfort read.
Elizabeth
Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell
A charming, sweet read. I hope you get to read this book. And look at the adorable cover.
Linda
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
When a car is pulled from a lake, police are not surprised to find a body in the trunk. The woman must have been beautiful at one time but she had been badly beaten. Police investigate and focus on the husband at first, but the more people they interview the more suspects they have. The dead woman had been a consummate flirt and none of the women liked her. They learned that she was having affairs with two of the married men in the neighborhood. Was it one of the men who killed her over jealousy or her husband who found out about her affairs? Or could it have been one of the wives?
Linda
Last Girl Standing by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush
In high school the clique was known as First Fives. They were Amanda (A), Bailey (B), Carmen (C), Delta (D) and Zora (Z). The fifth should have been Ellie (E) but the others were mad at her and excluded her. The main jock who all the girls were in love with was Tanner Stahd. Now years have passed and the original First Fives have been reduced to three. Bailey's death is being investigated as her father doesn't agree with the special investigator’s decision. That investigation is put on the back burner when Tanner is found stabbed to death. Police do not believe his wife did it, but who did? Now Zora and her husband have been murdered and it seems like someone is out to get the First Fives.
Linda
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
Karen Krupp has a feeling that someone has been in her house, but who? Then she gets a telephone call from someone she never hoped to hear from again and takes off from her house in a hurry. Tom Krupp arrives home to an unlocked house even though Karen’s car is not in the driveway. He gets a visit from police who tell him Karen had an accident and is in the hospital. All think it is reckless driving but when a man’s body is found in an abandoned building not far from where Karen was that night, red flags are thrown up. Police are wondering if Karen knew anything about the murder, and both she and Tom feel their world falling apart.
Linda
Walk the Wire by David Baldacci
Amos Decker and partner Alex Jamison are sent to London, North Dakota to investigate the death of Irene Cramer. Her body was found in the middle of nowhere but with the Y-incision on the body; it appears an autopsy had already been performed. Police Lieutenant Joe Kelly is baffled about why the FBI is investigating a local murder. Amos and Alex are also wondering but can get no information from their boss. During the investigation, other murders occur and they are trying to connect the dots. Their investigation takes a new twist when chemical weapons that should have been destroyed in the 60s are found and involved in a plot to destroy the fracking industry.
Mary
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
The 1989 Danvers High field hockey team wants to finally WIN this year. At summer sports camp, they all sign their name to a pact in an Emilio Estevez notebook. Is it witchcraft, or just solidarity as they enter their senior year and come of age together, that defines the year for them? Filled with references to the Salem witch trials, Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, and the 1980s. I think both those of us who grew up in the 80s, and today's YA readers, will find this relatable.
Vesna
The Last Blue by Isla Morley
I loved everything about this book! Lyrical, descriptive writing that took you into a world of forgotten people. I had to stop throughout the book to savor the words and keep my heart from pounding out of my chest. A love story, a story of poverty, greed, uneducated prejudice, goodness, badness, and hope for us as a people when we put all those terrible things aside and just learn to accept each other as we are.
Nancy
With You or Without You by Caroline Leavitt
Simon, a one-hit-wonder still lusting after fame, and Stella, a practical nurse have been in love for decades even though their dreams don't mesh. Early in their relationship Stella gave up following Simon on tour and took up a career. Now in her early forties, she wants permanence and a family. A new star in music recognizes Simon's band as his inspiration they are invited to open for him in Las Vegas. On the eve of Simon's leaving to reboot his career, Stella isn't sure she wants to give up her life to go on the road again. Bad decisions leave Stella in a coma. Simon stays at her side while the band replaces him and moves on.
Susan
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
A literary family saga that contains themes of prestige and racism.
Judith
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
This wonderful adventure from boyhood to manhood is set in Charleston, SC. Being the son of the high school principal does not make life easy for our hero. He has several strikes against him after finding his brother who had committed suicide. Being on probation for drug possession, he is given tasks by his mother including baking cookies for mercurial twins across the street, shepherding rich young children who had been expelled from their high school, and three orphans. Toss in a new black football coach whose son he is to co-captain the team with and you have the cast of characters for lifelong friendships. Throw in a hurricane Hugs, a missing friend, and you have all the ingredients for a marvelous read!
Laurie
The Words I Never Wrote by Jane Thynne
World War II European fictional history/family drama. A very compelling read featuring two upper-class sisters.
