This contest period's winners were Ann Marie M., Ivy P. and Sherry L., who each received a copy of THE BOYS FROM BILOXI by John Grisham and THE MAZE: A John Corey Novel by Nelson DeMille.
Karen
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Warmed my heart with every page. Poignant, real and throughly charming.
Karen
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Great characters. Slow to start.
Rose
Alias Emma by Ava Glass
This is the first in a series featuring Emma Makepeace, a woman in the British Secret Service. Emma is recruited and is living out her dream to avenge her father's death. Emma is assigned a case to protect a young doctor from the Russians, who have been methodically eliminating those they feel are detrimental to their cause. Emma needs to convince Michael to leave his position and go on the run with her to escape the Russians. What follows is a chase across London, where Emma realizes that she must trust her own instincts and be wary of those who claim to be helpers. This is an exciting first installment of a new series.Emma is a wonderful heroine, smart and resilient, with a backstory. I am really excited to read more of this series.
Karen
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
Loved the history and backstory of Booth’s family. Wonderful and different take on a historical figure.
Karen
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
One of my favorite books this year.
Patricia
Joan by Katherine J. Chen
JOAN rocks! My knowledge of Joan of Arc is minimal and nothing comparable to this interpretation of the famous French saint. The ending of her story is well known and yet while I read, I kept hoping for a better outcome for this most deserving and much abused person. In my mental movie of her story, I pictured Brittney Griner. A tall, athletic, unimposing person being victimized by evil power hungry political forces. A huge miscarriage of justice against a woman by cowardly men. In this case, I expected a better ending to the story.
Marilyn
Fredrik Backman by Anxious People
Found this book extremely interesting. The premise of this diverse, sometimes hostile, group of hostages, each with their own backstory and forced by circumstance to cooperate. Perhaps the failed bank robber needs help as much as they need rescuing.
Patricia
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
I loved HAMNET, and am a huge fan of Irish writers, so I was eager to read this book. Florence in the 1550s was not a good time to be a woman, not even for the nobility. Lucrezia accepts her fate and succumbs to an arranged marriage that benefits her family's political status. But Alfonso is in his twenties and rather handsome, so the reader hopes that he will be a good husband. That is, until he begins to exhibit Jeckyll-Hyde symptoms. This is a thrilling story, and well-told.
Rose
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This was a delightful and unique romance. Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a romance authors, but since her ex dumped her, she hasn't been able to write. She meets her new editor, Ben, and he refuses to allow her an extension on her deadline. Florence is called home where her family owns a funeral parlor to deal with a tragedy. Florence and her father share a gift - they are able to see ghosts. Florence had to leave town due to this, but now that she is back she sees a ghost that she can't believe - her editor. Ben doesn't believe he is dead, but he clearly is. They both tell each other things they feel are safe since he is dead. Just when you think that you have everything figured out, there is another surprise or two. A delight!
Carol
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club continues to delight. The third book was a faster read than the other two. The additional retired KGB character brought into the retirement community fits in seamlessly. Bravo. Can’t wait for the next book!
Darlene
Extenuating Circumstances by Joyce Carol Oates
Really good!!
Michelle
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Disturbing and timely. Probably a 3.5 because I didn’t love where the story led to in some ways, but it delved deep into issues, not holding back at all.
Michelle
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Upsetting, raw, bewildering. This memoir was at times difficult to read, detailing all the ways her dysfunctional mother traumatized her and the long-term affects that trauma had on her life. But what stands out is the survivor that McCurdy has become. She writes with a sense of humor but also in an honest and direct introspective manner, sharing her journey and hard fought lessons - a brave and transcendent soul. I could not stop listening, felt such compassion for her, and I hope she goes on to use her writing talents and wisdom for further self-healing. If you are a fan of memoirs, this is a must-read. At first I struggled a bit with listening to the audio as her tone can often be flat and clipped but I got used to it.
Jeanie
Mother Land by Leah Franqui
Our group had very mixed feelings about this book. We all agreed we felt the situation would have been difficult for anyone; adjusting to marriage, relocating to a different country/culture, your mother- in-law showing up unexpectedly on your doorstep announcing she’d come to live with you! Yikes! Our opinions differed on the main characters. We all enjoyed the development of the story as the women’s friendship began to grow, but many of us couldn’t predict the ending of this one. Lots of interesting twists.
Linda
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This is our book club selection for October, and it's going to be an outstanding discussion about choices and regrets. We highly recommend it.
Sandy
What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
I have a new favorite author!!!
Kathy
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This book held my interest and was laugh-out-loud in some parts, which is quite a feat nowadays. It was an interesting storyline and had wonderful quirky characters. The theme of woman empowerment is a very strong theme throughout the book. It gives a look at how women in the workforce used to be treated. I am sure some are still treated this way but many
young women have never experienced this kind of sexism.
Karen
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger
A wonderful book. I was apprehensive about how it would end but loved every word -- and the ending.
Pat
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Great.
Mary Ann
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
I borrowed this book from the library and returned it after several chapters. My friends convinced me to give it a second chance and I'm glad I did.
Sheree
That Bird Has My Wings by Jarvis Jay Masters
This book was so sad to think how this man grew up and how he ended up where he is. I think given a different up bringing he had a chance of making something out of himself. He even wrote a book. But to hear how horrible the foster parent system is and how flawed his family was it is understandable that he would make bad decisions too.
Marylyn
Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
Forty-year-old May, a gardener at a college campus, living with her widowed father in the house where her mother died is given a month's paid vacation and chooses to visit four of her long time friends. Trying to coax herself out of her own reclusive life style, she just looks at her friends lives with perspective. I guess I'd call this a relaxing read? Would suit for my book club except the font in the paperback copy is so tiny.
Kathleen
Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks
FALLOUT by Carrie Stuart Parks is about a young woman, Samantha Williams. While teaching a class at an elementary school in Washington state, an SUV comes crashing into the classroom. She gets the kids out safely but in the process, her car is wrecked, and her purse and keys are missing. She ultimately loses her job as her classroom is a mess. Sam has no friends to speak of and her parents are deceased so she is pretty much on her own. When talking to the authorities she finds that the driver of the SUV, Dr.Greer, was shot. I enjoyed this novel. It has a little bit of everything: history, romance, Cold War, scientists, and more. If this is your kind of book, then you must go get this one. A page-turner for sure!
