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October 22, 2021 - November 5, 2021

 

This contest period's winners were Kay I., Rose M. and Sally-Jo W., who each received a copy of BETTER OFF DEAD: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child and GOING THERE by Katie Couric.

 

Rose
Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight

3
Friends from Vassar reunite for a weekend 10 years after graduation in an attempt to stage an intervention for their friend, Keith, who is an addict. Their friendship took a turn 10 years earlier when they were partying on the roof of a college building and someone fell to their death. This led to the death, presumably suicide, of their friend Alice. When they take a trip to a town in the Catskills, the detective assigned to the case has a tragedy tying her to the area. Julia’s sister, Jane, was killed savagely, and her friend, Bethany, was never recovered. Maeve, Jonathan, Derrick, Stephanie, Keith, and an outsider Finch, are in for a terrible weekend. This book has the premise of being great, but there were too many storylines.

Linda
How to Kiss a Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

5
Brady Caine is a bronco rider and Suze Carlyle is a barrel racer. They are working on a photo shoot for one of their endorsers when a tragic accident happened. Suze is thrown into the bucking chute hitting her head. Recovering in the hospital, she wonders if she will ever ride again. He wants to help her and make it up for her so helps out with the horses. She thinks he is a womanizer and he tells her the only woman he wants is her. Although she loves him, Suze has a problem trusting people and realizes her distrust is costing her the love of the only man she loves. Thanks Goodreads for this great love story.

Linda
I’m Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long

3
Hugh Cassidy is in England searching for the daughter of a friend and is staying at The Palace of the Rogues. There he meets and spars with Lady Lillias Vaughn, whose family is also staying there. Although attracted to each other, he is an uncouth American and she is a member of society. Her family has plans for her to marry a titled gentleman but these plans are ruined when Lillias and Hugh are caught kissing. He knows her reputation is ruined so he puts a good face on it and tells everyone that she has agreed to marry him. Both are caught up in the problem but how is the best way to solve it?

Linda
Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham

4
FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest is partnered with Amy Larson, Special Agent with Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), investigating a cult in Florida. The cult moves into and takes over a small town and those who oppose the cult are killed. Forensics is now removing bodies found in a field and trying to identify remains. Hunter has special insight into cults as he and his parents used to be members of a cult until they helped close it down. One of the leader’s followers escaped and Hunter believes this man is the leader of this new cult. The man is extremely wealthy and it has been difficult for authorities to get proof of his wrongdoing but that will soon change.

Linda
The Jailhouse Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

5
Not long after Martha Foster takes the job as public defender in Erva, Alabama, she runs into problems with Judge Pickens. He charges inmates room and board while incarcerated. Most cannot pay and charges add up to where the inmate will never be able to repay the fees. Pickens has everyone afraid to cross him and he sends Martha to jail overnight when she argues with him. Everyone warned her about Pickens, including his wife. Although he looks like a movie star, he is basically a psycho. How can he be removed from the bench?

Linda
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

5
This is a prequel to the Cork O’Connor story and begins when Cork is twelve years old and his father Liam is the sheriff of Tamarack County, Minnesota. Cork and his friend Jorge go to camp at a burned-out ruin when he sees Big John Manydeeds hanging from a tree. With all the liquor bottles around the tree, everyone assumes he was drunk and killed himself. At first Liam thinks wealthy mine owner Duncan MacDermid might have killed John when he found John and his wife were having an affair. The closer he looks, Liam doesn’t think Duncan killed John but someone made it look like he was guilty. Although he is only a boy, Cork and his friends help with the investigations and learn several clues that are given to Liam.

Linda
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

4
At their table in the coffee shop, Jessica Davis and her friend Felicity (Fizzy) Chen ogle the tall, good-looking man as he comes into the coffee shop for his morning coffee. They think he is stuck-up when he gets his coffee and leaves, not acknowledging anyone. They learn he is Dr. River Pena and he is starting a matchmaking company based on DNA analysis. They go and leave their sample and Jess gets a call. She is matched with someone and their score is 98, the highest. Who is she matched with? River Pena and he is just as shocked as she is when he hears the news. They don’t like each other but are supposed to be a perfect match?

Debbie
Haunted Hibiscus by Laura Childs

3
I thoroughly enjoy the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs, and HAUNTED HIBISCUS shines as a Halloween read. The opening scene which contained the first murder presented a gruesome scene with a lady falling out of a window and hanging by her neck. Right after that scene, Theodosia’s boyfriend, Pete Riley, enters a house and an intruder shots Riley in the arm. Laura Childs presents a beautiful picture of genteel Charleston, and her events and parties show a vivid imagination and excellent food, tea, and charm. I would die for attendance to one of these events. The description of the homes, streets, and style of Charleston present beauty and elegance. Again, I enjoy the writer using phrases with other writers.

Karen
The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

5
I really enjoyed this book. It’s hard to put down.

Shirley
You Betrayed Me by Lisa Jackson

4
In reading this novel I could visualize the characters as they were well described and I do like when this happens. This is the first Cahill novel that I have read so I have not been following the series, but it did well as a stand-alone novel. I have enjoyed many other Lisa Jackson novels in the past, this was not one of the best of this authors' in my opinion that I have read - a bit too melodramatic I guess, which can be good in a mystery novel, but the sister was way too overboard of a character and perhaps that was intended. It seemed more like a written soap opera. I don't write a synopsis of what I have read, feel it can be a spoiler, and for those that love the series I can understand. It was a good book, I have just read better.

Rose
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

4
This was an unusual thriller as most psychological thrillers lead up to a psychopath being a suspect, this begins with an entire group of psychopaths in a university study run by a professor who counseled the infamous CRD serial killer. The main character, Chloe, has come to DC for the sole purpose of finding and killing Will. However, she doesn’t want anyone to catch on to this. So, when two students in the study are found murdered, she teams up with Charles and Andre to discover who might be hunting their group. This novel was twisted!! I look forward to reading more from this author! Thanks to Park Row Books/Harper Collins for the ARC!

Donna
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

5
A look at the dark side of human nature through the lens of Penny’s character. As the new year starts and the world celebrates the end of the pandemic and a return to normal Gamache must deal with the very real threat of mercy killing becoming a reality. Touching, horrifying, and with her characteristic humor mixed in, this is one of Penny’s best. Highly recommended.

Linda
Mrs March by Virginia Feito

4
MRS. MARCH had me thinking about the emotions the mind can play when we think someone we love may be guilty of murder or not, and what might happen to prove it or not.

Sheila
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

5
One of our two favorites for the year.

Jeanne
The Jailhouse Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

5
THE JAILHOUSE LAWYER by James Patterson and Nancy Allen is an outstanding legal thriller that consists of two novels, "The Jailhouse Lawyer" and "Power of Attorney". Each storyline captivated me from the very beginning with the constant twists and turns as you read about a terrifying psychopathic judge in "The Jailhouse Lawyer" and then a young girl who is continuously brutally assaulted by her guardians. Without giving a synopsis and any spoilers away, the plot in each storyline was not only gripping, it was bone chilling, intense and both were very powerful reads that kept me riveted on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Both stories are definitely favorites of Mr. Patterson’s recent books that I’ve read.

Jeanne
Santa Cruise by Fern Michaels

4
SANTA CRUISE by Fern Michaels is a fun, easy to read Christmas novel about four high school friends who reunite at their high school reunion. Each is dissatisfied with their live and make a pact if each of them is not in a relationship by Thanksgiving, they will go on a holiday singles cruise to try and meet the man of their dreams. Fern Michaels is a talented author and I found this book well written and entertaining.

Pat
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

5
Wonderful story of a BBC contest during the second war when four women compete to create a three course meal amid the time of rationing. You are immediately drawn into the lives of the four women.