Patricia
Mill Town: Reckoning With What Remains by Kerri Arsenault
Truly a story of industrial America, but not the steel industries that brought so many immigrants to the country. The surprise here is that this is the story of Mexico, Maine, a paper mill town, and the generations that lived, worked, and were poisoned by it. Having grown up in a steel manufacturing town, I can relate to much of the cycle of boom town to ghost town. But this town suffered far worse than industrial cities, with the filthy, polluting, dangerous paper industry that sent its workers and even their children to an early grave. I cannot do justice to this important, beautifully-researched and written story of the author, her family, and her town. It is an important part of American history that must be honored.
Jayme
The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon
I enjoyed reading this riveting story, but any fact pertaining to WWI and Halifax is crammed into this book. The event was horrific and unbelievable - it stands on its own.
Kristin
Luster by Raven Leilani
I loved this book - the writing style is sort of stream of consciousness, the relationships between the characters are interesting. The set-up of a young woman having an affair and then moving in with the couple and their child is so weird, but I really got hooked into the story.
Susan
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
A beautiful book. Two couples, both husbands ministers, and how their lives intersect.
Elly
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
Excellent historical novel about Churchill leading the war against the Nazis.
Betty Jo
The Swap by Robyn Harding
Interesting plot which kept me turning pages. I listened to the audio version while I walked, which quickened my pace.
Pat
The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe
I’ve read almost all of her recent books but had missed this earlier one...it was very good and worth the wait. I love a tight group of women who truly are best of friends - ones you can count on to be totally honest (even when it hurts). A great read!
Pat
The Dilemma by B. A. Paris
I love this author! I’ve read all her books and they just keep getting better and better. There were so many secrets in this couple - but all being done because of their love for one another! Very intriguing. I hope she continues to write for many years to come.
Pat
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Oh my gosh, I teamed up and/or cried at the end of each chapter! Powerful love story with unique setting/circumstances. I imagine this is my fave book of hers - and I love them all.
Susan
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Set during WWII, this novel focuses on a woman working to forge documents to save others as a member of the French Resistance. I really enjoyed learning more about this aspect of the war. The story was compelling and thought-provoking.
Michele
A Season of Secrets by Elizabeth Adams
Who doesn't love an Amish mystery! Nice to see that even they have tribulations about those who chose to leave the faith and how they do it. Even though those who leave may have good reasons for why they left the way they did. They don't like the ramifications for those left behind who had the last contact with them.
Jackie
Credible Threat by J. A. Jance
Another compelling Ali Reynolds mystery, great characters and storylines.
Pat
Unteachables by Gordon Korman
Join Mr. Kermit’s class of students of unteachables who have been placed there for unique reasons. We get to know all seven students along with Mr. Kermit and enjoy how the kids and teacher learn from each other with the help of a former student and a new teacher in the next room. There is drama when the school superintendent wants to fire Mr. Kermit and everyone joins in to try to save his career.
Deb
The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis
With well-developed characters (including the Chelsea Hotel!) and an interesting story with unexpected plot twists, I think this is Fiona Davis' best work yet. This back-and-forth historical fiction takes place when the two main characters, Hazel and Maxine, come to NYC after performing abroad for the troops and live at the infamous Chelsea Hotel. They eventually go their separate ways only to reconnect again after each has pursued a life-long dream. The McCarthy era provides the historical backdrop for a fast-paced read.
Ellen
The Nature of Remains by Ginger Eager
This debut novel is as suspenseful and well-plotted as WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING - and the writing is absolutely beautiful. If you like strong, believable, characters and multi-generational sagas, this is for you. I couldn't put it down, finished it in a weekend, and am still thinking about the people and their predicaments and surprising choices.
Ellen
The Orphan's Daughter by Jan Cherubin
This novel is both funny and deeply moving. The story of the lifelong impact on Clyde Aronson of being sent away to The Hebrew Home when his mother could not afford to raise him. He's a survivor, but it comes at a cost and the cost is felt by his own daughter Joanna too, years later. Clyde is a difficult father, and she's not the easiest of daughters, but the story of his life and their relationship is gripping from beginning to end. Joanna's witty, and tells a tale that has laughter and tears, political and family drama, and terrific writing by debuting novelist Jan Cherubin.
Janet
A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber
I love her writing. The cover is beautiful. It has a very summery feel to it. But the story is not very summery. Be prepared - it can be a tearjerker for some.
