This contest period's winners were Anita N., Rose M. and Sharon E., who each received a copy of SAM by Allegra Goodman and THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins.
Jayme
Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar
This is the second book in I hope is a continuing series. Though I didn't read the first book (which I will soon remedy) this book can be read as a stand-alone. Centered in the lovely village of Clove Lore in England, the borrow a bookshop is a holiday trip where for two weeks book nerds can run their own bookshop. The characters of the town are quirky and endearing and of course the romance or romances are touching and uplifting. This was a wonderful happily-ever-after holiday book.
Beth
Everything Is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels
Erin Bartels writes excellent dialogue - and without the F word! How pleasant to read a novel with no smut. I read three other novels written by Bartels. Each was better than the last. I missed THE GIRL WHO COULD BREATHE UNDER WATER, so I can’t speak for it, but she seems to be continuing her better–and–better pattern with EVERYTHING IS JUST BEGINNING. Michael, a rock ‘n’ roll singer who was just kicked out of his band, meets his neighbor Natalie. Together they form a band of their own. She writes most of the music; he writes most of the lyrics. Natalie‘s father is a famous music producer, and he arranges a concert (gig) for them. Will their band and their relationship continue, or will it all end after this one?
Rose
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
This book is about the inhabitants of an apartment building and their lives. It takes place over a week in real time, but also has accounts of things that happened before. I thought it was interesting in the way the book was written, in the intertwined stories, and it its strange look at life. However, it wasn't really my favorite book. I did admire the author's style, but I also thought it a bit of a strange story.
Susan
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
It was a nice book to read between Thanksgiving and the end of 2022. Josie Silver did a good job of plot and character development. It wasn’t too complicated but just enough to keep my interest.
Judy
Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson
I picked this up at a Little Free Library in Thailand, and it has obviously been read a number of times, as it was well-used! I loved every minute of reading it and can’t wait to get my hands on some of her other books.
Susan
The Premonition by Michael Lewis
Interesting but disheartening.
Pat
The Greatest Beer Run Ever by John "Chick" Donohue
Wonderful true story recounting the journey the author took in 1968 to bring beer to his buddies stationed in Vietnam. Himself a Marine, who served there, now a merchant seaman tells us how he traveled there and back with so many adventures. What a great story!
Vikki
From Scratch by Tembi Locke
Listened on audiobook. Well-written memoir. I'm curious if there were pictures in the book version of this story. I loved learning about the Sicilian food and culture.
Lynn
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Unusual and fun!
MH
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylyn
I always have a hard time starting a Picoult book. The subject matter is always one that is shocking or repulsive (school shootings, abusive marriages, etc.) I actually went into this book not knowing the topic (except that it had bees). I wasn’t expecting a murder trial, but was expecting a twist at the end. Picoult fans will be informed and engrossed.
PJ
You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti
I really enjoyed this book. FBI Agent Laurel Snow is called home by her mother to investigate her uncle being arrested for murder after many female remains have been found down a gorge. She meets Huck Rivers of Washington Fish and Wildlife, a solitary individual who prefers to work alone and is tasked to work with Laurel on solving the murders. While they work together well, there is a lot of tension between the two and Huck seems to be always rescuing Laurel from something. Can they find the killer before there are more deaths? Is Laurel's Uncle being framed for something he didn't do? I admit that I was really surprised by the ending. I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes a good mystery.
Michelle
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
The beginning was definitely rough, and overall, this memoir wasn’t without flaws. But similar to Matthew Perry himself, there was so more to love than to hate. The most compelling chunk of his story and underlying theme is his tumultuous journey with addiction. For anyone who truly wants to get inside the head of an addict, he does a great job describing his constant battle with his demons of alcohol and opioids. His revolving struggle with sobriety was so hard to listen to, that at times I felt my throat thicken with apprehension knowing he was spiraling down again. He definitely showed his egomaniac side but to counter that his quick wit and raw vulnerability couldn’t help but make you want to root for him. I pray for his sobriety.
Jeanne
Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer
NEXT IN LINE by Jeffrey Archer is a well-written, entertaining fictional book involving HRH, the Princess of Wales in London 1988. There are a couple other storylines in the book so it bounced back and forth between the storylines, which I thought was a bit distracting. I would have preferred the whole book to be about Princess Diana and her security detail as Scotland Yard begins a secret investigation into the Royalty Protection team. Nonetheless, it was intriguing.
Lorraine
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
I binge this duo. This title one of their best! Romantic, soul-mate love affair since teens, and then they meet up 10 years later. Simple plot, but so complicated emotionally.
Rosa
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This masterpiece was life-changing for me. Barbara Kingsolver has modernized the story of David Copperfield in this story of Damon, a boy living in Appalachia. It is his story of survival through the foster care system, told in his voice in Kingsolver's beautiful prose. I savored every word, every emotion, and I didn't want it to end.
Elizabeth
Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda
I think this was my first book by her and I'll read more.
Linda
Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Another book in the Peachtree Bluff (on the GA coast) series and a Christmas story - win, win!
Nancy
No Plan B by Andrew Child and Lee Child
I have read all the Reacher novels but for some reason I didn't really like the Jack Reacher in this book. Seems like he has gotten more violent. Not even close to one of the best.
Nancy
America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Historical fiction centering on Thomas Jefferson and his daughter Patsy. I ended up not liking Mr. Jefferson very much, but the book was fascinating nonetheless.
Bliss
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Loved the character development and storyline. Jodi is a clever writer!!!
Pauline
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
It’s about the life of a family who live their lives because of choices the matriarch made.
Elizabeth
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
I didn’t know about Bletchley Park or the coders during WWII before I read this book, which was a great introduction to it. The author did a great job of capturing the feel and mood of that time. The characters were well drawn. I particularly liked the relationship between Mab and Francis. The prose was achingly beautiful and poignant in describing it. The ending was exciting, too, and it kept me up way past my bedtime to see how it all turned out!
Sharon
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
A sad book about the rampant drug use (as well as the conditions that lead to it), the broken families of Appalachia, the hard-won redemption of a few. Kingsolver once again does a marvelous job of bringing the reader into the story.
Linda
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Daniel Bellinger has put up with his stepdaughter’s shenanigans for the last time. He tells Piper he is sending her to Westport, Washington to run the bar that she inherited from her deceased father. He is providing a small allowance but after that she is on her own and she has to stay three months. Her sister Hannah goes with her. The bar is nothing but a slab of wood for a bar and wooden crates for tables. She is greeted by Brendan Taggart, captain of a fishing vessel, but not in a friendly manner. This changes the more they are around each other and they fall in love. He doesn’t think she will stay as LA is calling her name, but LA is not as important to her as it used to be. Home is Westport and Brendan.
Linda
How the Wallflower Was Won by Eva Leigh
Finn Ransome and Dom Kilburn are needing to find wives in the next eight months or their allowances will end. Finn makes a living off gambling and doesn’t need an allowance so he decides to help Dom find a wife. Finn has chosen Tabitha Seaton as the perfect wife for Dom but Dom is really not interested because he still loves the woman he jilted a year ago. Finn and Tabitha are attracted to one another and decide to marry in a business agreement. She needs to marry in order to join the Sterling Society, a group of intellectuals composed solely of men. He gives her the encouragement she needs to tackle the staid group and she gives him her love and support in showing him he is not the dunce his father says he is.