Betty Jo
American Prison by Shane Bauer

4
Undercover report from Mother Jones who works in a Louisiana Privately owned prison. What I thought I knew about prison life is all there. Punishment as a business is a tough subject and one for which I do not have an answer. I am better informed.

Sally-Jo
Mrs. Rochester's Ghost by Lindsay Marcott

4
Interesting version of the REBECCA story. The ending was a little convoluted. Evan wasn't very likeable.

Anne Marie
The Hollywood Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery by Susan Elia MacNeal

5
Combines historical info of Hollywood during WWII and an interesting mystery. While pulling no punches about a disturbed period of history, MacNeal provides a factual balance of both sides. Gives you a wake-up call to historical facts that are often covered up, yet for mystery lovers gives you something to puzzle out. Best of both worlds.

Tessa
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende

4
I’m already a huge fan of Allende’s magical realism, and this book did not disappoint. I loved the many characters – from the Lebanese merchant to the petty criminal/guerrilla leader to the transsexual entertainer. As Eva tells the story of her life, she tells the story of this South American nation – of corruption, class struggle, feast and famine. The story comes alive with saints and ghosts, servants and political leaders equally profiled, skewered and cherished.

Mary Ann
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

5
I've always been a fan of Tucci's movies so I was interested in reading this book. It is outstanding!!! I'm giving it to all my friends for Christmas. Don't miss this book.

Linda
Moringside Heights by Joshua Henkin

4
Spence Robin is diagnosed with dementia in his fifties. Spence is a tenured professor at Columbia University and is held in high esteem by his students and faculty. Students love his classes and he has written several books. A large part of the book is about Arlo, Spence's son from his first marriage. Arlo struggles because of lack of parenting and with feelings of inadequacy. And we get to know Spence's wife, Pru as she adjusts to her life without Spence who continues to spiral into the fog of dementia. This is a well-written book about losing someone you love with a focus, too, on Jewish culture and rituals.

Marilyn
The Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick

4
A delightful novel that tells the heartwarming story of a young lady who inherits her aunt's home, unknown to her that her aunt became a hoarder and family secrets were to found in every nook and cranny of her home. Celia finds "family" in her new friends and realizes she needs them as much as they need her. In this time of facing all kinds of choices in our lives, this novel brought out the true essence of family, taking risks, and finding out about one's self.

Kat
Riversong (River Valley #1) by Tess Thompson

3
Her husband killed himself owing a lot of money to loan shark. She sold everything she had and ran away to the small town where her mom had died and left her the family home in disrepair. She found out she was pregnant after her husband died. She got a job in a bar/restaurant and made the owner a deal to get it going and make more money. His son was dealing drugs in the alley. The man in the band really liked her and tried to help her but she wouldn't tell him she owed all that money. When the restaurant was in the paper they said who she was and the loan shark came to collect. She was in a car accident running away, the owner of the restaurant got her to tell him what was going on.

Sharon
Blush by Jamie Brenner

5
A story of three generations in a family run winery. Jamie Brenner is a master at stories of family relationships and BLUSH is prime example of this. Loved it!

Sharon
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

4
DAMNATION SPRING was such a powerful read! I could not believe what people went through to protect their families and keep their jobs at the same time. Author Ash Davidson makes you really feel like you know these characters and what they're going through. The setting is told in such a way that you can see these majestic trees! A timely and important read. Highly recommend!

Sharon
The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher

4
THE ORPHAN WITCH is such a unique and magical book! Persephone May always seems to be alone and can not find her place in foster care. She wants nothing more than to find a real family who will accept her for who she is. As she gets older she moves around a lot, never wanting to draw attention to her weird behavior she can't seem to control. She gets invited to Wile Isle and everything changes. There are witches, curses and time travel! Something for everyone!

Tracy
Klara and the Sun by Kazuro Ishiguro

4
Not my usual genre but read for an upcoming local book club. This futuristic novel begs questions of friendship, communication, emotions and innocence as artificial friend Klara explores the world of her teenager.

Gerry
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

4
DAMNATION SPRING is a timely story about the conflicts between loggers and environmentalists, and workers and big corporations, as well as a touching story of a family dealing with issues around failed pregnancies. The main characters, Rich and Colleen, have one son, but wanted a larger family; Colleen has had several pregnancies after their son's birth, but none have resulted in a live birth. Rich is a tree-topper, the fourth generation in his family to work for a big logging company and is looking for a way to secure his son's future, knowing that he wants a different life for him, and that logging in their part of Norther California is approaching its end.

Gerry
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

3
This thriller spins out an astoundingly complex plot involving political machinations and betrayals at the highest levels of government and international business. Cryptic clues in chess notations were well beyond my comprehension, so I had to suspend disbelief and assume that Avery’s reasoning and interpretations were sound. In the Afterword, Abrams refers to “Avery’s debut,” leading me to think there may someday be a sequel or even a series. If there is, I’ll be ready to read more.

Gerry
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

5
Still a 5-star read this second time around. Again, the story is complicated and the characters wonderfully drawn. Myrna Landers contacts Gamache when her friend fails to arrive as planned for a holiday visit. Gamache leads the investigation into what turns out to be her murder, and there's an interesting tie-in to a fictional set of quintuplets reminiscent of the Dionne quints. But the larger story involves the continuing investigation into corruption deep in the Sûreté du Québec and involving powerful and highly placed political figures. Amazing plotting and beautiful writing!

Gerry
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

3
The publisher's blurb is completely accurate in recapping the plot of this novel, but somehow the book itself doesn't come together as well as that description implies. It's probably best viewed as a coming-of-age story, one in which the protagonist sheds some of her childish beliefs and behaviors, but in a slow and sometimes infuriating back-and-forth manner. The character of Libertie's mother was far more interesting to me, but sadly underdeveloped. She's apparently based on an actual female doctor of the post-Civil War era, so perhaps a bit more research will enlighten me as to her identify and real circumstances. Not one I can recommend wholeheartedly. 2-1/2 stars.

Beth
The Hidden by Melanie Golding

4
Don’t be put off by descriptions of THE HIDDEN that mention its being steeped in local legend or fable. While that is true and is the reason I thought this story would come off as corny, it really does not. Although the end is a little too neat and clean, I suppose it could happen that way, and I really did enjoy this book. Why is a two-year-old girl found alone outside a store? The background to this begins a few months before then, when Ruby rents an apartment and becomes friendly with a neighbor, Gregor. He’s good looking and considerate and shy, or so it seems.

Gerry
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

5
Smith visited significant sites in the U.S. and one in Africa that help narrate the story of slavery in America including Monticello plantation in Virginia where Thomas Jefferson kept over 100 enslaved people at any given time, some of them his own children. Whitney Plantation in Louisiana is the site of the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history, one which has been largely forgotten. Louisiana State Penitentiary, on the site of a former plantation, which serves as an illustration of the continued pain of Jim Crow laws that enabled white planters to recapture the free labor they had lost; inmates are still forced to work the fields for $.70/hr; and more. This was not an easy read by any means, but it brought to life the horrors of slavery.

Gerry
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

3
I found myself a but confused near the end of this audiobook, and quickly requested the print version from my library to clarify some of the connections among the characters. The pacing of the narrative was inconsistent; it dragged in spots with what felt like unnecessary descriptive details that added nothing to the reader's understanding of either plot or characters. In other spots it moved almost too quickly, making it hard to process all that was being revealed. But the background of Armenian-Turkish history, which was told in stories from both perspectives, was very interesting and definitely added to my enjoyment of this story of two young women discovering the similarities and differences of their cultures and histories. 3-1/2 stars.

