This contest period's winners were Jay T. from Albany, NY; Lee C. from Fort Worth, TX; and Susan D. from Breckenridge, MI. Each received a copy of ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker and THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore.
Linda
Table for Two by Amor Towles
These short stories and the novella are so easy to read, yet they are also layered and thought-provoking. The author writes characters that are likable and relatable even those that experience circumstances unlike my own. I looked forward to returning to the book each day, and though a quick read, despite its length, I have continued to think about these characters and stories days after I finished it.
Jana
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins
Love her books. A heart-wrenching story about love, loss and learning to live again, always a go-to author for this reader.
Claire
Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
This book was way different than what I was expecting. I guess I thought I was going to get Regina from ONCE UPON A TIME, and instead I got Jack Torrence from THE SHINING! It was hard (emotionally, but also from a comprehension standpoint) watching The Queen slowly descend into madness with grief for her husband, and in my opinion a lot of magic manipulation from another source. Even more emotional because Snow loved her through it all, to the very last page. Overall it was a 3-star read for me, definitely a new twist on this story, but probably not one I would revisit.
Claire
Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell
I have very mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, the setting and concept are awesome. I love that in this version, only Rose can wake herself by learning to control dream magic from inside her sleep. The Castle At The End Of The World was such a fun place for the story to start and I loved that the story also ended up back there once Rose was ready to fight Maleficent for control of the dream. On the other hand, I'm not saying I "wanted" Rose to become the next Maleficent, but it just kind of seemed that as she came to terms with the lack of agency in her own life, learned Philip wasn't all he was cracked up to be, and gained more and more control of the dream magic, I just felt like that was where she was headed.
Rose
The Drift by C. J. Tudor
This book was quite different from books that I typically read. This had quite a bit of horror/gory descriptive scenes that caused me to wince and shudder! A tour bus that students are on has crashed, and when the passengers regain consciousness, several are dead. The living try to figure out how to find their way out, as the bus is covered in a snow drift. In another instance, people in a cable car get trapped when the car suddenly stops. Finally, at the Retreat, people need to get supplies, but the snow is causing difficulty. There is a deadly virus that has not been contained. As the story evolves, the virus and its effects are a major part of the story. The people in each instance are not sure who to trust. Creepy.
Brenda
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Historical fiction inspired by Martha Ballard, a midwife in the late 1700s - early 1800s.
Connie
Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris
A different twist on WWII historical fiction, taking place in a Japanese POW camp. I listened to the audiobook which included music created by the sisters and missionaries interred in the camp.
peg
A Table for Two by Amor Towles
A behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood aspirants and those looking to exploit them.
Cecilia
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
Loved the characters, especially the children.
Natalie
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
The writing is excellent - funny, smart, fresh - and the premise is unique. But most of all, I loved that this book has something to say. And it's something to say about something that I care deeply about - women being able to be their full, messy, authentic selves in a world that wants to judge and shame them for the choices they make (or don't make). I was fascinated by the idea of a character who was both a mother and a sex worker, allowing the reader to explore both the pedestal that motherhood is placed upon as well as the stigma around sex work. The author’s exploration of motherhood, womanhood, relationships between parents and children, between friends, between romantic partners - it is all so nuanced and well done.
Jayme
Stoner by John Williams
A quiet and small book that reflects gently on the big questions: how do you judge a life and what makes a life worth living. Stunning.
Jayme
How Not to Age by Michael Greger, M.D.
This book is full of very interesting and useful information. However, I got really tired of the author referring me to his other books and videos, if I wanted more detailed information on a topic. This was done on every page and there are 640 pages. No, I'm reading your book to discover this information - don't send me on a scavenger hunt so I will have to buy your other books. It became very frustrating.
Luella
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
An intriguing novel. Almost like two separate stories that eventually merge into one. Definitely holds your interest.
Michelle
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Whitaker crafts deeply human characters. I found myself obsessively invested in their journeys, which wasn’t surprising because I felt the same way about Duchess from WE BEGIN AT THE END, a character whose resilience and complexity stayed with me long after I finished that book. Saint and Patch will do the same. This is a must-read. It’s a book that will make readers laugh, cry, and reflect on the nature of love and hope. It’s about finding oneself amidst chaos and learning to heal. It’s a book about unconditional love, true friendship, beekeeping, honey, pirates, and art. Chris Whitaker has created a literary space that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, and I am forever grateful for the experience of living in it! New all-time fave!
Darlene
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Excellent!!
Simonne
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani
A great read with lots of WWII info with the point of view of non-Facist Italian citizens. I didn’t particularly like the back-and-forth between 1940s and present day.
Lucy
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, which I began after listening to Carol’s interview with Ruth. Having grown up with some similarities in Stella’s parenting situation, I was hooked from the start. And the parts about the food? Also relatable. Loved everything about this story.
Cynthia
Mind Games by Nora Roberts
A young successful couple take their two children to spend two weeks with their grandmother. After getting back home to enjoy time together, a stranger notices their upscale lifestyle and wants what they have; he feels he deserves it. After a tragic event, the children are left with their grandmother. After the tragic incident both Thea and her grandmother knew something is wrong. Their minds tells them, and Thea relives the event, the person who changed their lives and guides the police to the person using her mind to guide them.
Francine
Tony’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani
I took this book off my TBR shelf. I absolutely loved it! Adriana never disappoints. You immediately feel like you know all the characters. I wish I could have given it more stars.
Connie
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Young woman decides to enter the service as a nurse and hopefully spend some time with her brother in Vietnam. Her brother is killed right after she signs up but she is committed. She continues to lose those she loved as she tries to survive the conditions.
Barbara
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
I love how Dennis Lehane sets his books in history, and while I'm after a good read, I'm learning something new about his favorite city of Boston as I read. Set in 1974 during the Boston busing crisis, this book was no exception. The main character, Mary Pat, is not an easy person to like, but I was rooting for her the entire book. I was left wanting to read more about his detective Bobby Coyne. Lehane's writing is tight, and he knows how to keep a story moving.
Lynn
Close to Home by Cara Hunter
Well written. Flowed well. Ending made sense compared to some other writers.
Rosemary
Table for Two by Amor Towles
The author of A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW pens six short stories and a novella in this volume. Each of the short stories has his usual twist to the plot, and the novella revisits the Hollywood scandal of A-list actresses who were photographed secretly in the nude. Although each story holds its own separately, all of them will keep the reader turning the page to see what happens next!
Jay
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
The book was written at a third grade level. I don't think there was one word longer than seven letters. Authors should give us more credit than that. The story started out well, building up to twists and turns that are unexpected. If you like fast-paced, suspenseful psychological thrillers, this is for you.
Nancy
The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
Another wonderful novel by Ms. Sullivan tackling issues of dysfunctional families, substance abuse, ghosts, the indigenous peoples…and all set in Maine!
Alexandra
Table for Two by Amor Towles
A beautifully-written book by the author of A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. The first half is a series of short stories that are very enjoyable with great character. However, the second half, which is a novella, somehow falls short of his beautiful storytelling.
Kathryn
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
A somewhat gory tale of a family trying to keep it together despite, well, outside challenges. The twists were shocking to me at least, and kept me engaged in the story. At times I wished for a different attitude from the main character, but I suppose it was appropriate for the situation. Overall, a twisty and entertaining book.
Kathryn
Nestlings by Nat Cassidy
A somewhat gory tale of a family trying to keep it together despite, well, outside challenges. The twists weee shocking to me at least, and kept me engaged in the story. At times I wished for a different attitude from the FMC, but I suppose it was appropriate for the situation. Overall, a twisty and entertaining book.
Virginia
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
This is a story of two Iranian women from different classes and the evolution of their friendship. It occurs during some of Iran's tumultuous history. I found it interesting and also enjoyed learning about the Persian culture.
BOBBI
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Oh my! I would not have "just picked up" the book, but friends insisted it was a must-read - and they were right! Mystery, thriller, love story.
LisaMarie
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Never was much for romance books, but boy I could not put this down - it was so so good. Cannot wait to see the movie now. Highly recommend!
Shelley
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
The story was uneven for me - parts of this complicated family story deserved more and some deserved less. The love story between David and Marilyn was my favorite part; the book did not go into enough detail on their feelings about their daughter's issues.
Janice
Eruption by Michael Crichton/James Patterson
I have always loved Michael Crichton’s science ”what ifs”. This book delivers the science, suspense and adventure I loved in his writing. So far Patterson is right; I can’t tell where one author ends and the other writer begins. It’s a scary premise.
Linda
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
This is the best book I’ve read this year. It has so much going on and a plot that will pull you right in. A dark shadow/demon gives Addie what she wants and now she will live forever. With a few hitches. She sees a lot of history as she lives over 300 years in the story. She falls in love. Gets her heart shattered. Does bad things and good things. Is so lonely. The ending of this one is the best.
It’s just a great book.
Terry
Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano
After Ann’s comments during Bookaccino Live last month, I went from HELLO BEAUTIFUL right into this one. While I liked HELLO BEAUTIFUL, I loved WITHIN ARM'S REACH even more. HELLO BEAUTIFUL frustrated me at times when it seemed unbelievable. WITHIN ARM'S REACH's characters are fragile, imperfect and true-to-life, as is their story. I’m so glad this was re-released!
Rosa
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
If someone were to ask me what this book is about, I would quickly say that it's about abortion. But after more thought, that answer isn't adequate. This book is some more than that. It is the story of three generations of women, their circumstances and their choices. The author has cleverly intertwined the stories of these women, told in alternating chapters and alternating timelines. It took me a bit to keep track of who was who, but once I was engaged in the story I was hooked and could not put it down.
Sonia
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
The plot relies on an unusual premise that keeps you guessing until the end.
Sheree
Table for Two by Amor Towles
I love the way this author writes. The short stories kept me interested and wanting more. He put an old fashion spin on the stories.
Linda
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
The final book in the Maisie Dobbs series did not disappoint. The descriptions of post WWII England and the resolve of the people, combined with Maisie’s determination to solve the mystery of young squatters, pulled me in from the first pages. Maisie’s search for a young man related to her past added another mystery to the story. I love Winspear’s writing and will miss Maisie Dobbs.
MH
The Coworker by Freida McFadden
Very good mystery with a similar character to THE MAID. Early in the story, we get two versions of the same story - Natalie’s and Dawn’s. Dawn’s is revealed in emails to her friend Mia, emails in which the reader sees Natalie isn’t really Dawn’s friend or worthy of her admiration. With McFadden’s usual plot twists, the story quickly evolves into a murder mystery.
Sharon
The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas
An emotional roller-coaster, through excerpts from the diary of Mattie Spenser, written between 1865 and 1869. Dallas takes us through the life of a young woman who marries a man she barely knows, pregnancies, births and deaths, friendships and betrayal.
Lisa
The Perfect Passion Company by Alexander McCall Smith
If you are looking for a fast-paced and light summer read, this is the book for you. It is filled with delightful characters and humor. Can't wait for the next installment. Alexander McCall Smith never disappoints.
Lonnie
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles
Loved this historical fiction about librarians and book lovers!
Kathleen
Night Shift by Alex Finlay
The premise was interesting, but the writing was a bit disjointed.
Karen
Camino Ghosts by John Grisham
Another winner! Intrigue with lots of unknown history. A great read.
L
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
4.5 stars. These characters will stay with you. Highly recommend the audio.
Marilyn
The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison
Psychological insight into a relationship on trial.
Michelle
All This and More by Peng Shepherd
This is a unique, choose your own adventure, sci-fi novel. Marsh is a 45-year-old divorced woman who is feeling disillusioned with her life and career. When she lands on the reality TV show, All This and More, she is offered the chance to change key pivotal points in her life - choose a different romantic partner, a different career choice, etc. - until she makes the perfect life. But each change creates a butterfly effect and she must decide what is most important and when is it time to stop. I enjoyed playing along and choosing her adventures along the way. There is a mystery throughout the book as well, which kept me reading until the end. My issues with the book were the elementary writing and that it became repetitive.