Rosemary
Don't Turn Around by Jessica Barry
Two woman, previously unknown to each other, drive through the night hiding secrets from each other. Each has a reason to fear for her life. When a large truck suddenly appears and begins to menace them, each believes she's the target of the danger. Who's in the truck? What secrets are they hiding? Will they survive? This is the type of book that will keep you up into the wee hours to find those answers!
Linda
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd
An historical novel based on Eliza Lucas, who at sixteen years old was put in charge of three plantations in the SC Lowcountry. She very bravely tried to successfully harvest indigo for the blue dye which became a lucrative crop for SC in the 1700s. It portrays life on a plantation including how slaves were treated. I mostly liked the book except that I thought too much of it focused on Ms. Lucas' romantic life and how she avoided the "trap" of marriage.
Sandra K.
The Birthday Lunch by Joan Clark
An unexpected death leaves a family in turmoil. Each member of the family deals with the death in their own way and the result is a wonderfully thoughtful book.
Donna
The Wild One by Nick Petrie
I really enjoy this series about a war veteran with PTSD and claustrophobia. This time Peter Ash is in Iceland during a big winter storm. This was a great book to be reading in hot, hot July!
Helen
The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz
The first I've read of the author's additions to the Millennium series books. I didn't feel that he really captured Lizbeth Salander, though the elements were all there and the plot was novel and interesting. Worth the read, but not satisfying if you were really a fan of Steig Larsson.
Bridget
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
Forced myself to read slowly because I didn't want this book to end (well, I did want to find out "who done it" and what was going to happen to Sara and Will, but...). Karin Slaughter has written another novel that has the reader hanging on, reading "just one more chapter" deep into the night, but she has also brought in some old characters in such a skillful way that makes perfect sense! I look forward to reading the next Will Trent (hopefully not during a pandemic!)
Martha
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
Anne Tyler is a fave of mine. I love the underlying sense of humor that her novels have. The is a quick read and another good look at family dynamics, a favorite subject in her books. My favorite part of the book is a family gathering where everybody knows you well and you can count on being reminded of your quirks, habits, and where you came from. Enjoyable read and great characters.
Sheree
Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams
It was entertaining but not can't-put-it-down good.
Kristen
Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers
This graphic novel is a short story-like format, all about how the author interacts with her family, hair and ethnicity.
Cherie
The Engineer's Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood
This is historical fiction about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Engineer gets the bends and his wife acts as his proxy. Learning about the bridge building and that era and her role as a strong women in that role as overseeing the bridge building, even before women had the vote, is engaging.
I enjoyed this book.
Beth
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
This is the third book in Mantel’s trilogy about Thomas Cromwell. As usual, Mantel’s prose is rich and poetic. It’s sometimes hard to keep all the characters straight, but the book really takes you back to 16th Century Tudor England.
Francisca
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
I loved this tale of an elderly widower who agrees to transport a 10-year-old girl who’s been held captive by a Kiowa tribe for about five years back to her relatives. The ways they support one another when facing various dangers and come to simply enjoy one another when things are going smoothly, paint a picture of love. There are some scenes that are quite comical, many that are tender, and quite a few that had me on the edge of my seat.
Vickie
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
For me, this book was a magnetic draw because of the topic of just walking away from your life and beginning again. I thought the premise was fascinating. But the start of the book was slow, introductory material about the lives that Claire Cook and Eva James were leaving behind. I felt empathy for both main characters, but especially for Claire, an abused wife who is desperate to leave her multi-millionaire, controlling husband. Eva has created her own problem by making wrong choices, so I didn’t feel as bad for her. The action ratcheted up, as did my interest, about one-third of the way through the book. There was more happening that required all of my attention as it was a complicated machination to get the two women together.
Cindy
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt by Anonymous
Loved this book and immediately bought two more copies for friends!
Matt
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
One of the best books I have read this year. It is told in alternating chapters about two women who are running away from something and swap tickets at the airport. It is a thrilling read.
Elizabeth
The Last Stone by Mark Bowden
THE LAST STONE is a difficult book to read for more reasons than one. Mostly it’s the subject matter. Two little girls, 12 and 10, go missing in 1975. In 2018 Lloyd Welch is finally convicted of their murders. It is what happened to those little girls, which Lloyd tells us over and over again, that is a horror to picture as we read. Mark Bowden structures the majority of THE LAST STONE with actual transcripts of Welch's interviews with police over nearly two years. They are repetitive, tedious. And for all that, the whole truth is never learned, just enough to convict him. In the end, police can only theorize about what actually happened. So that is how Bowden concludes his book, with the various theories. They are all heartbreaking.