Linda
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
Love the Bromance Book Club books! You will find yourself laughing throughout the book. Braden Mack founded the club to help his pals with their love life dilemmas. He has been dating a woman he is serious about but she dumps him and he doesn’t know how to react. Braden goes to help Liv who was fired from her restaurant job. He feels responsible and offers her a job in any of his clubs. She pushes him away and tells him he’s done enough. Then she tells Braden about the restaurant owner being a sexual predator who has been paying off his victims. She wants to take him down and Braden volunteers to help her.
Linda
Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
Another great Bromance book! So many funny parts, especially when the Russian Vlad is involved. Alexis Carlisle and Noah Logan became friends when he helped her at the time she took down sexual predator Royce Preston. Noah is a computer genius who got names of other victims from Preston's computer. Now both want to be more than friends but neither knows what to do first. The Bromance Book Club guys have just the answer Noah needs--read a romance book! Alexis kissed Noah and he wasn't ready and told her to wait. She feels rejected. Noah needs help and fast.
Linda
Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch
Emmeline Pershing has lived at Winnover all of her life and hopes she doesn’t have to leave it now. She and her cousin Penelope have been in competition as to who would get to live there. Winnover is owned by their grandfather and he has stipulations as to who gets to live there. He is concerned about the continuation of his line so marriage and children are a requirement. Emmeline had talked William Pershing into marrying her to beat Penelope. Now they have been married eight years with no children and her grandfather is having all his kin at the castle for his birthday. Emme has lied and told relatives that she and Will have two children. Now they have to find two to act as their own.
Linda
A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore
Lady Lucinda Tedbury was banished from her home due to her unconventional occupation with the suffragist movement. She had a group of friends who rallied to promote equality for women. She purchased half of a publishing company and found that the other half was purchased by her childhood nemesis Tristan Ballentine. He spent a lot of time with her family and was always playing pranks on her. He has always loved her and now aims to make her love him. She is torn between wanting to be with him and working for the cause.
Linda
A Yuletide Kiss by Sabrina Jeffries, Madeline Hunter and Mary Jo Putney
Three short stories centering about travelers stranded at Christmas time and having to stay at The White Rose Inn.
Linda
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
Michael (Mako) Maroni always has to be the top dog. To celebrate his sister Hannah's birthday, he has rented a mansion in the mountains of north Georgia. Besides Hannah and her husband Bruce and Mako's wife Liza, he invites Hannah's best friend Cricket and her latest boyfriend Joshua. Hannah found a disturbing review about the house and is leery about going but Mako talks her into it. A big storm comes in and knocks out the power. Or was it the storm? Then Liza disappears and bloodstains are found on her bed. Mako and Bruce go outside to find her. There is someone else on the property and she hasn't come in peace.
Linda
Somewhere in the Dark by R. J. Jacobs
An excellent book - well written. Jessie is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is pulled in for questioning in the death of a country music singer. She had previously been charged with stalking the singer and a restraining order is issued. She was working a catering gig and hoped to remain unnoticed. Now someone is implicating her in the murder of her idol.
Jane
His Delightful Lady Delia by Grace Hitchcock
Want to discover opera houses in 1800s even behind scenes? So many secrets in a family. Delia's Mom was an opera star. Delia royalty but had no idea growing up. But her mom encouraged her to develop her talent. True love can love even when secrets keep popping up. Who is the real phantom? How many are there? Riches don't bring happiness. Kit would give up everything for the love of his life. Then dangers keep happening when second phantom shows up. This was my first book by Grace Hitchcock. Won't be my last. It is a historical inspirational.
Rose
An Irish Hostage by Charles Todd
Although this is Book 12, it was my first in the series. I will have to go back and read the entire set. Bess Crawford has been asked by Eileen Flynn to be a bridesmaid in Eileen's wedding to a former soldier, Michael Sullivan, in Ireland. However, since the Irish and the English are at odds due to Ireland's quest to be free, Bess's parents are concerned for her safety. When Bess arrives in Ireland, she is surprised that no one is awaiting her arrival. Worse, the groom is missing.
Eileen is distraught, and Bess agrees to help find Michael. However, they don't realize how much danger they are in, and who is working for them or against them in the town, perhaps in Eileen's own home? Exciting series.
Teresa
Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb
I loved this little Christmas-y book about a 5th grade boy in a Catholic school. It's reminiscent of the hilarious book, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, in that the voice of this kid, who gets into all sorts of scrapes that a boy his age might encounter, is always spoken with such an innocent lack of awareness of how funny it all is. Timely for the season, would be especially enjoyable for a former a Catholic school kid and a good choice for a YA reader, as well as an adult.
Teresa
The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
Interesting idea: two boys with the same name grow up near each other. One makes bad decisions, ultimately ending up in big trouble. The other makes bad decisions and ends up turning it around with much support from good people, and ultimately (as it turns out) was just elected in real life to a high office.
Sean
The Winter Sister by Megan Collins
I think it's important to realize that books don't have to have mind-bending twists and not everything is a mystery. This wonderful novel, even though the protagonist doesn't know whodunit, isn't a mystery. Its a tour de force of how powerful love is, both for good and bad. Family can be many different things to different people, but it should always be about support. So many characters here are broken and need help. This book won't be for everyone but I flew through it and wanted to know where everyone would land. Megan Collins is super talented and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Gerry
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds
Engaging read for the 10-14 age group, who will likely connect with the trials and tribulations of the middle school students in this novel that focuses on their individual lives after school.
Gerry
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Graphic novels have never appealed a great deal to me. This one was visually much more appealing than most: larger print and drawings, and lots of color. The subject matter remains a bit confusing to me, and I do plan to read it again before the upcoming discussion in my online book group. The author is AFAB, identifies as non-binary and asexual, and prefers e/em/eir pronouns. This memoir was developed initially while e was enrolled in a MFA program focused on comics (who knew that was a real option?!). It explores eir gradual awakening to and acceptance of eir gender identity and sexual preferences from early childhood through young adulthood.
Gerry
The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks
Fredericks' long fascination with the Lindbergh kidnapping led her to do extensive research about the case, with a particular emphasis on the Morrow and Lindbergh household staffs. She centers her story on Betty Gow, the young Scottish immigrant hired by the Lindberghs to care for their son, but also delves into the lives of other staff members in the two households, searching for clues to which of them might have been the "insider" long believed to have provided information, whether wittingly or not, to the kidnapper. The story is a compelling one, full of clues and red herrings; at different times, I was sure I had figured out where she would be casting blame, only to leap to a different conclusion in a subsequent chapter.
Gerry
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
A slow-moving, character-driven story of a family of four daughters growing up in Chicago in the late twentieth/early twenty-first century. One of their favorite books as children was LITTLE WOMEN, and the girls often laid claim to one character or another they felt best matched their own personality. The novel follows them over several decades as they grow into adulthood and begin to move toward independence, always circling back to the close-knit group they'd been since childhood. The characters in this novel - parents Charlie and Rose, daughters Julie, Sylvia, Emeline, and Cecelia, and several later entrants into the family circle too - gradually captured my heart, making me laugh and sometimes cry as I accompanied them on their journey.