Linda
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
What starts out as a saga of a "normal" family gradually reveals one that is really dysfunctional and falling apart. There is a contrast between dark humor but mostly a heartbreaking story of vulnerability. I liked the author's compassionate characterizations, flaws and all, of the parents and four kids; and the story is suspenseful. I didn't like what seems to be a trend in writing - no quotation or punctuation marks.
Maureen
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
If you are looking for a disturbing, fast-paced thriller, grab this one for your beach bag. Loved the twists and it kept me fully entertained.
Cindy
An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Excellent memoir of Richard Goodwin's life in politics, beginning as a young speech writer for JFK and continuing with LBJ as well as RFK. In the audio edition, actual recordings of the speeches are included, which raised the hair on my arms! Hearing the voices of our heroes from the1960s made this book even more affecting. The author tells the story with details only known to her as his wife of 42 years. Their exploration of Richard's boxes of memorabilia together gave a different perspective on the events themselves, adding a dimension to the story typically left unexplored.
Joan
Long Island by Colm Toibin
Frustrating characters' decisions after loving BROOKLYN.
Susan
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
This is a perfect summer read. It has romance but also has a story about abandonment and trust.
Emma and Justin had a habit of dating people who seem like their forever person and then they break up with them. They decide to meet, have four dates, then break up with each other so they could meet their forever one, but it doesn't quite work out that way.
Gretchen
Camino Winds by John Grisham
I needed to read CAMINO WINDS when I saw that another novel about Camino Island was about to be released. Picked up a paperback copy and curled up reading. Seeing as I had read CAMINO ISLAND in 2018, it took me awhile to remember the first story. Enjoyed CAMINO WINDS. Looking forward to reading CAMINO GHOSTS.
Ivy
Holly by Stephen King
Absolutely brilliantly laid out and played out to the end. Jaw-dropping suspense, madness, rage, and sadness. Holly is quite a force.
Elizabeth
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
I listened to this book. After I heard the author's note at the end I had a better understanding of where he was coming from. But I found this book extremely frustrating. I didn't understand the motivation of Frankie and Zeke in putting up thousands of posters, particularly after people started dying because of the posters. I began to think Frankie, in particular, had to be mentally ill - she was so obsessed with the posters and the sayings on them. And the obsession continued into adulthood, yet she never at any point thought that she was engaged in disordered thinking. I thought she needed professional help.
Karen
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
My book group gave this book a 3-star rating out of 5. It was about five former college friends honoring their lives prior to their deaths. It started with one of them committing suicide when he was 22. The friends gathered when one needed the ceremony to let them know how others felt about them and to give them love. We felt little connection to each of the characters. The conversations were superficial. Not a memorable story. The author also wrote THE GUNCLE, which was better.
Laura
James by Percival Everett
HUCKLEBERRY FINN told from the perspective of the slave Jim. So freaking good. Jim runs away down the Mississippi River with Huck Finn. You meet some of the characters from Huck Finn, but this tells a whole new story. It's smart, funny, it can be sad and even scary in parts. You don't need to have read HUCKLEBERRY FINN to enjoy this book.
Abby
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman
I liked this book a lot. I have given it 3 stars as there were so many characters introduced that I had trouble keeping them straight. Otherwise, I was fascinated by both Maddie and Cleo. Interested to see the upcoming Apple TV take on this one.
Donna
The Price You Pay by Nick Petrie
I have loved the Peter Ash novels by Petrie. This is #7 or #8 in the series, and I love the way Peter's character has grown. He has sought help for his PTSD that kept him from being indoors any length of time. In this book his friend Lewis is dealing with characters from his long ago life and he has to decide what kind of man he really wants to be. Petrie does a great job of understanding why his characters do what they do.
Jean
July 7th by Jill McCorkle
Told from constantly changing points of view of the quirky characters, it was sometimes hard to remember whose story was being told. The action unfolds over a short period of time in which a man is killed, someone is falsely accused of the crime, and an old lady celebrates with what she says will be the last time she hosts a birthday party. There's also a sort of romance and conflict between haves and have littles.
Elise
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
A delightful book about how a single book out in the world effects different people.
Doris
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore
Highly recommend. A tale of three Black men in Philadelphia and dream of a free life.
Anne
The White Hare by Jane Johnson
Captivating and intriguing novel with wonderful character portrayal and beautiful scenic descriptions. A treasure, which is unforgettable.
Kimberly
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
Pure escapist fun. A quick, captivating read perfect for summer.
Beverlee
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
I love the O'Connor story and their community of Aurora. I cry at least once in each of the books and this was no exception, but what a powerful message and a great story!!
Suzanne
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
This a D.D. Warren Bosten PD murder mystery. I loved this book. D.D. is a tough detective, and Tessa who is accused of killing her husband and 6 year old daughter is treated toughly. Gardner gives us a complex plot.
Melissa
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
I was well into this book when the unfolding of the contemporary issue of genetics became evident. The author leads you through the lives of the main characters, helping you to understand each of their points of view of life. It is difficult to find fault with any of the choices they have made. I can’t seem to shake this book from my thoughts.
Francisca
First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi
Campoverdi’s memoir details her experiences and that of her family, particularly the women. From growing up poor in a single-parent household with her grandmother, three aunts, and mother, the author writes about her path to success as a “First and only.” Her story is an interesting one, but I didn’t really identify with her experiences, and felt she was not fully identifying the causes of her feelings of inadequacy.
Peggy
The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
Good storyline. There is an unexpected twist at the end.
Carol
How to Say Babylon by Sayfia Sinclair
The cultural aspects in the memoir were very educational, and the book was easy to read while keeping me engrossed.
Paula
The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Clare Haver
I wish I knew much of this info back in the day. I recommend for all women. Informative reading, ladies!
Sandy
The Survivors by Jane Harper
Keiran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake was made. When a body is discovered on the beach, long held secrets threaten to emerge.
Tessa
The Covenent of Water by Abraham Verghese
An epic tale of one family in Kerala, India, over nearly eight decades, spanning the time frame from 1900 to 1977. Gosh, but Verghese can write! There is a lot of drama in this decades-long story. Verghese touches on classicism, colonialism, racism and sexism. But this is NOT an unhappy book. The family relationships are loving and tender. And that ending. My heart swelled. Can I give it 10 stars?
Donna
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
Well-written with fleshed out characters, the family’s pain was palpable. I felt such empathy for all of them. The story itself was compelling. However, the body horror, the graphic description of eyeball eating, was chilling, and in all honesty, just too much for me. Definitely not for the squeamish. Of course, I’ll be watching for Ms. Kim’s next endeavor.
Trezeline
My Name is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner
Very well written, beautiful language. A great deal of history.
Linda
The Wives by Simone Gorrindo
This is a well-written memoir about newly married Simone and her husband, Andrew, who has just enlisted in the army. Simone does a good job describing the daily lives of military wives, their loneliness, and their fears for their husbands' safety. The wives rely heavily on each other, and their friendships are important and crucial to getting through daily life. I also learned a lot about the military life in general, and the many rules and regulations.
Alyson
Loving a Warrior (A Special Edition Military Romance Anthology) by Samantha A. Cole, Kalyn Cooper, PJ Fiala, Maryann Jordan, Caitlyn O'Leary, Abbie Zanders
Steamy anthology from 6 authors about Navy SEALS and their security business once their tour of duty is done. It's filled with compassion and bravery while they have each others backs. It's truly a band of brothers.
Lynnette
A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner
Interesting to read a story about WWII brides, but difficult to keep track of whose story and what time period it is. Too much jumping around from one person to another, even if they all do meet.
Liz
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
Nora is a surgeon whose father is serving 18 life sentences because he is a serial killer. She was 11 years old when he was arrested, was raised by her maternal grandmother and changed her last name. All of a sudden there is a copycat of her father’s crimes and someone is trying to frame her for the murders. Who is it and how did they learn about her well hidden past? I have recently found this author and love the several books I have read by her. The endings all have a twist you didn’t see coming.
Claire
Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs
I like the characters and the writing style. It manages to be a bit irreverent, but also showing some depth and addressing serious issues. I was interested to see how the fantasy elements and Leopold's grief and mental health issues played into each other.
Terry
Long Island by Colm Toibin
I hope the author doesn’t take 10 years to tell us what happens next!
Sue
Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy
We chose this book for our book club pick for the month of June and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Paulette
James by Percival Everett
A retelling of the story of HUCKLEBERRY FINN, this time from the point of view of Jim, who prefers the name James. His story unfolds as they escape together on the Mississippi. All the preconceptions of the titular character as illiterate slave will be dashed as readers will come to admire his courage and cringe in horror over the aspects of slavery. Highly recommended!
Julie
Clear by Carys Davies
A haunting story of a Scottish minister who is sent to evict a lone tenant from a remote island, leaving behind his young wife. After being shipwrecked and then nursed back to health by Ivar, the island's occupant, a connection builds. Both the unexpected ending and the beautiful writing make this book a must-read.
Hillary
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson
This was the best book I have read this year. The story was great, the characters were wonderfully written, and it felt like I was on holiday at a cute English seaside town!
kelly
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
I have waited for this book since closing THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD!
Ruthanne
One Last Summer by Kate Spencer
A good beach read is the best way to describe this book. While the plot is not very original, the author does a good job of making the story move quickly with fun characters. I wouldn't rate this the best I've read, but it was pleasant and entertaining.
Melissa
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
4.25 - the best book that I’ve read of hers. Much better written. Two thumbs up!!
Catherine
The Guest by Emma Cline
A strong sense of foreboding is woven through this story of a drifting, dishonest wreck of a young woman who can't help finding trouble but keeps looking for a way out. We aren't sure where she came from and we end up not knowing where she's going, but the journey is intense.
Daryl
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Even though I lived during the Vietnam War, I had no idea how badly the women veterans were treated when they came home. All the veterans were treated so poorly, but the women kept being told that there were no women in Vietnam. Kristin Hannah gives great insight to the trials and tribulations of the nurses that were there.
Sandra
The Stolen Child by Ann Hood
I have read almost all of Ann Hood's books and this one is just as good as all the rest...maybe a little better! A lot of twists and turns, but the ending all comes together and it is not what you expect. A must for book clubs because there is so much to discuss.
Rebecca
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Seven generations, 300 years, of peoples out of Ghana. We follow the descendants of two half-sisters who do not know the other exists - they will never meet. One of the sisters will remain in Africa, the other shipped to America to be sold into slavery. We follow their lineage through a single offspring. HOMEGOING is the belief of slaves, in dying, can return to the origin of their birth.
Liz
New Jersey: In Words and Pictures by Dennis Brindell Fradin
While this is a very old book on NJ, it still has some interesting facts are are pertinent to today. Having lived in NJ all my life, I even learned a few things I didn’t know!
Coleen
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
As the title says, it’s a great rom-com. Just what I needed when looking for something light and fun.
I rated it 4.5 stars. Enjoy!
Susan
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Unusual writing. Many interesting turns.
gina
Long Island by Colm Toibin
Loved it! Spare melodic poignant prose. How our choices reverberate throughout our lives. Went back to reread BROOKLYN.
Simone
The Unwedding by Ally Condie
I liked the premise of THE UNWEDDING. I thought the mystery became convoluted and long drawn, the twists felt contrived and the ending was unsatisfying. I couldn’t wait for the book to end. It also started out good but a quarter or the way through it, it dragged for me.
Anne
The White Hare by Jane Johnson
Captivating and unforgettable novel. Beautiful character portrayal and descriptive scenic locale.
Marcie
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
This book was a historical novel about France’s Perkins who started out in the lower east side working with the poor and rose to become the Secretary of Agriculture in the administration of FDR. She was responsible for many of the innovations done during the Great Depression, but I was most impressed that she was responsible for social security. She badgered President Roosevelt for years until he gave in and allowed her to start social security, which many of us live on today.