Cheryle
The Rule of Nine by Steve Martini
Don't you love this author's last name? I have been reading his series books off and on for a while. This is an older book but well worth reading. I love this series featuring lawyer Paul Madriani. The blend of high intrigue and family are excellent. The writing is engrossing and hard to put down. San Diego defense attorney Paul Madriani is still reeling from the trauma of a near nuclear explosion he helped avert at the naval base in Coronado. Threatened by federal authorities to keep quiet about the close call in California, Madriani is now faced with a new problem in the steely-eyed and alluring Joselyn Cole, a weapons control expert, who believes he has to go public with what he knows if they have any hope of stopping a similar event.
Cheryle
Blowback by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
BLOWBACK is the latest from James Patterson and could well be pulled from the headlines of any major newspaper these days. It is scary and terribly accurate look at today's political scene worldwide. Power seems to corrupt politicians who become obsessed with that power and the ability to do whatever they want. I found myself wanting to keep reading but also not to keep reading as it seems all too real.
Cheryle
The Girl from Guernica by Karen Robards
The inspiration for THE GIRL FROM GUERNICA is a famous painting that traveled to the U.S. during the World's Fair. The painting is a depiction of the massacre by German airplanes of the small village of Guernica. This historical fiction work is told from the position of a survivor of that massacre. Sibi and two sisters survive but their mother and one other sister are killed in the raid. Sibi and her father are scientists who work on the missiles in Germany. Sibi is forced to recount the raid as propaganda by the Germans or her sisters will be arrested and tortured. She becomes a spy for the OSS and falls in love with the man who rescued her from the Guernica raid. An interesting look at what some are forced to do during war.
Donna
Small World by Jonathan Evison
Very much enjoyed this novel about six generations of four different families who came to America in the 1800s; one from Ireland, one from China, one Black slave and one Native American. It follows their journeys and picks up their families six generations later. This really is a great American novel.
Kelley
Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell
Excellent research, Clemmie was a force!
Diane
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor
An engrossing story about women who man lighthouses. This historical fiction tale takes place in early 19th century Scotland with the story of Grace Darling and the early 20th century featuring a female lighthouse keeper in Rhode Island. Their exploits and will expose one to an emotional roller coaster. I couldn’t put the book down!
Susan
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
While I mostly liked this book, I found the ending confusing. The author left you hanging on so many things.
Linda
The Kingdoms of Savannah by George Dawes Green
The city of Savannah, GA is itself a character in this very atmospheric novel that is based on true events. The human characters are eccentric, funny and flawed. I read about a place of contrasts - wealthy, privileged residents versus homeless, victimized people in the shadows that a tourist wouldn't notice.
Linda
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
I'm usually not much of a science fiction fan. However, I found SEA OF TRANQUILITY to be an interesting approach. The characters were interesting in each of the individual sections, and I enjoyed finding out what happened in each section. I was able to figure things out shortly before the finality of the book, even though I was somewhat suspicious off and on throughout. Thanks for the opportunity to comment on this book and I hope to read other books by the author. I must say, though, that I read STATION ELEVEN some weeks ago and enjoyed it even more.
Janet
Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
A mystery/suspense story that also showed the bonds of family.
Sharon
The Daughter of Auschwitz by Tova Friedman
Tova was a four year old girl when she and her family were sent to Auschwitz. Tova tells the story of all of her experiences that she remembers.
Sharon
The Widowed Ones by Chris Enss
Elizabeth's Custer's time spend with the other war widows of the 7th Cavalry and how she kept the memory of her husband alive.
Linda
Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin
Macey Burns and her employee Josh Eckhardt come to Lost Beach, Texas to film a documentary for the local tourist board. Seeing a lot of police activity near one of the larger sand dunes, she tries to find out what happened but is told the area is restricted. Before coming to Lost Beach, she had been a reporter and her instincts are up. She had heard about a missing girl and wonders if the body found is that of the missing girl. Police detective Owen Breda recognizes Macey as the woman whose car broke down and who refused his help. Now attraction flares between them. As she and Josh take photos around the area, she inadvertently photographs something she shouldn’t have and now a killer is after her.
Linda
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Poppy Wright and Alex Nilson met in college and have been taking summer vacations together. Through the years, friendship develops into love between them but neither wants to admit to this. On a trip to Tuscany, a kiss causes a disruption in their relationship. She thinks he regrets that it happened, but he only regrets that it happened after they had had too much to drink. He thought the kiss didn't mean anything to her and she thought he rejected her. Two years later, his brother is getting married and he wants both at his wedding and she realizes her life is not right unless Alex is in it. Does he feel the same?
Linda
When I Found You by Brenda Novak
Natasha Gray had been in love with Mack Amos ever since her mother married his father and they moved into the Amos household. But Mack was nine years older and backed off from any involvement. Natasha went on to college, became a doctor, and married someone else. Now she is divorced with a six-year-old son and back in Silver Springs having to face Mack again when he drives up in the truck with her furniture. She has never stopped loving him but thinks he doesn’t feel the same and she doesn’t want to have her heart broken again. She tells everyone they are just friends even though neither believe it.
Linda
Haunted Hearts by Ariana Cane
Freya Kennedy is on the run from her abusive ex-husband. She has some of his illegal money as well as a flash drive that he wants back. She is on the outskirts of Little Hope, Maine when her tire blows. A large man comes up to the car and offers help but he scares her and she turns down his offer. She meets Alex Crowley again when she has to stay in his cabin while her car is being repaired. She learns about his time in the military and the cause of his scarring due to burns. He tells her he has PTSD and she is not safe with him. Too much self-pity on the part of Freya and self-anger by Alex.
Linda
The Man She Married by Cathy Lamb
Natalie Shelton is in a coma but is able to hear what people say when they come to her room. She hears the doctors talk about taking her off life support but her husband Zach and her father are strenuously against this. Zach keeps crying and saying he’s sorry and then she hears his anger when he talks to someone on the phone. She tries to remember what happened on the morning of the accident but can’t remember. When she wakes and goes home, she knows that Zach is hiding something from her, but what? Then she sees the man who hit her and listens to his giggles as he stalks her. Who is he and what does he want?
Linda
The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson
Kara McIntyre was seven when her family was massacred. She remembers her sister locking her in the attic to keep her safe. She got out and looked for her family but everyone was killed except Jonas. He was all bloody and told her to run. She looked up and saw a big man in the door and ran. He was after her and she got on the partially frozen lake. It broke and she fell through but was saved by an off-duty policeman. Jonas was convicted of killing his family but she never thought he did it. Twenty years have passed and Jonas is being released. Is the real killer still out there?