Gerry
The Tyrant's Daughter by J. C. Carleson

5
This 4.5-star YA novel was elevated to 5 stars with the inclusion of incisive commentary at the end of the book by the author and by Dr. Cheryl Benard. The protagonist in the novel is a 15-year-old girl, the daughter of the assassinated ruler of an unnamed Middle Eastern country, who is extricated from the war-torn country and brought to the US with her mother and younger brother. As she is attempting to adapt to life in America, with all the cultural shifts that involves, she is also learning more about her father and the details of his regime. Meanwhile, her mother is attempting to regain control over her own life and to salvage the privileges she sees as owed to her young son, who has been raised as the natural successor. Very well done!

Gerry
Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar

4
4-1/2 stars for a moving story of a family in Kurdistan of Iraq coping with ongoing war and ethnic violence, and a young couple discovering whether they can bridge the vast differences in their cultures and experiences to form a lasting bond.

Gerry
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies by Jason Fagone

4
Very interesting account of the work done by Elizebeth Smith Friedman who, along with her husband William, worked for over forty years as a cryptanalyst for the U.S. government, breaking coded messages sent by Germany and Japan to soldiers, spies, and collaborators around the world before and during the two World Wars. Elizabeth was frequently sidelined and overlooked, and J.E.Hoover in particular went to great lengths to take credit on behalf of his fledgling FBI for the work Elizebeth had done with the Coast Guard. For someone more interested than I in the actual mechanics of code-breaking, this would likely be a five-star read. Most surprising to me was the extent of South American involvement and support of the Axis powers during WWII.

Gerry
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

5
It's interesting to me that this was the first of Penny's books that I rated five stars, but now on re-reading, it's the first that did not stand the test of time. I enjoyed it less this time, finding I cared little about the mystery involving Peter and Clara's art college professors, and because of that, struggling at times to stay engaged with the story. I'd have to downgrade my rating to 3.5 stars for this reading experience, though in retrospect, this novel does provide an interesting perspective on the emotional roots of murder.

Gerry
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

4
Well done, Angie Thomas! This YA novel is a worthy follow up to her debut novel, THE HATE U GIVE. ON THE COME UP is the story of 16-year-old Bri, whose goal is to become the greatest rapper of all time. Coping with racism in her school, sexism in the music industry, and poverty and gang violence in her community, Bri still manages to find her own voice and remain true to herself. An engaging and inspiring story.

Gerry
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

4
This installment in the Three Pines series contains the most frightening scene Penny has yet created: an interview with a serial killer reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter. It also includes the murder of a little boy, though this is treated carefully and without any descriptive details. Laurent Lepage is a little boy with a wild imagination. When he comes running into the Bistro claiming to have found an enormous gun "bigger than a house" in the woods, the villagers wave him off and don't believe him. But the following day, Laurent goes missing, and soon it's clear that there was truth behind his claim. Gamache is not the lead investigator on this case, having retired to Three Pines, but is involved in part because of his proximity to the event.

Gerry
1876 by Gore Vidal

4
I found the first third of this novel fascinating for the historical view of late nineteenth century New York. The last half was equally engaging as it detailed the surprising (to me) history of the Presidential election of 1876, when the popular vote was won by NY's Democratic Governor Samuel Tilden but the electoral vote, after much intrigue and political machinations, by Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican of Ohio. The book dragged for me in the middle when the focus was largely on the social activities of NYC "high society" but was well worth reading as I learned a lot I'd been unaware of.

Gerry
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

4
Louise Penny never fails to impress. This latest (#12) book in the Three Pines Series is set at the Sûreté Academy, the training facility for Sûreté investigators, where Gamache has just taken the helm as Commander and is making sweeping reforms to root out the corruption that had infected both the Academy and the Sûreté itself. Shortly after his arrival, a professor is found murdered. Great story, wonderful characters, and a nice slice of Québécois history. Even more impressive on re-reading! 4-1/2 stars.

Gerry
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

4
Mid-century Harlem is brought vividly to life in Whitehead's descriptions not only of the physical features of the city, but also in the experiences of his characters, caught between the corruption of politics and police and the more overt (but no less damaging) criminality of a subset of the community. Ray Carney is a businessman, working to support his family by selling furniture in the store he was able to buy and upgrade due to an unexpected windfall. But there's also a shady side of his business, as he willingly adds items that "fell off a truck" to the stock he sells, or moves them along to a fence when he can't sell them. Then a cousin drags him into a crime involving a wealthy white family, and life gets really complicated!

Gerry
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

4
A tender, touching story of two older people, both widowed, who come together for companionship and conversation. As they reflect together on events of their lives, they must also deal with the reactions of others -- some supportive, some scandalized -- to their being together. This was Haruf's final book, written while he was coping with his own terminal illness, and is a beautifully-written reflection on growing old in America.

Gerry
The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili

4
The longest (40 hours, 57 minutes) audiobook I've ever attempted is the captivating story of seven women in a family from Georgia in the Caucasus throughout the turmoil and wars of the twentieth century. Their story is filled with magic and myth, hardships and victories, and so many dreams unfulfilled. At times it was challenging to keep track of the many characters, but the story was engaging and taught me much about the history of an area about which I knew very little. I've seen several reviewers comment that it was the best book they've read this year, and indeed it has been nominated for several awards. I wouldn't rate it quite that highly, but am definitely glad I persisted to the end of this epic family saga.

Teresa
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

3
It’s rather dark and the main character isn’t very nice.

Gerry
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki

4
Dr. Takaki has compiled a wealth of information into an interesting narrative that examines how the U.S. became the multicultural nation it is today, and at the end, a look at where we will be in the future. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, the story of immigration into the U.S. by various groups is one fraught with racial prejudices and efforts by those already living in the U.S. to boost their own social and economic status by both oppressing and taking advantage of newer immigrant groups. In a very matter-of-fact style, the author describes the various racial and ethnic groups encountered and oppressed by white western European Americans. It's a sad history, but one that tells us a lot about human nature.

Gerry
Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World by Eileen McNamara

5
McNamara had unfettered access to a trove of letters, documents, diaries, and memoranda, as well as extensive interviews with Eunice Shriver's extended family, friends, and professional colleagues. She used those resources to write a very readable and engaging portrait of a woman who never rested, nor hesitated to challenge those in power, in her efforts to change the world. What an inspiration Eunice was! Shunted to the background by her father, who focused all his attention on enhancing the future careers of his sons, yet she was able to navigate the social and political constraints of the mid-twentieth century to become a powerful and accomplished advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and other minorities.

Becky
The Judge's List by John Grisham

5
This one grabs you on the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. A sitting judge may be a serial killer. The daughter of one of his victims is sure of it and informs Lacy Stolz still working for the Board on Judicial Conduct. Although not an investigative body, the BJC decides they will “look into” the allegation. That is when the fun begins. Grisham is at or near his best here. There are a few spots where the action drags a bit, but you may need the breather. Lacy and Allie’s on again, off again romance is also front and center. A fun and scary way to spend a few afternoons or evenings.

Donna
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan

4
Wonderful story of the Martel family as they tried to get out of Ukraine under Stalin's rule and go to Germany under the Nazis. They find out their German heritage is considered "pure", and they are given clothing and housing in Jewish homes to take their place. The father is captured by the Russians and sent to a prison camp back in Ukraine while the mother works as a cook and takes care of her two boys. This is historical fiction about an actual family.

Susan
How Hard Can It Be by Allison Pearson

4
Glad I am of the age where raising teenagers and having the change is over.

Linda
Zero Fail by Carol Leonnig

5
Fascinating story of the history of the Secret Service and all the near-misses they have seen. She details events such as the assassinations of Lincoln and JFK, plus the attempts on many other presidents. The personalities of the presidents and those who guard them are as interesting as the events.

Sheree
Bewilderment by Richard Powers

2
While I thought it was very well written, the story was too dark for me.

Beth
Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

3
I won this book in the 2019 end of year Bookreporter.com book giveaway. Thrillers aren’t my usual cup of tea, but it was fast-paced, if somewhat unbelievable.