Melissa
Devil is Fine by John Vercher
The biracial narrator begins this journey at a funeral, speaking to the one who died. He does this throughout the novel as he processes this grief, all while going to and claiming a plantation left by sorts to him through the death of his White grandfather. We slip back through memories to understand how we got here, and at times slip elsewhere, but that is telling too much. There are deeply moving meditations on being biracial, a father, a writer of color, legacy, responsibility, and transformation. It encompassed all emotions, whipping from heartbreak to hilarity, and from heavy realism to a very blurred sense of surreal. I loved it all. This was an incredible feat of storytelling with gorgeously written prose.
Kelley
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Great writing and interesting concept.
Barbara
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
Such a good book and very relevant to what's going on in the U.S. currently.
Barbara
Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss
Fun read, loved the Jersey shore setting. Even at the end of the story, Caroline, the main character has a lot of growing up to do. She makes a lot of bad choices throughout the book.
Lee
James by Percival Everett
Amazing storytelling in this retelling of the HUCK FINN and Jim story. Jim is a great character.
Barbara
Swift River by Essie Chambers
SWIFT RIVER is a powerful coming-of-age novel focusing on family class and the need for friendship and connection. How does the past impact our lives? Diamond is a character I soon won't forget. She grows both emotionally and spiritually and you'll root for her throughout the novel.
Niki
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Slow reading, unlikable characters. Not feeling about story of plagiarism.
Joan
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
Two characters, one from 1909 and the other from 1990, enlighten the reader about the discrimination and robbery of land faced by the native people.
Iris
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
This book was a well-written and engrossing story of family secrets and the relationships that developed and faltered because of them. He wrote with compassion and humanity about the missteps and mistakes of his parents; his love and understanding of them were admirable and inspiring. The fact that the people he grew up around were famous makes the book even more compelling and fun to read.
Sara
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
A debut with magic and time travel with a bit of darkness thrown in. Cassie Andrews is a bookseller in New York City and receives a book as a gift from a favorite customer. This book called, The Book of Doors, holds special power to any person in possession of it. As Cassie and her best friend, Izzy, explore the wonders of this book that literally “opens doors” to far-off places and cultures; soon realize that others want this book too and many of them are evil and dangerous people. They come to find out there are many books out there with different powers of good and evil. They soon meet up with Drummond Fox and are forced to rely upon him for help.
I love books of time travel and thought the author did a brilliant job. A debut at that!
Elizabeth
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
The book starts well but there are too many coincidences to have the ending believable.
Denise
Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
I liked this book but the characters were really dark! It has lots of killings and beatings. It has a small southern town background with a church at the center, but the men in the town are mostly bad men. I liked the love story of the two main characters best. It involves a couple of misfits, Ruth and Ever, and she never gives up on him, no matter how bad life gets for them.
Barbara
Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich
Brilliant prose injected with heart and humor. The storyline will pull at your heartstrings for days. The main character, Nub, blunders his way through life until a chance meeting with a hard-working Waffle House cook who has no family and is pregnant at 15. Nub finds a way to give her the love and family she needs and in return he is healed.
Mary
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
Beautiful telling of a father-daughter relationship.
Luella
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
This was a good read. It has many twists and turns. The ending was so unexpected, I didn't have it figured out.
Elizabeth
The Dig by John Preston
Watched the movie and HAD to read the book!
Sharon
William Henry is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke
A good story with a Christian influence. Robert Glover and William Henry were thirteen years old in 1859. Robert was White and William was Black. They were the best of friends. After seeing how the slaves were treated at his grandfather's plantation, Robert wanted to free them. He helped a mulatto boy escape into Canada.
Helene
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Apart from a little too much estrogen, it was a really a good portrayal of the Vietnam era and the every day of it. The characters were well developed and the plot covered everything thing that was happening in the U.S. from protests to hippies. It might be very interesting for a reader who was born after that era. Hannah brought up questions about the futility of war, the news media, and the terrible physical and mental toll it took on the the soldiers and their families, as well as innocent Vietnamese families.
Kelly
Amphibious Soul: Finding Wild in a Tame World by Craig Foster
Lovely memoir from the star of the documentary, "My Octopus Teacher".
Judith
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson
This was a thriller of a book which is not unusual for Peter Swanson. It was kept you guessing in each chapter what would be happening next.
Megan
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
Great storytelling!
Elizabeth
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams
This is a great summer read. The pace is quick. The characters are engaging and the intrigue keeps one guessing. I love Beatriz Williams.
Debra
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
I absolutely loved every page of this story! As adults, I think we sometimes forget how amazing it is to fall into a fairy tale and just suspend life for a little bit. This book had everything a fairy tale should have and more. I simply adored each character! The setting came alive. All the good feelings are there to behold, magic, astonishment, friendship, love!!! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC and the chance to read this wonderful book! Brava!!!
Claudia
When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart
This novel was a different way to look at the Cival War. It revolves around the McBride family who try to stay neutral and not support either side while living in North Carolina. Many horrible events occur because of their beliefs. It also shows what happens to the average citizen in small towns during a war.
Kay
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Couldn't put it down.
Roberta
Who Let the Dog Out? by David Rosenfelt
Another great story in the Andy Carpenter series. Murder and mayhem with some snarky humor.
Leslie
James by Percival Everett
Loved this alternative retelling! Everett is a phenomenal writer and I love his books! This one is inventive and actually a quick read.
Kimberley
Hidden Treasures by Michelle Adams
Renewed friendships, lost loves and family make this novel a true gem. It was also interesting to learn and read how present-day art dealers are still trying to reunite families and their descendants with their masterpieces stolen during the European Nazi takeover during WWII. The story follows a young mom entrusted with one of those treasures who gives up everything to protect her young family. Although the war is long over, the struggle to protect the art continues even today.
Vicki
Goodnight from Paris by Jane Healey
I really liked this book. It was an Amazon First Read. It's a story about American film star Drue Leyton living in Paris during its occupation during WWII. Her new husband is off serving as a liaison to the British army, while she stays behind. Wanting to do something to help the French, she becomes a radio broadcaster with The Voice of America to broadcast to Americans what is going on in France. At one point, she was arrested and held in a Nazi prison camp but released when she faked having cancer, with help from several doctors. This is historical fiction based on the real life events of Drue Leyton Tarttier.
Laurie
The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes
A very interesting historical fiction read. I loved it!
Rebecca
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
Everyone in book club loved this! Learned a lot, but an easy read with a fun modern story to go along with the history.
Kate
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
So unique clever and fun - THE HUSBANDS had such a new and different premise than anything I've ever read! Although it's got some magical realism that could never happen - it's still so silly to imagine, and I loved watching all these different husbands magically appear from the attic. Just a really fun escape from reality and a most entertaining story!
Elizabeth
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Just as enjoyable as the first story! The ending was very satisfying, but there was no hint of a sequel. I am hoping there will be one!
Judy
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
A wonderful historical fiction about the creation of Oz. How Frank Baum’s creation of the storyline lead to the production of "The Wizard of Oz". Judy Garland’s role as a young woman playing Dorothy. And, how Maud Baum, Frank’s widow, was instrumental in holding the film producers true to the spirit of the story.
Donna
The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley
THE SMALL MUSEUM by Jody Cooksley is a deliciously dark, Gothic mystery. It is a chilling, atmospheric read. So beautifully descriptive, I could feel the dampness in the air and smell the scent of rotting flowers. It’s perfect for those who enjoy Gothic noir. I loved it!
Antoinette
Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt
A book that packs such an emotional punch! A book about a mother dealing with her drug addicted daughter and her ability to reach out and save her granddaughter. This book highlights the strength of women and the power of friendship! One of the best books I have read this year.
Antoinette
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
A book about forgiveness and making connections. Books can unite people in very unusual places - in this book, the book club is part of a group in prison run by a retired teacher. An easy, enjoyable read.
Andi
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
I enjoy reading a light, cozy mystery series during the summer months to mix with some more serious reads. This one is perfect! Quirky characters, a relatable protagonist, and some laugh-out-loud moments. Looking forward to the next one!
Jill
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
I absolutely loved this book, and Monaghan simply does not disappoint! After some mediocre love stories, this story accomplished all I look for in a romance. It takes place in a small town where the house almost becomes a character in the story. The dialog is witty and the banter has laugh-out-loud moments. Additionally, the children, like in SUMMER ROMANCE, have integral roles in the story and help to provide substance and explore some deeper themes of owning mistakes, forgiveness, and finding happiness. Overall, this is a tender story that shows how we can find joy in the simple things – a sunrise, making dinner together and watching Wheel of Fortune.
Katherine
Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
This is a sequel to the 2017 book, THE LOST FOR WORDS BOOKSHOP. It continues the story of Loveday and the staff at the Lost for Words Bookshop. Set during the pandemic, and threatened with permanent closure (as so many places were), they decide to start a book prescription. People can write in or call, they tell the staff how they are dealing with the pandemic and ask for book recommendations. This is a beautiful story and shows just how books can be medicine when you are alone or just need an escape from reality. I loved it!
Andi
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
I adore Jennifer Ryan's books and this book didn't miss. I highly suggest this one to anyone that is looking for a good WWII book.
Robin
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
This book is fascinating and captivating. I listened to it and just didn't want to stop. Substantial and thoughtful.
Gretchen
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Discussed at my book club where everyone thought it was fast-paced with twists.
Susan
The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison
The story about an eclectic group of women bonding over a bunch of erotic books didn't hold my interest. All the women were going through different issues and were supposed to bond over the books they were to read. It was a quick enjoyable read and the characters were just okay, but it didn't jump out at me.
Christine
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
This was a well-written rom-com with Katherine Center's usual main characters having some hard parts to their backstory. The banter was great and it's pretty closed-door.
Francisca
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
On December 3, 1926, Agatha Christie drove away from her home after an argument with her husband. She would be missing for eleven days. This is a novel about marriage, about motherhood, about love, about grief, about how society punishes those who fail to follow the rules, about forgiveness and justice. De Gramont took the story in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and at first, I was unhappy, but eventually the two parallel stories merge in a fashion that fascinated me.
Sean
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I thoroughly loved this book. Author Fredrik Backman tells the amazing story of a bunch of idiots. That's a gross oversimplification but it was so entertaining. Just a great look at mental illness, relationships, family, and buffoonery. Backman crafts a tale that weaves through time without ever being confusing, offers twists that delight, and serves up so many hilarious moments. This was great.
Carole
Long Island by Colm Toibin
You do not always need a thriller or a mystery that will dot all the i’s or cross all the t’s for you. Sometimes it is so comforting and relatable to read a story about the dilemmas, situations, and crossroads that we all face in our lives. I loved this book on such a human level, without having it all be tied in a neat bow as I have not really seen that bow in a nevertheless fascinating life of my own.
Sandy
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
This was a wonderful book!! Jerome and his wife Pearl are on trial for killing an elderly White couple. The jury is made up off all White people and Jerome and Pearl are Black. The evidence is overwhelming. We know they didn't do it, but who did? The ending will really shock you.
Chris
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
Very engaging and wonderful world within the story.
Jean
Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman
Fantastic, funny page-turner.
Lurdes
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
Patti Callahan Henry is a good writer. Her use of descriptive language keeps the story interesting. I liked the basic story itself - a young sister (Flora Lea) goes missing during wartime in England. She was one of the children in the Pied Piper program. Twenty years later, her sister, Hazel, finds a clue to her disappearance and sets out on a quest to find her. Without spoiling the ending, it was too coincidental for me. Also, I get tired of reading stories that vacillate from past to future every other chapter.
Vizma
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Very descriptive writing. Really enjoyed how the house was written in as a character.
Charlotte
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
Loved all Maisie Dobbs books. Sorry to see that this will be her last, but Jacqueline has done an outstanding job of bringing everything together.