Gerry
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosely
Ptolemy Grey is 91 years old and suffering from dementia. He has lived alone since his wife died more than twenty years ago, and as he becomes increasingly unable to manage on his own, a great-nephew steps up to assist. But when that nephew is killed in a drive-by shooting, Ptolemy is saved by an angel: a young woman, barely out of girlhood, who fled her unstable and abusive home to live with Ptolemy's niece, who agrees to help him out, and in her case, does so unstintingly, cleaning out his filthy and cluttered home, and helping him connect with a doctor who may be able to help him regain some independence. There's a trial medication available, but no guarantees. Ptolemy has a goal, so takes his chance. Ptolemy captured my heart.
Gerry
The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
THE DISPLACEMENTS is a compelling story centered on a family evacuated from their wealthy south Florida neighborhood when the world's first Category 6 hurricane struck. When circumstances destroyed their former wealth and status, Daphne and her children are forced to create new lives for themselves in a FEMA-run camp for displaced people in Oklahoma, among a diverse population including representatives of every social/economic/ethnic stratum. Once again, Holsinger's insights into human nature are on full display, as he creates a cast of vivid characters and events that challenge the most resilient among them. By the second chapter I was captivated, and continued reading at every free minute until the story reached its conclusion.
Gerry
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby
3-1/2 stars. The amount of brutal violence in this book almost made me put it aside, but by the time I realized it was going to continue throughout the story, I was sufficiently engaged that I wanted to see how it ended, so just made myself persist despite the gore. I liked the idea of the fathers coming to terms with their sons' homosexuality (though of course it would have been much better if that had occurred while the young men were still alive), and I certainly empathized with their desire for retribution even as the details of their actions were difficult to read. Well-plotted, with an excellent narrator for the audiobook, but not a book for the faint-hearted!
Gerry
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
This is the story of two young women, one Black and one White, thrown together under horrific circumstances in "the Trace" in 1920s Mississippi. Each has secrets she needs to hide, and both need help to survive without any family support to fall back on.
Gerry
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
This turned out to be a different story than I expected. In a way, it was two stories that barely connected. Most interesting to me was the story of Boris Pasternak and his lover, Olga, and the treatment they received from Soviet authorities over his writing of Dr. Zhivago. Less engaging was the expected story of female "spies" -- women working as typists for the newly-formed CIA who were sometimes used as couriers or information gatherers in the late 1950s. Those characters and that thread of the novel remained disappointingly under-developed.
Gerry
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by debut author Nikki Payne. Rom-coms have never been my favorite genre in books or in movies. This one was cute and seemed to have potential, but ended up being very typical of the genre. Still, it completed the final category in this year's 52 Books Challenge, so there's that.
Gerry
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
This was an informative and empathetic portrayal of two families in crisis. It raises many questions about privacy and secrecy, and the difference (is there one?) between the two. It contained so many random facts, not only about beekeeping and the lives of bees, but also about dozens of fairly arcane topics, and I did find that annoying at times. But that quibble aside, this was a novel that held my interest, touched my heart, and taught me much I didn’t know. That makes it worthy of at least four stars. It also made me seek out additional books by Picoult’s co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan, and add them to my list.
Gerry
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A sweet story about love and loss, narrated in large part by an octopus! I can’t help but wonder how much of Marcellus’ perceptiveness could really be possible. I enjoyed watching him orchestrate a happy ending for Tova, Cameron, Avery, and Ethan. 3/12 stars.
Gerry
The Bird Tattoo by Dunya Mikhail
A heartbreaking story about the struggles of the Yazidi people of Iraq when they were driven from their homes by ISIS (Daesh) early in the 21st century. Boys and men were forcibly conscripted into the military; women and girls were kidnapped, raped, and sold; families and communities were destroyed, and many of those who fought against all these horrors were killed. This is a novel, but the events it describes are very real, based on the author's work as a journalist in Iraq and her extensive interviews with Yazidi women, which is also documented in her earlier nonfiction work, THE BEEKEEPER: RESCUING THE STOLEN WOMEN OF IRAQ. It's not an easy story to read, but it's one that needs to be told.
Gerry
Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in A Divided Nation by John Freeman
Like many anthologies, this one was a mixed bag in terms of appeal and quality of writing. My favorite piece was Anthony Doerr's essay, "To the Man Asleep in our Driveway Who Might Be Named Phil". A close second was Annie Dillard's "Soup Kitchen." Unfortunately, those who choose to read this book are likely to be the ones already aware of and troubled by the inequities in our country. But even with that, there's something for all of us to learn from this collection, and if it prompts even a few to take real steps to address that inequity, then it's a valuable publication.
Gerry
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
I was surprised to realize that Ng's latest is a dystopian novel, and initially wasn't sure I was up for that. But she quickly pulled me in, and set the stage with an all-too-possible peek into a future America under a Patriot Act on steroids. The U.S. government, having decided that China is behind the nation's economic woes, passes the Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act (PACT), which calls for all Americans to demonstrate their patriotism by looking out for and reporting any evidence of unpatriotic beliefs or acts. Not only Anti-Chinese, but broader Anti-Asian harassment and violence quickly rise (because of course, White Americans can't distinguish one Asian ethnicity from another). Very endearing main character.
Gerry
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
This fictional biography of Marjorie Merriweather Post has just moved to the top of the list of my favorite books of 2022! The writing was outstanding, and the story moved forward so smoothly that I finished reading this book within a span of less than 24 hours. Marjorie Post did indeed live a magnificent life, and prior to reading this book I knew virtually nothing about it. Pataki's prose introduced a woman of beauty, wealth, and power, but more than that, a woman of immense character, who used the gifts she'd been graced with always with an eye to making the lives of others better. An inspirational figure throughout most of her 86 years, she left an incredible legacy of service to her country and its citizens.
Gerry
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This collection of essays is an interesting look back at the Obama years and their aftermath from the perspective of an articulate, insightful Black writer. Originally published between 2008 and 2016, some have aged better than others, the author acknowledges. In this compilation, Coates has added introductory comments to each essay, providing context and post-publication reflection. Reading and listening to this book (narrated by the author) has been an engaging and stimulating experience. I learned more of Coates' own history, in addition to a great deal about the sad history of discrimination against Black Americans throughout our country's history, and its impact even in the present day.
Gerry
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
This was a re-read for my in-person book club, and my previous rating of five stars still holds. I loved every word of this novel, and found it all the more amazing because it is the author's first. Wilkerson managed to craft an intricately plotted family story with well-developed and interesting characters, and at the same time to weave in themes of race and class, voluntary and involuntary migration, cultural appropriation, family secrets and traditions, and so much more, without ever becoming pedantic or losing the thread of her story. A magical story both times. Loved the characters, and their complicated history over three generations and multiple countries. Much to think about and discuss.
JaLynn
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
I loved this book. It is Book 2 in a series. This book was even better than the first. The characters were great and the story was so fast-paced.