Linda
Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron
Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens are kayaking toward Baker Island in response to an email from Stacey’s friend Kendall Ballard. She is working as in intern to observe the native birds but has doubts about the team’s leader Dr. Maeve McLeary. They meet the other interns but Maeve never shows. That night they hear gunshots and head back to the island at first light. They find two of the interns murdered and the third missing. Mike calls in the state police as they try to figure out what happened and who would do such a horrendous thing.
Linda
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci
A graduate of West Point, Travis Devine was on his way to a military career when an incident occurred that made him quit. He returned to NYC and a boring job at an investment firm. He caught the 6:20 train into the city every morning and, along with every other man on the train, watched one house where a bikini-clad woman lay in the sun. Little did he know that he would meet this woman and she would save his life. Devine was contacted by former General Emerson Campbell and given no choice but to help find out what was going on at Cowl and Comely. Brad Cowl had disappeared for a few years and, when he returned, he became a multi-millionaire overnight. Campbell thinks he is into money laundering to the detriment of the U.S.
Linda
The Ninth Month by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
Emily Atkinson is an alcoholic and fell down drunk outside Ted’s Bar and Grill. Waking in the hospital, she is met by a nurse and doctor and gets the shock of her life when she is told she’s pregnant. Betsey Brown is the nurse who is also pregnant and the two become good friends. When Emily disappears, Betsey starts searching. She goes to see Ted Burrows and learned he and Emily married in Vegas but the marriage was annulled. She calls her friend police detective Joel Tierney for help and he and his partner Kalisha Schofield search. But no one can find Emily. Two other women have disappeared and one was found dead. Is Emily a victim? Surprised that James Patterson would put his name to this book! It was terrible!
Elizabeth
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Seamstresses, fans of THE SCARLET LETTER, historical fiction fans, and fans of this time period will enjoy this book despite some of the odd chapters about witches.
Elizabeth
The Forgotten Girl by Daco S. Auffenorde
I fell out of a window? Did someone push me? Why was I even in that hotel? Blue has some close calls and had me biting my fingernails at the risks she takes as Ms. Auffenorde keeps you turning the pages to see how it all turns out.
Elizabeth
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
MAD HONEY addresses domestic abuse, secrets we keep, relationships, life choices, and why people do what they do.
Jim
Holly and Ivy by Fern Michaels
Two detailed stories weave together to become one. A great Christmas book.
Rosa
The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
This book was a delight to read and one that had me thinking for a long time after finishing it. Aidyn Kelley is a young and ambitious cub reporter who is frustrated with the lack of progress in her budding career. Clara Kip is an elderly woman who is dying of cancer and has just been admitted to a hospice facility. The two form an unlikely friendship when Aidyn is sent to interview Mrs. Kip to write her obituary. The plot is inspiring with many appropriate references to scripture. I loved this book.
Marilyn
The Personal Librarian by Maria Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
I read this book as a personal choice and then recommended it for my book club and they are loving it! The book is a remarkable story of the curator of J.P. Morgan's vast collections. This woman is forced to keep her identity hidden in order to proceed with this task.
Rose
Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal
It is 1964 in New Orleans, Ibby Bell's dad has died after a fall. Her mother brings her to her grandmother's, Fannie's, house to live, along with his ashes in an urn. This starts Ibby and Frannie's life together. Queenie, the maid, along with her daughter, Dollbaby take Ibby under their wing. The civil rights act gets signed by LBJ and there is some racial tension in the community, which is portrayed in the novel. Frannie has seen a lot of tragedy in her life, and her story is told to Ibby by Queenie and Dollbaby. As her story is revealed over the years, Ibby understands Frannie's connection to Queenie, Dollbaby, and well as to others in the town. Ibby learns so much about her grandmother's past and how she touched so many. Beautiful.
Tessa
A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
Book Two in Her Royal Spyness cozy mystery series, has Lady Georgiana Rannoch (Georgie to her friends) hosting a Bavarian princess as part of Her Majesty’s plan to get the Prince of Wales interested in a more suitable partner than that awful American woman. I like Georgie as a character, and love her grandfather, as well as her best friend, Belinda. But the plot here didn’t really capture my attention. Still, it did give an added dimension to Darcy O’Mara. He may be more than just an unreliable rogue…
Nancy
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
This book is on the bestseller list, and with good reason. It's timely, about the Covid pandemic, racism and Jan. 6, and it's beautifully written. While Strout's prose is easy to read, the story itself is not -- as Lucy, the narrator, and her divorced husband, escape the developing pandemic in Manhattan for the relative safely of a small town in Maine. Lucy, featured in Strout's earlier work, has to come to terms with both the pandemic and her relationship with William, her ex, and her daughters, left behind in New York. While Covid was such a major crisis, it was not the only crisis for people, a realization the book makes its readers confront. Not an easy read, but one I think people should read.
Priscilla
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
I love historical fiction and this is one of the best. I never new of the Frick Museum and this peaked my interest to go to New York and visit the museum. I plan now to read her other books.
Rose
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
I devoured this book in a single sitting. Mallory, a 21-year-old recovering addict is hired to be a nanny for Caroline and Ted and their 5-year-old son, Teddy. When Teddy tells Mallory about his friend, Anya, and begins drawing strange pictures, Mallory knows that there is something sinister. A neighbor, Mitzi, tells Mallory the story of Annie Barrett, an artist that lived in the cottage where Mallory is staying, but mysteriously disappeared years ago. As Mallory senses someone watching her, and then begins experiencing Anya herself, she realizes that she is in great danger. Told in verse as well as a lot of illustrations, this is a unique thriller. I absolutely loved it.
Ann Marie
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
I liked this book, but the characters weren't as described as much as I wanted them to be. My book club had very different opinions. We butted heads a bit. I actually gave it 3.5 stars. I think it was a lot more hyped up than I thought it should be.
Shelly
Home Again by Kristin Hannah
Madeleine Hilliard is a brilliant cardiologist and is a single parent to her daughter, Lina. They have managed through the years thanks to the help of her best friend, Father Frances. The problem is Lina is at that stage where she is rebellious and although Madeleine tries to do everything in her power to give her a normal life, it been a struggle. When she was sixteen, her now famous boyfriend (Lina's dad) walked away. All Lina wants know who her dad is. Father Francesca’s urged her not to tell Lina as he will only break her heart like he did to her mother. Angel DeMarco is a famous movie star who never looked back when he left Oregon.
