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March 19, 2021 - April 2, 2021

 

This contest period's winners were Dorothy B., Julie B. and Michele G., who each received a copy of ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline and SUNFLOWER SISTERS by Martha Hall Kelly.

 

Rose
Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L. Rosen

4
Eliza Hunt suffers from agoraphobia at various times, but has somehow managed to hide this from her family. It started in high school, went away, then resurfaced when her twins graduated from high school. Eliza also runs a social media ‘bulletin board’ for her community. When she hears of a competing site for “younger women” she decides to post an anonymous comment - a rumor - to generate interest and traffic on her site. This rumor sets off a series of events with some life-changing results. I really enjoyed this book, there were some funny parts, and also some heartbreak. The reveal at the end was pretty important, and I thought the author did a good job with it.

Liz
Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens

5
This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Everyone knows you never, ever walk alone or hitchhike on Cold Creek Highway. Young women have gone missing for years and have never been found. Hailey McBride’s mother died when she was a young child and now her father has passed away in a car accident forcing her to live with her aunt and her husband, a police officer amend Vaughn. He is very overprotective of seventeen year old Hailey. She finds some incriminating information about him and decides to run away. Everyone believes she has become another victim on Cold Creek Highway. There is very good character development with lots of twists and turns, plus an ending you will not see coming.

Becky
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

5
The devastating San Francisco Earthquake is the backdrop for this tale of marriage, lies, love, desperation, hope, secrets, murder, and justice. Sophie, an Irish immigrant with secrets, answers an advertisement for a mail order bride and becomes mother to a silent 5-year-old as well as wife to a man who becomes more secretive each day. The aftermath of the earthquake upends Sophie’s materially satisfying, though lonely and confusing, life. As her home is destroyed, she finds out one of her husband’s secrets. Sophie and Kat try to make a new life amid loss, fear, and more secrets. Meissner’s ability to combine great research with actual events and wonderful characters into a thrilling tale reveals a devious and intriguing plot.

Karen
Have You Heard About Karen? by Karen Aharon

5
Loved this book. It was easy to read and hard to put down. The characters are so likable. I really cared for them. I highly recommend this book.

Andrew
Koh Tao by Luke Richardson

5
On the beautiful island of Koh Tao we follow Leo as he prepares to propose to his girlfriend, Mya, but then she disappears with no trace! Hotel staff member, Omar, gets involved in an attempt to help locate Mya when the case takes a turn. Can Leo find Mya, or the truth of what happened to her? This was my first look into Luke's writing. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and read the eBook, and I really liked them both. The story was fast-paced and fun to read but an even better listen! I can see the story unfolding in front me with the great character and world building. The suspense and the portrayal of this foreign land was riveting. I loved every moment and I am excited to continue Leo's story.

Kate
Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg

4
Author Brian Klingborg, through his extensive research, has created a story richly atmospheric, thrilling and quite engaging. In Lu Fei, he has created a noble, duty-bound, Confucian and most poetic protagonist. He also educates the readers in China's ethos, political climate, culture and spiritual traditions. But this is by no means a textbook. It is gritty and at times most graphic in its portrayal of horror. Yet there are also moments of tenderness, thoughtfulness and even humor. Although, a bit too gritty and graphic for this reader, the story is certainly well written, informative and entertaining. Triggers: graphic violence, homosexuality and coarse language.

Lynn
Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff

4
This is the story of two ten-Year-old boys who are summertime friends. “Bread” lives in a sleepy farm town in Wisconsin with his dad and “Fish” comes to town every year to spend the summer with his grandfather. Over the last few years they have become best friends. One night a tragic event has them fleeing into the woods to escape a punishment they are sure is to come. They decide to travel down a river to their destination. This is the story of their adventure down the river as well as the story of the adults trying to locate them. Obviously, there are plenty of obstacles along the way and many suspenseful moments for both the kids and adults. And thrown in are also touching and sometimes humorous moments as well.

Kate
The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik

4
Ms. Darznik has deftly created the atmosphere of early 20th century San Francisco, the city east coast-raised Dorothea is drawn to in her journey of self-discovery. One can easily imagine the walk through the cobbled streets, the tang of the nearby ocean and the heavy blanket of fog wrapped around the city. Her writing of the bohemian community was colorful and at times amusing. Her character development was rich and the relationships among these characters well fleshed out. The research which went into the telling of this story was Herculean and the retelling spot-on. Through Ms. Darznik's beautifully rendered story, the life of the amazing "documentary photographer" Dorothea Lange lives on alongside her iconic photographs.

Kate
The Mirror Dance by Catriona McPherson

4
It is the summer of 1937 when Dandy receives an urgent call from a Dundee publisher pressing upon Dandy to get an itinerant puppeteer to cease and desist the use of proprietary characters in his Punch and Judy presentation. So Dandy treats her female staff to an outing in the park to see the show while she assesses the situation. Oddly, the characters in question never make an appearance in the performance. And sadly, the curtain came down and there was no second act. Something nefarious is certainly afoot and Dandy with her partner Alec, are on the case. This story is based on solid historical research which is worked into a spectacularly spun tale. If well-written historical mysteries are your cup of tea, then settle in and pour a cuppa.

Kate
An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

4
As ever, Ms. Raybourn has done an excellent job of weaving a tale with its nod to history's revolutionary female suffrage leaders. The dialogue is spectacular and witty. The mise en scène is superb as it formulates a world drawing on all of the reader's senses. The tension runs high and the pacing is excellent. In the end, all is drawn to a successful conclusion leaving any armchair sleuth fully satisfied. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I would be remiss if I did not mention the adult nature of some of the material contained within it. Although never graphic, there is dialogue and innuendo of a sexual nature and a bit of gore. It is tastefully proffered and at times, quite amusing.

Fran
Girl A by Abigail Dean

5
Well-crafted story. Anglo version of EDUCATED but on steroids!

Jeanne
SAS: Red Notice by Andy McNabb

5
SAS: RED NOTICE by Andy McNabb is a military thriller that captivated me from the very first chapter. Without giving away any spoilers, the plot is centered around one very bad terrorist and an incredibly courageous SAS military soldier who must stop him from killing all 400 passengers and crew held hostage on a train. I received an uncorrected galley of this book and the opinions are solely my own. The author did an outstanding job in methodically creating the characters and the amount of research and detail and authenticity are absolutely brilliant.

Jeanne
Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce

5
WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES is the debut historical fiction novel by Denny S. Bryce set in the Jazz Age in the 1920s in Chicago and goes into the year 2015. Without giving away any spoilers, the author deserves praise for his outstanding, brilliant writing about Sawyer Hayes, a film student determined to finish his thesis about the legendary Oscar Micheaux. This novel is masterfully written and contains all the elements of historical fiction, including research and detail, glamour, all the dangers and intrigue during the Chicago 1920's Jazz Age Era. It is an exciting, emotional read and expertly depicts historical fiction at its very best. Thank you to the author and Kensington Publishing for sending me this compelling, intriguing novel.

John
The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey

5
This is a book about curatorial work and how cool it is to study animals.

Teresa
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

5
Just finished THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS by Laurie Frankel and I just loved it. If you are open-minded and supportive toward transgender people, it’s a great read. If you are not so open-minded, it’s an especially important read. Interspersing the story a fairy tale is very creative. I want this noisy, odd, creative, loving family to move in next door to me.

Laurie
The Night Archer by Michael Oren

5
THE NIGHT ARCHER is an extraordinary collection of thought-provoking stories which was read and enjoyed by both me and my husband. Bravo author, Michael Oren!

Nancy
The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville

4
My home is filled with mementos and heirlooms. Some make me a little sad, most bring warm memories of loved ones; when I am gone few will feel an emotional connection with them. But, what if others could sense the love behind things? THE MEMORY COLLECTORS imagines people who can sense the emotions that cling to things, the stain of hate and love. It is a fantastic device that explores our struggle with the hold of the past and lingering emotions to hinder our moving on and potential for a whole life. We can hide from the past, suppress it, reject it. We can become enslaved to the past so it inhibits our growth. We can shape the past into works of art. And we can rise above the past to become changed and whole people. An engrossing fantasy.

Maryanne
Institute by Stephen King

5
Hard to put down. Well written, as usual for Stephen King, and intriguing plot. Kids with amazing abilities enhanced by their experiences.

Nancy
Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

4
Very interesting book.

Lynn
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom

4
Not a quick, easy read, but an important memoir about Katrina, New Orleans and the African American experience.

Sally-Jo
News of the World by Paulette Jiles

5
Good book of the kindness and compassion of Captain Kidd to Johanna. An endearing story of salvation. She was supposedly being saved from savages but who were the real savages in this story? An excellent read. Looking forward to the movie version.

MH
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly

4
I reread this book this week and found much more to appreciate this time. Having gone to Russia a couple of years ago, I recognized many of the places mentioned in the book. I did wonder at the end if Taras is a Lenin symbol or a Satanic one. I am looking forward to reading the new book in the series.

Judie
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

5
I have read many books about WWII over the years, and find each is nuanced about some particular area or event I hadn't known about. A young Jewish University student in Paris is recruited to become a forger to save hundreds of people, mostly children, who escape with new identities to Switzerland and her life and those around her are in danger. What made this book most poignant is comparing it to this time of hardship due to the Pandemic. We do not have bombs dropping on us, our family members are not disappearing to concentration camps, we do not have to worry about being arrested in our homes. And those people endured this for five years. I am grateful.

Deidre
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

5
An excellent story about the horror and degradations of slavery on a plantation in Virginia. My favorite aspect of the novel was its highlighting of the Underground Railroad and how both freemen and Blacks and Whites tried to right the wrongs being committed by getting the "Tasked" out of their dehumanizing lives. The references to "Moses" and her character in the book gave credibility to the story. The mystical aspects of the story and Conduction made the story more enjoyable. A very good read!