Lisa
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
I love books about the impact of books and reading. The growth of the characters as they read the books on the reading list was the catalyst for the plot.
Laura
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
This book is a bout a woman Ann who gets an internship at the Cloisters. While there, she researches Tarot in history and discovers what could be the key to fortunetelling. It has a very cool, gothic mystery feel. I loved the setting in this museum.
Francisca
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
Historical fiction that looks at the issues of “transport” wherein women convicted of crimes were sent to Australia territories to “work off” their sentences. Kline also deals with the issues surrounding colonialist’s treatment of the indigenous population, with the story of Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of an Aboriginal chief, who is taken in by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land (now known as Tasmania). The treatment these women endured was brutal and dehumanizing, but Kline’s characters band together to support one another and triumph.
Virginia
A Wish for Winter by Viola Shipman
I was so excited to win this book. I love any thing by Viola Shipman. This is a perfect book for the holiday season. It reinforces the need for hope and joy, but it offers the wisdom that forgiveness is necessary, not just of others, but ourselves as well so we can move on.
Sonia
This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan
Love this book. I borrowed it from the library, but I just ordered a copy of my own so I can read it again and mark it up!
Anita
The Lost Family by Jenna Blum
This was a beautifully-written book about Peter, a man who survived a Nazi Concentration camp but sadly his wife Masha and twin daughters did not. When Peter comes to the U.S. after the war he opens a restaurant named for his late wife. Years later he meets a much younger woman, June, a model who dines in the restaurant. He likes her and they start dating. Eventually June is pregnant and they marry. There are many problems in the marriage. Peter blames himself for the lose of his family, and he spends many long hours running his restaurant. I thought this was a great book.
Kimberley
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
This love story was a joyful, uplifting story. Taking place in Nashville, it follows a country music star and an heiress to a whiskey distillery family. The BROS book club is an added surprise. The characters are all very interesting and fun. It is a quick read for the holidays.
Carol
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
If you are looking for a moving story of friendship and family that makes you feel good from head to toe, then you need to read Shelby Van Pelt’s REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES. Recently widowed and lonely, 70-year-old Tova Sullivan works the night shift as a cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. Tova believes in keeping herself busy and finds herself enjoying her work/relationship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, who was taken in as a rescue on Day 1299 of his four-year (1460 day) life span. His observations and ruminations (which he shares on human beings) are filled with humor and wry wisdom.
Kathleen
Hospital by Kyle Bradford Jones
I read this book in a few hours and it was very enjoyable. Described as "A Medical Satire of Unhealthy Proportions", this short story was one I needed to read for a chuckle. The protagonist of the story by Kyle Bradford Jones is Dr. Camus, and he is a jerk, likes no one, belittles everyone. He isn't even a good doctor as he misdiagnoses most of his cases. His favorite diagnoses are pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoniosis, which is his favorite Wikipedia diagnosis. He doesn't even like himself I don't think. The CEO of the hospital, Rosencrantz, can't replace him because it would be costly and time-consuming. He has a censor go around after Camus to try to calm Camus and his outbursts.
Kay
My Four Seasons in France by Janine Marsh
The adventure continues of the time Janine Marsh and her husband live full time in the house they have renovated in the North Eastern part of France, more stories of their neighbors and good times they experience as they settle in full time for a life in the countryside. The first part of the story started with "My Good Life in France", where they found their new home and life.
Kay
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone
Do not read the last two pages of the book! The story unfolds into multi-layered intrigue which kept me on the edge of my seat to the book finish where the ending is revealed.
Kay
French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris by Scott Dominic Carpenter
Lots of French language traps are revealed and explained. Interesting to read about apartment living in Paris, how the committee runs the building and the constraints of the laws and the resistance put up by the of the building residents. Informative and enjoyable read.
Rose
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
This is a very cleverly crafted thriller about a mom who witnesses her son stabbing and killing a man. She is so shocked about this and shaken to her core that she actually begins waking up in the past so she can determine what caused her son to become a killer. Jen and Kelly have been together for about 20 years and have a teenage son, Todd. Todd stabs a man, and when he is arrested, Jen can't believe it. She keeps going back in time to try to change what happened. As she goes farther and farther back, she uncovers secrets about her family. Can she change the outcome? I really enjoyed this unique story of a mother's love for her family and what she would do to change the course of history.
Rose
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
Gilda is depressed, anxious, and consumed with death. She is in a car crash and breaks her arm, and gets fired from her job. She looks into therapy, and ends up at a church. When Fr. Jeff mistakenly asks her if she is there for a job, she agrees. She finds that she is taking over for Grace, an elderly woman who was the church secretary. Gilda, however, is an atheist and a lesbian, and doesn't want Fr. Jeff to find out, as she believes this will cause her to lose her job.
When Rosemary emails Grace asking about why she hasn't heard from her, Gilda doesn't have the heart to tell Rose that Grace is dead. So, she replies as if she is Grace. Meanwhile, a nurse is arrested for killing elderly people. All this is tied together. Excellent!
Karen
Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me by Ralph Macchio
Loved this book. Loved Ralph before reading this. Love him even more now!
Sandra
A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia
This was a fun book with lots of twists and turns and an interesting look into the world of magazine publishing.
Sandra
Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini
This book provided a fascinating look at a little-known part of our country's military history. I recommend!
Sandra
Sister Stardust by Jane Green
This book transports you to a time and place. A fascinating look at the world of free love, drugs, and rock and roll amid the opulence of Marrakesh in the late 1960s.
Maureen
Aren’t You Forgetting Someone? by Kari Lizer
If you want to laugh out loud this is the book for you! Ms. Lizer’s essays on being a middle-aged woman with college aged kids and parents were hilarious and true to life. She is the modern-day Erma Bombeck!
Angela
The Letter From Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd
This book is number one in a series and I will continue reading the next book in this series. Cassandra lives in a boarding house for young women without parents. The mistress of the house confesses on her death bed that she knew Cassandra's father all along. She was in possession of a two-year old letter from Mr. Clark, the master of Briarton Park, that hints at her identity. When travels there in hopes of meeting him she finds that he has passed away. But she meets James Warrington, the new master of Briarton Park, and his two daughters. But when the attorney who tracks her down with all documents to prove her parentage is killed she has to figure out who killed him and prove her parentage. She becomes a teacher to his girls.
Becky
The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh
Daring, pride, sisterhood, tragedy. The tale of two women, both serving in the “Wrens,” during WWI and WWII. Some romance also!
Becky
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Beakers, unrecognized innovator. 1960s female chemist who goes from a research lab position to hosting a TV cooking show! Hilarious!
Angela
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
The book was a mystery and kept me guessing until the very end. This was about a woman whose name was used for her grandmother's all-time bestselling book. So the whole family comes home for her 80th birthday. It was told by a fortuneteller that she would not make to her 80th birthday. Then one by one each person in the family begins to be killed and no one knows who it is or why. They believe that its because she read her will and she will leave the house to her granddaughter the youngest in the family. It's a great story. This was my first Alice Feeney book but it won't be my last. I will have to go back and read her back list.