Linda
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

5
You know a book is good when it's 600+ pages long and you don't want it to end. It's very different from A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, but I liked it just as much.

Tanya
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

5
Full of adventure and mystery. Loved it.

Michele
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

5
Loved the relationships that Sadie made throughout the story. This family's journey was full of sadness but also hope. I learned so much about this time in history and enjoyed the ending.

Rose
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

5
This is a magical book about appreciating what is right in front of you and making the most of it. Nora Seed is depressed, her parents are dead, her brother is angry with her, she broke up with her fiancé, her cat died, she lost her one piano student, and she lost her job. So why should she want to live? Magically, when Nora decides to end her life, she is given another chance - or many, to see the lives she could have lived. She enters The Midnight Library, and sees her old school librarian, Mrs. Elm, who shows her what her life could have been if she had chosen other paths, helping Nora to erase regrets. As Nora experiences other parallel lives, she learns so much about herself. An enchanting book. Be kind, do better. Live your life!

Margaret
Housebroken: Admissions of an Untidy Life by Laurie Norao

3
This is a book of essays by humorist Laurie Notaro. It's about her failures in her life mostly to do with cooking, cleaning, and other things related to housekeeping. She also tells about her relationship with her mom mostly when she (Laurie) was buying or renting a house. It seems she is able to find humor in just about everything going on in her life. Two of the funniest essays had to do with her trying to make homemade Twinkies and the other was trying to control a pile of leaves in her front yard which grew very high before the "leaf pick-up people" finally arrived. Fast and easy read. I felt the recipes were unnecessary and were just to make the book longer. There's vulgar language to go with her abrasive personality. Made me cringe.

Rose
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

4
I highly recommend the audiobook version because it has an extra chapter called Exiled which is set after the Mastodon is out of the White House. SQUEEZE ME is set in Palm Beach, where the winter White House is located. POTUS (Mastodon) and FLOTUS (Mockingbird) are gearing up for the Commander’s Ball. Prior to this event, a python has devoured a wealthy socialite who was devoted to the president, and in a group called Potussies. Angie, a wildlife expert is called in to capture the python. POTUS, in his usual blustering way, holds press conferences where he flubs the details, and wrongly accuses a Hispanic man for the murder. Angie, a wildlife expert is called in to capture the python, and discovers a larger plot. Enjoyed it!

Chris
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

5
Great book. Very entertaining!

Julee
W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

3
Decent story but slow moving and long. Not as “snappy” as the earlier books.

Julee
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

3
Fair, if predictable story. Not great character or plot development. Very simplistic dialog. Did shed light on Italy under Mussolini.

Debbie
An Intent to Commit by Bernie Lambek

1
I have read some amazing books, but AN INTENT TO COMMIT by Bernie Lambek does not fall under that category. The novel is extremely short but too much dialogue and too many legal cases for this lay person. The story rambled and I quickly lost interest. The foul language and intimate scenes populated too much of the story. I found no redeeming quality in this story.

Jan
Love Story by Erich Segal

2
The book and movie came out 51 years ago. The author had a Ph.D. in some area of English by the time he wrote this so the writing is accurate and clean. It really is a short story, 120 pages long. This story draws us because she is a smart-mouth, smart Radcliffe girl (now we would say woman) who takes nothing from a Harvard star athlete whose name is on a third of the buildings at Harvard. Plus he is very wealthy and she is a scholarship student who grew up without money. It is Cinderella - he has money, she does not, he can give her the glass slipper. They marry. His family does not attend. His father cuts off the money. She gets sick.

Jan
The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason

4
Detective Konrad is now retired, his wife is dead but he stays involved with police business. The chief, at times, wants him gone, then changes her mind and wants him back. And old case was never solved - a man was missing, they found his car but no man. Their main suspect had an alibi but does not provide much information. Suddenly, a tourist guide with a bus of tourists, sees a man in the snow in one of the melting show areas. It is the man they looked for 30 years ago. Konrad is always getting info from friends who are still in the business and even goes to see the frozen man in the morgue. His former partner, the one they had identified 30 years ago as the killer is now dying. Wonderful.

Jayne
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride

4
Really enjoyed this book.

Michelle
Three Girls From Bronzeville by Dawn Turner

5
A well-written memoir bringing you inside the lives of three girls raised in the Chicago Housing Authority projects. How did their lives diverge so dramatically?

Michelle
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

2
The matriarch of the family is a wholly unlikable woman and the adult children all needed to grow a backbone and stand up to her. I finished the book but would not recommend it.

Betty
The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

4
A woman rides her horse from Maine to California. Great adventure.

Marcia
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

5
I liked this book a lot. I kept trying to figure out how it could end happily and why the dad was running. There were interesting twists when things were revealed. Would it have worked out if the mom and daughter had laid low and not tried to find answers? I don't know.

Rose
Palmares by Gayl Jones

2
This was a slog to read. It is the story of a young girl, Almeyda, and the settlement of Palmares. It takes place in the 17th century, and it spans 25 years. While an interesting concept, some of the book was harsh in its descriptions, and nauseating at times. Almeyda ages, marries, and her husband is lost. She spends years searching for him. She is tortured, and also learns medicinal powers. This book was 500+ pages which was at least 150 pages too long. There were repetitive passages throughout the book, plus there was a lot of magical realism. It just wasn't for me.

Beth
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

1
Emira is a 25-year-old black college graduate, part-time typist, part-time babysitter, who longs to be more adult with a job more like her friends' jobs. But she loves the little girl, Briar, she takes care of three days a week. The mother, Alix, is pretty hard to figure, though. (By the way, they're white.) After Alice hired Emira, their relationship was impersonal, limited to comments, questions, and instructions about Briar's care. That changes after a late-night incident in a grocery store. Emira is there with Briar when she is stopped by a security guard. He and another customer are suspicious that she has kidnapped Briar.

Suzanne
Jury of One by David Ellis

5
This a legal murder court case that has twists that keep changing the outcome. Shelly has some personal issues that complicate her decisions. First time I read a David Ellis novel, and I will look for his other books.

Sean
If We Had Known by Elise Juska

4
I really really liked this book. The author did a great job weaving through some serious emotional topics. Tragedy, anxiety, loneliness, loss, infidelity, parenting, and so much more. I was moved multiple times and felt everything rang true. I only wished it had a slightly better ending. Overall, a touching novel.

NANCY
King of the Sea (Sea of Love Book One) by Laura Lovely

4
Get ready to be transported to a different world…to be immersed into the sea with Triton & Alexandra, who meet by chance, or possibly destiny, under the sparkle of the stars & in the currents of the sea. There’s an amazing abundance of deliciously written, steamy romance packed into a mere 6 chapters. You will likely feel delightfully satisfied but still left aching for more. It was a quick read that had me captivated the whole way through. I wondered if Triton would love again & which one of these red hot lovers, who refused to be cooled by the sea, would eventually give up their world to join the other. But the ending that came wasn’t what I expected at all…it was even better! It spoke to my French heritage and my dancing gypsy heart.

Mindy
Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

5
This book was a great mystery. The plot had many twists and turns that had you guessing until the end. The community thought they were close knit but appearances are not what they seem. Harper as the narrator was spot-on. The map in the book of the neighborhood was a wonderful addition to the book. I couldn't put the book down. If you are looking for a suspenseful mystery with terrific characters and storyline, this is a book to put on your list to read.

Mindy
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

5
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. The first of many is the Christmas theme. It was charming and delightful to follow Ivy on her quest to start over in a new place. I could envision the description of Ivy's new house and the inside. It was like my grandmother's house. I was engaged by Ivy's uncertainty figuring out the mystery. Loved the ending.