Amy
Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty First Century by Jessica Bruder

4
After watching the award-nominated movie, my curiosity to learn more brought me to the book it was based upon. This was a fast read and an intriguing study of the “house less” modern day Nomands who criss-cross our country in search of seasonal jobs and live in plain site in parking lots and city streets.

Dennis
The Power Couple by Alex Berenson

3
I have read all of Alex’s books and look forward to them. However, this book was a chore to get through at times. His in-depth description of the couple’s past lives at times was painfully long and irrelevant to the storyline. The characters, especially the daughter, was not believable and/or even interesting. This was not his best book!

June
What You Wish For by Katherine Center

4
It's a delightful story about a wonderful school and funny, caring people.

Julie
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

3
Good beach read, interesting characters. The best part of the book for me was the beginning of each chapter giving a synopsis of the year. I remembered and could relate to that time. The author gives just enough of the ending away at the beginning of the book to keep you reading to the end. Great descriptions of life on Nantucket make you want to go there and spend some time. This is about a same time next year romance that endures 28 summers with all the ups and downs that life has to offer. The characters are likeable enough, even the most tedious because the author describes them quite well and gives us just enough to keep reading. Fun book.

Rosa
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

5
I read this one for book club. I expect a lively discussion about this interesting book with an unusual plot. This fictional story is based on the life of the author's grandfather Patrick Gourneau, who fought for his people, the Turtle Mountain band of the Chippewa tribe, as Congress was attempting to "terminate" the Native Americans in the 1950s. There are several subplots about quirky, endearing characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed Erdrich's witty, sharp prose. I appreciated learning about the Indians' plight during this time in our history. What a sad, unfortunate event.

Muriel
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

5
This is a beautiful story about 3 people working through challenges in their lives. Jo, a graduate student in ornithology, had recently survived breast cancer but lost her mother to the disease. Gabe, an intelligent young man suffering from depression, was harboring secrets from the past concerning his parents. Eight-year-old Ursa, claiming to be an alien seeking five miracles, entered their lives and brought them together. Ursa’s life contained much tragedy and darkness, leaving her needling a miracle for herself. I like the way Ms. Vanderah developed the characters more through their actions than lengthy descriptions. The reader can see the bond developing among all three characters and is in their corner hoping for the best outcome.

Lori
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
This is one of the best books that I’ve ever read! I became so involved with the characters! This is one I will read again.

Dorothy
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

5
Loved this book and could not put it down once I started reading. I never knew about the Bluets. That was definitely an eye-opener for me.

Melinda
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida

5
I read this book in two days, totally enjoyable.

Sherry
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

4
I couldn’t put this book down. The library is a character on its own and a welcoming refuge among brilliantly woven historical nuance. The characters are as intricate as the wonderful books on the shelves.

Sherry
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alice E. Harrow

5
I absolutely loved this book! The beautiful language is a treat, and the journey is magical. I will be reading more from this author.

Michele
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

5
This book kept my attention the whole way through. Reading about the different natural poisons/remedies and mudlarking (what a cool name for discovering buried relics in the river) was interesting. I enjoyed the characters and I did not see the twist coming!

Michele
The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

5
I'm a believer in everyone reading; it makes everything easier if you can read and comprehend well. To be one of the few chosen to deliver books to areas that some had never seen a book, a magazine, or maybe a woman riding a horse or mule, would be an honor. The joy that was brought to some households would make it worthwhile. Some households brought fear, would they be shot for bringing material that could change the children's lives to make them better than their parents? Some parents were not okay with this. This is a must-read.

Rosemary
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

5
Based on true facts, this fiction novel tells the stories of an English woman who was sent to France in the days before D-day to assist the resistance, the woman who recruited her and a young widow who discovers the existence of that plan shortly after the end of the war. Why was the recruiter carrying pictures of 12 woman? Who were they and why are there no official records of them? An interesting and fast-paced read. This is not just another WWII story!

Lorraine
A Matter of Death and Life by Irvin Yalom and Marilyn Yalom

5
Life affirming, love at first sight until death do us part memoir by two groundbreaking Stanford U. professors and prolific authors married 65 years who met in ninth grade. The memoir chronicles their last journey together as Marilyn Yalom was diagnosed in 2019 with multiple myeloma and died in November 2020. World-renowned existential psychotherapist Irv Yalom spent four more months completing this book, his salvation as writing made him happy. Marilyn was a feminist pioneer in women’s studies and French professor of language, culture, and history. Both beloved and had remarkably joyful, caring, overflowing, and satisfying lives. Memoir deals with physician assisted death with dignity. A remarkable memoir.

Beverly
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

5
Small book of individual essays that show birds, animals, etc. attributes. Then author shares part of her life story that is relevant to those attributes. By end of book you feel like you learned the life story of the author and learn about wonderful creatures you may not have known. The prose is beautiful. One of my favorite books this year. I will be giving this as gifts this year to friends!

Barbara
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

4
Jane Eyre is a favorite of mine, so this book really intrigued me. I love the modern updating of this classic. I was drawn in to the setting, characters, and the suspense. A very good read!

Linda
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

5
Carol's book club pick is a winner. The protagonist, Cussy Mary, is my hero.

Donna
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

4
Several sexual attacks in her neighborhood puts Cait and her family on edge. Then the strange man across the street is arrested for the crimes and they are more drawn in to the mystery. Jewell does a masterful job with developing her three main characters and I couldn't wait to find out how they all connected. Enjoyable book.

Myrna
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

4
I did not know what it was about until I started reading and then said, "I don't know." I am glad I read it, especially because it is Lent.

Lisa
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

4
I became acquainted with Kristina McMorris when I heard her interview Melanie Benjamin and I am so glad that I did. A heartwarming story with an interesting premise. You'll fall in love with many of the characters and love the ending.

Janet
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly

5
I loved how the author relayed the thought process of Mickey's defense. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Tracey
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

5
A compelling read, the characters stay with you long after the book is finished. An intriguing story about a little known practice during World War II.

Tami
Love, Almost by Hayley Doyle

5
If you like Jojo Moyes’ ME BEFORE YOU, this book is for you. A heartbreaking and heartwarming love story between Chloe and Jack, takes place in London and is cute and sad all at the same time. Really makes you think about what you have in life.

Susan
One Day in December by Josie Silver

4
It was a romance novel and you knew how it would end, but it was fun to see how they got there.

Patty
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

5
This is another excellent work of historical fiction by Lauren Willig. She brings to life the struggles and successes of the real-life Smith College Relief Unit, a group of young women who volunteered to go to France during World War I to bring aid to the French people affected by the war. Well researched and dramatic, this is a winner for all readers of historical fiction.

Julia
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

4
It takes place on Cape Cod and you can feel the sea spray and feel the sand beneath your feet. The story builds and draws you in, and there are a couple of surprises along the way to make this quite an engrossing read.

Dianne
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

4
Fantastic read. This story starts slowly but rewards readers by its conclusion.

Patty
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

5
Follows a group of ethnic Germans being evacuated from East Prussia ahead of the Russian army. The story is told in turn by four of the characters and the reader becomes thoroughly invested in their survival.

Patty
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

5
Inspired by the real Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the few surviving illuminated Jewish manuscripts, Brooks has created a fascinating tale tracing its history.

Elizabeth
A Quiet Life in the Country by T. E. Kinsey

4
Enjoyed this first in series and plan to read more about Lady Hardcastle and her maid/companion Flo Armstrong whose strong bond relates to their past history which makes, in itself, a mystery that is gradually revealed in this book and apparently in the other books in the series. Their relationship is quite unusual and their humorous repartee adds a spark to the book. Not so humorous are the two murders that occur in this country village that belies the title of "a quiet life in the country." In spite of common belief, as Inspector Sunderland suggests, the statistics indicate that most crime occurs in small country villages and so the Inspector investigates as do Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Many interviews of the various suspects ensue.

Katherine
The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg

5
A delightful follow up to the book FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. It revisits the wonderful characters from Whistle Stop, especially Buddy Threadgoode, who has become a vet. Lots of good memories from her previous book.

Rose
Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

4
Shana has recently returned to work after being abducted and is given a case to investigate the disappearance and murder of a wealthy man and heir to a company. The entire Sinclair family is gathered on a secluded island. Jasper, the favored grandson, has evidently been stabbed, but he is missing. Everyone in the house is suspect. Shana and her partner, Tim, work their way through the family members and others as they break down the facts of the case to determine the killer. Very good start to a new series.

Rose
The Dead Season by Tessa Wegert

4
Reading Book 2 before Book 1 is not the way to do things!! However, I still enjoyed this second installment of Senior Investigator Shana Merchant. When a body is found near her hometown, Shanna returns to help her parents, and finds herself also investigating the abduction of a young boy. This novel dredges up much of Shay’s past, including Bram Blake, and his many ties to her. I am going to read the first book, and I can’t wait for the third!! This book was quite intricate, a little gory, and ends with a cliffhanger!

Elizabeth
Death of a Dead Man by Karin Kaufman

4
First in the Juniper Grove Mystery Series. Rachel Stowe who has left the stresses of the city and the unexpected end of her engagement has settled in the small town Juniper Grove where she is in the process of writing a mystery novel. She enjoys her cozy home, backyard and new friends, Julia, an elderly widow, and Holly, owner of the town's bakery. Rachel wants nothing more than to have a quiet, peaceful place to work on her mystery novel, but that plan is disrupted when old memories arise of a bank robbery, the death of one of the thieves( Mitch Dillard) and the disappearance of the other (George Foster) husband to Julia. After 7 years George is declared legally dead; two strangers appear in town, murders occur and secrets are revealed.

Kathleen
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly

4
THE TILTED WORLD reads like a screenplay, in a good way. It has good guys, bad guys and some on the edge: it has romance and an orphaned baby boy: it has fist fights and gun fights and it’s all set against the 1927 massive flooding of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Dixie Clay (great character name!) has been resigned to her fate as the wife of a charismatic con man, thief, bootlegger and probably a murderer. Ham and Ingersoll are revenuers who show up in Hobnob, MS in search of the persons who probably murdered their predecessors. On the journey there, Ingersoll takes in a baby orphaned by violence. When he asks around, he’s told Dixie Clay will take him, having lost her own baby to fever. Ing is soon in love and in denial.