Janet
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
Loved the throwback go the early 1990s. Charlie Jordan reminded me of me during my college years and had courage to realize she wasn’t somewhere she could stay. Josh Baxter was appealing as the man of interest one wasn’t sure if he was decent, or a killer on the run. Story reminded me of the film "The Nature of the Beast" with Eric Roberts and Lance Henriksen, taking a road trip and a guess as to who did what. Exciting suspense and easily relatable characters may have me giving this a second read.
Rose
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
I enjoy reading historical fiction, especially when I learn about someone I had not known about previously. Nanee is modeled on the heiress Mary Jayne Gold who helped smuggle artists and other intellectuals out of France. In this book, Nanee is a pilot who is working as a postmistress so she can pass information in support of the resistance. She meets and falls in love with Edouard Moss, a widower and Jewish photographer who has escaped the Nazis, but is put in a French internment camp. He gives his daughter Loki to friends to keep her safe. Nanee wants to help them escape. This is a tale of resistance and love, as well as sacrifice. I am amazed at the courage of those who put their lives on the line to help others escape the Nazis.
Richard N B
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
I am a fan of Ray Bradbury’s and I initially found it interesting to read about where his story ideas came from. But, despite my liking his works of fiction, I found this collection dissatisfying as a whole. The fact that the collected essays spanned a couple of decades of his thoughts/writings probably didn’t help.
Rose
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara
I have had this book on my TBR for a year, and finally picked it up! I really enjoyed the author's story of the Japanese Americans resettlement in the U.S. during WWII. It shames me that our country treated fellow citizens in this way. Aki Ito's older sister, Rose, has moved to Chicago ahead of their family. As they set out to meet her, they are met with unwelcome news. Rose is dead, killed by a subway train. Aki is determined to find out the truth about her sister's death. During her investigation, she uncovers some ugly secrets. This is a well-written story which shows the dark side of prejudice and the consequences of not being able to speak up to protect ourselves. Let's learn to do better. I plan to read more from this author!
Samantha
Push by Saphire
I had a hard time with the graphic language in this book, yet I understood the purpose behind it. I absolutely adored her teacher who kept her motivated, got her to think outside the box as well as being her cheerleader. There are a lot of difficult parts to read through and it made my heart ache as I know this is normal for some people. Overall, it was a fast yet graphic and intense read.
Brenda
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
A historical fictional novel taking place in 1932 in which the main character, Violet, joins a group of women who embroider kneeling cushions for Winchester Cathedral. Violet lost her fiance in the Great War and is searching for some purpose in life where women have very few options. Tracy Chevalier is one of my favorite authors. I own all of her books.
Francisca
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
This was a delightful rom-com. The city of Edinburgh is described as a virtual living Christmas card during this season, with fairy lights and snow and decorations, and all the shopkeepers on the street hosting parties. Our down-on-her-luck heroine will meet two promising romantic leads: a famous bestselling author and a bedraggled college professor. Of course there’s a hugely successful attorney sister Carmen feels inferior to, and the additional drama of the “mean-girl” nanny. But never fear, this holiday romance will deliver on the promise of an HEA ending.
Kim
Falling Stars by Fern Michaels
This is a festive, winter love story. A famous action movie star meets a ski instructor whose family owns the resort. Love ensues. The love story takes place in the majestic ski area north of Denver. The author shares lots of Colorado tidbits, delicious food and recipe hints, plus the magic of the holidays. It’s a quick read.
Rose
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Set during The Troubles (1970s), Cushla works as a parochial school teacher in Belfast, and helps as a barmaid at the family pub. One night, she meets Michael, an older married man. He is a Protestant barrister representing IRA members. The father of one of Cushla's students is injured, and she offers the family assistance. Meanwhile, Cushla begins an affair with Michael, which she knows is wrong, but she can't help herself. Tragedy strikes and Cushla examines her part in it. In 2015, at an art exhibit, she remembers the time during The Troubles. Haunting book.
Rose
Something From Tiffany's by Melissa Hill
Cute story, but you really have to suspend disbelief that something like this would happen. After losing his love Jane to cancer, Ethan Greene plans to propose to his girlfriend Vanessa while in NYC for Christmas, having purchased a 2-carat diamond ring from Tiffany's with the help of his 8-year old daughter, Daisy. But on Christmas morning, she opens the iconic blue box to find a silver charm bracelet. Realizing there was a mix-up, he tries to find the missing ring, but will he find more than just the ring? Will the Tiffany magic lead him to find his true love? Meanwhile, Gary is hit by a cab, in a hospital while his girlfriend, Rachel, waits for his recovery. He has the ring! Rachel thinks it is for her, and he doesn't tell her!
Liz
The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake
During the late 1800s women were not allowed to practice medicine. Nora Beady loses her family at a very young age and is taken in by the eccentric Dr. Horace Croft. He allows her to become his private assistant in his clinic. When a new surgical resident, Dr. Daniel Gibson arrives, she is forced to become. a “proper “ young lady. This does not last long and soon Nora finds she can no longer hide her skills. After making a remarkable discovery, Nora must decide whether to stay invisible and let the men take credit for her work or let the world know and hope they will acknowledge who she is and what she has done.
Sherri
The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Clean, fun read about mother-daughter relationship, cancer, and widowhood. I enjoyed the faith input into the story without being overly "preachy" and the ice cream quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
Janelle
All the Dark Places by Terri Parlato
Great book! Suspenseful and keeps you guessing.
Linda
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
I enjoyed this second book but not as much as Joella's first book, A LITTLE HOPE. This one felt a bit like a Hallmark movie. There are three main characters who are suffering from loss -- Ella's young daughter is gone, Chuck is saddened and has regrets after losing his wife, and Ella's beloved father has tragically died. There are several solid secondary characters that add to the storyline. The prose is solid but wordy at times and the ending was predictable. 3.5 stars.
Rose
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
The prequel to WE WERE LIARS, FAMILY OF LIARS is set 27 years earlier, and also has tragic events. Do not read this if you haven't read WE WERE LIARS due to spoilers! Johnny, and his mother, Carrie, are sitting in the kitchen and he asks her to tell him the worst thing she ever did, so she recounts the summer when she was a teen and she began to see her dead sister, Rosemary, and when the boys came. This is the start of them being a family of liars. Pfeff is an irresistible boy that Carrie likes. She witnesses him doing things she doesn't like, and that changes everything. Her sisters help her, as does her father - thus cementing their lives as liars.
Carrie tells all this to Johnny, also a ghost. Not as good as WE WERE LIARS, IMO.
Rose
Judgment by Joseph Finder
While at a convention, married Judge Juliana Brody makes a fatal mistake. She steps out of her good girl persona, and sleeps with a stranger. Later, when at trial, the stranger enters the room as a co-counsel. She is blackmailed to decide the case in favor of the defendant or her reputation as a judge will be ruined. Determined to fight back and protect her family and her reputation, Juliana enters into a dangerous world with murderers, financial thieves, and hackers. She enlists the help of her friend, but is very concerned as many in her world are killed. An exciting legal thriller.