Liz
Honolulu by Alan Brennert
In 1914, Regret, a young Korean woman, leaves her home to travel to Hawai’i as a picture bride. She is hoping to have a better life with many more opportunities than she has in Korea. She is shocked when she arrives and realizes that nothing that was promised to her is going to happen. She struggles on, changes her name to Jin and slowly over the course of the next five decades becomes the woman she has always hoped she would be.
Jennifer
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Loved this book about two very different authors struggling with writers block! Loved it!
Trez
March by Geraldine Brooks
Very beautifully-written book. Very interesting.
Jan
Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor
Taylor is a student of religions. When I read her first book, she was a Christian pastor leaving her church and it was the right fit for me. Now, she is a scholar of many religions and that fits me, too. This is the most basic of one-semester college "Religions" courses but Taylor puts her touch on all the religions studied. I find that I share a lot of her envy of religions other than Christianity. Taylor does not try to "sell" the reader any religion and she constantly reminds the reader that this is her opinions and no one has to enjoy what she enjoys. She finds most religions to be friendly, eager to tell others about the myths and rituals of their own religion. A wonderful overview of major religions today.
Suzanne
9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
After watching the Harry Bosch series on Amazon Prime, I have started reading Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books. This week I read 9 DRAGONS which has been one of the favorites of the series. This gives me a more personal side of Harry as a father and ex-husband to Eleanor. We have two storylines going at the same time and that makes for a faster moving book. I have read other Michael Connelly books and will go back to those after I read all the Harry Bosch books.
shelly
Daddy's Girl by Danielle Steel
When their father dies unexpectedly his three daughters learn some lessons and truths that they never knew. Kat who always tried to please her dad and worked hard never really was appreciated. Caroline the movie star was supposedly "daddy's girl" and Kat the peacemaker is always trying to keep everyone happy. Now it is time for the three sisters to think about themselves and how they will go on with each of their lives.
Betty
The Friendship List by Susan Mallery
If you enjoyed the movie “The Book Club” with Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen, you will enjoy this book. This is the perfect “feel good” read for the beach/weekend.
Elizabeth
Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks
Do we really know who’s lying? Do the characters really know what is the truth and what isn’t?
Jean
The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith
I came across this book in a bunch of old books. I remembered that someone had recommended it to me back 25 or more years ago but at that time I was working and had not much time for fun reading. I picked up the book wondering if it would be too dated for my enjoyment but decided to try it. I am so glad that I did. It was so enjoyable and not at all dated. The author made the characters come alive for me. I loved the book and the especially the characters. I checked out the author on the Net and found that she had died but wrote several books before her death. I looked them up and found several of them available at my library so I am requesting them. Now I'm looking forward to several weeks of good reading.
Tessa
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
A classic of gay literature explores the coming-of-age of a young American living in Paris in the 1950s. Baldwin’s writing is evocative and atmospheric. His characters are well drawn and reveal their strengths and weaknesses through their thoughts and actions. David’s struggles to be true to himself while living the life he feels is expected of him leads to tragedy. I feel for all these characters as their dreams and aspirations are slowly destroyed. I can only hope that after this story ends, David finds some happiness in his life.
Allison
The Friendship List by Susan Mallery
Ellen is a thirty-something single mom whose son is about to enter his last year of high school. She is quite happy with her life - she enjoys her work, her friends and her son who has turned out to be an amazing kid. She overhears her son remark to his friend that he won’t be applying to colleges away from home. He explains that his mom would be lost without him, that he’s all she has. This conversations forces Ellen to re-examine her current life - is she as happy as she could be? She knows she doesn’t want her son to miss the experience of living in a college residence because of her. Unity is a thirty-something widow having lost her husband three years ago. She has built a successful business as a handyman.
Marybeth
The Moonglow Sisters by Lori Wilde
What a great story of sisterhood, family, relationships, and love!
Marybeth
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
It got more exciting in the middle of book, when Noemi was plotting escape and leaves with her cousin, but the ending I wish had left us with more hope of knowing how their lives ended up. Not much of a "punch" ending.
Marybeth
Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black
How brave Kate was. She came close getting caught by Gestapo, but she hung on and stood her ground! She was very determined to fulfill her life or death task.
Barbara
The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers
This is a book that you won't want to put down! The main character, Placidia, marries a man just days after meeting him. He goes off to fight in the Civil War, and she stays on his farm, taking care of the farm and his young son. The trials she endures just with the farm are incredible, but her love for her new husband keep her centered. When he returns from the war, though, he finds that she had had a baby while he had been absent, but that the infant had died. She is imprisoned, until her husband finds out the truth about her pregnancy. The book is apparently based on a true story. It is written as a series of letters and diary entries. I have actually read it twice, once myself and once with my book club. Excellent!