Nancy
Neighbors by Danielle Steel

4
Meredith White was a star in Hollywood when her husband left her for a younger woman. She left Hollywood and became a recluse. That was fifteen years ago. She lived alone with a husband and wife team as caregivers. Then a terrible earthquake happens and she opens her doors to all the neighbors in to stay with her because their homes were damaged. This begins a whole new life for her.

Susan
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
Excellent read.

Helen
The Searcher by Tana French

5
Another fabulous thriller from Ireland's Tana French. This time an American is the protagonist, living in Ireland who becomes involved in searching for a missing man. Excellent!!

Allison
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

4
Loved this debut novel by Sarah Penner! I heard about it on a YouTube video you did with Goodreads. It was a page-turner, very suspenseful and tightly plotted. She was successful with both timelines. I recommend this for fans of historical fiction and mysteries. Very enjoyable!

Kay
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

5
I loved this book! The colorful language is so engaging that you are gathered into the story of John Brown. I would never have thought this historical figure could be so interesting.

LAURA
The Lost Apothacary by Sarah Penner

4
Great story. Loved the medicine. Super mystery. Having been to London I could feel I was there.

Lois
Love and Treasure by Ayelet Waldman

4
This novel was a love story, a history lesson and wonderful writing all in one. What starts the story is actually at the end of the novel. The beginning of the novel takes place years ago during WWII. I enjoyed the book.

Marilyn
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
I just finished reading this book after having read several of her previous books, including THE NIGHTINGALE. Her writing certainly puts you right in the atmosphere you find in her expert weaving of the story. I could almost feel the dust in my nose and eyes in Texas and the sunburn and hunger in my belly in California! Oh, the talent this woman has! The tears in my eyes at the end were very real! Now I will impatiently wait for my next Kristin Hannah experience!

Sheree
Kent State by Deborah Wiles

5
I have wanted to read this for some time since you recommended it last year, or was it the year before? My son's girlfriend was accepted to graduate school there and I felt like I should read it. I felt like I was on campus living the experience. I loved the way she wrote the book. I would recommend it and look forward to visiting the memorial. Such a tragic thing to have happened.

Donna
Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

5
Roan's father was an equestrian champion and she was carrying on his legacy. Roan is a fifteen-year-old girl who's life revolves around school and horses. Her father loves her and makes sure that nothing will interfere with this life. He is her coach and Roan always did what would keep her safe; obey her father, make him happy, make him feel good and keep their dark secret. She and her horse, Jasper, were champions and worked as a unit. If she upset her father she would lose everything. The detail on the life of an equestrian and equestrian events is very informative. This is a story about sexual abuse, courage, determination and survival.

Pat
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

5
Oh, the emotions this book causes in the reader. Patti wrote a beautiful book that simply draws you into every scene and act. 1000 stars!

Donna
Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage

3
Jonah is living in NYC with the hopes to become a playwright and currently is a financially struggling waiter. He manages to meet Richard, a wealthy and famous playwright. They enter a May-December romance where Jonah is wined and dined with other successful men. A big weekend is planned at Richard's home in the Hamptons. On arrival, Jonah realizes this is a compound consisting of four homes. The weekend in the Hamptons becomes a summer in Hell for Jonah. He and other young men are kept captive and are sexually abused by Richard and his friends. Jonah manages to escape and he seeks a release from guilt of his part in ruining the lives of others by writing an expose which has consequences.

Donna
Some They Lie by M. K. Farrar

4
Olivia has changed her name and moved to London attempting to put her previous life behind her. She shares an apartment with a roommate, got a job and became friends with a female coworker. On a night out with her friend, she meets Michael and he sweeps her off her feet. Both she and Michael have secrets and she becomes paranoid when she starts to have blackouts and believes he has the power of mind control even to the point of convincing people to commit suicide. This psychological thriller includes mental illness.

Donna
The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

5
It's time for the ten year reunion of Wesleyan University. Ambrosia has been living with a secret of having done something really bad when she was a student. All the new students are seeking friends. Ambrosia's roommate thought they were best friends. Ambrosia wanted to be best friends with Sully because she got a lot of attention. Sully is a hardened mean girl and Ambrosia got caught in her web and they became inseparable. They take things too far and others suffer. This is a twisted story of lust, mental illness and revenge.

Donna
Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

5
Canada 1930s. Max (Jew) and Molly (Protestant) have grown up as friends and neighbors together and they fell in love. The families had a strong bond during the Great Depression. The influence of Nazi Germany along with an event at the Christie Pits Riots in 1933 caused a complicated division between members of the families. Max became a doctor and joined in the war effort along with the young men he had grown up with. They were fighting together against the Japanese. Some were killed, some were wounded and others survived as POW's in Hong Kong. The love story is touching. The extensive research by this author brings the horrors of war, the brotherhood of friends, the trauma of survival and the difficulty of adjusting to coming home.

Donna
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

5
Wow, this book will make your head spin and when it settles you wonder what you would have done. This story is about idiots, a term used throughout the story. A group of people are brought together in a unique situation. The beginning of the novel as it introduces us to this group is enough to make a calm reader anxious. As the story progresses you learn about the insecurities of these individuals and how they unite and are able to help each other.

Pat
The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

5
For whatever reason, I have never read THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. With Patti Callahan’s new book (ONCE UPON A WARDROBE) coming out in Oct. 2021 I need to read the series beforehand. Therefore, have started and read first of seven in series. Even as an adult I loved the magic of this book.

Madelon
The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

4
Intriguing read set in New Jersey.

Julie
The Dogs of Winter by Ann Lambert

4
This is the second of a newer mystery series, which is set in Canada. It doesn't seem to be the usual who-done-it and includes some interesting information about things you may not be aware of. I listened to the audio version of this book, which is read by the author. I am often skeptical of how well authors read their own books, but thought this one was very good.

Kimberley
Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

5
This story will stay with me for some time. It’s an unusual whodunit as the reader must unravel if something actually happened. Working women and working moms can relate to the story of these three main characters. It is a great length and a must-read right up to the final sentence.

Francisca
The Odds: A Love Story by Stewart O'Nan

4
Art and Marian Fowler travel to Niagara Falls for a sort of second honeymoon. Their thirty-year marriage is in shambles, and they’re facing financial ruin, so, of course, they cash in their life’s savings and decide to bet it all at roulette. Oh, I love O’Nan’s writing! He gives us two wonderful characters, warts and all. At the end I’m betting on them!

Tessa
Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

3
In general, I’m not a great fan of celebrity memoirs, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. From summer stock as a teen in Dayton, Ohio, to starring roles in the Brat-Pack films of the ‘80s, and on to "The West Wing", I found his story engaging and interesting.

Rose
The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

4
This is my first Anthony Horowitz novel, although it is the second in the series. It is quite entertaining, especially with the author as a character in the book. He is paired up with an ex-detective, Hawthorne, and the pair is often at odds, with Horowitz showing a dislike for Hawthorne. In this novel, a lawyer is found murdered and there is a long list of suspects, including clients and friends, a as well as his husband. Many have a motive. Entertaining, but also a bit sad, especially when you read the ending and how everything is resolved.

Jan
The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo

5
What a beautiful book of poems from our U.S.A. poet laureate! Harjo is a wordsmith, a beautiful writer, her words flow so smoothly. I have little knowledge of poetry, save the usual educated layperson's contact with poetry in general. But we in the U.S. are blessed to have this great poet shepherding us about what is good poetry. Harjo has won so many awards. She is an enrolled member of the Muscogee tribe and is a wonderful example of someone who brings awareness of the Native American today. Harjo uses many symbols, words, examples of Native American beliefs and practices. She is very aware of pain, nature, emotion in her poems. In this book, she included a short comment after each poem giving additional knowledge the poem.

Jan
The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard

2
This is an interesting book about race in the U.S. and about how inane, stupid, unthinking some people can be. The book begins with a white man who will only have servants who are black. He is from the South and he gets three black boys from the orphanage to come live at his home to work and to be trained to be good servants in the home. I thought this was going to be an amusing book, it is not. There is an element of horror in the actions of one of the characters - throughout the book, the overhanging vibration is race relations. Characters are not very well developed - pretty much stereotypes of what we expect, "Yessa, massa." The only one who showed a drive to develop herself and become self-sufficient was a black woman.

Debra
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
I felt a roller coaster of emotions reading this book. I felt like I was Elsa who was the main character as she lived her life. It is wonderfully written.

Jan
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

4
The author has already demonstrated that he is a great writer. This is a rambling set of essays about his life in the U.S. and the racism he encounters, about pushing himself to learn more -- for example, he lives a frugal life and invested at the advice of his friend. He made a lot of money. We learn that his father is enamored with Donald Trump and of his efforts to show his father the truth. I don't know that I learned a lot from this book. I already knew about racism. I learned about his growth and his willingness to learn from others. I am downrating this book because of two episodes of gratuitous oral sex. I could not figure out why they were included. He could have made his points by just telling us that the woman gave him an STD.

Tessa
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

3
3.5 stars. This middle-school-grade book deals with mental illness. Jack Martel emerges from his pup tent to find that his mother is missing. Eleven-year-old Jack must find his mom before the authorities intervene and separate them forever. I loved Jack; he’s resilient, intelligent, resourceful and brave. He’s also scared. But he’s determined to find his mom and hopes he can forgive her for leaving him alone.

Virginia
Cut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper

5
This was a wonderful, fast-paced read. Cooper’s writing flows so well it kept me on the edge of my seat! FBI agent Sayer Altair worked diligently to solve a major crime only to be met with roadblock after roadblock. I did not realize it was a series book but luckily it didn’t really matter. The story takes place in the Washington D.C. area. I enjoyed learning about some of our national monuments and their hidden significance. The author spun murders, questionable characters and story twists that kept me wanting to read more!!! Now that I have found Ellison Cooper, I look forward to reading more of her writing.