Rose
Nowhere Girl: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Cheryl Diamond
Wow, this is quite a memoir. Living her life on the run, Cheryl Diamond constantly changed names, countries, and her religion. Her parents and her brother and sister moved from country to country. It was all a mystery to her as to why they were running, and why they had no other family. Known as Harbhajan as a child, she then becomes Crystal, then Cheryl. Finally, as she becomes older, she learns more about her family, and the secrets they are keeping. She tries to make sense of her identity and her roots. When she finally discovers the truth, she is surprised by more than just the truth of why they are on the run, but also her family. Hard to believe that people live this way and survive. Amazing.
Sean
Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker
I've wanted to read this for a long time as I love the show Deadwood and movies like Tombstone & 3:10 To Yuma. And this was solid. I don't think it was great by any stretch, but it was enjoyable. Virgil Cole is a super interesting character and so is Everett Hitch. The writing style here was also interesting. However, I felt it rushed through important moments and then it sluggishly meandered in others. I also thought it would have been better to meet some of the townsfolk. Overall, a decent read but I'm not in a rush to read the next one.
Debbie
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington
Lucy Adlington retells the horrors of the Holocaust with personal stories of a small group of women who survived due to their sewing skills. The Germans needed haute couture amid World War II and turned to captured Jewish women in Auschwitz. Adlington captures the background of the Nazi movement in many chapters, many a little too many before turning to the group of Jewish concentration women forced to sew for the Germans. Adlington’s story presents many photographs of the women and the conditions of their existence. Loyalty and friendship shine through all the atrocities of Auschwitz.
Debbie
The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylvainen
Foreign names trouble this reader as I have a tendency to confuse the characters, but I must learn to focus more on the story. THE END OF DRUM-TIME forced me to concentrate on the saga of the frigid Scandinavian landscape in 1851. The tale involves many families and relates the problems of daily living in this chilly tundra. Families travel hours via reindeer pulled wagons to reach the one local church. The beliefs and customs of the Sami, Lapps, and other Scandinavians enter the story as people attempt to survive the hardships of this location. An amazing story of love, hate, and friendship.
Lisa
Cougar From Hell by Marika Ray
All the Hellman brothers are sexy and swoon-worthy so it wasn’t surprising that Daxon could steal the heart of a single mom after only a short but satisfying meeting. What a surprise when two years later she would drive up to a house he was building for a client he had never met in person. Upon seeing Daxon, Rita quickly pretended they had never met for the benefit of her impressionable daughter, Ruby. Of course, forgetting about Daxon was impossible, but Rita wasn’t ready to admit that to him. He was even more handsome and virile as she remembered and when he won over her daughter, she knew she was in big trouble. You can’t deny what your heart wants and Daxon’s charming and seductive ways were too hard to resist.
Katrina
The Stolen Hours by Allen Eskens
Not as twisty as I would have liked, and in my opinion this book was predictable. I did like the author's writing style though.
Laura
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Nice story. I don't understand the big hype. It's well written. The octopus is fun. Not a big deal to me.
Linda
Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane
Harriet Hatley is still upset with how she was treated by her old boyfriend, Scott Dyer. She learns he is to be married and feels she needs to let his fiancé know how Scott really is. But her good deed backfires when Scott reads the letter Harriet wrote and responds on social media making her the villain. His response costs her bookings in her wedding photography business. She gets support from her landlord Cal Clarke as he listens and makes suggestions. She thinks she is not in his league but Cal has fallen in love with her. Does she feel the same toward him?
Linda
Before I Do by Sophie Cousens
Audrey and Josh have been living together since they got engaged. As their wedding nears, she is having doubts, especially when his grandmother keeps talking about omens. She remembers a young man she met years ago and wonders what would have happened if they had got together. Then he shows up at the wedding as Josh’s sister’s date. Fred is as stunned as Audrey. Did she choose the right man to marry?
Linda
The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber
Heartwarming story where a grandmother tells a story to her two grandchildren about two guys who had been friends since childhood. One is a pastor and one is a bartender, and they decide to switch jobs for a week. The bartender gets ready to sit back and watch the football game as he thinks taking the pastor's place would be a piece of cake. Boy is he wrong! The pastor learns that his friend's job is backbreaking, not only trying to fill everyone's order but then the cleaning up afterward. At the end of the story, the children are told the story is true and the bartender is their grandfather and the pastor is their uncle.
Linda
The House on Olive Street by Robyn Carr
Gabby found four lost souls and gathered them together. All were writers of some sort and would meet at her house to talk about their latest book endeavor or upcoming events. Rarely would they discuss personal things. Gabby was a smart lady and realized they all needed each other. They were shocked when they assembled at her house to surprise her with a birthday party only to find her dead body. She had left her oldest friend Elly a letter asking that the group go over her papers and manuscripts to dispose of. That is when they found her last manuscript about her lost love.
Linda
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
Gwyn Jones is unhappy to find that Llewellyn (Wells) Penhallow has come to Graves Glen and means to stay. She hates to admit it but she is attracted to Wells. Graves Glen used to be under the protection of the Penhallow family but now the Jones family has that honor. Gwyn finds her magical power lessening and then it’s gone. She blames the ring he wears that was given to him by his father. When Wells returns to Wales to find a cure, Gwyn is kidnapped by a ruthless group of witches who want her blood, but it is Wells who comes to save her.
Linda
Isn’t It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams
This book is about the Russian - Vladimir Konnikov, hockey player for the Nashville Vipers and a member of the Bromance Book Club. Vlad and Elena have been married for six years, but no one has seen her as she has been in Chicago working on her journalism degree. Now she comes and tells Vlad she wants to return to Russia and work on the story her father was working on before he disappeared. He wants a real marriage but doesn’t know how to tell her that he loves her. But his Bromance pals are there to help. Love the Bromance Book Club series! So funny and one can just imagine a man reading a historical romance book!
Linda
Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin
Ava Burch and her tracker dog Huck are searching for a lost child when she comes upon a deserted campsite. Although everything is coated with dust, there is a woman's shoe and a car key fob inside the tent. She thinks it's strange and mentions it to the sheriff but he brushes her off. Detective Grant Wycoff hears her and goes with her out to the site, but someone has broken it down and taken everything away. Since several women have gone missing in the park, they wonder if the campsite belonged to one of the missing women. What happened to the women? Ava decides to do a little investigating on her own.
Tessa
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
This was a book group selection, so I was expecting a fun romp of a story and was surprised by the murder. The book is actually a series of short stories, all featuring 88-year-old Maud and her interactions with various neighbors in her apartment building. It’s a fast read with an interesting premise.
Beth
Snow by John Banville
Several of my favorite authors are Irish and now, with SNOW by John Banville, I have just added another to my list. This is a whodunit that kept me guessing from beginning to end. SNOW is a mystery that takes place in Ireland at Christmas time when snow and ice and inclement weather prevail. (Coincidentally, that’s when I read it, with much the same weather.) These are the conditions when Detective Inspector St. John (pronounced "sinjun”) Strattford investigates the gory murder of a priest. As the story continues, you will see that many characters might have done it; some even had good reason to. But the Catholic Church and, therefore, the majority of the police department, want to hush this up and call it an accident.