Becky
Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day

3
I was really looking forward to reading this novel about children evacuated to Agatha Christie’s summer home to escape the blitz in London. Considering the title I was also expecting a murder mystery. Hmmmm, not so much a mystery, not a romance, not a children’s story, not a coming of age. I’m not sure what it was. The premise of a disgraced nurse fleeing her training was interesting and then discovering TWO nurses with the same name and each with secrets – should have been fascinating. It wasn’t. It wasn’t boring exactly, but it certainly had some slow parts and could have been about 100 pages shorter. I hope someone else reads the book and tells me what I missed. Village life and the children saved this book for me.

Jan
Bewilderment by Richard Powers

4
Powers is a lovely writer. This book is about a family, mother died in an auto accident and father, an astrobiologist is left to care for his dysfunctional nine-year-old son. The son cannot manage his temper and his emotions. There are many diagnoses But the father does NOT want to put the kid on drugs. Through friendship of the wife, both parents are subjects in an effort to record feelings and emotions. Later the researcher tries some experiments on his son and, lo and behold, the son begins to improve - control his temper, feel more kindness through other beings and people. This is a retelling of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON, (which is mentioned in the book) and the Oliver Sacks experiments in AWAKENINGS. Overall, a grand book.

Tessa
Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith

3
Book # 3 in the 44 Scotland Street series which follows a group of residents (current or former) of a particular apartment building in Edinburgh. There’s not much plot to these books, but just as in everyday life, things DO happen. There are moments of joy, or heartache, of success, or failure. People form attachments, or break off relationships, start new careers or find new enthusiasm for established routines. It’s a gentle read and a wonderful way to spend a few hours with old friends.

Rose
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

3
Darcy Barrett is hurting. She and her twin brother have had a huge fight. She has thrown herself into working at a sleazy bar. The twins need to renovate their late grandmother’s cottage and sell it. To her surprise, her childhood friend, Tom, shows up to handle the remodel. Both Tom and Darcy have loved each other for years, but wouldn’t admit it. But now, older and wiser, will they finally get together. This was really tough to read for a while, and then it turned more fun and romantic. A bit over-the-top at times.

Laura
The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer

3
Lies, lies, lies. I knew about the art theft at the Elizabeth Stuart Gardner Museum but did not know about the Mona Lisa. I loved how the facts were woven with possibilities. Good read.

Laura
The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve

4
I found this book inspiring. The struggle of being the proper wife and being herself during this period of time found me rooting for her. The friendship of the two women was heartwarming. I am from the area where the fire took place and have vacationed in Nova Scotia many times. Enjoyed recognizing the towns and cities.

Rose
Spin by Catherine McKenzie

3
Kate is a mess. She dreams of being a writer and has landed an interview for her dream job. But prior to her interview, she gets so drunk the night before that she is still drunk at her interview. Obviously, things don’t go well. Yet, she is given another chance, if she writes a gossip column about a star in rehab. This means she also has to go to rehab and ends up finding out a lot about herself. I don’t enjoy books where the protagonist is a drunk, although Kate does eventually get clean. So that likely skewed my opinion of the book. I did enjoy that Kate had to go through low points before things got better. This is McKenzie’s debut novel, and I have read many of her other books and have enjoyed them.

Lillian
Matrix by Lauren Groff

5
Wow, wow, wow…who knew a story about medieval nuns would be so spectacular. She is an amazing writer.

sandra
My Last Name by Eric Schumacher

5
An elderly woman, with dementia, looks back upon her life. With two husbands.

sandra
Harlem Shuiffle by Colson Whitehead

5
Book about Harlem in the 50s and 60s. Mainly focusing on a man who owned a furniture company, who also sold stolen goods.

sandra
Flight (The Texas Murder Files #2) by Laura Griffin

5
A woman, trying to escape what happened at her job, goes to stay elsewhere. While canoeing, she discovered two dead bodies. After that, she is hired by local law enforcement. She, and her lover, also on the force, look for the killers.

sandra
Super Colossal Reacher Universe Bundle, Vol. 1 by Jude Hardin

5
Another author, with permission, from Lee Child, writing stories about Jack Reacher, in a different sort of way.

Teresa
Bea and Allie by Catherine Ryan Hyde

5
I’m drawn to books like this, buddy books between the elderly and the young. I put this one up there with THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT or THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULOVE, and of course Hyde’s own wonderful story of HAVE YOU SEEN LUIS VELEZ? From me, that’s high praise.

Teresa
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

4
I actually liked it better than I expected to. At first I thought it was too predictable, but it turned out to be more interesting than I expected. Jackson really gets into what makes the characters tick, and the characters she draws are unusual, not always likable, and not like anyone I’ve ever met in real life.

Suzanne
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

5
This book sparked a whole new world for me, that of CS Lewis. I felt as if I had fallen into a fairytale and escaped there for a few hours. I read this book in one sitting and then went in to finally read THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.

Jeanne
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny

5
STATE OF TERROR by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny is an action-packed political thriller. I wanted to read this book because Louise Penny is a very talented author and a favorite author of mine; plus it is the first book I’ve read by Mrs. Clinton. Without writing a synopsis or giving away any spoilers, this book was well written, intense and I think readers will pick up on certain political jabs. The plot was interesting, full of twists and turns as well as surprises. In my opinion, the authors make a good team and I’d like to see them write together again!

Laurie
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny

4
I laughed and cried as I inhaled this family drama. The characters are brilliant from mother, ‘in-laws’ husbands, friends, special relationships. Book review clubs will have plenty to discuss if EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny is selected.

Pat
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

5
Cork is at it trying to discover who killed Big John with clues he and his friends have discovered and from facts from his dad who is the sheriff.

sherry
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

4
This is a must-read for anyone interested in this historical fiction book about life in the Great Plains. Farming is difficult, families are struggling, and dust storms, which I was unaware of, continue to hit the plains. Very good book, although long.

Susan
Dancing with the Octopus by Debora Harding

4
A tough read if you've ever been in this situation. Reads somewhat like a mystery, but isn't life like that? Well-written, deeply personal, and very sad.

Cynthia
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

5
Loved this heartfelt story of Ivy and her new home she buys on a whim to start over after her husband's betrayal. She finds a whole new world. Ivy finds a Santa suit and a note inside the pocket which gets her questioning about the note and if the child’s wishes came true.

Carol
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

5
A complicated and engrossing book. Interesting plot and great characters.

Connie
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

4
Spans 64 years and about what takes place at a school for difficult girls that was eventually shut down after the death of a local girl. The son of the property's owner was accused and sent to prison. But this wasn't the only death to take place in the area.

Nadine
Shadows in Death by J. D. Robb

4
When a night out at the theatre is interrupted by the murder of a young woman in Washington Square Park, it seems like an ordinary case for Detective Eve Dallas and her team. But Roarke spots a shadow from his past in the crowd...

Sheila
An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff

5
Memoirs are not usually my choice, but this was good for introspection.

Sharon
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

4
Excellent novel! I had put off reading it due to the initial controversy surrounding it. So glad that I finally went ahead to read it. I listened to the audiobook, the narrator is terrific. Highly recommend.

Ina
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

4
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel reminiscent of A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. Engaging characters wise beyond their years.

Ina
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

3
Entertaining read. Much more reminiscent of previous novels that I enjoyed, such as TRULY, MADLY, GUILTY and BIG LITTLE LIES, and unlike NINE PERFECT STRANGERS, which I strongly disliked.

Linda
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

3
The first gothic horror novel I've read and just in time for Halloween. The protagonist discovers a magical dimension that her logical, mathematical mind never imagined. Weird!

Donna
The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni

5
Thank you, Bookreporter.com for turning me on to Robert Dugoni! THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL was the first book I read and absolutely loved. Now THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS is right up there with it. This is the story of Vincent, the father of an 18-year-old boy, Vincent at 18, and William, an 18-year-old boy in Vietnam. This is my favorite book so far this year.