Helen
Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher

4
A wonderful read. If you enjoyed THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, this is the book for you! The plot centers on a woman who goes back in time to meet the mother she had lost as a child.

Beth
A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter

4
A FAINT COLD FEAR is the third book in a series by Karin Slaughter. I, however, read it out of order. And I enjoyed it. That is one of my tests of whether an author is a good writer: can their books in a series also be read and enjoyed as stand-alones? Slaughter passes my test.

Deby
The Forgotten Daughter by Joanna Goodman

3
It was okay. I wish I'd read the first book before reading this one.

Becky
Tinder Box by Anthony P. Hatch

5
Six hundred and two people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in the fire even worse than the Great Chicago Fire that destroyed most of the city in 1873. The Iroquois Theater was advertised as “absolutely fireproof.” It was not. Hatch has written a very readable, but scholarly, look at the causes, failings, politics, and machinations of the owners, builders, managers, politicians, firemen and inspectors charged with safeguarding the lives entrusted to them. Illustrated by 30 pages of photographs and drawings and supported by personal interviews with survivors and voluminous research, he details the fire itself and the changes that resulted from the fire.

Debra
Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

4
Just one story of slavery that you’ll carry with you forever.

Angela
A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

4
This story follows Lucy and her brother Nick as they are fighting their Uncle Thomas for the right to put their father's invention of the water valve in every home or apartment complex for a fair price. But Thomas stole the invention from their father and jacked up the price. Lucy meets Sir Colin and the attraction is undeniable even though they work for opposing news agencies.

Richard N B
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

5
My wife was appalled when I admitted I’d never read this. She immediately dug out her old paperback copy (which she’s had since the ‘70s) and insisted I read it NOW. I’m glad she did. This is a singularly powerful novel with elements of suspense, family drama, humor and moral lessons.

Laura
An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart

4
Historical fiction about Eastern Kentucky's horseback nursing program. Nostalgic, romantic book with very interesting characters and story.

Laura
There There by Tommy Orange

4
Very interesting book. Each chapter is a different Native American's story. Then the end of the book has all of the character's lives converge in a unique and interesting way. This is a fictional book but written by a Native American about other Native Americans.

Rose
Black Widows by Cate Quinn

3
BLACK WIDOWS is a sinister story about a murder and what led to the murder. Blake Nelson is a Mormon, and has 3 wives: Rachel, Tina, and Emily. Tina was an addict and had worked in Vegas, Emily was originally Catholic. All 3 seem to dislike each other, and all 3 are suspects in their husband's murder. The story is told through accounts from all 3 wives. Each seems to have a motive for murder. The book is complex with a back story about Rachel's past and her memories that haunt her. Tina is concerned about relapsing. Emily is a frightened adolescent, not sure how to be a wife. They uncover that their husband was involved in something without telling them. This story was confusing with 3 voices, and subplots. I felt the story was too long.

Susan
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

5
Make sure you have nothing to do when you open this book because you won't be able to put it down. Original storyline, wonderful characters, a touch of magic. Just beautifully written. At its heart it is about overcoming loss and learning to trust again, with the help of a mysterious little girl who claims to be an alien from another galaxy that is here to witness five miracles before she returns home.

Trez
Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger

3
An interesting mystery.

Kate
Remember Me by Lesley Pearse

5
This was a most compelling read of a difficult chapter in British history - the first convict transport to Australia and the travails suffered by Mary Broad Bryant and her fellow convicts. Author Lesley Pearse, through her extensive historical research, has put soul into a well-documented person of history. Pearse's writing is fine and highly descriptive without being flowery. Her writing calls to all of the reader's senses creating an almost cinematic backdrop for the story. Mary had been a foolish young woman who embraced her lot in life, yet inspired courage, engendered compassion and managed to survive the transport experience. Pearse has held nothing back. This is a horrific and yet amazing true story which needs to be told.

Laura
Masque of Honor by Sharon Virts

5
Wonderful development of characters. Based on historical facts. Felt like I was there.

Claudia
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

4
It was a dark kind of story dealing with someone who has PTSD. Gives a good description of the beauty of the Alaskan territory and what it’s like living through the long winter nights. Has a redeeming ending.

Carol
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

3
Author trotted out same facts everyone else has printed about Churchill and his family. Was nice to have the integration of what was happening in Germany at the same time.

Marsha
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak

4
A 23 and Me test brings Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei together in a Lake Tahoe. Three young women with complicated lives who had no idea they were siblings decide to spend time getting to know each other and trying to figure out how they came to be related.

Carla
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

5
This book blew my mind! A very haunting look into a family that is devastated by schizophrenia. The Gavin family had 12 children with 6 of them diagnosed with this terrible mental affliction. The author delves into the possible reasons why this happened and how it affected the untouched members of the family. At times, this book is tough to read because of the lack of common decency that the family members show each other, but in the end they come together despite the obstacles. I would highly recommend this book.

Becky
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

5
I was a white, Northern, college girl who had always attended integrated schools in 1963 when this book takes place. I was shocked at the historically correct, blatant, racism portrayed in this book of southern Mississippi. If you are offended or triggered by historically correct terms, don’t read this book. That said, I loved this book. I loved Starla, the 10-year-old runaway: Eula, the young “colored” woman who befriends Starla, and Starla’s father. The characters are wonderful, clearly drawn and “real.” The time period and locale (1963 Mississippi) are shown with all the warts in place. The story is part coming-of-age, part social history and part murder mystery.

Vickie
Still Crazy by Judy Prescott Marshall

4
Julie Holliday loves her husband with all of her heart, but his betrayal sends her into shock waves of despair so deep that she has to flee from him. The author’s description of the heights of Julie’s love and the depths of her despair were heartbreaking. At first, I didn’t really know whether to believe that Dan had really cheated on her or whether she just wasn’t communicating with him enough. When she leaves him behind in New York and heads to Rhode Island on her own I still was not convinced that Dan was a bad guy. There were so many tender love scenes between the two of them before she left. I enjoyed the book but I was confused for much of it. Did Dan cheat or not? Was Julie crazy in love or just crazy?

Linda
The Girl and the Field of Bones by A. J. Rivers

4
Police are still trying to find out who the bones found in the cornfield belong to. One skeleton was wrapped in a sheet that has long rotted. This person was buried where other bodies were left to the elements and animals. FBI agent Emma Griffin is trying to get information from various people involved with little success. She, Sam, and Dean were looking for Xavier who had met with a news reporter before she was killed by the Order of Prometheus. Emma goes to an abandoned amusement part and is met by Darren Blackwell (the Dragon). He is about to kill Emma and Xavier when he is shot. Sam comes to rescue Emma but the Dragon has once again disappeared. Book 10 in the Emma Griffin series.

Linda
The Girl and the Black Christmas by A. J. Rivers

4
It took over 77 pages to get away from the character of Xavier and his weirdness and into the story of Emma and her quest to find her missing college friend. Interviews with Julia’s parents, professors, and friends do not leave Emma with much to go on. Everyone thought she just left on her own to find her own life, but Emma doesn’t buy it. She receives an advent calendar with notes pertaining to a killing. She has to figure out what each day means. Thirteen years have passed since Julia went missing but Emma thinks Julia is still alive, but where? Book 11 in Emma Griffin series.

Linda
Tempt Me with Diamonds by Jane Feather

3
Diana Sommerville and Rupert Lacey had been engaged until she believed he had another woman and she ended it. Rupert was best friends with Diana’s brother Jeremy until Jeremy was killed in a battle in South Africa. Now Diana and Rupert are back in London and she learns that Jeremy left his half of the estate to Rupert. She tries to buy his half but he says no. They were engaged when Diana left London to go to Africa and everyone thinks they married there. Now he intends to live in the house with her. She detests him as well as loves him and has no idea what to do.

Linda
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

4
Against all odds, Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell in love while high school students. She was from a wealthy family while he was from a disreputable family. Her parents refused to pay her college unless she ended it so she had no choice. Dawson went to prison for four years after an accident on a rain-slicked road killed the local doctor. Dawson’s only friend was an older man named Tuck who took Dawson in after he ran away from his home. Dawson and Amanda returned for the funeral of Tuck who wanted his ashes strewn at the cottage he built for his late wife. Dawson and Amanda realized they had never stopped loving each other, but she had a family who depended upon her even though her heart said to leave with Dawson.

Linda
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks

5
Not long after Jim Barenson died, his widow Julie receives a Great Dane puppy with a letter Jim had written. He told her how much he had loved her and that he would always watch over her along with the dog. She named him Singer and he grew up to be very protective of Julie. She had a date with Richard Franklin, man who Singer disliked and showed it. Julie was friends with Mike Harris, who had been Jim’s best friend, and their friendship was developing into something more but Richard was fixated on Julie. He was a psycho who could not let her go.

Linda
NYPD Red 6 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

5
Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald, representing NYPD Red, are investigating the kidnapping of reality star Erin Easton and stepping on toes of network representative Harris Brockway and his wife Anna, Erin’s manager. Brockway got a proof-of-life video from the kidnapper showing a worn-looking Erin. Zach is furious at Brockway for showing the video to boost his ratings and felt he should have turned it over to police. Zach gets a tip about the identity of the kidnapper who has stalked Erin for years but police cameras show her with him a few days before the kidnapping and they appear to be talking and laughing. It appears Erin is not an innocent victim in her abduction.

Jan
Take it Back by Kia Abdullah

1
This author is/was a reporter - and it shows. No development of characters, rambling plot (he did it, no, she encouraged or set him up, yes, he did it). I did finish it - and now I am uncertain why. A very independent woman attorney walks away from her practice to go provide legal work for a charity helping girls and women who are sexual victims. Jodie, her client, is most unattractive, and swears that she was gang raped by four boys she knew from school. The boys are Muslim. The attorney, Zara, was born Muslim, was in an arranged marriage and left within days. She shamed her family and is estranged from them. And she is unsure what she wants to be when she grows up now that she is in her 30s. Unsure about most things. The client lies.