Jeanne
The Light-Keeper’s Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol
THE LIGHT-KEEPER'S DAUGHTERS by Jean E. Pendziwol is captivating, intense, well researched, well written with an exceptional writing style. The storyline takes readers back in time and is centered around Elizabeth, who is now old and blind and Morgan, a young woman who befriends Elizabeth as the two of them together try to uncover the secrets buried in Elizabeth’s father’s journals. The deeper they delve into the journals, the more they learn and discover about Emily, Elizabeth’s twin sister, and very importantly how Morgan and Elizabeth’s lives are intertwined. This is a heartwarming story of secrets, love and a shocking, mind-blowing ending that I never saw coming.
katiuska
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jiménez
It was a cute story with a happy ending...although I found it a bit boring at times.
Susann
Long Island by Colm Toibin
Great book about love, loss, and lonliness.
KAY
Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
Because I had been an RA, I was attracted to the storyline by a main character who is an RA in a dorm at the University of Arkansas. I identified with much of the setting and situations. I did get confused by some of the names that were too much alike and couldn't keep them straight.
Rose
Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop
Read this for a Literary Fiction Book Club. Michel Adanson is dying in Paris, and his last word is Maram. His daughter then makes it her mission to find out what this means. She follows clues that her father told her in the months before his death, which leads her to find his journal. The journal tells of her father's years in Senegal, and a woman that he met and fell in love with, Maram. He recounts the story of Maram, how she was sold into slavery, but was able to escape.
It is a love story, but also a story of how Europeans and White men, along with African kings, sold their people into slavery. Well written, but I didn't like the story.
Rose
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
Sewanee Chester, former actress, is now an audiobook narrator, due to an unfortunate accident which caused her facial disfigurement. Along with her best friend, she is in Las Vegas, but when her friend, "A', is called away, Sewanee meets a man at a bar and has an amazing night with him. Her grandmother is dying, and Sewanee does everything she can to help her. But, her dad is fighting her choices. This and her career leaves her unsettled. Luckily, she has a chance to record a new series for a romance author who recently died. Yet, she has sworn off of doing romance books. But, the money is too good, and it will allow her to care for her grandmother. She must record the book with Brock, a hot sexy voice talent. Good romance.
Shirley
The Florence Letter by Anita Chapman
This dual timeline book took place first in WWII when Margaret lived in London and worked as a shop girl. When the store was bombed, she moved to the country to live with her aunt who promptly found her a job as a lady's maid. The second timeline involves Claire, who lives on the estate where Margaret lived and works as a researcher preparing for an event which will open the mansion and display historical items from it. I loved the way the author merged the two stories and developed the main characters. The settings were beautifully described, the story was engaging, and it had a happy ending.
Pam
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
An epistolary book that slowly evolves into the examination of life choices. The relationship between the letter writers deepens as they each reveal their struggles. Very well written and quietly emotional.
Tessa
Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen
Book number four in the delightful Lady Georgiana Ranoch series of cozy mysteries takes us out of London and to a remote castle in the mountains of Romania for a royal wedding. I like this series. Georgie manages to get herself caught up in all sorts of intrigues. This episode in her life was a little over-the-top, though Georgie, of course, keeps her head and manages to help solve the case. She’s certainly resourceful! An entertaining, quick read.
Sandra
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Great story about nurses in Vietnam. Covered the era wonderfully and showed the trauma the nurses dealt with during and after the war.
Susan
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
I was fortunate enough to be granted an ARC from NetGalley. Another winner! I don't want to give out any spoilers.
Janet
Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung
This is one of the best books that I have read this year. I found it as a buzz pick on Good Morning America, and it really needs more attention. This is definitely a "don't miss this one" book. It's heartbreaking in that the attitudes described in the book towards daughters in China are true, but it is also heartlifting to see the strength of character and resilience of these women. It is a debut novel by Eve J. Chung based on the life of her grandmother. I can't wait to see what she writes next. I would love to see her as a "Bookreporter Talks to..." author. I wish that I could give this book more than 5 stars.
Susan
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
I liked his descriptions of the people in his community. He made them come alive. I liked that each chapter was a month of the year. That allowed his reader to learn about his community month by month.
Darlene
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Easy beach read.
Connie
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Story of a woman deciding to go to Vietnam as a nurse, her experiences there and how it affects her life after arriving home. It was hard to read as she went through so many difficult situations, but it was well written and I learned some things about Vietnam that I did not know.
Alice
The Women by Kristin Hannah
A remarkable book about a time I lived through. I learned a lot but it was a tough read. Saying that, I enjoyed every minute reading it. My book club discusses it in August.
Lynn
Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
Beautifully written about three generations of Vietnamese women. The novel shows the strength of women and family ties.
Julie
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey
“There’s a place that I know, it has called out to me, where the sea meets the sky and the sky meets the sea.” And so it begins. Kristy Woodson Harvey COMPLETELY transported me to the seaside community of Beaufort, NC in her latest novel, A HAPPIER LIFE. As Keaton sets out to fix her grandparents’ mysterious house, she discovers old family secrets that reveal where she came from and put her on the path to where she is truly meant to be! A HAPPIER LIFE will tug at your heartstrings, and also put a smile on your face. Available June 25th at your favorite bookstore, be sure to tuck this one in your beach bag for the perfect summer escape!
Julie
Swift River by Essie Chambers
Aunt Tilly says that "our instincts, our deepest intuitions, are really our ancestral memory; our people speaking through us.” It’s the summer of 1987 in Swift River, and Diamond Newberry is learning how to drive. Ever since her Pop disappeared seven years ago, she and her Ma hitchhike everywhere they go. But that’s not the only reason Diamond stands out: she’s teased relentlessly about her weight, and since Pop’s been gone, she is the only Black person in all of Swift River. This summer, Ma is determined to declare Pop legally dead so they can collect his life insurance money, get their house back from the bank, and finally move on. A beautiful coming-of-age story told from Diamond’s point of view as well as through letters written.
Julie
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
Get ready to fall in love with Ada, the “humorless septuagenarian” Marilyn’s mother describes as Marilyn is shipped off to her for the summer in her parents’ attempt to save her reputation. This charming novel opens as twenty-year-old Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation. Filled with humor, sarcasm, engaging characters, a wonderful story and powerful life lessons, DON'T FORGET TO WRITE is the perfect summer read!
MH
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Ghosts, several mysterious disappearances, and a hotel in the middle of nowhere fill this book about a Ponzi scheme. One of the main characters is a woman named Vincent after the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Cynthia
James by Percival Everett
Fascinating re-imagining of HUCK FINN.
Susan
Camino Ghosts by John Grisham
I read all his books and found this one more engaging as it contained less courtroom drama and better character development.
Sheila
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
This was a great mystery with superb family dynamics. Lots of twists and turns. I really appreciated that everything made sense at the end.
PJ
The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore
I will premise this review with the fact that I do not watch reality shows, but sometimes you just can't get away from the advertising for them. This being said, I really did enjoy all the twists and turns of this novel. Jac is definitely not the bachelorette of choice and she proves it time and again as the show's producers make her the villain. Can she actually make this whole mess a positive for herself when everyone else seems to hate her? Definitely a good read!! The version I read is an uncorrected proof.
Elizabeth
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah has written another excellent book that takes me into a world I knew nothing about. I was a child while Vietnam was raging and have only vague recollections. This book took me right into that terrifying world from the eyes of Frankie, a naive young woman who volunteers to be an Army nurse hoping her father will be proud of her. She comes back from the war changed and traumatized to strangers spitting on her, her father ashamed of her and countless people telling her "there were no women in Vietnam". This book was hard and painful at times as Frankie struggled and made poor decisions, but was ultimately uplifting.
Carol
The Fallen Stones by Diana Marcum
A fictional story about true life events of the author, a writer and journalist who, along with her husband, travel to Belize and live on a Butterfly Sanctuary for many months. The story is primarily about the breeding, selling, educating and loving the thousands of butterfly species but also about Columbia, the people, the rain forest, and Diana and her husband’s love story amidst it all. A short book, easy read. Very enjoyable.
Carol
Love & Saffron by Kim Fay
A story written in epistolary style about two women writers who find each other through their journalistic work. They write physical letters to each other about their lives, work, families etc. A very heartwarming story of friendship and communication, commitment, compassion and grief. A lovely story.
Margaret
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
A bookclub choice.
Francisca
Into Love and Out Again by Elinor Lipman
This is a collection of short stories set in New York City. As the title implies, the focus is on love: falling in love, attraction, heartbreak, excitement, intimacy, falling out of love. This was Lipman’s debut work. I’ve become a fan of hers in the last few years and decided to go back and read some of her earlier works. She writes with wit and tenderness and eyes wide open to her characters’ flaws and gifts.
Jill
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Just a beautiful story of mistakes, forgiveness and love. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and miss the characters now the book is over.
Wanda
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Suspense filled novel! Had me on the edge of my chair reading each page!!
jane
The Coast Road by Alan Murrin
Great character study that takes place in a small Irish town in the 1990s.
Joan
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Three lives are intertwined in this beautiful story with beloved characters. How we define our lives, and the choices we make, are front and center in this beautifully written story! Highly recommend!
Sheree
The Unwedding by Ally Condie
I liked this book. It was interesting how she incorporated the wedding-crashers as the main characters of the novel. It keep me guessing to the end who the killer's identity was.
Denise
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
A WWII story presented by three young women’s POV, each finding themselves in London during the horrifying Blitz. The book centers around the true events of nightly air raid sirens alerting the community of the coming bombs, driving people to take shelter in the underground stations and tunnels. It’s a story of friendships, people helping people, and the efforts of many to create an underground community and gathering point. The library becomes a place for normal life, bringing people together for the love and power of books. Juliet, a deputy librarian (a position given to a woman only because of the war’s shortage of men), tries to keep books and their community programs available to her patrons so she assembles an underground library.
Denise
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang
The countdown of the number of days to the devastating earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco begins each chapter of the book. This slight suspense sets the stage of wonder for what’s coming next and when will it happen along with a few twists towards the middle of the book, making this a light mystery read. It still falls into the Historical Fiction category since it is based on true events and a few real people. It covers the plight of women, racism, open hostility, discrimination, friendship, courage and justice, among other things. The book is presented from two female POVs and involves four strong-willed women.
Linda
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
This book reminds me of the movie "Thelma and Louise" because there's a cross country escape (and rescue mission) involving two women, but with a big age difference. And the women's personalities are similar to that of Thelma and Louise. I enjoy a fun, light novel, especially after reading a long, heartbreaking one.
Francine
The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
Great book! Many twists; some were predictable (to me), but the final twist was a mind-blower. I hope she has a fourth book in the series.
Donna
Animals I Want to See by Tom Seeman
Fascinating memoir of growing up in a family of 14 in the poorest section of Toledo, OH. I was so envious of all the brothers and sisters!
Carol R
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
We enjoyed reading and discuss this book written by a fellow New Jersey author. We liked the book and enjoyed the outdoor discussion in our local park until a sudden bad thunder and lightening storm sent us all home.
Melissa
The Girl Behind the Gates by Brenda Davies
If you are in a book club you must read this one. Love it or hate the sadness of it, there is so much to talk about. It ticks all the boxes when it comes to characterization, plot, being well written. It will give you all the emotions. Unbelievably, this used to happen to women.
Roxanne
The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen
Fascinating true story about the childhood and subsequent adult life of the author and his friend and fellow genius Michael Laudor, who developed schizophrenia and still earned a law degree. He subsequently became unstable and murdered his fiancé, after which time he was committed to a mental health facility for the remainder of his life. Their relationship and the whole question of how society deals with individuals with severe mental illness is considered, and it makes for fascinating reading.