Julie
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Emmett has just been released early from a juvenile detention center in Salina, KS because of the death of his father. Both Emmett and his younger brother, Billy, are planning to drive to California for a fresh start since the bank has repossessed the farm due to lack of payment. Unfortunately, Dutchess and Woolly, acquaintances of Emmett's from the detention center, have escaped and steal Emmett's car and proceed to drive the Studebaker to New York in order to collect Woolly's inheritance. At this point, Emmett and Billy are forced to become stowaways on a boxcar heading to NY so they can reclaim their car.
Debbie
A Truth to Lie For by Anne Perry
A new series by a great author. This is the first Elena Standish novel I have read, and the book presents multiple sides of Hitler’s rise to power. Hans Beckendorff shows a side of Hitler’s chosen that exposes the mixed moral code of many Germans. The story also portrays the ruthlessness of the Brownshirts and many Gestapo leaders and Hitler’s quest to control the world with the aid of science and power. Elena, a M16 agent, must return to Berlin and help a German scientist escape Berlin. The mission holds many dangers for both Elena and Heinrich Hartwig, the scientist. Will Elena be successful? A well-written account of pre-WWII Germany.
Debbie
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Deanna Raybourn has written a new novel which has received glowing reviews. I do not see the brilliance of this novel as I waded through this muck. The story centers on four sixty-year-old women who have worked as assassins for forty years and are now hoping to retire. Well, the Museum, the assassin-for-hire agency, has other plans for these four senior citizens. The story jumps back and forth between the career of these women and the present-day dilemma of staying alive. The novel never caught my interest and wasted precious time.
Becky
The Manhattan Girls by Gill Paul
Bootleggers, Broadway, loyalty. Story of four female friends in 1920s NYC. Historical fiction.
Becky
The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck
Anguish, endure, conscience, hope. French children’s colony in the 1940s. Their goal is to protect the children.
Becky
Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn
4.5 stars. Inconceivable, resistance, seduction. Lebensborn homes in 1940s. Wanted to increase the number of children who met “standards.”
Becky
Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
Blunder, shame, underestimated, halfway point. Mother and daughter both pose as Nazi sympathizers in 1940s Los Angeles.
Kay
Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me by Sutanya Dacres
Sutanya Dacres, born in Jamaica, raised in New York and moves to Paris to marry TFM (The French Man) and then divorces the TFM. All this led to the search for self to move on, learning how she fits in and the benefits of Paris and her red/white tiled kitchen in Montmartre. She takes time for herself, exploring the cuisine and small local shops of her neighborhood. It's hard work to recover oneself!
Rose
When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff
Cassie receives a call from her brother Nate that their younger brother, Billy, has been arrested for rape. Cassie knows that he is innocent. When Cassie returns home from her studies at Yale, she is asked to stand by her brother and family in the courtroom. Her parents, Lawrence and Eleanor, are extremely wealthy, and their wealth buys them the best lawyers. But, as Billy stands trial, Det. Haggerty asks Cassie to tell her own story. As she does, some very disturbing truths about the family come to light. This was a very difficult book for me to read because I struggled with the subject. It made me ill to think of what Cassie had been subjected to in her young life. I anguished over her and her feelings and how she was manipulated.
Beth
Faithless by Karin Slaughter
FAITHLESS is a book in Karin Slaughter's Grant County series. I’ve read most of her books, which is a testament to what a great writer she is, particularly of mysteries/thrillers. But I read them as I find them in used bookstores, so out of order, and I still enjoy the heck out of them. But good for you if you can read them in order. The three main characters in this series are Jeffrey Tolliver, Grant County’s police chief; Sara Linton, Tolliver's ex-wife, a pediatrician, and Grant County's coroner; and Lena Adams, a Grant County detective who works for Tolliver. All three become involved in the workings of a church (or is it a cult?) after Tolliver and Linton stumble across a body of one of its members in a coffin buried in the woods.
Julia
Fellowship Point by Mary Elliott Dark
This is an engrossing family saga about two elderly lifelong friends trying to preserve their beautiful, families' land in Maine. I found this book engrossing and very thought-provoking about friendship, how we age and how we value our precious natural resources.
Sandy
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman
This is my new favorite author. I especially liked the ending.
Rose
The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
Wow - very creepy! Tightly packed with action, THE BUTCHER AND THE WREN is about Jeremy, a serial killer, and the medical examiner, Wren, who is trying to find him and put him behind bars. What is the connection between these two characters? You will find out as you read the story. The ending leaves you wondering if there will be another book! I liked Wren and her methodical way of handling the autopsies, and I was terrified of Jeremy, a cold-blooded killer. The stories of his victims are gruesome.
Dianne
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Rom-com story of two people who meet as college freshmen, becoming friends even as their lives take different paths. Each summer they take a vacation together, sharing adventure, misadventure, and meeting people. After a misunderstanding in Croatia, they do not speak to each other for two years. They take what can only be described as the vacation from hell traveling on a budget to Palm Springs in the summer for a wedding.
Rose
The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding
Jodi Bishop is a successful real estate agent, married to her husband, Harrison, an author. However, he seems to have writer's block, which causes tension in their marriage. Her mom is struggling with Parkinson's Disease, and her father is increasingly impatient. Jodi hires a housekeeper, Elyse, who seems to do everything right. However, as Elyse worms her way into Jodi's father's life, cracks begin to appear. Jodi is very concerned, for her mother's safety and her father's wealth. Plus, her marriage is falling apart. I pretty much figured out everything that was happening in the novel, except for the very final twist involving her father. I really didn't like many of the characters in this book.
Rose
The Escape Artist by Brad Meltzer
Zig is a mortician who prepares the dead soldiers at Dover Air Force Base for release to their families. When a woman identified as Nola Brown comes into the morgue, Zig is surprised, because he knows her. However, something doesn't seem right. He finds a hidden note on the body, and thus begins an investigation into why the military is hiding details of a plane crash and why is Nola running. Zig finds a connection of people on the plane to Harry Houdini. This is the first in a series about Zig and Nola. I am not really a fan of political/spy thrillers, but I had to read Book 2 for a book club, and thought I should read the first book to gain some background into the characters.
Sherri
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
THE NIGHT CIRCUS is a wonderful book. It has a very ethereal feel to it the whole way through which makes for beautiful visuals and a deliberate sense that while you're in that world, you're on a different plain of existence.