Lynn
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

3
I’m in the minority of not loving this book as much as most. I enjoyed the beginning and the end but felt the middle dragged some.

Debra
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

5
I was drawn into the story from the first page. I want to set down and absorb the story. Patti writes the story as if you are there feeling all the trials the families are going through.

Trisha
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

5
I loved this propulsive story. Tingling with suspense and reminiscent of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

Janet
The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupee

3
It has such a beautiful book cover that I was hoping the storyline would also be special. Unfortunately, I just had a hard time liking the characters and the choices they made. I did like the secondary plot of a parent with dementia and the author’s writing style. It was a definite 3 out of 5 stars for me.

Wendellyn
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

4
This was a very interesting storyline and well written, but just a little too long.

Amy
Still Me by Jojo Moyes

3
Third book in a trilogy. The characters from the previous books all made an appearance and feel like old friends by now. I really enjoy Jojo Moyes' writing style. Light, fun reading. While the plot of this one was a little predictable at times, it had some laugh-out-loud moments and I enjoyed continuing the story from the first two books.

Kathy
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

5
This book has such interesting, complex characters and the choices they make. How do they perceive themselves? How do others perceive them? How do they stay true to who they really are?

Phyllis
Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren

4
Hollyn and Jasper are endearing main characters. Hollyn is shy because of Tourette's and has an undercover persona; Jasper is working on his career in improv theater and offers to help Hollyn overcome her shyness. Their practices quickly turn into sexual tension and a romance they didn't intend but we knew would come. It's an easy and entertaining read.

Fran
Girl A by Abigail Dean

5
A very well-crafted novel about a very difficult subject.

Cindy
Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce

4
What a wonderful debut novel by Denny S. Bryce. I was so caught up in the life of the characters, especially Honoree and Bessie. Told in dual timelines, it is the story of a strong young black woman in 1925 who works her tail off to become a dancer at a ritzy club in Chicago. Of course Chicago has gambling, Al Capone, bootleg whiskey, jazz and so much danger. The author does an amazing job in taking the reader back in time and I was right there sipping on a whiskey and tapping my feet to the music. Jump ahead to 2015 as a young film student interviews a 110-year-old Honoree in hopes of completing his thesis and begin a new life. What he discovers along the way brings to light his devastating past which he needs to deal with. I recommend!

Teresa
Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch

4
Cleo is an unlikeable politician, which should surprise no one in our world of unlikeable politicians. She wants to be president, but she needs to clean up her image, especially the one from her past amid her hometown classmates.

Sally-Jo
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

5
This was a story of the apocalypse caused by a pandemic and what happened to the survivors. Very interesting characters. Everyone in my group liked the book.

Nancy
The Good Luck Stone by Heather Bell Adams

4
I enjoy books that go back and forth between two time periods, and this one fits the bill. It held special appeal to me because the current timeline is set in Savannah, GA, where I live, and the earlier one is set in the South Pacific during World War II. I knew little about that wartime arena, and this was an education, albeit a sad one. The book tells the story of Audrey, a 90-year-old socialite determined to keep her independence, and a secret she's been hiding since she was a nurse in the South Pacific in World War II. It's a story about friendship, survival and secrets that I enjoyed very much,

Jayme
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune

5
This delightful, thoughtful, and whimsical story made me tear up over a button and laugh out loud over the antics of the antichrist. Highly recommend.

Jayme
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

4
A thoughtful and powerful story about how grief, lose and addiction can ravage a family and a soul. Highly recommend.

Leslie
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
I could not wait to finish my last read so that I could pick up THE FOUR WINDS, by Kristin Hannah. Although quite sad at the beginning it is difficult to put down. My heart is wrenched.

Donna
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

5
Anthony Horowitz is a master storyteller and fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this book. The book is set up as a novel within a novel and filled with anagrams, parallels, interesting twists and characters. I enjoyed being the detective as I read the book. I have read most of his previous novels but this one stands above the rest.

Barbara
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

5
Such a heart-warming story!

Barbara
The Love Proof by Madeleine Henry

5
A new author for me, this was such an interesting story!

Laurie
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3
As I lived in Malibu, California from 1979-1986, I could identify with the area which made this family drama come alive for me. Bold colorful characters, a good chick lit choice with discussion themes suitable for female book clubs.

Cheri
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

4
I have always said that there was power in groups of women. This book is another example that proves my theory. A group of Smith College alumni heads to France during WWI to help the displaced French people. They might have started out as privileged do-gooders but proved themselves to be so much more. BAND OF SISTERS takes place in France during WWI. I was very interested in reading this because my grandfather fought with the Canadian Army in France in the same region and same time frame as this book.

Crystal
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon

4
This memoir by Carly Simon covers her early childhood up to her divorce from James Taylor. I liked that she wrote it all with heartbreaking honesty and fascinating detail. The narration was a little choppy at times, but it was a book that was hard to put down. I’m curious about her other books now and will put them on my TBR list.

Tessa
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

3
First published in 1970, this has become a staple of children’s literature, as well as a frequently challenged book. I think if I had read this at a young age I would have easily identified with Margaret. I certainly recognize some of my own anxieties about growing up, though my situation was very different from Margaret’s.

Marilyn
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

4
Read this for a book club. Very different from my usual choices. The storyline and how it was written were enjoyable to me.

Carly
Rose Code by Kate Quinn

5
This book is excellent. Friendship, intrigue, and a royal wedding!

Dorothy
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

5
Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. I learned so much about the hill people of Kentucky and I never knew the Bluets existed. It was truly an eye-opener and I have recommended it to many people.

Sandra
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

5
It has been awhile since I picked up a book that was absolutely riveting! I read this book in one sitting! I have been recommending it to every one I know. Cast of characters is very well defined. The plot line of the story kept me reading. All I can say is WOW!

Lisa
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

5
What an eye-opening story of disaster and its aftermath! “What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for one another?” Eddie is 12 when he becomes the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills his family and every other person on board. Told in dual timelines beginning from takeoff and alternating with his recovery and new existence, the story is suspenseful and revealing. Unexpected lessons and viewpoints emerge as the boy deals with an awful celebrity. His aunt and uncle, as well as the girl Shay next door, are changed by their parts in Edward’s future.

Betty Jo
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

5
Timely young adult book about police violence against young black men.

Michele
Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

3
This is Book #2 in her Small Spaces series. The first one was my favorite, but I look forward to the third installment. I found the first book to be more suspenseful and it kept my interest with the characters and the storyline. I had the pleasure of meeting Katherine who also lives in Vermont and enjoy reading her books.

Kelley
The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan

5
I had read her debut novel, THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR, and loved the characters and time period (WWII). The spies book added another dimension to the time period. Women were actively involved in so much of British life while the men were away. Fascinating and thrilling!

Dee
The Library Book by Susan Orlean

5
Absolutely fascinating book, mainly about the fire in the Central Library in Los Angeles, but so much more about libraries, books, and characters.

Linda
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

5
I learned a lot about the Depression and the Dust Bowl by reading this book. Hannah's characters are so real that I feel I knew them. Desperate times in our country. I hope we never have to experience anything like this again.

Lisa
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

5
A highly readable and educational book about the caste system in the U.S., Nazi Germany and India. As usual, Isabel Wilkerson has opened my eyes to a subject that I thought I knew a lot about, but really didn't. Can't recommend this book enough. It should be on everyone's reading list.

Allison
The Windsor Knot by S. J. Bennett

5
I learned of this book through Bookreporter.com and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a fun and charming mystery featuring the Queen as an amateur sleuth. It also features behind the scenes details of the Palace which will delight fans of the Royal Family. A very enjoyable read and I hope there will be others to follow!

Michele
The Amish Baker's Rival by Marie E. Bast

4
I liked it! Good book with a great storyline to build off of for more books in a series.

Jeane
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

3
I felt the 'Montana" part of the story was rather flat. And the ending was a bust for me. It went slow and that is a killer for me. I listened to the audio.

Wendy
The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat

4
People who read THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL SOCIETY (does anyone beside me have trouble remembering that title correctly?) will be familiar with the bare bones of this historical novel, but this book is from the point of view of a young Jewish woman. It is based on true events and the author is from the Channel Islands so it has a very realistic ring to it. I wished that my copy had a map of the island in it to help me visualize the places described, but that's a minor quibble. I quite enjoyed it.

Susan
One Day in December by Josie Silver

4
A romance novel that tells the story of two roommates who fall for the same guy - who will end up with him?

Fran
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding

4
A chick-lit selection. The story of a struggling young art student, in dire need of money, "hooks up" with a wealthy, older man. What could go wrong??? Oh...MANY things!!

CHRISTY
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

5
A very compelling WWII novel about survival, bravery, family and hope. This historical fiction tells the story of a woman who lives in the forest and shares her knowledge to Polish Jews fleeing the Nazis. She learns of her past and sees the horrors that the Nazi's inflict on the Jews and anyone who helps them.

Pam
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

3
Dual timeline technique is becoming way too common and most of the time one timeline is much more compelling than the other. Sadly, that's the case here - the present day timeline seemed almost unnecessary. However, the 1790s story was engaging.

April
The Time in Between by Maria Duenas

5
Captivating and enthralling historical which is memorable and unforgettable.

Wendy
The 100-Year-Old Man That Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

5
This is a laugh-out-loud funny book. My favorite of all time. The adventures the man has are epic.

Linda
Triple M Murder by Carmen Cady

5
This was the best book I have read all year. The story kept you guessing. This is not my usual genre, but I am so glad I won this book. I otherwise may not have read it. The perfect amount of twists and turns. The characters were very likeable, even with the back story.

Linda
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

5
Yes, this is another WWII historical novel; but it's really good. The American Library in Paris is the setting and the staff at that very risky time were truly courageous in delivering beloved books to their clients in spite of bans by the Nazis.