Barbara
Best Friends by Martha Moody
Interesting book about two women that meet as college students and become lifelong best friends. They are quite different individuals. One is devoted to her father and her family, the other is less so. One is fabulously wealthy, the other has a father that was fired from his job for embezzlement. One becomes a lawyer in California, the other becomes a doctor, caring for people with a relatively new disease, HIV-AIDS. (The book was written in the 1990s.) They know secrets about each other, and continue to care for each other throughout marriages, divorces, changes in religious preferences, and changes in jobs. Very good, but quite long.
Marybeth
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin
I liked the storyline but wanted more of a punch at the end. I wanted to know about how the ladies lives were after all the turmoil the went on.
Elizabeth
Until I Find You by Rea Frey
How can she cope with so many losses in her life? Rebecca lost her sight, her husband, her mother, and now the nightmare of losing her son seems to have come true. UNTIL I FIND YOU has a tension-filled build up, and you can feel the dread and fear Rebecca has. The ending is a big surprise. Those readers who enjoy thrillers and solving mysteries, will not be disappointed.
Elaine
The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter
The story is captivating and characters well formed.
Katherine
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I found this book both quirky and entertaining. It is our book club choice for the month of August. We have not had our meeting yet, but I think that there will be good discussion. I am sure that most of us can find some way in which to identify with Eleanor, even if we would not admit it!
Marcy
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
I love her passion and impressive research of the subject that she writes about.
Elizabeth
The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek
Like many of you, when my husband and I were dating in the 80s, we never missed an episode of “Jeopardy!” Keith even bought me a book about “Jeopardy!” for our first Christmas. But THE ANSWER IS... by the host of “Jeopardy!,” Alex Trebek, isn’t really about “Jeopardy!” so much as it is about Trebek, himself. Trebek’s book is his effort to beat the tabloids. He has pancreatic cancer, but that’s not what he wants his or their book to be about. Instead, in informal language, he tells the parts of his life that made big impressions on him. We never stopped watching “Jeopardy!,” although we haven’t been watching as frequently. THE ANSWER IS... changed that. We’ll be watching every evening again.
Bridget
The Magnolia Sisters by Michelle Major
Nice book. Three very different women did not know they were sisters until their father died. The story is of they navigate feelings for him, each other and, oh yeah, the financial crisis he left them in a few short weeks. And one of them meets the perfect guy, falls in love and lives happily ever after. If only real life were like that, but it’s not, so we read books like this!
Tessa
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
I should have read the book jacket and put the book aside. This was just ridiculous on so many levels, and Courtney was a total idiot whom I wanted to slap on about every other page. At least it was a fast read, and mildly entertaining.
Anita
The Guardians by John Grisham
This book was about a group of lawyers who work to get innocent people who have been incarcerated out of prison. I found it somewhat interesting, but very long, tedious and boring in parts. There were so many characters, it was hard to keep track. I was rather disappointed since I usually enjoy Mr. Grisham's books.
Laura
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
This was an amazing book. Such a moving story and was told so well. I was grabbed from page one and never lost interest. I know there was some controversy over whether the author, who is not an immigrant, should tell an immigrant's story but it is a work of fiction and a great story. It may not be representative of most immigrants' journey but it was a great book. Loved it.
Laura
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I really enjoyed this book. It is fiction but found myself Googling the band to make sure they weren't real. The story was told as an interview of Daisy and the band individually. All of the characters were multi-faceted and had their faults. I was drawn in from the beginning and finished the book quickly. This is my second book by this author (also read and loved THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO) and I can't wait to go back and read her previous books.
Matt
Playing Nice by J. P. Delaney
This was a hard book to for me to read. I couldn't find anyone to like. However, the story was strong enough to keep me reading. It involves two couples whose babies get swapped and their response when they learn of it. There is a strong bad guy and tension builds.
Betty
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
I loved Goldin’s book THE ESCAPE ROOM so I was eager to read her newest one. Wow! She did not disappoint. I was kept guessing until the end, and I loved the ending. Goldin masterfully gives the reader twists and turns that leaves you breathless. In the end it all fell into place and I was left thinking, "How did she do that?"
Deby
The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang
Excellent story about the history of the Hmong migration and how they integrated into life in America.