Sandi
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Great book! Not enough books written with older women as the protagonists, but this one does them justice. I so hope that this is the beginning of a series. Raybourn brought these four women to life and put them in situations that kept you turning pages. Yay to Raybourn and yay for those of us over 60!
Rose
The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer
The second installment in the Zig and Nola series takes place two years after the last book. Zig realizes that he owes Nola his life, as she saved him last time they saw each other. Now, in this new book, Archie Mint is killed in his own home, and Zig and Nola are sucked into a deep secret that he was hiding. Additionally, there is more to be discovered about Nola's past life. Her twin brother, Roddy, makes an appearance, and of course, her nasty adoptive father, Royall. As Nola and Zig chase down this mystery, their lives are once again put in danger and they are not sure who they can trust. The surprising truth about Archie Mint and his family comes clear. This is a thriller with a lot of killing. A little less violence would be better.
Karen
The Challenge by Danielle Steel
She is my all-time favorite author. She never disappoints. Another great read!!!
Krishna
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
I was delightfully surprised by this book. Two of my friends read it and insisted that I needed to read it, too. I couldn't have agreed more with them. It was a good plot line with two strong female characters. The pace was good, the writing was good and the ending not what you would have expected.
Krishna
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
I heard the author at the Bookmarks Festival. He was funny and humble about his first book. He had great answers to the the moderator's questions. I gave it a shot to see if I would like it. The book had a good plot line and the expected ending didn't happen. I liked the main character. I would have given this 3.5 stars but went with four as I liked listening to him. I hope he continues to write and I look forward to his next book.
Julie
Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman
I received an Advanced Reader's Edition from an event at my local library. During the roaring 20s Vivian Kelly and her sister Florence both work at a dress shop and share the same tenement lodging. But unlike her sister, Florence, Vivian loves to go out every night drinking and dancing at the Nightingale. One night she discovers a dead body in the alley near the Nightingale, and after being caught in a police raid Vivian finds herself caught up in the middle of the murder investigation that she must help solve in order to keep both herself and her sister safe.
Jeanne
The American Adventuress by C. W. Gortiner
THE AMERICAN ADVENTURESS by C.W. Gortiner is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought it was well written; the author did a great researching so many details in this book. I was captivated from the very first page. It is the story of Jennie Jerome, an American heiress who took London by storm, especially Randolph Spencer-Churchill, son of the Duke of Marlborough. Their attraction to one another was undeniable and he became her first husband. Jennie had a lifelong intimate friendship with Edward, Prince of Wales. Jennie was strong, determined, and ambitious. One of my favorite things about the book was the fact that she was the mother of Winston Churchill and I loved reading about him as a young boy.
Jeanne
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Alyssa Cole, Naomi Alderman, et al.
MARPLE is a delightful, charming book full of short mystery stories centered around the much read, beloved Miss Jane Marple. I don’t usually read short stories but thoroughly enjoyed each mystery in this book. The authors are to be commended on the great work they did on each and every story. Each story was unique, intriguing and had the Agatha Christie “flair”. It is one of those books I will go back and read again. This is a must-read for Agatha Christie fans.
Suzanne
Unbound by Stuart Woods
My first Stuart Woods book that I've read. I enjoyed the character Teddy Fay, one of many names,
and found out he has quite a past. He leaves his job in LA after his wife is killed by a drunk driver and he takes a leave of absence. He has a friend, Stone Barrinton, and I find out this is a Stone Barrinton novel, a series for Stuart Woods. I am now going to get the next Stone Barrington novel in the series.
Rose
Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart
This was the first book by Shteyngart and I had to read it for a literary book club. I didn't know what to expect. I thought the idea to set his novel in 2020 and to highlight the Covid virus was interesting, as many novelists have chosen to ignore this. The premise of the novel is that Sasha and his wife, Masha, along with their daughter, Nat, invite several friends to live with them on their estate, as they make plans to produce a script in which The Actor is to appear. Karen and Vin, along with Ed and Dee, and The Actor all come to live there for a few months. The novel goes through their friendship, their love affairs, and the jealousy that Sasha Senderovsky felt after reading Vinod's novel. Once it is discovered, things change.
Trez
Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King
Very enjoyable and had an interesting plot.
Rose
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
I always enjoy reading Fiona Davis's historical fiction novels as they teach me about various properties in NYC and some of the history of these amazing properties. In this novel, told in dual timelines, Lilly is a model for various artists in 1919 when she becomes a witness to a murder. Wanting to escape this notoriety, she finds herself hired as a personal secretary for Helen Frick. Also, in 1966, Veronica, a British model is in NYC for a photo shoot at the Frick Museum when she gets trapped in the building during a blizzard. There is a legend that the Magnolia Diamond went missing and was never found. This story, while imaginary, forms the basis for a mystery in this novel. Who stole the diamond and where could it be? Enjoyable!
Lynnsey
Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Interesting, sweet, funny, and off-beat little book.
Jo'el
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
Loved this story of a life-long friendship between two very different women and the now endangered "Point" where they lived every summer.
Lynn
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Lexington was a famous and successful race horse of the 19th century. Ms. Brooks always brings her stories alive with action and details.
Jalen
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
1012 pages! I finished it, but did I like it? Yes and no. Yes for the developing relationship between Cormoran and Robin. Yes for the improving investigating expertise. Yes for the weaving of several plots. As an older reader, no for the intricacies of phone and computer tech. No for whole chapters of columnar tweet conversations. Definite no for foul language. I did become accustomed to it all, but would never read this book a second time.
Shelly
All Is Bright by RaeAnne Thayne
Living in Hope's Crossing is a magical place to live. Not just in the winter season but all year long. Sage McKnight is coming home to spend a month with her family and friends and get away from her hectic schedule in San Francisco. She wants to complete the renovation of Wolf Ridge for Mason Tucker. Unfortunately, he is a bitter man after losing his wife and unborn child in a helicopter crash that only he survived. Years of therapy, along with surgeries have left the former baseball player with many injuries. He is fortunate to be able to sit in a wheel chair and sometimes walk with crutches. His main motivation is his daughter Grace who is his reason to get up each day and move on with his life.
Dee
The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel
World War II novel set in Paris with an American woman, British pilots, French citizens and a Jewish teenager as the main characters whose lives intertwine in a very interesting way.