Roxanne
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Engrossing fictional tale of the lives of four sisters raised in the Chicago area in the 60s and beyond, relating their relationships with their parents, each other, and their friends/lovers. While it somewhat parallels LITTLE WOMEN, it is a totally unique and absorbing story on its own and stresses the importance of family relationships and interdependence.
Karen
Night Came with Many Stars by Simon Van Booy
It is a poignant novel that weaves together the lives of several characters across decades, beginning in rural Kentucky in the 1930s. The story revolves around Carol, a young girl who faces hardships after the death of her mother and a father, who loses her in a card game to an older man. Through the kindness of others and her own resilience, Carol's life intertwines with those around her, including Samuel, a boy who helps her despite his own struggles. The novel explores themes of loss, survival, and the enduring power of human connection, ultimately painting a picture of hope and the impact of small acts of kindness over generations.
Teresa
The Stolen Child by Ann Hood
This could have been a fascinating book. In fact, in some ways, it was. It felt, however, like the resolution was hurried. As the mystery of the child is solved, the character who set it in motion is dismissed with a quick explanation. I found that disappointing in an otherwise interesting story.
Lori
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Fun read about middle-aged women who are fed up with the men in their lives and the revenge they set out to take. If you're not feeling warm and fuzzy about men in general, this is the book for you!
Jeanne
Mind Games by Nora Roberts
MIND GAMES by Nora Roberts knocked it out of the park with this well written, captivating storyline. She is a queen of storytelling and did an excellent job in character development as well as the plot. It is intriguing, fast-paced and full of twists and turns and a horrific, cold-blooded murder of the parents of two young children, one of whom was psychic and witnessed the murders in her dreams. I couldn’t stop reading this from beginning to end and it is one of the author’s best.
Mabel
The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver
A fun read. I like the show "Tracker" and this is the first book of the series that it is based on. It kept my interest and had some good plot twists in it.
Gerry
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
An interesting but ultimately un-engaging novel that includes a mix of romance, history, biography, and science fiction. A central character is Commander Graham Gore, who in real life died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic. This novel is "extracted" from the past, prior to his death, as part of a British intelligence experiment in time travel, and brought into the twenty-first century, where the woman assigned as his "bridge" (a mentor of sorts) finds herself falling in love with him.
Gerry
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
Mason is a master of atmospheric prose, bringing his readers into a time and place that no longer exists, but feels completely real. In THE PIANO TUNER, that place is Burma (now Myanmar) in the 19th century, when the British Empire was fighting to extend its control over this nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, and to prevent France from encroaching on what the Brits considered "their" territory. Anthony Carroll is a medical doctor whose mission has been to prevent war by showing the natives of Burma another possibility, and bringing peace to the region through healing and through music. But not everyone is pleased with Carroll's peacemaking strategies or piano tuner Drake's presence in the village, and troubling conflicts ensue.
Gerry
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
I chose to read this novel because I had found Villavicencio's earlier nonfiction work, THE UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS, to be informative and worthwhile. This novel is centered on a young woman sent from Ecuador to the Bronx at age six to live with her (undocumented) grandparents. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the story or its characters, and persisted to the end only because of my sense of obligation to read and review the book that was provided to me free via NetGalley. Unfortunately, this book turned out not to be a good choice for me, and not one I can recommend.
Gerry
The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Interesting, but never fully engaging, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARANC promised more than it delivered with its tale of two former lovers reuniting to find a mutual friend who has disappeared in this Montana wilderness. In early chapters, a dire twist was frequently foreshadowed, but the predicted event didn't occur until very late in the novel, and was neither shocking nor especially dangerous. Not a terrible story overall, but it just fell flat.
Gerry
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
BEST book of June! This is a beautiful and devastating novel, and incredibly, it’s Alice Winn’s debut novel. It’s a story of young men, boys really, at their British boarding school as WWI began, and in various locations in Belgium, France, and Germany once they’d enlisted to fight for their country’s honor. Winn describes the horrors of the battlefields in brutal detail that’s hard to read, especially when contrasted with the letters sent to parents of those killed, invariably describing their sons’ deaths falsely as heroic and painless. At the center of the story are Sidney Ellwood and Henry Gaunt, each carrying the secret of his love for the other, hiding their feelings not only from friends and families, but even from one another.
Gerry
The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green
Described by the publisher as a "gripping story of two families brought together to celebrate an unexpected marriage, twelve years after a devastating tragedy upended their lives," THE WORLD AFTER ALICE moves back and forth in time to reveal the many secrets held by each member of Benji and Morgan's families, and the damaging effects those secrets wrought on so many lives. The writing was a bit pretentious at times, perhaps fittingly so for some of these characters who were not especially nice people, but it gave me a chance to learn some new vocabulary. I didn't find the Benji and Morgan's romance completely credible, mostly due to the difference in the couples' ages. Still, it was an engaging story, and held my interest throughout.
Gerry
Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
Ashley C. Ford certainly had a challenging upbringing, with a father in prison, a mother who seemed mentally ill or at least quite unstable, and a series of her mother’s boyfriends coming in and out of her life. The one stable, caring person in her life was her grandmother, but even she couldn’t save Ashley from the trauma and abuse she suffered. She writes well, and I’d be interested in reading more of her work in the future. In an interview appended to the audiobook, Ford refers to “working things out” and processing her emotions through this writing experience, which certainly makes the book worthwhile for her. But this memoir still left me dissatisfied, unsure just what made this particular story worthy of publication.
Gerry
Time's Undoing by Cheryl A. Head
This dual timeline historical novel follows a female journalist as she researches the murder of her grandfather in the Jim Crow South. I found his story quite compelling, but had mixed feelings about the paranormal aspects of the story -- though ultimately I found this worked quite well -- and was less enthralled with the modern day romance the novel included. Overall, it was a worthwhile and mostly-engaging read. 3-1/2 stars.
Gerry
All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, Charon has had only two murders. Then, a year to the day after Titus’s election, a school teacher is killed by a former student and the student is fatally shot by Titus’s deputies. Those festering secrets are now out in the open and ready to tear the town apart. Cosby has written a powerful and engaging story centered on a painful aspect of our society: our apparent inability to protect our children from those who would prey on them, or to help them heal when they do fall victim.
Gerry
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
This is fictional memoir by a man looking back with regret on his actions as a boy. The opening and closing chapters are narrated in the first person by this unnamed boy, while several middle chapters are devoted to a third person narrative about two other families, their neighbors and close relatives, and in particular, a young boy, Cletus, with whom the narrator had briefly formed a friendship. The sections narrated from the perspective of the young boy seemed disjointed, as he recalled events in seemingly random sequence and introduced characters without clear connections to events just described. A worthwhile read just to experience a new author and his particular style of writing, but not a book I enjoyed enough to make me seek more.
Gerry
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza
A cute, easy read about a young woman discovering an unexpected windfall when her elderly aunt bequeaths to her a plot of land in Sicily. The author did include pretty much every stereotypical Italian mob trope, along with descriptions of the island’s gorgeous scenery, but still produced a decent story.
Gerry
Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer
This YA novel tells a powerful story of family, culture, traditions, and community among the Ojibwe people of Northeastern Minnesota and Canada. Ezra is fifteen years old and feeling the strong emotions of first love when a White boy who’s bullied him for years turns on Ezra’s friend, a girl he’s been close to since early childhood. In response to the boy’s demeaning taunts, Ezra is ready to punch him, but restrains himself enough to turn and punch a locker instead. That night, a fire destroys the bully’s home, and fearing Ezra will be blamed, his father sends him north to the reservation to live with his grandparents. There he learns the skills, beliefs, customs, and attitudes that have been passed down from his ancestors for generations.
Gerry
Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger
This is the third novel I've read in Krueger's excellent Cork O'Connor series, and it definitely whetted my appetite to continue with the series, which now numbers some twenty books. These novels combine engaging mysteries with both current and historical cultural information about Native Americans.
Gerry
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
I neither loved nor hated this apocalyptic novel set in our not-too-distant future when the population of the Western hemisphere has been decimated, a small handful of oligarchs control virtually all resources, indentured servitude is legal once again, and the small clusters of free people in the middle of the North American continent do their best just to survive without attracting the attention of the despotic authorities. It wasn’t always clear just where Enger was taking us in this novel, but it held my interest enough to make me continue to the end, following an optimistic hero on his odyssey around Lake Superior in an ancient sailboat that seemed ready to capsize at any moment, but invariably survived to sail another day.
Gerry
Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
There is a thread of hope throughout this story, but more often I found it depressing, and sometimes infuriating. The novel follows Eleanor from her teen years when she was suddenly cast into the world alone by her parents’ deaths in a car crash, through her early career as a writer, to her marriage and years of raising their three children, and on to the years after her children are beginning their own adult lives. Maynard develops very realistic characters and is certainly very perceptive about relationships within a marriage and a family. Overall I found this a very engaging story, and look forward to reading the sequel, which is coming out this month. 4-1/2 stars.
Gerry
Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead
I got this novel free from Amazon First Reads, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Willa grew up in a dysfunctional household, with a mentally ill mother, absent father, and a younger sister damaged by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She managed to overcome her past, and with education and hard work, to establish herself as a successful therapist working with young children. But a visit to her hometown resurrected painful memories, along with terrible discoveries that made her question everything she’d believed about her past. The mystery spools out with numerous unexpected twists, keeping the suspense going until the end. I’ll watch for more from this author, who’s garnering well-earned praise for this debut novel. 3-1/2 stars
Gerry
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
In yet another dual-timeline novel, the current trend in historical fiction, Alice returns to Poland to learn more about her beloved grandmother's experiences during WWII. I found the WWII-era narrative far more compelling than the modern-day story. During the war, Alina Dziak is waiting for her fiancé to return to their village from his medical studies in Warsaw when the Germans invade and occupy the eastern half of Poland. Their village is one in which Christians and Jews had lived side by side without conflict, all seeing themselves equally as Poles, until the Nazis came and began rounding up and deporting the Jews. To my mind, this was a novel that tried to do too much but did none of it very well.
Gerry
The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar
3-1/2 stars for a family saga set in Bombay, India. Remy has lived in the U.S. since college, and has returned to the city of his birth in hopes of finalizing an agreement to adopt the expected infant of a young woman, a relative of his close friends, who has become pregnant out of wedlock. But he discovered during this visit that his mother is quite ill and in need of care. Reconnecting with his mother brings back memories of their fraught relationship, along with some new discoveries about the family’s history. These two plot threads intertwine in a complicated narrative about familial love, loyalty, and duty. Not my favorite of Umrigar's novels, but still enjoyable.
Gerry
The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes
While somewhat slow-moving, this was an interesting story, based mostly in fact, of the two daughters of 18th century British artist Thomas Gainsborough. The younger of the two, Peggy, devoted most of her life to protecting her sister Molly, who exhibited increasingly odd and sometimes dangerous behavior. Gainsborough's wife was determined to bring their daughters up "in society" and to enable them to find husbands who could support them in the manner she believed they deserved; for that reason, it seemed critical that Molly's illness be kept secret. The novel follows the family from their country home to the city of Bath, where they could take part in society, with both potential risks and hoped-for benefits.
Susan
A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines
Keeps your interest.
Sandy
Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon
Just finished this book 10 minutes ago! I thought I knew who did it, but I was wrong!!! A wonderful thriller about the attack of a young girl who is now in a sort of coma and an alcoholic journalist who solves the cold case.
Donna
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
If you asked me to describe ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker in one word, I would say spectacular. Described as a missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, and a love story, it is all of that and more. How many books at 592 pages have you read and immediately wanted to do a reread just to again immerse yourself in all the beautiful writing, and also so that you didn’t have to say goodbye to characters whom you’ve grown to love. With tears in my eyes, that’s exactly how I felt when I closed this book for the final time.
Betty
Emperor of Rome by Mary Beard
Mary Beard makes ancient Rome so interesting. Her writing is engaging and her grasp of the history of Rome is amazing. I heartily recommend this book.