Elizabeth
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

3
It was a good story but the writing was mediocre and stiff. The ending was not believable either.

Linda
Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery

3
Shane Dominic has loved Laura Vasquez since they were children and did not understand why she married a Chicago cop since she and Shane had been going together. Twelve years later, Shane is with the FBI and investigating corruption in the Chicago Police Department. Corrupt cops are finding out when trade shows, especially jewelry shows, are in town. Jewelry is stolen and fake replacements are made. Shane has several key officials he is watching but no one can find proof. Laura’s husband is killed and Shane knows it had to do with the thefts but Laura isn’t talking. He's got to get information from her and stop the thefts.

Linda
Guardian Angel by Alexis Madison

4
When the personal assistant to billionaire Jack Keller is shot and killed outside the door to the office building, LAPD detectives Megan Meisner and Albert Ballard are sent to investigate. Keller has recently set up a group opposed to fracking practices used by the natural gas industry. Detectives believe Keller was the intended target but who was the shooter? While Albert investigates the background of members of Keller’s new group, Megan tells Jack she will be his new assistant. As she accompanies him to New York, their relationship turns personal. She is determined to find the shooter before anyone else is killed. Thanks Goodreads for a great book.

Linda
The Edge of You by H. Jewel Lohr

5
Carly Bloom fantasizes about good-looking Pierce Anderson but he is a neurosurgeon as well as director of the residency program at Johns Hopkins where Carly is a second-year resident. There are sparks between them and he acts on them when he sees her at a BDSM club. He takes her to his apartment and she fulfills all of his fantasies and he finds himself wanting more. An orphan, Carly grew up in foster care and had to fight her way through medical school. She doesn’t want to lose what she’s worked so hard for and thinks dating him will cause problems in her residency. He feels that what’s between them is right and tells her to relax and let it happen. He’s never had these feelings with anyone and he doesn't want to lose her.

Linda
Snowbound with the Soldier by Jennifer Faye

4
It’s been seven years since Jason Greene broke Kara Jameson’s heart by ending their engagement and leaving town. After receiving a medical discharge from the military, he and a few investors have purchased the Greene Summit Resort after his father had almost run it into the ground. Now it’s up to Jason to bring it back to life. He also had to make amends with Kara, the woman he is still in love with. When he meets her daughter Samantha, he wonders if she is his but Kara tells him he is not the father. The more Jason is around them, he realizes they are the family he wants and he’s not running away anymore.

Linda
Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter

5
A heartwarming story where a young woman comes to a small town in the mountains of North Carolina in hopes of forming a relationship with the mother who lost her children due to her addiction. She not only found her mother but a man who was destined to become the love of her life.

Linda
The Gossip by Nancy Bush

4
Mackenzie (Mac) Laughlin has been asked to look into the death of Rayne Sealy. Police ruled her death as an accident and think she fell from the cliff while taking a selfie. Her friend Bibi doesn’t agree with this and thinks Rayne was murdered. When she starts following Rayne’s suspected boyfriend Seth Keppler, she gets a visit from Jesse James Taft, a freelance private investigator who is investigating Seth on another matter. They combine notes and decide to work together. Taft’s angle is drug-related and Seth’s activity as a dealer. Then Bibi is killed and it’s no accident. Mac knows there’s a link to Rayne’s death and they have to find it.

Linda
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

3
After a young man’s body is found brutally murdered on a houseboat, police talk to many people. Laura is a young woman who had been with Daniel the night he was killed but left after he insulted her. Miriam is an older woman who lives in the houseboat next to Daniel and found his body after she noticed the door was open. Carla is Daniel’s aunt who was seen visiting Daniel. Theo is Carla’s ex-husband but they are still in love with each other. Carla’s recently deceased sister Angie was Daniel’s mother. Irene is the woman who lives next door to Angie and the walls were thin so she could hear their arguments. It is up to the police to find the murderer and the person who is trying to frame Laura as the killer.

Linda
Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh

5
When Bree Taggert and her brother Adam go to look at the old barn behind the family house, someone is in there and throws rocks at them. They chase the man and, while Bree cuffs the man, Adam finds bones that recent rains have brought to the surface. The medical examiner determines the bones are for a man and a woman and thought to be about 30 years old. Both skulls show a bullet hole in the forehead. Bree learns man they found living in the barn is the brother of a well-to-do man and has a house provided by his brother, so why is he staying in the barn? As Bree continues her investigation, she gets a note to leave well enough alone or her family might suffer. This doesn’t make her back off but more determined than ever to find the murderer

Michelle
Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women, Book #3) by Evie Dunmore

5
4.5 stars. After loving the first book, BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE, and then being pretty disappointed in the second book, A ROGUE OF ONE'S OWN, I opened this third book in the series with much trepidation. But I was completely smitten by PORTRAIT OF A SCOTSMAN, and even more so upon finishing and reflecting on it. The League of Extraordinary Women series is about a group of Oxford suffragists in the late 1870s. Each book centers around a different woman in the group, with all of the characters making an appearance in each of the books. In PORTRAIT OF A SCOTSMAN I loved that the protagonist, Hattie, who was a very different character who makes a big transformation. Out of all of the main characters, she was the most real and fleshed out.

Gerry
Falling by T. J. Newman

4
Wow! A pulse-pounding thriller about an airline pilot forced to make an impossible choice between his family and the passengers and crew of the plane he is flying. Pilot Bill Hoffman is in the early minutes of a flight from LA to NY when he receives a video call showing his wife and children, bound and gagged, his wife wearing a vest of explosives; the caller tells him he will kill Bill's family unless Bill follows his instructions and crashes the plane he is piloting. Though some of the details of the crew's responses and the actions of authorities on the ground seemed a bit implausible to me, the story held my interest throughout, and I turned pages eagerly to see how this incident would be resolved.

Gerry
The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai

4
Set in an unnamed North African country whose history matches with Tunisia, birthplace of its author, THE ARDENT SWARM is a beautifully-written allegorical tale with themes of religion vs. science, tradition vs. modernity, and the insidious impact of globalism. In the aftermath of a revolution, religious fundamentalists have come to power, having bribed the populace with gifts of food and goods from afar. Among these gifts is an invasive species of hornets from the Far East that threaten the local bee population, who have developed no defenses against these predators. The main character, a beekeeper, must find a way to save his bees and thereby save his people.

Gerry
A Better Man by Louise Penny

4
Louise Penny has done it again, brought her readers back to the lovely village of Three Pines and into the family of villagers there as they're pitted against both forces of nature and of human nature. Armand Gamache has returned to share the superintendency of the Sûreté homicide unit with his son-in-law Jean-Guy Beauvoir, when an unusual case presents itself. A young woman is missing and feared murdered; the investigation is complicated by connections, not fully understood, among the young woman, her abusive husband, her father, and more than one Sûreté agent. Penny manages to make the crime the locus for an exploration of human nature and relationships, and once again demonstrates an incredibly acute awareness of the complexity of both.

Gerry
When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

5
I've seen a couple of reviews commenting that this "ghost story" didn't have enough horror in it and "didn't work" for them. If you're looking for an entertaining ghost story, pass this one by. That's not what this is. But it is certainly a horror story -- a real life horror, though told by ghosts who suffered and died under that terrible system known in the old South as the "peculiar institution". WHEN THE RECKONING COMES is a well-written debut novel that asks its characters (and its readers) to face up to the horrors inflicted on enslaved people in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century America, and does so in a very powerful way.

Gerry
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

5
This was not an easy listen, but certainly worthwhile, and always engaging. Based on hundreds of interviews, it narrated the events on 9/11 in the words of those who experienced that horrific day: military and civilian workers at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon who survived the attacks, family members of many who didn't survive, first responders, government officials, air traffic controllers, and so many others. My favorite part was the chapter featuring comments from children with their perspectives on the day.