Jane
Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

4
This book is like a strange fairy tale with a moral. I enjoyed it because it had a mother, a daughter, a terrible accident, a special tree house, lots if gold coins, a greedy brother and HARRY! Read it, you will like it.

Terry
One by One by Ruth Ware

5
This is an exciting mystery, fast-paced as skiing in the avalanche ski country of France. The characters are described with gusto and the new web site intriguing. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

Lynn
This Time Next Year We’ll be Laughing by Jacqueline Winspear

4
Since I love her Maisie Dobbs series, and I was happy to learn some of the background from her life.

Sheree
Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra Jonas

5
I really enjoyed this book. I did not know a lot about Priyanka. Her life has been very interesting. She has a good heart to want to give back to the world. I hate that she continues to get negative responses from the public. I think they are jealous of her success.

Mac
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

4
All Elizabeth ever wanted to be was a librarian, but when demons escape and start killing the keepers of the magic books, she is thrown into an unlikely alliance with a wizard and a demon. There's non-stop action, intriguing characters and a magical location. Everything you need for an enjoyable escape.

Dianne
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

4
Intrigued to see how the two stories in the book come together at the end. Both the historic storyline told by Hannie Gossett and the contemporary story by Benny SIlva are interesting.

Donna
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

4
I finally got around to reading this one and I really liked it. I had heard of the blue people of Kentucky before but didn't quite know what it was all about. I loved the story of the pack book librarian taking books to people along her route each week and the relationship she had with them. I thought the love story at the end was rather contrived and unrealistic, but enjoyed the book nevertheless.

Kimberley
Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks

5
In the same light as the WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker, THREE PERFECT LIARS by Heidi Perks confronts the unthinkable challenges of working mothers, male sexual misconduct and revenge. From the onset the reader knows there has been a fire but little other details. There is a suspenseful story that takes the reader on a whodunnit and why with lots of conflict.

Julie
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

3
I enjoyed this book about a woman finding some unlikely friends toward the end of her life. It also raises some good points about end of life situations.

Julia
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

5
This is a very powerful story that stays with you long after you've read it. It has one of the most vicious and monstrous characters I have ever come across in a novel in my life, Martin Alderson. It is a story of a young girl trying to survive her incestuous and brutal life with her father. It is the author's first novel and it is a doozy.

Jan
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.

1
Warning: This is not an easy book to understand and it is the first book that has conquered me in 78 years. I tried. So many good reviews. And I know about the Bible and the Prophets in the Bible. I read about a quarter of the book and could not get any new meaning. Yes, they were slaves - treated badly. White men used the women to produce children so they could be sold or raised to work. A lot like raising a litter of pigs. I just could not get meaning.

Pat
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

5
Wonderful story of four English women who desperately want to win a radio contest in 1942 in which they must prepare three recipes according to limited resources of rationed ingredients during wartime restrictions. You are instantly drawn into their lives and dreams.

Laura
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

4
Fun read, great story. I was surprised by the ending. I always love when an author gives clues and I think I know what is happening and I don't. Loved it.

Linda
The Gown by Jennifer Robson

5
The details make the book -- make it come alive for the period - make it come alive for the workroom and embroidery and come alive for the characters. Knitting w/ mustard yellow wool as it 'was the only color available, although awful', 'picking' the satin as to not harm the fabric and washing the needle every few hours, and heather from the Queen Mum to Heather, the granddaughter -- as a few samples.

Claudia
The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore

5
I won this ARC copy that will come out the end of June. Once again, Kate has written about a little bit of history about women's rights. Elizabeth Packard did not agree with her husband and expressed her thoughts. In the 1860s, this was reason enough to be put in an asylum. After three years, Elizabeth was released even though she was still considered insane. Using her intelligence and written notes, she was able to change the laws concerning women's rights. I found myself rooting for her with every chapter I read. This is not a book of just facts but an emotional story about a woman with a conscience.

Francisca
A Bookshop in Berlin by Françoise Frenkel

3
Subtitle: The Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman’s Harrowing Escape From the Nazis. Originally titled NO PLACE TO LAY ONE'S HEAD, this is an interesting first-hand account of the author’s ultimately successful journey to safety in Switzerland.

Kay
The Seine: The River That Made Paris by Elaine Sciolino

5
I loved this book! The Seine is traced from its beginning sources in Burgundy to Le Havre on the English Channel. Historical as well as current day anecdotes about life on this most famous river running through Paris are well researched. The writing is excellent, inspiring me to search out these regions on my next trip to France.

SHEILA
Robin by David Itzkoff

4
I loved this book and the trip down memory lane of the movies I grew up on, as well as the details of Robin's life.

SHEILA
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

2
THE VANISHING HALF was a book worthy of discussions with my book club, yet wasn't the engaging book I thought I was going to read. A storyline I found hard to follow and I honestly wished that wasn't the case.

SHEILA
The Sometimes Sisters by Carolyn Brown

4
THE SOMETIMES SISTERS on audio was the perfect listen as I prepared to go on vacation. A fun story that at moments tugs at the heartstrings as three stubborn sisters find their way begrudgingly back into one another's lives. While the story is a bit predictable and this storyline has been done in many ways (someone passes away, someone inherits a home/place/ store…and has to return to their hometown to put things in order only to find that perhaps this is what has been missing all along…) it is still a valuable read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

SHEILA
The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda

5
I picked this book up while on vacation and was hooked from the very first page. Each chapter built like riding a roller coaster and going up, up and up until with your heart in your throat – you slip over that much anticipated, much-dreaded edge. I didn’t see it coming. Two days later after having my nose in this book every chance I had, I closed that final page with one thought. Could Author Kaira Rouda write faster? I am going to need another fix of her deliciously engaging reads.

Theresa
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry

5
What a great book! Not only was it a interesting story, it was so very beautifully written. The author made each character and location come to life with her beautiful and descriptive prose. I enjoyed every page.

Mary
This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger

5
Not as good as ORDINARY GRACE by same author, but what could be?

Patty
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

5
Sexy, funny...the perfect rom-com.

Patty
The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear

5
Maisie Dobbs is investigating a possible murder while helping the SOE evaluate potential agents and trying to focus on her family and personal life. Having read Winspear's memoir THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE LAUGHING and knowing that Freddie is based loosely on her father's experience adds urgency and familiarity to the characters.

Patty
Come Fly the World by Julia Cooke

4
The glamorous life of Pan Am stewardesses in the late 60s and early 70s - or was it really so glamorous? This book covers a lot of ground - from the inherent sexism in the airline (and every) industry to the U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Elizabeth
A Necessary End by Holly Brown

5
A pregnant teenager, a couple who can't conceive, and a deal Gabe and Adrianne can't pass up. Or was it really such a good deal? If you enjoy books with characters you don't trust from the start and a gut feeling that all isn't as it really seems, A NECESSARY END is a book you won't want to miss.

Elizabeth
The Girl From Berlin by Ronald H. Balson

5
We travel from present-day Italy and back to the 1930s during Hitler’s regime in Germany. THE GIRL FROM BERLIN is a very absorbing dual-timeline that will immediately capture your interest with detailed descriptions of the characters and events. Historical fiction fans, opera fans, and fans of Mr. Balson’s books definitely will not be disappointed in his newest beauty.

Elizabeth
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

5
FABULOUS!! SURVIVING SAVANNAH will pull you into the mystery of The Pulaski and have you wanting to know everything uncovered and everything about Savannah. Historical fiction fans and fans of Savannah will enjoy this book. A truly addictive read you won't want to put down.

Elizabeth
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

5
Being famous is a dream we all wish for, but the Pine family was famous because of unpleasant things. Not what anyone would like to be famous for. The Pine family was famous for tragedies. The writing flowed easily and excellently for a debut, and I was immediately pulled into the story. Tense, tense, tense and twisty is the perfect description of EVERY LAST FEAR.

Elizabeth
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

5
An AMAZING debut!! GORGEOUS cover!! Who wouldn't like to solve a hundred-year mystery, especially one that had to do with poisons that were used to kill unfaithful husbands or boyfriends. THE LOST APOTHECARY is very clever, enjoyable, different, unique, and very well researched. History buffs, those who love solving years-old mysteries, and those who love old London won’t want to miss this book. ENJOY!!

Elizabeth
Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering

4
Burke was definitely deceitful. Heather wasn’t bad at it either. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE was slow for the first quarter of the book, but I kept reading because I wanted to see how Burke's devious plan would work out. Continuing to read was a VERY good decision...lots of twists. The uniqueness and the deviousness of the characters makes it one you don't want to miss.

Elizabeth
Flowers of Darkness by Tatiana De Rosnay

3
Something was going on in this extremely secured building with cameras in every room. It is a futuristic building where your every move was watched. The writing is excellent as always, but FLOWERS OF DARKNESS was a slow read for me even though it wasn’t very long and had a bit of a mystery. The futuristic things which were the major gist of the book are not something I read so this book wasn't as enjoyable as I would have liked. GORGEOUS cover, but just not for me.

Elizabeth
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

4
The American Library in Paris 1939, then to a small town in Montana 1983. We meet Odlie and Lily and follow their lives and their connection. THE PARIS LIBRARY will appeal to all bookworms, romantics, and historical fiction fans. This book is about friendship, the love of books and libraries, regrets, giving advice, and forgiveness. Ms. Skeslien Charles' research is impeccable.

Elizabeth
The Survivors by Jane Harper

4
The locals have never forgotten the tragedy that most people believe was Kiernan’s fault because he shouldn't have been in the caves when the storm surged. Just what was the intrigue of those caves?

Elizabeth
Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown

4
Living in a structured house, living in a wetu. Having enough food, always hungry. Living a strict Puritan existence, living carefree. All those statements show the differences Mary Rowlandson found when comparing her Puritan life to her life in Indian captivity. Which way would you want to live? I recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-researched, historical novel.