Rose
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
FIONA AND JANE is a book about two friends who met when they were ten. It tells the story of their friendship, their coming of age, and their various sexual experiences. At the end of the novel, the author says that many of the stories were previously published, so it is really a series of essays or short stories, combined into a book. It was short, so I was able to finish the book in one sitting. It was sad at times, with Jane feeling guilty about sharing her father's secret with her mother, with Jane entering into a series of poor relationships. Also, Fiona, feeling abandoned by her own father, and not understanding why her grandparents were unhappy with her mother. I felt like it was a story of unending sadness.
Rose
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Katy's mom, Carol Silver, was her whole world. So, when she dies, Katy is bereft. Then, the tickets that she bought for their trip to Italy arrive and Eric, Katy's husband, urges her to go. Katy tells Eric that she doesn't know what is left for them as a couple anymore. Katy leaves for her trip to Positano. While she is in Italy, she meets a woman, Carol, and Katy recognizes her as her own mother. How can this be? On this trip, Katy finds out things about her mother and herself as she explores and discovers Italy. In discovering Italy, she discovers her true self.
An enjoyable and bittersweet novel.
Norene
If Only by Robin Nadler
Really enjoyed it.
Susan
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
I loved learning about the Wright brothers and their part in the field of aviation. McCullough did a fantastic job of research and his writing is very interesting.
sherry
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I found this book very interesting and would often think about my what if's.
Linda
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
Entertaining and some good historical interweaving, but no where near as good as her first book, THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON.
Maryanne
Nightwork by Nora Roberts
Fascinating concept - a good guy doing bad things for good and bad reasons. Squishy, as one of the characters describe his morals. A very good read.
Wendy
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Weaving together fact and fiction, this story deals with criminal justice, racial identity, and the pandemic, all from the point of view of an indigenous narrator.
Vesna
Overkill by Sandra Brown
Book club discussion coming up on Monday night. Another great novel by Sandra, the suspense and dilemmas posed throughout the story really makes the reader think, what would they do in the same situation? Can't wait to hear what my club thought about it.
PJ
Judge's Waltz by Katherine Burnette
Great read!!!! Federal Judge O'Shea is murdered and found hanging from the courtroom chandelier. There is certainly no shortage of suspects when his electronic devices are found to have child porn and there are others that have problems with him, too. It's a collaboration of local, state, and federal agencies investigating the murder and they don't all play nicely with each other. Every bit of evidence is examined and reexamined from every angle. And it's very surprising what comes to light. I highly recommend this book to anyone that really enjoys a good whodunnit with a really surprising conclusion.
Elizabeth
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Loved it. Different. Would love another book about these women.
Judith
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Hopefully, once in a great while, you will read a book that will captivate, fantasize, and one you will remember for a very long time, and this book absolutely and unequivocally did just that for me. This is a magical story about three young people who live and love life over a 30-year span, with all of the successes and failures that life can bring.
Nadine
The Stranger in the Life Boat by Mitch Albom
While this story has all the elements of a “whodunnit,” the real question surfaces when they pull a 10th survivor into the lifeboat --- one claiming to be God himself. But is this bizarre, unkempt man who he claims to be? Is he, in fact, God? The question carries weight, as the man tells his fellow passengers that he will only save them once everyone aboard believes that he is who he says he is.The passengers must grapple with their faith as they scramble to stay alive in a situation almost entirely devoid of hope. They have called for God, and He has answered. Now they must accept Him; in doing so, they must attempt to make sense of His actions as well as confront their own.
Donna
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Wonderfully done descriptions of the people who helped in the background of the war.
Richard N B
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman
In this collection of essays, Backman speaks directly to his infant/toddler son about life and being a man. He covers such subjects as bullies, getting your child to eat, being careful, the importance of best friends, and love. It’s tender and funny and entertaining.
Tessa
This House Is Haunted by John Boyne
It is 1867 and Eliza Caine, whose father has just died and left her virtually penniless, responds to an advertisement for a governess position at Gaudlin Hall in Norfolk, England. In this work, Boyne focuses his considerable talent on writing a classic Gothic ghost story, with a writing style that is reminiscent of Dickens and Bronte. Eliza is a great heroine. The big climax is a bit over-dramatic, though typical of the genre. But the ending is downright chilling.
Marylyn
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Words are my 'game' and this book which weaves a story around the compilation of the first Oxford English Dictionary was my 'cup of tea'. Doing a bit of research into the real people in the book make it even more interesting to me. This is my book club's October selection and actually this was my second reading of this book, but I enjoyed it even more that second time through.
Marilyn
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexievich
This is not a page by page book, but one you can dip into at any juncture. The stories of each person interview is so compelling. The author tells the about the demise of the communism. Everyday citizens tell their own experiences during the last thirty years, what life was like in that time and how it is to live in the new Russia. The author has used interviews spanning the years 1991-2012 to depict to show the sorrows and triumphs of the human spirit.
Wendy
Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva
I finish one of Allon's adventures and can't wait for the next one. This one met the mark. I love how he can wipe out an adversary in one minute then be so kind to others. He stays in the art restoration theme and adds forgery. Well done!
Linda
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
An historical fiction novel based on a true story set at the end of WWII and its aftermath about the Martel family's courageous, miraculous journey to freedom starting in Ukraine. I was moved to tears - keep tissues handy!
Betty
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
Great short stories featuring Hercule Poirot and the one-of-a-kind Captain Hastings.
Ivy
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
This was a wow of a story. Mottley spares no reader from the depths of the streets in this true-to-life adventure.
Jean
Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva
Another thrilling story from Silva, not exactly another in the series that I loved. It does feature many of the characters that we love to read about. It has many thrilling moments to enjoy with our old friends. We see a bit more of Gabriel's family than we have before as well as a bit more of their personal lives.
Suzanne
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Usually I read thrillers/mysteries so this was a different genre for me. I liked the Hollywood-era background from early Malibu. A mother raising her children alone. I will now look for Reid's other books.
Sandra
In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
A lovely book for anyone who likes a little magic in their reading.
Rosemary
What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline
A family coming home from a high school game is carjacked and the daughter is shot. Suddenly the family is swept up by the FBI and put into witness protection! What is happening? Was it random? Were they targeted? If so, why? This is a book to keep you up into the wee hours trying to find the answers to all these questions and more. One of her best books, ever!
Susan
Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins
Lillie is not looking forward to her only child going away to college but on the night before his graduation, she finds out her husband is leaving her for another woman. Hows she copes with all this drama is somehow amusing and all so sad.