Shelley
Pursuit by Joyce Carol Oates
This one is a genre bender where it's part horror and part suspense and it's typical Joyce Carol Oates where she leaves the reader feeling unsettled as we watch her skillfully tell a dark story. I don't know how she does it but she continues to write with such keenness complicated, flawed characters and stories where the reader needs to just trust the process and each piece falls into place.
Su
The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell
A dark and troubled small town in Michigan with men who don't trust their women to make their own health choices and a family of women who try to help the women as best they can.
Luella
What We Hide by Colleen Coble
Great read. It's about second chances and depending on someone you love and lost and realizing you still love.
Su
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
A historical biography of an 1800s midwife who was able to make a difference for the community around her after the Revolutionary War. A story of how an illiterate teenager was able to learn to read and learn medicine to make a career in helping women bear children and also testify for women that were assaulted and raped when women were not allowed to speak in that day and time.
I was so intrigued by all the notes that were included and how the author actually reinterpreted to bring out the character in the fictional part of the story.
Norma
The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah
The story begins with a bang. Distracted Ellis leaves her baby unattended at a forest park and drives away without her. When she returns, Viola is gone—was she abducted? In a very remote area of Washington, a young girl named Raven is told by her mother to keep her distance from society and hold onto their earthly spirits. The reader assumes Raven is the abducted Viola but wonders how. This one with its setting descriptions and flawed characters will stay with me for a long time.
Barbara
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
This book lived up to the hype I was expecting. I couldn't put it down and flew through the book. A teenager decides to review a murder of a good friend that had happened 5 years before for a high school senior project. She gets pulled into dangerous situations and uncovers so much more than she thought she would.
Barbara
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
This was the second book in a trilogy. I was disappointed in how the story developed. It felt like the author was really stretching to find something. I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish out the series. Senior girl continues with her podcast and when looking around for another mystery to solve. She gets pulled into another dangerous situation and puts her life and others in danger as they follow along.
Barbara
As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson
This was a horrible read. The only reason I give it a 2 is because it wrapped up the series. I can't believe this was so popular a series. I think it would have been better as a stand-alone book with the first one. It read like a book that had a commitment to deliver and so the author decided to just go off the rails. Not that any of the books were believable but this one was ridiculous! It is rare that I feel I wasted my time reading a book, but this is one. The self-induced, angst-ridden teenager needs to create another true crime podcast and creates a true crime herself and pulls in the people closest to her and puts them all in danger. The ending felt like it was rushed just to move on to something else.
Annmarie
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
A sweeping novel, multi-generational novel.
MARILYN
Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
Our book club greatly enjoyed this book. We liked the attention given to Julia Child and her husband.
Our book club had a great discussion with this book and the interaction of Julia with her young American sleuth.
Husband Paul did not have a big part, but still he added to the story.
Claire
Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar
I enjoyed the writing style -- it's casual, but compelling. The mix of Spanish and English slowed down my reading, not necessarily in a bad way. I'm just realizing I've forgotten almost everything I knew of Spanish. It flows naturally though.
Deby
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjam Kamali
Beautiful story of long-lasting friendship and the strength of women.
Melinda
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
This story was riveting of two men attempting to complete a hike through the Grand Canyon. Kevin did a great job of explaining their struggles and highlights. He also did a good job of explaining every struggle the indigenous people of the canyon go through to survive.
Pauline
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Our book group read ORDINARY GRACE and loved Krueger's writing and storyline, as well as the characters. They said they would recommend this book to others. This is a glowing response from the group!
Ellen
Toxic Prey by John Sandford
I have read all the Prey books, and I feel this is one of the best. Sandford's characters are as genuine to me as my friends. Letty has developed into an awesome young woman and I look forward to her many more adventures. One does not need to have read earlier books in this series to enjoy the book, but I would recommend reading them for the hours of joy they will bring.
Beth
The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist by Radley Balko and Tucker Carrington
I've lived in the midwest and west and have always leaned conservative. But after reading THE CADAVER KING AND THE COUNTRY DENTIST, I know I'd be a liberal if I lived in Mississippi. What an eye-opening book this is! The "cadaver king" is Dr. Stephen Hayne; the "country dentist" is Dr. Michael West. The two of them acted as expert witnesses in the majority of Mississippi's death investigation court cases for nearly 20 years. Hayne performed an impossible number of autopsies and then claimed to see whatever prosecutors suspected. West gave unscientific bite-mark testimony to suit prosecutors' suspicions and also pretended to be an expert in a variety of other unscientific areas. And Mississippi courts accepted it all for many years.
Dale
Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Some of the story was lacking detail and believability. Did enjoy some of the twists. Wanted to give a higher rating but finished and said, "Okay, that was good but not great."
Elise
One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
I started Nicola Yoon's new novel, ONE OF OUR KIND and was finished 36 hours later. Ms. Yoon's engaging book draws you to the main character right away. Jasmyn is an intelligent, passionate advocate for the causes she believes in, while being a relatable wife and mother wanting the best for her family. She's confronted with puzzling developments after her family moves to what she believed would be her dream neighborhood and community. Little does she know what lurks beneath the surface. I highly recommend this book as it educates and enlightens the reader on serious topics without being heavy handed. The quick pace of ONE OF OUR KIND keeps the reader from putting it down.
Liz
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
Eddie and Sarah had a chance meeting and instantly fell in love. The had seven glorious days together, then Eddie had to leave on a previously planned trip, but he promised to call. When there was no communication from Eddie, Sarah became frantic that something had happened to him. Sarah is sure he wouldn’t just "ghost" her, but…just when you think you know what happened in the story, another scenario is brought to light. Plenty of twists in this compelling story.
Andi
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Pleasantly surprised by this one. A hot cowboy romance. And ohhh did it sizzle. So much pining with a very slow burn that finally erupted and I loved it. While it was a book where you know exactly what will happen, it gave me all the feels. Can’t wait for the next one. P.S.: I told my husband I felt like I was having an affair with a fictional character! Oh, Luke Brooks you are one for the books (pun intended)!
Andi
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
As a reality TV fan, this book did it for me! Ruth Ware put her characters in a terrifying situation with some truly unlikable characters. I stayed up way to late reading this one. I could not put it down. The ending was a tad blahh – but overall a great thrill ride.
Agnes
North Woods by Daniel Mason
This book is a sweeping tale about a yellow house in the woods of Western Massachusetts. The main character is this setting. It tells the stories of those that lived there over the course of three centuries. The history of each inhabitant is told in a way that transports the reader to that particular time and place. This novel is written in a very unique way. The author interweaves the chapters with photos, poetic verses, songs, and correspondence. There are layers of history, magical realism, and nature as seen through the seasons. Each layer revealing again how we’re all connected to our environment and each other.
Tessa
The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh
Mai’s ancestor was cursed by a Vietnamese witch: the women would birth only daughters, never a son. Oh, what a tangled web of melodrama! In general, this is about family – especially an extended family whose members are always in each other’s business. They meddle, fight, make-up, mourn, and celebrate. Ultimately, they come together as a family, rising in unison, ready to conquer the world.
Roxana
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
I absolutely love the Will Trent series and this book provided more background on Angie, Will's childhood sweetheart and estranged wife. I enjoy how each book in the series sheds light on things in the character's past.
Carol
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
What an absolutely delightful mystery story. Older Chinese tea shop owner finds a dead body in her shop. Everyone believes it is an allergy reaction. Not Vera Wong. Loved all the characters. Can’t wait for the next Vera Wong book.
Debbie
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy L. Sayers remains an interesting mystery writer with Lord Peter Wimsey jumping into the chaos to bring order and resolution in a murder investigation. As his sidekick, Harriet Vane, falters between accepting Peter’s many proposals of marriage. But, I could not enter this tedious foray of college life in this lengthy tale. The chapters drone on and on, and the publisher printed the book in such small print. If the language did not bore a reader to sleepiness, then the constant insertion of Latin phrases drove the reader to fatigue and longing for the story to end. Not one of the books I would recommend to be read.
Debbie
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
What a thriller! Heather Gudenkauf writes a mystery, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST, in a style reminiscence of James Patterson. The story jumps from events that happened over twenty years ago in the state of Iowa where parents were brutally murdered, a daughter was shot, and two teen-agers were missing, to a scary scene of a daughter and mother held prisoner, to the investigation of the tragic events, and the present day storm. Like Patterson, Gudenkauf kept chapters short and riveting. The reader felt driven to begin a new chapter to learn what was happening. Gudenkauf would then skip to a different narrator and urge the reader to continue the story. So many twists and turns in the story.
aida
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Great book, hard to put down. Enjoyed the second in the series.
Francisca
This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura
3.5 stars. This is a charming YA novel about family, social justice, friendship and loyalty. There’s also a little romance thrown in. CJ is a pretty mature teen. Although she frequently doubts herself, she usually follows her inner compass and makes solid decisions. Of course, this is a young adult novel, so there is bound to be some of the drama typical in teen life – prom-posals, mean girls, cliques, attractions based strictly on looks, best friends who maybe aren’t anymore.
Luella
Righteous Prey by John Sandford
Another great read! It's a fast-paced mystery that was hard to put down. The humor broke up the seriousness and kept the rhythm going. Highly recommend, especially for fellow John Sandford fans.
Elise
Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard
I love how Maynard spools out a story. This family story deals with real emotions - resentment, love and loyalty. I am anxious to read the sequel.
Donna
And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham
Author Meacham thoroughly examines the moral universe of Abraham Lincoln. This presidential biography shows that Lincoln was a man with vices and virtues. The book is an understanding of the fractured state of the Union in mid-19th century America, contrasting it with the current divisive political situation in the United States of the 21st century. Lincoln’s views on emancipation and the Union evolved over time and this is on display in the book. I read a hardcover of the book but finished it as an audiobook, which was also a good choice. This was an excellent book club choice with lively conversation.
Sean
A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
This offering in the Bosch universe is another incredibly solid police procedural with a twist as ex-FBI profiler is around to help solve a murder and Bosch is stuck in court trying to put away a different killer. Their two worlds collide with some definite unintended consequences. Terry McCaleb's life has changed dramatically since we last saw him, but he still hungers to seek justice. The differences in the two characters are interesting to see them play off each other. The antagonists are twisted and evil. Their machinations get a little too "villainy" to be believed at times. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the plot really work but the book did lack in the action department. Overall, another very entertaining read as you'd expect.
Debbie
Wildcat by Jeffrey Dunn
WILDCAT by Jeffrey Dunn erupts into a story of a retired man returning to the town where he experienced his first love. The town consisted of a mine, a dam, and a mill. In a devastating sweep all three plummet to ruin. Will the town survive? The town inhabitants turn to nature and flame new life into this sad town. The characters need further development. This short novel does not have precise chapters, but thoughts woven into a story. At first, the experiment peeked through the despair when describing the hard and difficult life of the miners and the mill workers, but later the words just filled the pages as the emotion slipped away like the precious otters vanished.
Kathie
The Women by Kristin Hannah
It’s entertaining, but often I find her writing overly dramatic.
Donna
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
This was a cute read, hilarious and heartwarming. There were so many times I laughed out loud. I loved watching Delphie’s growth, and I loved all of those characters who loved her for her true self. If you enjoy charming rom-coms, then I recommend reading THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE.
Liz
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
Brooke has just started a job at a maximum security men’s prison. An ex-boyfriend, Shane Nelson, is incarcerated there and her testimony was what got him convicted. She doesn’t think anyone knows about her past with him. But she is wrong. Another winner by this author, so many twists and turns and as usual when you get to the end, you say, "No way did I see that coming!"
Fran
Run by Blake Crouch
An apocalyptic-style, action-packed journey of a family trying to survive in the worst situation. Blake Crouch keeps the pages turning. A likeable family, who you find yourself routing for in the most impossible dilemmas. As a fan of his previous works (Wayward Pines series, RECURSION and DARK MATTER), I looked forward to the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I would highly recommend it to others. Publishing in October 2024.