Elizabeth
Windy City Blues by Renee Rosen

5
WINDY CITY BLUES is set in Chicago during the coming of the Blues Era. WINDY CITY BLUES is a memorable read with characters that will be missed when you turn the last page.

Elizabeth
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

4
Historical fiction fans and women's fiction fans will love THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE. Be prepared for a heart-wrenching, but very thought-provoking read.

Jan
The Black Church by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

4
Gates is a scholar so this book has footnotes, recommended readings, lists, photos, appendices. My meaning is that is a solid book, not one to slide through in a couple of hours. I am an old Southern woman and I thought that I knew a lot about the black church in the USA. I never thought through that the slaves were captured in Africa - northern Africa for the most part - and they were Muslim. Plus they did not understand English, so the language, the music, the religion they created (often in secret) was not the good old Christian stuff that weighs down the South now. As Gates carefully points out there is NO ONE BLACK church. There are a bunch - sorted by belief, leaders and members. I learned a lot. Gates does not put blame on anyone.

Jane
One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein

5
ONE TASTE TOO MANY by Debra H. Goldstein IS THE first book I've read by her. She sent it to me as a birthday gift. Review: A mystery with many twists and turns. Surprise when finally know who is killing people - wouldn't suspect. Food, danger, Rah rah the Siamese cat, ex-wife, twins and more. RahRah the cat is left to Bill by his Mom. His ex-wife has been keeping him. In spite of it all Expo Food exhibit goes on. Ex-lax brownies used to stop expo didn't work. So many suspects through it all but trying to frame Emily, twin sister, who cooks at restaurant and Expo. Need an adventure! Grab this one - first in a new series.

Sandy
The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester

5
Even though it took me FOREVER to read this book I loved every page. Planning on reading more by this author!!

Kim
Hollywood Wives: The New Generation by Jackie Collins

4
Intriguing plot...kind of superficial characters but I liked it anyway. It's not the usual fair I read but I'd recommend it if you are looking for an interesting take on the behind the scenes in showbiz in regards to peoples' private lives. I enjoyed the blend of reality show style as we learn about the various women and suspense thriller as we learn about Eric Vernon and his sinister plot for one of them. It kept me pulled in to the end.

Rose
The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan

4
I enjoyed the second installment of the Jane Ryland series, although I haven’t read the first. I think that other than the back story on the relationship between Jake and Jane, the book easily can be read as a standalone. In this book, a fellow reporter, Tuck, is searching for her birth mother, but believes the agency provides her with incorrect information. As people associated with the agency begin dying, Jane and Jake uncover a sinister plot.

Annmarie
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

5
It is lovely to read a book in which both the plot and the characters are so well developed. The characters are unforgettable and I felt invested in them from the start. The plot kept me coming back and enthralled me with its twists and turns. Once I became comfortable with the cadence of the writing, I could see how both plot and characters were enhanced by the beautiful writing. A worthwhile read.

Rose
Call Me Elizabeth Lark by Melissa Colasanti

3
For 20 years, Myra Barkley has hoped her daughter, Charlotte, would return home. She disappeared one night when her sister, Gwen, took her to the beach to meet up with a boyfriend. Elizabeth Lark shows up, after having escaped an abusive relationship, with her son, Theo in tow. Myra believes Elizabeth is her long lost daughter. Elizabeth knows this isn’t true, but wonders if she should pretend. There is a lot of intrigue and dark secrets scattered throughout this novel. A lot of the book requires you to suspend belief. Moral of the story - be honest!!

Rachelle
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

5
An amazing book. I could not put it down. It will stay with me for a long time.

Rachelle
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

4
A fun read with an amazing strong atypical female lead!

sherri
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

5
Warm and cozy. Not a single dirty work or sex scene. Wonderful, quirky characters you'd love to live next door to.

Betty
The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey

5
Having just read the last paragraph, I close THE SECRET STEALERS and sigh. An amazing story. A complex plot, thought-provoking, memorable, intriguing, and intense. So rich in history. Wonderful characters. Star-crossed lovers. I have read Healey’s other books and loved them, but this one is absolutely the best yet.

Rose
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

4
Enchanted Jones is a teenager with big dreams of making it as a singer. When she attends a singing audition, she makes an impression on R&B singer Korey Fields. An older man, he showers her with compliments and promises. When he is found dead, Enchanted is the main suspect. She is adamant that she isn’t the killer. As the story unwinds, it is evident that Korey is a sexual predator, and is abusing and controlling. Enchanted unravels and her life becomes a nightmare. This is a powerful story on the dangers that face young teenage girls, and how no one believes the child, and instead believes the man - even one who has been accused numerous times.

Rose
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

3
This was almost a 4-star book until the ending which was a bit ridiculous and predictable. I did enjoy the story of a heartbroken young woman who lost her mother in a plane crash. Because of her mother’s death, Natalie must take over The Lost and Found Bookshop. Her grandfather owns the property, but his health is failing. A young reader, Dorothy, makes Natalie appreciate books again, and her father, Peach, is a handyman who helps out at the shop repairing the building. Slowly, Natalie begins to find joy in life again.

Francisca
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

4
After my face-to-face book club chose to discuss the sequel, OLIVE AGAIN, I decided to revisit the original. I can clearly see her growth as a character. And I’m more sympathetic to Olive, even though she is still hard to like.

Marilyn
The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman

4
This book personalized the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 telling the story of a German immigrant family and and a woman who literally makes a living stealing children to sell to desperate families.

Marsha
Neighbors by Danielle Steel

4
Meredith, a movie superstar, walked away from her career and became a recluse. When a devastating earthquake hits her city, she opens her mansion to her neighbors. These are people who did not know her or each other. A time of sharing draws them all close together but cracks form in many of the relationships and all their lives change from the kindness Meredith has shown them. The plot becomes a bit predictable at times.

Jayne
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

4
Our group had a great discussion of this locally set novel. The characters were interesting, providing lots of opportunity for chatting about their interactions.

Debbie
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

2
I used to be a big fan of Jodi Picoult, but several of her more recent books have left me wanting. This one was a real disappointment. A married woman has the chance to perhaps alter her life choices and return to her true love and calling. The protagonist is really selfish and makes some really poor choices. The underlying story is more of a romance, and close to a bodice ripper at that. The Egyptology portion of this book may have been interesting IF it had been edited by 50%. (It was way too involved and I just didn't care.) The death doula portion of the story was the only interesting part to me. My general reaction to this book is that it was a hot mess!

Debbie
In the Company of Men by Véronique Tadjo

5
This one has made me think about it again and again. Set during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it is a story told chapter by chapter from a variety of different viewpoints, including a doctor, a gravedigger, a grandmother, a bat, and a Baobab tree. The devastation wrought is horrific and is a precursor to what we've seen during the 2020 pandemic. Frighteningly prescient in its commentary about irrational human responses to a deathly pathogen.

shelly
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham

4
If you enjoy reading books and have a love of them then this story is just what you will want to read. Clara Blackwell cannot lose the family's one-hundred-year-old book store started by her great grandmother Sadie Blackwell. Unfortunately, her Uncle Julian feels it should have been his. When they are unable to find the deed to the store he threatens to have it sold and take this legacy away from the family. Clara Blackwell has always loved working in the store with her parents and now with her dad has passed away it is even more important to help her save it for her mother and herself. Trying to find the deed is like looking for a needle in a haystack as they have no idea where it might be.

Debbie
Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America’s Cheap Goods by Amelia Pang

4
A suburban mom finds among a box of cheap decorations a letter describing the horrible working conditions of the worker making them. Thus begins the discussion of Chinese prisoner labor (mostly Falun Gong practitioners) being used to make products to export. The book paints a rather bleak picture of not only what is happening, but the difficulty in making any headway to stop it. Though a very interesting read, I feel rather unable to do much to change the course of events.

Debbie
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

4
I like to read historical fiction because I learn so much more than I already knew about events in the past. I had heard of the 1888 Blizzard, but I didn't know much of the background. The portrayal of life on the prairie was stark, and I'm sure more accurate than my previous conception. This was a rather sad story of what happened to many children and others, but the setting made for a rewarding read.

Rose
Still Crazy by Judy Prescott Marshall

3
Round up to 3.5 stars. I seesawed between exasperation, anger, and hope while reading this novel. It broke my heart when Julie would have her panic attacks over her husband's behavior. But, I was exasperated and angry that Julie wouldn't address it head-on. She buries her feelings, and runs away to begin a new life, but still can't get Dan out of her head or heart. While I applauded Julie for making the most of her life, creating successful businesses multiple times, and treating employees like family, I was still angry with her for her timidity in dealing with her marriage. Her group of friends were all creative, talented, and loyal to Julie. They were the kind of friends you want and I hope everyone has at least one person in their life.

Dawn
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

5
Loved this fast-paced read and its end had me surprised!!

Anita
The Lady Brewer of London by Karen Brooks

4
This was an interesting book about a young girl in England who inherits her families brewery. It takes place in the 15th century. She struggles to make her beer and ale because women in that profession were frowned upon. This was a very good historical novel.

Kimberley
A Million Little Things by Susan Mallery

5
This is a lovely story with three strong women and some delightful male characters. The recently widowed mom is strong. Her daughter is a new mom struggling to be perfect and her girlfriend finds herself in the worst predicament. The Pacific coast setting is heart-warming.

Tessa
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

4
Patchett uses the youngest member of the Conroy family, Danny, to tell this decades-long story of the family’s fortunes. I love Patchett’s writing. I love the way she reveals her characters in what they say and do. We see Danny grow from a young child to a middle-aged man with children of his own. And we watch Maeve take on the mantle of responsibility for her younger brother, encouraging and pushing him to succeed, to prove that they can thrive without the legacy they expected.