Gerry
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

4
The latest installment in the Three Pines series is set in that little village after the COVID-19 pandemic has been declared "over" in Canada. But just as the villagers are beginning to enjoy their return to freedom, a murderer strikes. In a complicated case involving characters new and old, Penny explores how dangerous beliefs can take hold in a society when fears are stirred up. Some of the connections among those characters felt forced to me. And a secondary plot involving a young woman from the Sudan, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, who has come to visit Three Pines for reasons that remain a bit obscure, didn't quite gel for me either. Overall, a compelling and enjoyable read, but not quite as engaging as previous installments.

Gerry
My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

4
4-1/2 enthusiastic stars for a very engaging and thought-provoking collection! Short stories and novellas are two forms of fiction I usually avoid as I find they tend to feel incomplete or underdeveloped. This collection, which includes both, is definitely an exception to that "rule". Johnson is a new writer to me, but this debut tells me she's one I want to follow. The pieces in this book are wonderfully evocative! I quickly came to love her characters, especially in the title novella, "My Monticello", and to care about their survival. The publisher's blurb does not exaggerate when it calls this collection and its author, "tough-minded, vulnerable, and brave".

Gerry
Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan

3
This YA novel tells the story about a young albino boy in Tanzania, shunned by family members and other children because of his condition, and when the family moves from their farm to the village of Mwanza, actually hunted and almost killed by a poacher who realizes the value of his skin and body parts in a culture that believes them to be good luck charms. Escaping from the poacher, Habo makes his way to the capital city of Dar es Salaam, where he is taken in by a blind sculptor and learns both to care and to accept himself as he is. Because it's a YA novel, the lessons in this book are spelled out a bit more directly than would be the case in an adult novel, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Gerry
Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening by Manal al-Sharif

4
4-1/2 stars for the compelling story of one woman’s campaign against the custom (not law) in Saudi Arabia prohibiting women’s driving. Manal al Sharif was arrested in the middle of the night and taken Friday from her home to prison for violating Saudi custom — which is nowhere encoded in law — that says women may not drive. This memoir shares her early history, her upbringing in a highly repressive society, and her ultimately successful campaign to end driving restrictions imposed on women.

Gerry
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach

3
"There are as many themes in Ivan's story as there are pages. It is at once a love story, a revelation of the dark legacy of the Soviet experiment, a conversation on medical ethics, a reproach of religious hypocrisy, and an admonition against choosing fear over purpose. But ultimately, it is simply the story of a single human life, within which so much can be held. We hope the reader can pause to appreciate that fact." No spoilers here; these closing lines give away none of the details of this story, which is set in a Hospital for Gravely Ill Children in Belarus, where 17-year-old Ivan has spent his entire life. The tone of the story is reminiscent of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST -- sardonic and irreverent. Ivan is an engaging character.

Rosemary
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

5
A young statistician is scheduled to give a controversial talk on what the numbers from the pandemic prove at a small college near Quebec. Foreseeing possible trouble, the Chancellor asks for security to be provided by the Surete du Quebec's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team. Shots are fired and no one is injured, but shortly after that someone is murdered. Who? Why? Was the victim the intended target or was it meant to be someone else? With her usual excellent storytelling, Louise Penny has the reader accusing everyone at least twice while following the investigation! A must-read for every armchair detective!!

Kimberley
On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher

4
This is a lovely story about friendship, personal discovery and God’s blessings. Dad sells everything to buy an island and an abandoned kids’ summer camp. Worried about their dad and how his grief may be all too consuming following his wife’s tragic death, his three daughters follow him to the Maine island. The story unfolds beautifully. I am so pleased to share this wonderful novel. There is much to learn about family, the Godwinks, and the beauty of Maine.

Anna
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

5
I loved this book so much. I had never heard about the Pulaski steamboat, the titanic of the South. The characters were all great and the way the story was told was so interesting. The dual timeline made it so much more enjoyable.

Jane
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

4
I loved THE FLOATING FELDMANS and I can say I wasn't disappointed in this one either. It wasn't a laugh-out-loud book like THE FLOATING FELDMANS, but it was a great book nonetheless. Great memories for me of growing up with my parents visiting the "borscht belt" in the Catskills and nostalgic also with the celebrity entertainment, etc. The characters were well developed and though I didn't like a lot of their personalities and it wasn't as dysfunctional characters as "TFF" it was pretty close. I'm going to be repetitive as always with my love of epilogues but don't think I've ever read one that was in 2054! I cannot wait for her next one which comes out 2022 and I know I won't be disappointed

Tessa
Coraline by Neil Gaiman

3
When a bored Coraline opens a door in her house and discovers an alternate universe … well, unlike Alice and her adventures in Wonderland, this is a quite dark and unpleasant place, where her “other mother” is intent on keeping Coraline captive. It’s imaginative (can’t expect anything less from Gaiman) and dark and creepy and scary, and I can totally see the reason why it’s so popular, but it’s not for me. Though, I do like that Coraline is such a strong female lead.

Betty
The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch

4
#1 in the prequel series to the Charles Lenox books. Good background for the whole series.

Mindy
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

3
I liked the book, it started out strong. I enjoyed the characters and was drawn in by the twists and turns of the story. At times I thought the author dragged some topics and the storyline. The psychological part was good. I didn’t like the ending.

Liz
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

3
Helen has an ideal life, or so she thinks. A loving husband, a house she loves and friends surround her. Plus, after four miscarriages she is finally going to have the baby she has always wanted. Everything changes when she meets and befriends Rachel at her prenatal classes. Her life begins to unravel as well as though of her family and friends. After a very slow start, this novel picks up about midway through and is hard to put down. The twists and turns will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Ivy
These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall

5
Masterfully created. Hall is brilliant at layering plots within plots. Trinkets and secrets makes this a hell of a story.

Julia
Morningside Heights by Joshua Henkin

5
This is a look at how Alzheimer's affects a family through the years. It is about a brilliant professor and how this disease slowly changes his life and the lives of his family.

Gina
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

2
I really did not like this book. It had incessant childhood molestation and was generally unpleasant. Characters were not interesting or likable. I fail to see why it would ever be recommended.

Regina
The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan

5
Interesting, highly readable account of the building of the Biltmore in North Carolina.

Barbara
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

4
Having spent many summers in "Old Atlantic City" and growing up on Absecon Island, I enjoyed a trip down memory lane as familiar places were mentioned.

Marcia
Murphy's Law by Rhys Bowen

4
An easy reading mystery with great characters and interesting facts about what New York was like for the people coming through Ellis Island. I will be reading the next Molly Murphy book.

Rose
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

4
Jessica Miller is a success in business, but she isn’t happy in her personal life. She is still trying to get her friends from college to notice her - and hold her in high esteem. She is trying to live up to a dream in her head. Now, 10 years after graduation, she is returning to elite Duquette University to reconnect with the East House 7, although it is no longer 7. Heather was killed while they were in college, and Heather’s boyfriend, Jack, was accused of the murder. When she arrives at the reunion, she finds out that Heather’s brother, Eric, plans to question each member of the group until he unmasks the killer. Told in alternating timelines between their college years and now, secrets of all the friends are exposed. Who did it?

shelly
The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

4
Reggie is going to be returning home for Christmas and is a little anxious as last year her Christmas turned into a disaster. Imagine getting engaged, having a big party, and the following day being told by Jake that he could not go through with the wedding, leaving town. This was all in the span of one weekend. Wishing Tree is a small and wonderful town almost everyone knows what goes on and she is uncertain as to how the residents will react. Will they remind her of it? Her parents have decided to renew their wedding vows and of course, she could not disappoint them and will be returning home after almost a year. Dena her sister is pregnant and although her family is very supportive they would have preferred her to fall in love.