Jane
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
An enjoyable and informative read about a wife brought to America by her former Nazi rocket science husband and the problems she faces in the 50s. It taught me a lot about that time period and that unusual situation.
Raylene
A Long Way to Auschwitz by Simon H. Kohavi
Well written by a survivor of the Holocaust who demonstrates courage as he endures cruelty.
Rose
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Thanks to Kensington for providing me with this amazing book that tells in historical fiction form the story of the Willowbrook institution on Staten Island. When Sage Winters discovers that her twin sister, Rosemary, is not dead, but is actually living at The Willowbrook State School she is shocked and heartbroken. She travels to the school to see her sister. However, upon arrival, the staff believes that Sage is actually Rosemary, and they lock her up in the institution. The conditions are deplorable, and no one will believe her. Finally, a janitor, Eddie, befriends her and plans to help her escape. Sage discovers more terrifying secrets about the institution, and people start dying. Sage is desperate to escape. Terrifying!
Nicolette
The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman
The first half or so of this book felt like it was all “why don’t they listen to/believe me?” I wasn’t getting connected to the characters enough to stay interested. Then when the story picked up it felt obvious to me that it wasnt going to be the person we were pushed to believe it was. Flat and predictable to me.
Nicolette
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
I really enjoyed the flow of this mystery and how the drawings were incorporated. I wouldn’t consider this a scary book (although I picked it up for the fall/Halloween season), but that didn’t impact how much I enjoyed the story.
Nicolette
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
This is a feel-good character driven book. It took me a moment to get my balance as the story developed through more than one ‘main’ character. However, I felt like I knew them all well by the end. The ghost story element even felt so human that I would not describe it as such. Family is who you are born with but also who you surround yourself with.
Susan
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Strout's novels are some of the best out there and this one is no exception. Love curmudgeons. Strout reveals so much about her characters in so few words. An amazing writer.
Maureen
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
Interesting woman who was a exceptional trailblazer for her time. A great philanthropist.
Shelly
The Challenge by Danielle Steel
A group of seven children from Stillwater County go on a trip to Granite Peak, something they have done before but this time the trip turns into a dangerous twist and they all wonder they can survive the mountains which are noted to have bears. One of the children is a diabetic - will the insulin pump last? The parents along with the forest rangers form a search party after they have not returned home the first night. The second night more then 100 rescue-trained professionals are looking. Now the fear is are they alive or hurt. They think they might have seen them, but it is now dark and they are not in an easy area to reach.
Dianne
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Rom com. Two college freshman from small Indiana meet at a college function, becoming lifelong friends. As their lives take different paths they vacation together once each year. Friendship develops into love.
Linda
Ruby Red Christmas by Nicole Taylor Eby
Ruby Ward is stunned when her ex-husband Greg tells her he is marrying Julia, her neighbor, and wants to take their son on their honeymoon to Mexico. She will be alone for Christmas, which is a major holiday for her. Her friends rally around and take her to a resort overlooking the Pacific. She goes to the local coffee shop and starts talking to a man about her lonely life and he looks at her as if she's crazy. It would have been a cute book if she didn't whine so much about her ex. He's left and now it's time for her to get on with her life.
Linda
Country in Bliss by Freda Ann
Cali Rose arrives at an oceanfront villa in Bliss Cay hoping for relaxation. She never dreamed she would meet the man of her dreams. Blaze Shore is burned out due to the stress of continual tours on behalf of his record label and would now like a normal life. He would like to meet a woman he could fall in love with, marry and have children. He has about given up on his dreams until he meets the blonde next door.
Linda
Red on the River by Christine Feehan
In addition to being a nurse and in charge of the local search and rescue unit, Vienna Mortenson is a lucky gambler online and has won many tournaments. She has been invited to take part in a tournament to be held at a swank casino in Vegas and goes. She is the only woman playing and the men who lose to her are not gracious about it. She ends up the winner and goes to play against Daniel Wallin, the owner of the casino. He has never lost when playing poker but he did lose to Vienna. Now his security people are trying to kill her. Is he that sore of a loser or is the reason something else? She thinks Zale Vizzini knows but he is not at liberty to tell her.
Linda
Sound of Darkness by Heather Graham
FBI agent Mark Gallagher is assigned rookie agent Colleen Law and is not happy about it. But that changes when she interacts with accused murderer Carver and gets him riled up enough that he admits to things he ordinarily would not have. The FBI is certain he is the killer known as the Embracer but do not think he is acting alone. They are suspicious about the boyfriend of the latest victim. She was buried alive but not tortured as the other victims had been. She was found by Mark and Colleen and Mark’s dog Red. They are worried about other victims and have to find Carver’s protégé.
Linda
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Lily Wilder operates Wilder Adventures and is getting ready to take four guys out on a horseback trip when she looks at one of the guests. It couldn’t be, but it was! Leo Grady, her first love and the only man she has ever loved, is one of the guests and he is stunned when he sees her. He had fallen in love with her ten years ago and was still in love with her but fate kept them apart. Their leisurely horseback trip turns into a treasure hunt that turns deadly as Leo’s best friend betrays him. Lily and Leo are determined to get out of this mess and rekindle their old love.
Linda
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
In this book, Sparks tackles the issue of bipolar and how its alternating periods of mania and depression affect a person. Colby Mills took a vacation from his farm work to play his guitar and sing at a bar in St. Petersburg, Florida. He meets Morgan Lee, who is there with friends, and tells him she is going to Nashville to start her singing career and he should come too. But Colby has responsibilities at the farm. He gets a call from about his aunt having a stroke but he can't get in touch with his sister Paige. He is really afraid she might have had another bipolar episode and hopes he is not too late. He gets home and finds Paige with an empty prescription bottle beside her.
Marsha
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
What a lovely treat. This novel has it all -- mystery, charm, and unfolding of secrets that keep you mesmerized.
Rose
Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns
Delightful! When Maddy moves to New Bison on the shore of Lake Michigan because her great-aunt Octavia left Maddy her house, bake shop, and Baby - a 200 lb English Mastiff. Maddy is recovering from a break-up, and has an overbearing Navy Admiral dad, so she is determined to make this work. However, once there, she finds out that her aunt suspected that there was something sinister happening in the town, and one of Octavia's friends believes Octavia was murdered. Then, more people die, and Maddy and her new friends come together to continue the bakery and solve the murders. This is a great start to what I hope is a new series! It is funny - with all of Maddy's social media posts and Baby's innate sense of good vs. bad people.