Patty
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

5
A powerful story about immigration and family.

Patty
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

5
A very fun read. I'm hoping this is the first in a series.

Debbie
The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

3
Superintendent Battle blunders along in THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY. The story returns to The Chimneys estate complete with Lord Caterham, his daughter, Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, Sir Oswald, Lady Coote, and a huge cast of friends and servants. Two young men die mysteriously: Gerry Wade and Ronny Devereux. Bundle jumps into the hunt for the killer and picks up unsavory characters along the way. The crux of the matter seems to be espionage and discovering secret formulas. The story reminds me of THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT with a young woman discovering all the answers and finding romance at the end of the story. The mystery moves quickly from adventure to adventure with Bundle and her cohorts.

Debbie
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

4
Enter center stage Miss Marple for a look at one of the premiere sleuths of history, and her being an elderly spinster. So many comments that Miss Marple always is correct in her theories. Miss Marple comment: “The young people think that old people are fools; but the old people know the young people are fools” sums up how Agatha Christie and Miss Marple view the world. The village of St. Mary Mead appears to be inhabited by a flock of elderly, spinster women. These women hear and see everything that happens in St. Mary Mead. Romance and murder cannot flourish under the watchful eyes of these noisy women. Thank goodness for their diligence, as they assist in solving the murder of Colonel Lucius Protheroe.

Rose
The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon

5
Wow!!!! I loved this novel!! Abby and her brother, Tom, are very close, until Tom dies in a horrific car accident. At the time, Abby was dating Liam, but she breaks up with him after Tom’s death because seeing him reminds her too much of Tom. Fast forward 20 years and Liam and his family (wife Nancy and son Zac) move in next to Abby, her husband, Nate, and her daughter, Sarah. And then all sorts of things happen. I suspected some of the reveals, but was surprised at what happens to one of the characters near the end. So good!!

Christine
Dead Set by Richard Kadrey

5
This is meant to be YA but it can be enjoyed by adults as well. Sixteen-year old Zoe goes on a quest to save her father from the Underworld. This was written by the author of the Sandman Slim series, but it is suitable for a younger audience.

Kate
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

4
The story focuses on a 13 year-old girl, Duchess Day Radley - a self-proclaimed outlaw - whose life is mostly filled with caring for her five year old brother. She's been robbed of her childhood and embraces her parental role. Adults hold so many secrets, presumably to protect the young innocents. Yet, Duchess' perceptions drive her actions which have enduring consequences. There are references to the past which are significantly entwined to the present. This is a heart-breaking tale of broken lives struggling to make their way in an unforgiving world. Is there hope for kindness and even redemption? This well-written twisting tale is full of surprises and reaches straight through to the heart.

Kate
Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams

4
This fourth book in the excellent "A Secret, Book and Scone Society" cozy mystery series was every bit as good as its predecessors. Considered a "cozy" mystery, it holds a bit more gravitas than others of its genre. With a relatively light hand, this story deals with some rather difficult subject matter: bullying, loss of a child, addiction, fire survival, cultism and morality. Through the hearts of the well-developed characters, life's lessons are taught in a gentle and informative manner. Author Ellery Adams has yet again given readers a well-written tale with a lot of heart.

Linda
The Girl and the Cursed Lake by A. J. Rivers

4
Emma, Sam, Dean, and Xavier are watching a television show put on by a paranormal investigator. Several people have gone missing from the Arrow Lake Campground and the show hopes to find out what happened to them. One of the hosts disappears and the show is suddenly cut off. Dean surprises everyone when he says he was at the lake at the time of each disappearance. He remembers seeing the missing girl but a man was behind him and tried to grab him and he got away. He feels guilty for getting away. He has been having memory lapses and wonders if he is involved in some way. Emma decides to go and investigate the area herself. People can’t just disappear without a reason. 12th book in the series

Linda
Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

5
Nicholas Sparks learned of a three-week tour around the world to places he had always wanted to go and asked his wife Cat to go with him. With five children, she said she could not go but told him to ask his brother Micah to go with him. Nicholas went and enjoyed not only the places he had only dreamed of seeing but also the closeness he had with his brother. The book also told about Nicholas’ life and the many tragedies the family faced. Losing both parents and their sister, they are the two members left of their immediate family.

Linda
The Scorpion’s Tail by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

5
A mummified body of a man is found at an isolated ghost town in New Mexico and FBI agent Corrie Swanson is sent to investigate. She has no way to determine if the man died of natural causes or homicide and calls in Nora Kelly, archaeologist. The man seems to have suffered a gruesome death as his mouth appears to be screaming with horror. A gold cross encrusted with jewels is found with the body. As they attempt to learn about the man, they have to find out where the cross came from and whether it was part of the fabled treasure hidden in the New Mexico mountains.

Linda
Wicked Ways by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush

5
Ravinia Rutledge leaves Siren Song on a quest for Catherine, matriarch of the Colony. She is to find Catherine's daughter Elizabeth Gaines, who was adopted out as a baby, and warn her of danger from Declan, Jr. He is on a quest to kill all the women from Siren Song. Ravinia finally finds her with the help of investigator Rex Kingston but Elizabeth has a hard time believing Ravinia’s story. Elizabeth finds herself in danger though not from Declan but from someone she considered a friend who committed several murders and framed Elizabeth. Now the lives of Elizabeth and her daughter Chloe are in danger from the psycho.

Lana
The Nine by Gwen Strauss

5
The last several years have produced an explosion of novels written about World War II and the Nazi's planned domination of Europe and Russia and eventually the world. Many of these are told from a woman's point of view. While there have been thousands and thousands of nonfiction books written about the war with over 120,000 books and articles about Adolf Hitler alone, most have been written by men about men. THE NINE is an exception, written by a woman about her great-aunt, Helene Podiansky, and nine fellow female resistance fighters who were arrested and sent to German labor camps. Their daring escape from the Nazi SS and trek through Germany to France and home is vividly recounted in this excellent nonfiction history.

Lana
The Adventurer’s Son by Roman Dial

4
In his book THE ADVENTURER'S SON, well-known scientist and explorer Roman Dial chronicles a parent’s worst fear and the two year search for his missing 27-years-old adventurer son. From the beginning to the end of the book, Mr. Dial's love for his son shines through. At the same time he puts a lens on his feelings of conflict at exposing his families to dangers not experienced by most American families. This includes not only extreme sports but also accompanying him on scientific expeditions to some of the most extreme areas on earth. He questions: Was he a good parent for instilling this need for thrill in his son? The book outlines his thoughts as he searches for his son in the rain forest of Costa Rica.

Lana
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict

4
I read this book with my book club and found it to be enjoyable. The author wrote of the positives and negatives of the Churchill's marriage and showed how women were relegated to the background, no matter their talent or contributions.

Thomas
The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly

5
I loved reading this book. Very good book.

Rose
Making Hearts by Jack Getze

4
MAKING HEARTS is a story told from the point of view of a baby. It is a unique story, allowing us to hear the thoughts of a child born to a teenage mother, and the baby’s emotions about those in her family, or close to her family. The baby has an astute sense of who lives her and who doesn’t. The story also talks about the love of families and how that lives can change, and hopefully grow. I really liked getting the perspective of the baby, the mother, the grandmother, and the grandfather as the story unfolded. I think we often wonder what a child is thinking or how they perceive the people around them, so it was delightful to read a story from the child’s point of view. I was also interested to see how family court operates.

Marsha
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

3
January 1888 young teachers, Raina & Gerda, make decisions for their students during an historic blizzard in the Dakota Territory. One becomes a heroine and the other is scorned. Many difficult events in this tale and I think I was not in the mood for such a sad story. Also, I was not satisfied with an ending that left too many loose ends.

Debra
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson

4
Such a great read that weaves history throughout. The three main characters were all strong women who had to make sacrifices and did what they needed to do for their families during tumultuous times.

Rose
Back To You by Steve Bates

3
I am not a science fiction fan, so this book was a bit out of my realm. However, the concept was interesting --- that someone would build a time machine to go back to find the best pastrami on rye. However, things go awry, and the time machine gets used as a prop for a television series called “Yore Right,” as it shows people and things from days of yore. The investigative team takes viewers on adventures to the time of Caesar and to the 16th century, as well as the 19th to 21st centuries. Always being warned not to disrupt historical events, the team finds itself in a strange position when the time machine, Bess, leaves two of the reporters behind.

Angie
The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck

4
I read a lot of WWII books, but I found this to be a stand out. It is about an extraordinary real-life woman, and despite knowing how things would turn out for her, I still found it suspenseful. I enjoyed reading and learning more about the resistance groups Virginia worked with, especially the last one where there were so many children. Virginia herself presented a hard exterior, but as this seemed to be the result of how seriously she took her job and the safety of her people, I found I still liked her and could readily root for her. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction or stories about strong women.

Rose
Of the Flame, Poems - Volume 15 by Wendy E. Slater

4
I am always impressed when people share their emotions in poetry. This volume of poems explores love, grief and longing. The poetry is heartfelt and beautiful. I could feel the emotions on every page as Wendy E. Slater pours out her thoughts on the page. I was immediately drawn in to her writing and quickly devoured each page. The poems progressed as the author examined her feelings. The book also included a short excerpt from the previous volume, INTO THE HEARTH, which were also beautifully written.

Jan
Foregone by Russell Banks

2
I usually like Russell Banks --- he is a true wordsmith --- but this book just did not make it for me. The title has multiple meanings when one thinks about it. An old man, a Canadian who made documentary films and is quite famous, is dying of cancer. Fife has many former students and followers. A group has come together to make one final documentary of him telling about his life. Fife ignores the questions and insists that his wife be in the room because he is talking to her, telling her the truth about himself. He contends that people lie all the time, especially to the ones they love. The book is morose, heavy and confusing at times, as even Fife gets mixed up. I liked the nurse, but the rest of the characters were flat.

Beth
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

4
Part One of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE didn’t do much for me. If it doesn’t much excite you either, stick it out. It will be worth your while. In the beginning, it is 1714, and Addie LaRue is running from her wedding, from the life her parents expect her to lead. She wants more to her life and mistakenly makes a deal with the devil. Now she will not be confined to her little village, but she also will live forever and no longer age, and no one will ever remember her.