Rose
The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
It is the summer of '77, and a teen waitress, Beth, goes missing. Teens Heather, Brenda, and Maureen are best friends and in a band. Heather notices that Brenda and Maureen seem to be growing up without her, and their interest in sketchy boys concerns her. Her sister, Junie, also is becoming interested. Heather is taking on a lot of responsibility at home, with her mother very depressed. Her dad, is the district attorney, but when Heather and Brenda witness their friend Maureen doing something questionable, Heather and Brenda don't mention it to her dad. Then Maureen goes missing at the quarry. What follows is a tense thriller about town secrets, family secrets, growing up and losing your innocence in the saddest way. Good novel.
Francisca
The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
Book Four in the 44 Scotland Street series continues the varied stories of the current (or former) residents of the apartment complex. What I love about the ensemble series is that each book gives us just a glimpse into their lives. We pick up where the last book left off, and end with many issues still unresolved. It’s the same way we encounter casual friends, catching up when we see them, but not knowing how things will turn out once we depart. And yet, happy to see them again and catch up once more.
Fran
The Haunted by Bentley Little
For fans of creepy and sometimes dark horror, Bentley Little is your author! I could not read this one before bed! Set in an old creepy house, one family finds that some places you cannot call home! The little tidbits of history for the street were also interesting!
Rose
In the Dark We Forget by Sandra SG Wong
When a young woman is found beaten and abandoned on the side of the road, it is discovered that she is suffering from amnesia. As the story unfolds, her brother, Cass Li, helps Cleo remember her life prior to the attack. Both their parents are missing, and Cleo becomes a suspect in their disappearance. When it is revealed that Cleo and Cass's mother was the sole winner of the Canada lottery $47 million prize, a motive is established. I thought this was good, but a bit too long. The case wraps up nicely at the end, but it is just a few paragraphs after such a long and involved story.
Rose
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
Margot, a journalist, returns to her hometown of Wakarusa, IN to care for her uncle Luke who is losing his memory. When she overhears a story of a missing girl, Natalie, she can't help but compare it to the death of her best friend, January, twenty years earlier. As she tries to piece the murders together, she begins to find out information about her family and the small town community, and the secrets they have held for years. This reads like a true crime novel. It leaves you with an uneasy feeling at the end, when the truth is revealed.
Jennifer
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Such a great book! Get ready for this heartwrenching, gut-twisting, heart-pounding romance novel! Colleen Hoover does not disappoint. I was skeptical to read her book because of all the hype. However, once I picked up this book I did not want to put it down. I finished this book in two days! If you love a good romance novel, this is it!
Rose
When She Finds You by A J McDine
Obsession and revenge play a big part in this novel. Sophie and Lou were best friends in their younger days. But now, years later, Sophie is married to Matt and Lou's husband, Ed, has died. Ed and Sophie had been an item when they were younger. Lou believes that Ed still loved Sophie. Sophie is now pregnant, after trying many times. Since she and Lou had grown apart, Sophie became friendly with her hairdresser, Roz. When Sophie's life starts going downhill, she wonders if Lou is jealous enough to harm Sophie. The secrets in their past come out in the end.
This is a good debut novel, and I will read more from this author.
Rose
Black Dog by Stuart Woods
Joan inherits a fortune from her aunt who is murdered. Eddie, the aunt's stepson, disagrees that Joan should inherit the assets, and he does everything he can to change the outcome of the will. Stone discourages him every way he can. However, Eddie continues to try to infiltrate the various homes his stepmother owned. After a few close run-ins, the situation is handled. This is a decent Stone Barrington thriller. One of the last few from the author who died in 2022.
Rose
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
The Story family had a break about 25 years ago when the wealthy grandmother disinherited the parents. Now, the cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah are invited to work at her island resort. They don't know their grandmother, but the parents force them to go, hoping they will be brought back into the grandmother's good graces. While on the island, Milly and Aubrey discover a secret about Jonah. As they share each other's stories, and meet their uncle, they discover secrets about their families, and what happened in a fateful summer 25 years earlier. I enjoy reading YA novels and I like McManus as an author, this one did not disappoint. I liked the last sentence, too! Quick read.
Rose
Distant Thunder by Stuart Woods
Giving this 3 stars because I felt that some of this was a little ridiculous. Of course it was typical Stone Barrington - flying all over the place to his various properties, bedding multiple women, and escaping close calls on his life. In this one, while vacationing in the middle of a storm, a dead body shows up on his property. Thought to be John Collins, one of Lance's men - it is later found not to be. However, in the meantime, Stone is involved with Vanessa, John's "widow". So Stone tries to find out who is after John, and also after Stone. Explosive ending, literally.
Linda
The Last Mile by Kat Martin
Abigail (Abby) Holland had grown up hearing her treasure-hunter grandfather King Farell talking about the Devil’s Gold. Now he is presumed dead and Abby has the map he left her and is determined to go search for the gold. She hires Gage Logan, explorer in his own right, and he agrees to lead the search team. They start out on Superstitution Mountain where men are following them. Following clues left by King, they head to Mexico to find the gold hidden by the Peralta family. Mexico brings more dangers.
Linda
One Last Chance by Kat Martin
The book is about the third Logan brother. Edge is ex-Green Beret with the build of a warrior with piercing blue eyes. He now works for Nighthawk Security as does Skye Delaney. She is as attracted to Edge as he is to her but she's leery of being with any man after the disgusting look her ex-fiance gave her after one look at her scarred leg. She was severely injured saving a fellow soldier from a burning Humvee. She doesn't want to see that look on Edge's face. He tells her he doesn't see a scarred leg, but the bravery of a soldier saving a fellow soldier. She fell in love with him but knew his first love was the Army and he would go back when he clears his name. That was his intention, until he realized how much he loved Skye. Great book.
Linda
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Just released from a correctional facility for her part in an armed robbery, Stella Schmidt is looking at a window display and finding it obnoxious. Aiden Cook walks up and asks for her opinion about the display. She is not shy with her response and he tells her to put in her application for the job. She has no idea that Aiden's family owns the store. Thinking she will never get the job due to her jail record, she is stunned when Aiden calls her and gives her a trial period. Her window display is a win and brings in lots of customers. Aiden and Stella are attracted to each other but she knows she is way unsuitable for him. He does not agree.
Linda
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Part of the book is narrated by Henry Lamb, son of Henry and Martina who are owners of the house at 16 Cheyne. He tells of his mother’s invitation to others to come stay with them, but their stay turns into taking over the house after Henry’s father suffers a serious stroke. Daniel Thomsen says he is a physiotherapist but he’s really a con artist and has stolen everything of value from the house and everyone is kept under his thumb. Henry Jr. is ready to revolt and he uses his knowledge of herbs to take out Daniel. This left four teens and a baby and all wait for the baby to return at twenty-five when she will inherit everything. Very confusing book.
Linda
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
This is the follow-up to THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS. The bones of Birdie Dunlop-Evers have been found and the missing woman's case is now a homicide. Detectives want to find out what went on in the house at 16 Cheyne Walk but it is difficult to find anyone who was there. Henry and his sister Lucy are found in Chicago and are interviewed by video at Chicago PD. Detective Inspector Owusu knows he is being lied to but he has no proof. He has to dig more extensively into the former inhabitants of the house. The book cleared up the loose ends and we learn what happened to Henry, Lucy, and Phin.