Tessa
Rebel by Beverly Jenkins
This bodice ripper is set in New Orleans during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. It's a typical romance with heaving bosoms, knees made weak by kisses, demure women and strong men who are talented and generous lovers. The action is fast, even if the plot is fairly predictable.
Rose
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
People are comig to Panama to work on the canal, which will change the shipping trade. It will also divide Panama. The story follows many characters. Marian Oswald who accompanied her husband John who came to help defeat malaria. Ada who sailed there as a castaway to earn moeny to help her sister Millicent who needs surgery. Omar, a Panamanian, who wants to help build the canal. However, this desire causes a rift between him and his father, Francisco, a fisherman. There are many others, but the impact of the canal on the lives and towns and families is an interesting time of history. Very enjoyable historical fiction.
Rose
Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie
3.5 stars rounded down. Cassie is running from her past and her husband, Kevin. But, she runs back to Yosemite, where 10 years earlier, as part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) team, she found a missing woman, Cameron. Now, she is back on SAR, hiding in plain sight. At the park, there are several campers that are long-term residents, including Petal and Jada. When several people go missing, Cassie starts receiving anonymous threatening texts and she fears Kevin is getting closer. As the summer season winds down, Cassie is questioned about a crime. What happens next will surprise you.
Rose
She's Up to No Good by Sara Goodman Confino
Jenna is in a funk. Her husband, Brad, isn't happy and wants a divorce. When her grandmother, Evelyn, says she is heading to Hereford, MA to take care of some business, Jenna volunteers to go with her. On this road trip, Evelyn recounts the story of her life and her loves. Jenna hears about Tony, Evelyn's first love, and Fred, her grandfather. She learns about Evelyn's family and her adventures as a young woman. In Hereford, Jenna meets Joe, who is Tony's great nephew. Joe shows Jenna around the town. A really wonderful story of laughter and some tears. I recommend it.
Rose
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. Lucy "Bee" Ashby and Bridget Clark are best friends. When Bridget misses her flight home to PEI to meet Lucy for a girls' weekend, Lucy heads out to dinner. She meets a young, cute oyster shucker, Felix, and there is instant chemistry. After an amazing night together, they realize that Bridget is their connection. Felix "Wolf" Clark is Bridget's younger brother and is "off-limits". However, year after year, when Lucy returns to PEI, Felix and Lucy reconnect. Lucy's life is in Toronto, where she owns a florist shop "In Bloom". Bridget is getting married and asks Bee to come to PEI before the wedding. The book recounts 5-6 years of their lives. A different romance, built slowly and with the whole family involved.
Rose
A Killing on the Hill by Robert Dugoni
When William Shumacher "Shoe", a young reporter, gets a call from a detective to visit a crime scene on Profanity Hill, his life changes. His boss, Phish, wants pizzazz in his stories. The killing involves gang members and Shoe's life is in danger. Meanwhile, he is infatuated with Amara, a young Italian girl. This relationship is endangered by the gangster story. I thought I had it figured out, but I was completely surprised by the reveal. I hope that this is a new series, as I enjoyed Shoe's adventures. Based on George Moore and the underworld shooting of Frankie Ray at the PomPom Club.
Rose
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Anna Green's husband leaves her; she believes she has signed the divorce papers. Anna was cool with this, since she only got married so she could take advantage of subsidized campus housing for married couples. Win/win for both, but they never really communicated. But, now, a few years later, Liam "West" Weston returns. A professor of economics and cultural anthropology, he needs Anna to be his wife at a family wedding. Once he is happily married for 5 years, he'll receive a $100 million inheritance. But, this is threatened by his family discovering the truth. Anna and West need to keep up the charade, but inadvertently fall for each other.
Cute romance. I enjoyed this more than previous books I read by this author.
Rose
The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupee
Larisa Pearl, in town to manage her great-aunt's estate, passes a bridal shop and falls in love with a wedding dress. The owner pressures her to tell her about a fiancé and the date of the wedding (neither exist). Jack, a childhood friend, and the handyman for the estate, helps Larisa on problems at the house. Jack's marriage to Holly is failing, and he begins to fall for Larisa. Also, Larissa models her ideal love on her parents. Her dad has cared for her mom while she suffers from dementia. A series of setbacks and missteps on the path towards love. Okay story. Predictable.
Rose
Beneath the Surface by Kaira Rouda
2.5 rounded to 3 stars. Richard Kingsley has gathered his family for a weekend trip to Catalina on his new yacht. He will decide which of them will be his successor at Kingsley Enterprises. There is not one likeable character in this book. They are all conniving, untrustworthy, or whiny. It took forever to reveal the point. A flawed, wealthy, awful family.
Rose
The Body in the Web by Katherine Hall Page
During Covid, social distancing was necessary, Zoom meetings became a way to communicate and to teach. Claudia Richards, an artist, was to marry Charles "Chip" Hamilton. But, when she caught him cheating, she ditched him at the altar. His mother and her father were livid, as this was a "good match" (for social status). Claudia retreats to where the Fairchilds live, and starts teaching via Zoom. During a meeting, it is Zoom bombed, with awful pictures and suggestive comments. Faith Fairchild realizes Claudia is the target, and when Claudia is found poisoned/ dead, Faith investigates. A story of revenge.
Rose
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
3.5 rounded to 4 stars. I usually adore Katherine Center books, but this one was just okay for me. Emma adores Charlie Yates, a writer. He is her favorite author. When he writes a rom-com screenplay, it is awful, and her friend asks her to save the script. Charlie doesn't want help, but Emma moves into his Hollywood home to help with the rewrite. Emma must educate him on what a rom-com must feature. She also helps him face some of his fears, and of course, they are attracted to each other. Charlie also helps Emma's career. Sweet romance.
Rose
These Still Black Waters by Christina McDonald
Neve Maguire has a secret. When she flees to her mom's summer home on Black Lake with her teen daughter, Ash, after their home was invaded, she is flooded with memories of past summers and friendships. Then, a body is discovered behind the house and Neve is concerned that she and Ash are in danger, as the dead woman is someone that Neve was friends with years ago, and who also held the secret. Detective Jess Lambert is wallowing in guilt after a car crash that caused her injury and the death of her daughter, Isla. Jess sees Isla talking to her from the grave and helping Jess to solve the case. I am not a fan of the alcoholism and the ghosts depicted, but it was still a very good mystery.
Rose
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is a successful romance novelist. However, she realizes that she hasn't been true to herself, and has never been in love. Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, is asked to create a reality TV show, The True Love Experiment. Fizzy is selected to be the female and a host of men are brought on to be her true love. But the chemistry between Fizzy and Connor is hot and can't be ignored. He hates watching her be courted by these men, but it is not wise to act on his own instincts as producer of the show. This started slow for me, but then heated up quickly, and turned out to be a solid romance. I am not a fan of reality TV, so perhaps that was the piece that was hard for me.
Rose
No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer
In London in 1927, Agnes owns a boarding house. There are multiple levels and tenants. When a room becomes available, Agnes must decide who to rent it to next. She decides on her niece, Clara. But, she is concerned with Clara's wild ways with men. Later, it is revealed that Clara has a secret, which she is afraid to reveal, but acts on it with her married friend. The lives of the other tenants are described and their hopes and dreams are discussed, including the piano player who gave up his one true love. Agnes's story of her love with James, that couldn't be realized because she had to care for her father, comes full circle. A story of love lost and found. It took a while to get into, and I think it could have been more concise.
Rose
Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas
A homage to the bakeries and sweet delights of both NYC and Paris. When Amy Thomas is asked to move to Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton, she wonders if she should go. She just redecorated her NY apartment, and loves it there. But, she also dreams of Paris: working on the Champs-Élysées, strolling its streets, and exploring the food scene. So, she takes the chance and moves to Paris and experiences all the food delights. In this quasi-memoir, Amy revels in the joy of a buttery croissant and cupcakes and other baked goods. She compares the Parisian treats to those in NYC and provides recommendations on where to go to enjoy the delicacies. Amy is torn between her love for NYC and her love for Paris.
Rose
Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland
Mary Wandwalker had been in love with David Falconer and had his child. She had to give her son up for adoption because the Falconers refused to help her when David, her fiancé, was killed in a car crash. Now members of the family are being killed, and Mary needs to investigate. Mary's son, George Jones, wants to meet Mary. When she arrives, she sees him embracing a woman who is not his wife. The Falconers present Mary with a note she wrote in 1979 asking for help. Now, the suicide note of Perdita Falconer is similar to Mary's note. Why are they similar when Perdita never saw Mary's note? Mary discovers that history and family and drugs are all connected. The Kestrel was a Russian spy who the Falconers knew. Good mystery, complex!
Rose
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Oliver and Lucien agree to be in a fake relationship to help clean up Luc's image. I found this book and Luc to be unbearable. It was long, and Luc was whiny and insecure. I struggled to finish it, and I didn't like it at all.
Claudia
We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels
Three generations are torn apart by racial relationships. From the Civil War, the Detroit riots of 1967, to current day, Elizabeth learns her family's secrets from her great aunt while trying to find her own happiness.
Rose
Taming Flame by Terisa Peimer
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as the genre is not what I normally read. I was pleasantly surprised. The story is age-old, with themes of love, jealousy, and power. Flaminius is the heir to the throne of the planet Arkhnuet, and the Key has matched him with Aurelia. She must agree to marriage as she is the only one who can produce an heir for him, and this will continue their people. His mother doesn’t believe Aurelia to be worthy of her son. Their love blazes, but Flame’s brother and mother plot to take them down. I look forward to reading the next book.
Rose
Down in the Valley (The Netahs - Book 2) by Lisa Kaniut Cobb
This is both a fantasy book and a coming-of-age story. Josh is able to change from a human into an elk. The Netahs are the community of shape-shifters, and they are holding a tribunal to determine if Josh will be welcomed into their community. However, his father, Vehoe, is being held in a prison. He never knew his birth father, and the Netahs need to determine if he is like his father or not before they make their decision.Josh finds new friends in the community, and he is also introduced to new feelings for his Ano. I am not a fantasy reader, but I did like how the Netahs grouped together to protect their land and their community, as well as the technology they had.
Sandra
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Another great book by this author! A woman who works from home and does not go out much and enjoys being by herself. Her friend talks her into going on a long overland hike and she decides to go. This friend is also a matchmaker so she knows an eligible guy who is also going on this hike. The end isn't what you expected until some time later. A very good book you don't want to miss.
Ruthanne
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
While I thought I had read all Picoult's books, I recently found this one and am so glad I did. Story of an Amish family and very profound with a mystery which keeps you guessing to the end. I am passing around my copy to friends who all agree. Read this book. While not new, it's another outstanding one from an author who never disappoints.
Trezeline
These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner
Very detailed informative story that follows a young girl’s travels and life.
Rose
A Compromising Position by Diane Merrill Wigginton
Catherine is working to elect her friend, Russell, to be the next governor of Florida. After the current campaign manager, Chase, is fired, she takes his place. But Chase wants revenge, as does Patricia, who was passed over for the job. Both Chase and Patricia conspire to take Russell down, and Chase also wants to destroy Catherine. Catherine's dashing neighbor, Jake, from Australia, works his way into Catherine's life, asking her to re-evaluate her choices. Is she in politics because she wants to be, or is it her deceased grandmother's dream for her? As the stakes and the passion heat up, Catherine needs to make some choices which will set the course for her life. A good romance with a bit of politics and revenge, too.
Kim
The Block Party by Jamie Day
This suspenseful thriller begins with a hint that something horrible has happened during the block party. The mystery unravels from all directions. We quickly learn this is a community full of secrets. Every page is delightful. The reader is reminded of the current day message: if you see something, say something.