Rose
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
It is March 2020, and William contacts Lucy to get ready to leave NYC. He is taking her to Maine to escape the strange happenings that are occurring. William, a scientist, knows that the virus is going to be dangerous, and he wants to protect Lucy. He also begs his adult daughters to leave NYC. Over the course of the next year, Lucy and William's lives, as well as the lives of their daughters change dramatically. It was interesting to read Strout's perspective on how lives changed during the pandemic. It was also painful to remember everything we went through, the lives lost, and how people treated the severity of the virus differently.
Nadine
The Stranger in the Life Boat by Mitch Albom
For book club - discussed many questions.
Tessa
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I was drawn to the book because of the promise of a heroine who faces some significant challenges. I did get that, and some other serious issues, along with the typical rom-com tropes, but the book fell flat for me. I really liked Chloe and totally understood both her insecurities and her desire to break out and do things. I also liked Red, the super of her apartment building with tattoos, a leather jacket and a motorbike, who promises to help her with her list. The chemistry between the two seemed genuine and I liked their banter. But the graphic sex scenes just turned me off. I’m still willing to try another book by Hibbert, but I’m in no hurry to do so.
Sean
The Last Dance by Martin L. Shoemaker
Martin L. Shoemaker gives us the tale of a rebellious captain who's form of rebellion is...caution. Seriously, he's hated because he's a by the book guy to the extreme. Its lame. Add to that he's completely unlikable but an amazing dancer and you have a hodgepodge of ideas that don't make a good story. The hard sci-fi aspect of this book is good, it's just all the characters that are bad. The author seems like he's new to how humans interact. Overall, a tedious and mostly unlikable book.
Thomas
Shattered by James Patterson and James O. Born
Excellent.
Rose
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
This was definitely not the book for me. It was supposed to be a retelling of Snow White and it did not resemble the fairy tale at all. Instead, the three characters in the title, Boy (stepmother of Snow, and mother to Bird), were strange women/girls. I felt the story was disjointed and the ending was ridiculous. Completely disappointed.
Janet
Stay by Allie Larkin
A lighthearted story. I enjoyed reading about Joe.
Nicolette
The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden
Worth the hype, this one had me guessing what was next with each eager page turn. And, for once, I had no idea what was coming! Run out and get yourself a copy.
Virginia
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
I hadn’t read any of Mr. King’s books for decades, but something about it resonated with me so I purchased the book. I’m so glad I did. It was the story I needed at exactly the right time. It held my interest all the way through and gave me a welcome escape. I liked it so much that I bought a copy for my adult daughter.
Beth
Winterland by Rae Meadows
WINTERLAND is fine historical fiction about the life of a gymnast in the Soviet Union during the 1970s. The reader is meant to understand this as typical. Anya is an eight-year-old girl living in Siberia. Her parents chose to live here in their zeal to support the great Soviet Union. Yet her mother has disappeared, and her disappearance becomes the great mystery running throughout this story. When the Soviet Union chooses Anya for gymnastics training, although she is happy and excited, her life is taken over by the state as if she no longer belongs to her father. And her trainer cares more for how she represents the Soviet Union than he does for the life of this child. Her life is not hers. This is how she grows up.
Judy
Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott
This collection of essays is one of those books you want to share with family, friends, and even total strangers. "Just read it!" The author's comfortable, happy life was upended when her teenage son suffered a serious epileptic seizure. His illness shook her pleasantly ordinary world and the family made the journey from panic to acceptance together. I was awestruck by the simple beauty and even humor of every entry in this diary of resilience. I dutifully returned the library book and bought my own copy.
Cheryl
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
I loved this book. It kept me guessing till the very end (and I still got it wrong). A great who-done-it along with family secrets. I highly recommend this book.
Kathy
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
To read about women prisoners sent to Australia in the 19th century was fascinating. The hardship and oppression they suffered was daunting. The mistreatment began when they were arrested for no real just cause. The voyage was long, arduous, and unsafe for these women. The native Australians were forced to become English women. The courage and fortitude these women showed was admirable. I often wonder if I could be that brave in those circumstances. I’m a big fan of historical fiction. Quite a page-turner as always with Baker Kline.
Cheryll
Healing After Loss by Martha W. Hickman
Received from a friend after the loss of my husband. She had told me it helped her after her husband's death, especially on the days of deep despair. The words of comfort have really helped me get through those really tough days.
Francisca
The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade
4.5 stars. What Quade’s characters share is that desire to “be someone else” and/or somewhere else, but have no real means of achieving that. They dream, but are somehow powerless to change their circumstances, falling back on old patterns of behavior, afraid to let go of their past to head into the future. Despite how they infuriated me, and how often I wanted to just shake some sense into them, I wound up really loving these characters.
Tessa
How to Raise An Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith
Book # 21 in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series set in Botswana and featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe and the other employees (partners?) of the agency, as well as friends and relatives. As is typical for this series, the mysteries are not murders, but a cousin who has some financial difficulties, or a woman with a straying husband, and also figuring out why the suspension in Mma Ramotswe’s beloved little white van seems to have gone bad…not to mention the peculiar smell coming from the back of the van.
Anita
That Summer in Berlin by Lecia Cornwall
This was a wonderful historical novel. Viviane Alden and her stepsister Julia living in England in 1936 are invited to visit a family friend in Germany during the Berlin Olympics. A friend who is a journalist, Tom is also going to report about the games. Viviane is an avid photographer, though not professional. Tom asks her to go to help him cover things that are really going on as the Nazis come to power at that time. She agrees. Great story along with much history. I loved this book!
Kimberley
Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory
I do appreciate the research and the author’s attempt to capture the essence of the 1670 London and New England. Unfortunately, this was a very long, tedious story that dragged from chapter to chapter. It is definitely a story needing a huge edit. There are lots of unnecessary minor details and side stories. This copy has very small print and very lengthy. It just didn't grab this reader.
Debbie
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie writes an intriguing story of twists and turns. It opens in the unlikely office of a dentist. Hercule Poirot must have his teeth cleaned and checked. The overworked dentist has many patients, but his assistant has been called away and cannot provide help. The dentist finishes with his patients, but the office boy finds the dentist dead. Inspector Japp rules that Henry Morley has committed suicide, due to a patient dying from too much anesthetic. Poirot thinks an evil plot has killed Morley, so he begins his investigation into the two deaths. What a journey Poirot must take to find the killer and the reason behind all the deaths. A delightful way to spend a day reading this delicious story.