Linda
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Phoebe Walsh grew up a child of bitter divorce. She left with her mother while her brother Conner stayed with his father. As a result of the hate and discord she saw between her parents she did not trust relationships. She meets Sam Dennings when she goes to clean out her father’s house after he died. She and Sam became friends, then more than friends. When he says he’s falling in love with her, it freaks her out. She says things she later regrets. She realizes she loves Sam, too. Will he accept her apology or will he refuse to listen?
Tessa
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
A 64-year-old postman about to retire decides to make one more effort at finding his lost love. This was just delightful. My heart went out to Albert and I loved watching him bloom as he slowly made efforts to truly connect with the people on his route, and to begin searching for his lost love. Once Albert comes out of himself a bit he learns that many other people have struggles and face heartaches of their own. He learns much about compassion and friendship and learns to open up and live rather than just exist. He certainly deserves his happily ever after!
Liz
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood icon from the 1950s - 2017. As she nears the end of her life she summons an unknown writer, Monique Grant, to her luxurious NY apartment in order for her to write an authorized biography of Evelyn’s life. Monique does not know why she was chosen, but accepts the job. The interview process takes only a few weeks, but what Monique learns about Evelyn is fascinating, and Evelyn tells her by the end of the story Monique will hate her and will find out the reason she was the one chosen to write the story. Learning about Hollywood in the 50s, 60s and 70s was very interesting. The author brought that era to life.
Kimberley
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
This historical novel encompasses the ‘Dust Bowl’, the crash of ‘29 , World War II on the German front and post-war Huntsville, Alabama. The story follows two wives and their struggles to protect their families. The author delicately presents the conflict of complacency and when should we do what is right even though it will cost the ultimate price. It is a very tough read, yet a page-turner. It is truly thought-provoking. The history behind Project Paperclip is very interesting and worth revisiting.
Rose
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
All I knew about the Astor family is that they were extremely wealthy. I was not aware of the love between Madeleine Force and Jack Astor, the wealthiest man in America. I didn't know he was divorced, and nearly 30 years older than Madeleine. Madeleine was just 18 when they married, and sadly, the newlyweds were shunned by the elite class. They traveled to Europe and Egypt for an extended honeymoon, and Madeleine became pregnant. Sadly, on their return trip to America, they were on board the Titanic. Jack got his wife to a lifeboat safely, but sadly, he was not allowed on the lifeboat. This is a tragic story. I found the last few chapters the most interesting, less so the earlier chapters. An interesting history of a love cut short.
Rose
Home for Erring and Outcast Girls by Julie Kibler
I have had this book on my TBR for some time since I loved Kibler's CALLING ME HOME. I felt this book was a bit long. Told in alternating timelines, it is the story of Mattie and Lizzie (in the early 1900s) and then Cate (told in present day). Cate is a librarian, and comes across information on The Home for Erring and Outcast Girls, and begins to find out about the lives of the women in the home. She feels a kinship towards them, especially as it relates to her own life, where she had a traumatic event as a teen, and a relationship that she left as a result.
This is a very sad story of women and the lives they were forced to live based on things that happened to them which were out of their control.
Beth
Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon
LOCUST LANE is a can’t-put-it-down book. It is a well written, character-driven story with a plot (which so many character-driven stories seem to lack). And if you think this is a young-adult book because you’ve heard it is about teenagers—WRONG. First, it’s not YA. Second, while at the center of the story is a crime that was probably committed by one or more of the teenagers, LOCUST LANE isn’t about them as much as it is about the adults around them. A teenage girl, Eden, has been murdered after spending the evening with three other teenagers, Hannah and Jack and Christopher. Hannah and Jack are girlfriend and boyfriend. Christopher has a crush on Eden. Christopher is a suspect from the start.
Rose
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Sweet, cute Cinderella story. When Cindy, a plus-size recently graduated fashion shoe designer without a job leaves NY for CA to take a job babysitting her three half-sibling (triplets), she meets a man traveling on the same plane, Henry. What she doesn't know is that he is going to be the next available suitor on Before Midnight (a fictitious take on The Bachelor), and she also doesn't know that she is also going to be on the show as one of the eligible contestants. She is falling for Henry, and she thinks he is falling for her, but the show's producers have other plans. As Cindy tries to figure out her life and her choices, she wonders if Henry will be in her life, and will the shoe fit? A really cute and fun novel.
Angella
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
This book is fantastic. I really enjoyed the premise of the story surrounding the college and the murders. While I knew who the killer was early on, it was still an entertaining read because I wanted to know the reasoning behind the killings. This author has such a great way of pulling you in early on and makes the book an easy read.
Lilliana
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Wow. Kiera did a good job of portraying the character’s emotions. I enjoy the suspense. I loved this book so much and same with the rest of the series. It could use some improving, I’d say, but that’s the only thing that changes it from 5 stars to 4 stars.
rich
Stella Maris by cormac mccarthy
The same lovely, lyrical, rhythmic prose put to work on ruminations about the nature of reality via mathematics.
Deborah
The Things We do for Love by Kristin Hannah
Loved it. Love everything she writes.
Deborah
Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore
Fantastic book. Brought me right to Maine. Loved it.
Deborah
The Measure by Nikki Erlich
Fascinating! Couldn’t put it down. Still thinking about it.
Francisca
Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough, Jessica Spotswood, et al.
This re-imagined LITTLE WOMEN set during World War II began when Jessica Spotswood posted a story idea she found daunting on Twitter. Her fellow authors joined with her to flesh out this story where Jo is queer and working in a factory, Amy has run away to join the Red Cross in London. With four authors, the four sisters had more equal roles than in the original work, which really focused on Jo. And, while the time frame is World War II, this is NOT a soldier’s story, but of how the women left behind dealt with their fears, and rose to the challenge of supporting those fighting overseas.
Lesa
Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
Everyone loved this story set in England during the time of C.S. Lewis and after THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE was published. It was magical and beautifully written.
Debbie
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY presents Miss Marple in a diminished role. Miss Marple appears in very few scenes and in these scenes she acts like the Greek chorus explaining the events. This older citizen presents her observations of human character to solve murders. Dolly Bantry, Jane Marple’s friend, discovers the body of a blonde, young woman in the library she immediately asks Miss Marple to come to the house. The police arrive, as does Jane Marple, to investigate the murder. Why is the woman in the Bantry’s house? And who is the woman? A co-worker identifies the body. Not long after this death, a woman is found in a burned car. Two women are killed. Are the deaths related? So begins the journey to determine what has happened.
Debbie
The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra
Imagine India in the 1920s when England still retains control over the Indian population. Gandhi speaks to the Indian people for passive resistance to the British. Rumblings of unrest sweep throughout India as the Indians attempt self-government. Enter Kaveri, a newly married and college educated woman. Kaveri secretly studies for a mathematics exam in her spare time and attempts to learn cooking. This does not keep Kaveri busy so she jumps into a murder investigation. Ramu, a young and successful doctor, aides his wife Kaveri in discovering clues to the murder of a wealthy pimp. The story presents the structure of Indian life and the many taboos within the society especially between the Indian and the British.