Suzy
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
FIVE HUGE STARS!! I don’t give five stars very often. A book has to grab me and blow me away. THE RACHEL INCIDENT is one of the best books I’ve read in ages. I am a slow reader but let me tell you this is one of the very few books I’ve read in one day. I could not put it down because I wanted to find out what would happen next. I was so invested in the story. Definitely my favorite read of 2024. I can’t wait to see what Caroline O’Donoghue writes next.
Suzy
The Guest by B. A. Paris
I really enjoy B. A. Paris’ books and this one was no exception. I loved the short chapters as it kept the story moving. I wouldn’t call this a thriller even though it does have some thriller aspects. To me, it was more a character study, same as Liz Nugent’s UNRAVELING OLIVER. But I will say I never saw the ending coming.
Rose
Table for Two by Amor Towles
6 short stories and a novella, all with a message. The Line - a Russian immigrant who feels most comfortable in line. The Ballad of Timothy Touchett - a writer doesn't feel he can draw on his own experiences, so he turns to forging signatures of famous writers. Hasta Luego - a chance encounter at an airport during a snowstorm, and what happens between the men who meet. I Will Survive - a man's secret passion. The Bootlegger - love of music at Carnegie Hall. La Didomenica - a painting fragment. Eve in Hollywood - a woman comes to LA, meets and befriends Olivia de Havilland and saves her from embarrassment, all while thwarting a blackmail scheme. Very enjoyable.
Sandy
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell
Very different than the other books by Lisa Jewell. At first I didn't care for it, but the further I got into the book the better it became. Very supernatural story.
Jane
Hometown by Wendy Rich Stetson
I just found her as an author. Glad I did. I love her book. Tessa arrives at her home she grew up in after losing her job. Her parents were gone so she took care of the house and gardens. She loved whoopie pies. She met Jonas at the farmer's market and his niece. She also met Dr. Richard. Later she hired Jonas to make a gift special for her parents. Love blossoms in more ways than one. There are things that happen that make story real as we all face troubles. I highly recommend this book. It is longer than some but worth it.
Jane
The Day of the Ravens by Bradford Ingram
Grace was born and this book was written because of her. This book is written for children but adults will find it enjoyable too and an encouragement. Angels have to stop judging to love the ravens. Love can change events. Treat others with love.
Donna
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
From the first page on, I felt a strong sense of foreboding, with the unease and dread increasing with each page I read. So atmospheric, scenes so vivid and frightening. There is a scene in the attic which was completely horrifying, yet kept playing over and over again in my mind. This book is so gripping, the pages kept turning with my need to know how it would all play out. Unfortunately, the conclusion left me confused with a lot of unanswered questions, which left me thinking about the author’s intention. However, for me personally, I wanted to have a better understanding of why things happened. Even so, it was definitely worth the read.
Claire
To the Bone by Alena Bruzas
I think the author has done well at creating the slow-building horror. The main character is quite naive - I had a hard time getting a read on her age, in fact, because she reads quite young - and there's some good tension from her unawareness of the danger she is in just by being queer and an indentured servant.
Debbie
How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Joyce Maynard provides an extremely enjoyable book. Maynard presents Eleanor from her marriage to Cam and the many years following with the birth of their three children, the accident that leaves Toby brain damaged, the identity change of Allison, the loathing and hate of Ursula, the ecstasy of her relationship with Guy, and the sickness and death of Cam. My emotions surfaced so many times during the reading of this well-written novel. Maynard explores the feelings of many relationships: mother and child, husband and wife, and grandparents and grandchildren. Maynard also jumps into the danger of coronavirus and Trump and prejudice.
Sally
The Next Mrs. Parish by Liv Constantine
Just as twisty and wonderful as the first novel!
Nancy
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
The story is of 2 friends who grow up in Iran to become very different women.They each have a different focus & goals in life, yet they develop a close knit bond. The book follows many decades delving into their lives as girls in an Iran led by the Shah to their adult lives of dealing with an Iran fraught with civil unrest and the dangers that the new regime presents. As they reach adulthood they deal with separation and yet fall back on their friendship as the world around them changes. It is enlightening to be able to visualize what Ellie & Homa's experiences would have been like. Kamali was able to give the reader a glimpse into the struggles of family, friendship, love, culture, women's rights & much more in a world filled with unrest.
Dawn
James by Percival Everett
I won an ARC of this through Goodreads. I had never read any literature by Mark Twain so I was unfamiliar with most of the main or minor characters here. I had a very hard time with understanding the slangs used by the writer. It slowed me down a lot. There were way too many adventures to read through and sometimes they went on and on. There was a surprise ending, or at least it was a surprise to me. The author did do a very good job of describing how a slave would feel in that time period.
Donna
The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
THE BURIAL PLOT, a haunting Gothic thriller, was unputdownable. Ms. Macneal has beautifully penned an atmospheric tale full of mystery and intrigue. Well-depicted characters and a compelling plot had me hooked from page one. I loved it so much that before I had even finished, I ordered THE DOLL FACTORY, Macneal’s debut novel.
Lesley
Long Island by Colm Toibin
You won't be able to put it down. So lovely to follow the lives of the characters from the previous book, BROOKLYN. I did not imagine the story going the direction it did, so many surprises and just a beautiful read about the immigrant experience, what it means to go home, and what we're willing and not willing to do when people around us make mistakes.
Sally
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
I just did not find this book as good as THE MAID, the original book in the series by this author.
Liz
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Asher and Lily are two teens who love each other very deeply. The both come from troubled pasts and each has their own secrets. When the unthinkable happens, secrets are revealed and lives are turned upside down. Will they ever be able to get back to “normal”? I found this to be a very moving story. It handles a very delicate subject with compassion and leaves the reader with a better understanding of things that are pertinent in today’s world.
Rose
The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt
Heartbreaking account of the ravages of war and the cruelty of the German soldiers during WWII in Poland. Twin sisters have different experiences of the war, but both are committed to Poland. Antonina is in love with Marek, a Jew, who is sent to live in the Warsaw ghetto. Helena doesn't like that Antonina is risking her safety to see Marek. Helena works in a German office, but only because she needs work. She begins to have feelings for a German soldier. The sisters have an argument, yet both of them serve Poland in different ways. It always amazes me how resilient people are when they face hardships. Although these women weren't Jewish, they were Poles who understood the horrors that were happening and they fought.
Rose
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
A quasi homage to Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, with a modern twist on the story. Lyla is asked by Nico, her boyfriend, to go on a reality TV show, One Perfect Couple. Since her post-doc research is a bust, she plans to go for just two weeks, and figure a way to get booted from the show. The couples are taken to a tropical island, but Nico fails on the first night's task and the staff take him away on a boat. The remaining couples are left on the island with one staff member. A terrible storm hits the island, and the four couples: Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana, plus Lyla must deal with the aftermath. They are stranded, and food and water is limited. People start dying, and it is sinister.
Rose
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
This sequel to BROOKLYN does not disappoint. It is full of heart and longing and disappointment. 20 years earlier, in Brooklyn, Eilis left Ireland to head to NY. She met Tony and married him. On a trip home, she became close to Jim, not telling him she was married. Now, Eilis is disappointed because her husband has fathered a child with one of his clients. The husband of the pregnant woman has told Eilis he will not raise the child. Eilis tells Tony that she will not raise the child. Tony's mother, however, has said she would raise her grandchild. This causes a rift between Eilis and Tony. Eilis heads back to Ireland to see her mother for her 80th birthday. Eilis sees Jim.
Claire
As Old As Time by Liz Braswell
This is the third one in this series I have read, and by far my favorite. So, anything Beauty and the Beast is my comfort read, so I'm glad that this changed enough to be new and exciting, while still keeping goofy Beast and sassy Belle and their sweet love story.
Rose
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Theodosia Benton decides to abandon her parents' wishes that she become an attorney, and she pursues a career as a writer. At a cafe, she meets another author, and they become close. After he reads her manuscript, she asks to be represented by his agent, and he declines to recommend her. He is found murdered the next day. She finds him, and strangely, the police focus on Theo's brother, Gus. To save Gus, Theo makes a critical decision - which causes her to be caught in a sinister plot. She disappears, thought dead, but Gus won't believe it. Then, her manuscript, or something close to it, shows up as a published book, and Gus renews his search for his sister. Everything leads to a conspiracy, but is it true?
Michelle
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Outstanding writing. Characters that will stay with you forever. Relationships that are deeply developed.
Deb
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Captivating characters, moving plot, fabulous writing. I was hooked from the very beginning. Even though the book is long, I finished it quickly. It is one of the few books I will reread. I hope it turns into a movie or series and gets a wide audience.
Jane
Ambush in the Mountain by Mary Alford
Summer and Axel meet because Summer is being shot at. Axel did not know her but wasn't leaving her to danger. Axel was a retired soldier. Camo was his dog in service. Abram and Lainey were both Amish. They try to help Summer and Axel as they try to escape danger. Axel's friend, Brayden, wasn't home when they escaped to there. They were being shot up. Later Brayden arrives injured. Brayden is a deputy. Baby girl, Abby, arrives near end. This book will open your eyes to human traffickers. God's protection of all is very evident. All of it happens on a mountain in a bad snowstorm. This book is hard to put down.
Donna
Greenwood by Michael Christie
Excellent read if you liked THE OVERSTORY.
Debbie
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
Supposedly, this is the final chapter in the Maisie Dobbs series, but Jacqueline Winspear, quotes James Bond, “Never say never”. The war has ended and England faces many issues: the war-ravaged veterans, the citizens left homeless by the bombing, rationing, and the government’s ideas of free health care. Maisie must investigate four homeless children and their war training. These young children were trained to wreck havoc if the Germans invaded England. One fact emerges from Maisie’s investigation stands as the plight of the homeless and the law regarding squatters. This observation amazed me, squatters seem to have more privilege than the actual owners of a house. Many times in the investigation, Maisie encounters ghosts of the past.
Francisca
Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper
Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Cooper, the son of “the last Vanderbilt” (Gloria Vanderbilt), and a trained journalist, looks at the family legacy in this work of nonfiction. On the whole, it held my attention, and I learned a few tidbits I hadn’t previously come across.
Tessa
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
This is a lovely coming-of-age novel featuring a trio of sisters, of which Lara Jean is the middle sister. Among the issues dealt with are sibling rivalry, teen crushes, sex, social media (and bullying), and conflicting feelings – whether for your sister or your boyfriend. I really liked Lara Jean. She mostly has her act together, but she is only sixteen. Still, she’s a good kid; she’s smart, talented, loyal, principled, and determined. And she has an open heart that is ready to learn about love and what it really means.
Gretchen
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
The title caught my attention. I have not been sleeping well at night and was looking for something that I could listen to something that was entertaining but easy to turn off after a couple of chapters. I really enjoyed listening to this book. Some parts made me laugh out loud, while others reminded me of my past.
Rose
A Little Hope by Ethan Joella
A beautiful novel about a small town community in CT and the lives of the people dealing with various issues. Greg and Freddie, in love with a young daughter, Addie, are devastated when Greg is diagnosed with cancer. His boss, Alex, is kind and understanding, but also has an issue --- he fathered a child years ago after his own child was killed, and he was emotionally destroyed because of it. His wife didn't want to see the love child, so he secretly met with Iris and was a part of her life. Darcy Crowley lost her beloved husband and is worried about the choices her son, Luke, has made. Ginger, his ex-girlfriend, returns to town for a weekend. They see each other briefly before tragedy strikes. An emotional, heartfelt and hopeful novel.
Rose
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
Minnie Cooper never has any luck on her birthday, New Year's Day. She blames it on Quinn Hamilton, the man who stole this luck from her. Their mothers were in the maternity ward together, and Minnie's mom told Quinn's mom that she hoped to win the prize for first baby born, and she would name her baby Quinn. Then Quinn's mom won and took the name. Years later, Minnie and Quinn meet at his birthday party. The story moves back and forth, and they meet time and time again. But although they have feelings for each other, they seem to butt heads. A cute love story.