Jan
Through the Window by Julian Barnes

2
I asked for this book because of the author. It contains 17 of his essays -- and are they boring. He also has a short story in praise of Hemmingway. This book is not worth reading unless you are writing a dissertation on Barnes or some of the people he writes about. It is not gossipy, telling tales on others -- it is just boring. It really should be rated as a 1 but I have loved so many of his novels, I can not do that to him. Save your time. Save your money.

sherri
The Drums of Autum by Diana Gabaldon

4
Another fun romp in the Outlander series.

Laura
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

4
The twist and turns is this book were amazing. Okay, I didn't figure out who did it. By the way, who killed Angela?? I have to admit that I was a bit confused trying to keep all the characters straight. It would have been really helpful to have the chapters named. Taking the first paragraph to guess who the chapter is narrated by was irritating.

Cherry
The Day the World Came To Town by Jim DeFede

5
Defede has written tightly written book beginning the question, "Why". Why is he going to Gander. And so it begins. The author swiftly draws us in the Lopez Family returning from Russia where they had adopted a young girl, plus several other people impacted by the World Trade Center's fall. I focus on this family because their story was perfectly constructed journalism which in a few pages left me with chills. I was hooked. Families on both sides of the world were affected, and yet, Gander was able to pull of this marvelous rescue out of certain disaster. Defede has crafted a true journalistic story that reads like a futuristic novel.

Elizabeth
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

3
After reading MIGRATIONS, I understand why it has received so many good reviews. But, although it has a promising beginning, the bulk of the book is slow and depressing. It also seemed choppy to me until I got used to it’s going to and from various periods of time. All is bleak, with nearly every animal species extinct and those not extinct close to being so. This is the world when Franny takes it upon herself to follow Arctic terns as they migrate from the Arctic Circle all the way to the Antarctic. During her journey, we learn more and more about Franny through many flashbacks. They give the impression that she is a selfish person. But keep reading. As her secrets are divulged, your impression may change.

Becky
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

5
This second outing for the Thursday Murder Club is just as much fun as the first. We learn a bit more about each of four members, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim as they meet Elizabeth’s ex-husband, also a former (or current?) member of MI5. The fun begins with 20 million in stolen (or not?) diamonds, continues with an attack on Ibrahim, a murder and several more murders. Will Elizabeth and company be able to outwit the Mafia, international thieves, hired killers, renegade officers and other assorted baddies while the laughs keep coming? Osman keeps the group moving while continuing the gentle humor and advancing the intricate plot. He has a good feel for folks in their seventies who do not feel “over the hill”, but are active.

Becky
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

3
I was halfway through this book before I realized it is essentially an accurate and lengthy biography of Sylvia Beach and her English language bookshop. Beach and her Paris shop, “Shakespeare and Company”, hosted many of the writers and thinkers of the early half of the 20th century. She came to fame with her publication of James Joyce’s ULYSSES when no one else would publish it. In fact, America had declared it pornography and prevented it from being published or sold in the U.S. The novel also covers her relationship with Adrienne Monnier and Monnier’s French language bookshop. Both women were sponsors of American, French and British writers.

Kay
Not Dead Enough by Warren C. Easley

5
A man's disappearance 50 years ago at the time when the Dalles Dam on the Columbia River destroys the Native American fishing site is investigated by Cal Claxton who has just moved to the state of Oregon. Nelson Queah's grand daughter wants to find out what happened to him. Well written with a plot that pulls you through the story.

Kay
We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal

5
This is the first book translated into English by this Swedish author who won "The best Swedish book of the Year" award. I highly recommend this tightly woven and intriguing mystery and look forward to seeing more of her books.

Ida
The King’s Anatomist by Ron Blumenfeld

5
The story of Andreas Vesalius and the journey his childhood friend, his astral twin, takes to visit his grave on the Greek island of Zante. This is a beautiful and interesting story that takes place in 1556 and along the way from Brussels to Greece we learn about the impact Vesalius’s book of anatomy had on medicine at that time. There is a love story as well as a mystery in the story that will keep the reader very engaged.

Kay
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

4
The "Reading List" is woven well through various characters in the book with our finally finding out who had created the list and how it got into so many people's hands. It was a gentle, sweet read.

Rose
Rattle by Fiona Cummins

4
Disturbing book about “The Bone Collector”, a man who searches for children with oddly formed anatomies, kidnaps them, and plans to kill them so he can keep their skeletons. Chilling. The detective assigned to the case has her own personal issues, her marriage is in trouble, plus she overreacted while investigating an earlier case. The two families whose children are taken also have issues. First in a series. I enjoyed this creepy book, but it was really disturbing!!

Elizabeth
Once Upon a Wardrobe: A Story of Narnia and a Sister's Love by Patti Callahan

5
An enchanting, tenderly emotional, magical, and inspiring book about a dying boy's question about Narnia and his loving sister's quest to discover the answer through her encounters with C.S. Lewis and his brother, Warren. The discovery of what is real, calculable, and tangible, and what is imagined - that realism and imagination intertwine in stories and myths to reveal truths, awaken faith, and express love that transform and uplift a life.

Christine
Mortal Remains by Mary Ann Fraser

3
This is a young adult novel about a girl who works at her father's mortuary and reconnects with an old friend. But the friend has changed, and she eventually learns why. I would call this contemporary fantasy with a bit of mystery. The book was well written, and it kept my interest. My only complaint is that it took a long time to get where it was going, and once it got there everything was too quickly wrapped up in the last chapter.

Richard N B
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

4
An atmospheric, dark, and sinister tale - I could feel the damp, cold fog, strained to see by faint candle or lamp light, listened to the alternating whispers and shouts of a rabble of men up to no good. Mary Yellan is young and somewhat naïve, but she is still a strong woman, resolute and determined to make the best of her situation. Du Maurier’s plot is intricate and complex and had several twists and turns in it. We listened while on a road trip and wished there were a sequel so we could find out what Mary Yellen is like as an older woman.

Rose
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

5
Beautifully-written book about a terrible time in history. Three friends, Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro, have grown up together and have a special love between them. As the story develops, Mussolini and fascism are taking over Italy, dividing families, uprooting Jews, and involving the country in war. Throughout it all, the love between the friends remains strong. Each boy professes their love for Elisabetta, but she initially wavers before making her choice. As the story goes on, her love develops, but the war and the Nazis have other plans. I loved this story, I loved the friendship between the three, I loved their honesty and sacrifices for each other. This is a terrific and heartfelt novel.

Mindy
The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

4
Nicholas tells you at the beginning of the book that you will shed tears. I was intrigued to continue on to see why the story would have the typical emotional feelings in a Nicholas Sparks book. That is the only reason I rated it 4 stars. With tears comes many emotions of happiness and sadness. I couldn't stop listening to the audio version because I wanted to know what would happen next and for the main character to continue the story within a story.

Rose
Seeds of Deception by Linda Castillo

4
Katie is just 14 in this novella. While picking apples with her brother, Jacob, Katie’s friend, Mattie, shows up at the orchard. A bit of a wild child, Mattie heads off to the bath to smoke with an English boy, Billy. Fire breaks out in the barn, and Katie doesn’t know whether to believe Mattie when Mattie says that Billy started it. This seems to be the start of Katie's investigative tendencies! An enjoyable short story.

Jan
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

3
A college girl discovers amazing things about her grandfather, with whom she resides. She has no other family. She decides to go to college early and will not return phone calls or texts from her best friend. Eventually the best friend decides to come to New York to visit Marin. There are tense moments, but the friend stays with her and demonstrates that she is still a friend. Eventually the truth of what Marin discovered about her grandfather and what he was hiding comes out. A good book that will lead to a lot of discussion.