ROSE
Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker
This is a family drama set in Maine. Lindy is planning a huge summer of parties, beginning with her husband, David's, 50th birthday. Then, her parents' wedding anniversary, and finally her daughter, Hailey's, wedding. But, when David doesn't show up for the festivities, Lindy and her children begin to wonder what happened. Lindy hasn't told her children what happened when Lindy and David were teens, and now she wonders if it is happening again. Her parents are also keeping a secret from the family, and her daughter's fiancé, Noah, doesn't seem appropriately concerned about David's disappearance. When Noah finally shows up to the cove, Hailey needs to take stock of her relationship. "Make a plan, God laughs" is a perfect summary of this.
ROSE
The One by John Marrs
This is my first John Marrs book and I now see why he is so popular. The One is a DNA testing kit that promises to match you with your one true love. When people are matched, they know they have met their soulmate. So, when a engaged couple takes the test and they aren't matched to each other, what should they do? Meanwhile, a serial killer uses the matching service to target women. Finally, the company's founder is matched and falls in love. But each of these scenarios has a twist!
Thought-provoking.
ROSE
Cross-Stitch by Jazmina Barrera
Mila, Citlali, and Dalia have been friends for years. Now on a break from college, they travel from Mexico City to London and Paris. However, they do not all have the funds for the trip they expected. They try to keep to a schedule, but things happen, causing Mila, the narrator, to reflect that they are growing apart. A few years later, Mila receives news that Citlali has drowned, and she reflects on their friendship and its fraying edges. She relates this to her love of needlework and how it tells a story. An homage to needlework and female friendship. It made me sad, but I enjoyed learning about the history around needlework.
ROSE
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
This is the tale of the Turner family of 13 children and the house in Detroit where they were raised. Now, the matriarch of the family is ill and living with one of the children. The house is empty and since it was re-mortgaged during the predatory loan period, the interest is very high, putting them in danger of losing it. The area of Detroit is depressed, as many people have moved to the suburbs. One of the daughters has a gambling addiction and is now squatting in the house. One son is having a crisis, believing he sees a "Haint" (ghost). This dramatic novel explores how a family deals with being tested in many ways. I learned a bit about struggles from this book.
ROSE
Well Matched by Jen Deluca
This is one of my favorite books in the series. A single mom, April, has given up on love and now that her daughter is getting ready for college, she is preparing to sell her house and move from the small town. When the high school gym teacher, Mitch, asks April for a favor, she believes she can use this to have Mitch help her update her house in exchange for pretending to be his girlfriend. She doesn't expect the immediate attraction to Mitch, but is hesitant because he is several years younger than her. This novel includes some of the Renaissance Faire theme, but it is less central than in the other novels. A nice romance.
ROSE
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Strout is wonderful at writing about everyday people and their lives. Artie Dam is a well-loved high school history teacher, and he truly cares about his students. He tries to teach them to be good people and he shows a great interest in learning about their ambitions. He encourages them. But, he is depressed and lonely. His son, Rob, had been involved in a terrible accident years earlier and was never the same. His wife, Evie, is his sounding board, but he doesn't tell her his innermost feelings. I loved how Strout used current events, including the 2024 election, the COVID pandemic, and immigration concerns as backdrops in the novel. I also loved the themes of kindness and fatherly love. An absolutely wonderful book.
ROSE
The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Susan Patterson and James Patterson
Several college friends and their daughters meet for a book club weekend when tragedy strikes. Now, a few years later, one of the moms invites the group to her home in Lake Como, Italy for another book club weekend, full of activities and fun. A few secrets and regrets surface over the weekend, but during the "sharing of secrets" night, a very special surprise allows the group to come full circle. I liked how the book included favorite novels and authors, and some thoughts about them. A nice read.
Gerrie
The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon
A very comfy and clever cozy mystery set in London in 1930. A bit of romance, some colorful characters and a new sleuthing team. This was a breezy and fun read, and I was hooked. I enjoyed the main female character and all the interesting twists thrown in. I hope Jackie McMahon writes more in the series.
Gabriel
Massif by Garth Nix
Interesting premise, but I don’t feel it was fully delivered. The first two-thirds moved glacially slowly, only dropping occasional crumbs of what was framed as the main plot in the summary - discovering what the Massifs want with humanity. The last third picked up the pace significantly, but there was only so much that could be fit in at that point. The big secret of the Massifs was not discovered so much as dropped in all at once. Overall, it read like the awkward first book of a series that hasn't yet hit its stride, though, as far as I know, it's not going to be a series.
Jane
This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
I love Allegra Goodman's books, which are always enjoyable. These are short stories which I've never read. Jeanne, Helen and Sylvia are elderly. Jeanne is the youngest at 74 and she's dying of lung cancer in the beginning of the book and in hospice in her home. Like she thought to herself, why am I the youngest and look the oldest? A lot of arguments over everything and bickering between Helen and Sylvia. Sylvia loved to bake and freeze for occasions, especially now with shiva coming up after Jeanne dies. Helen loves to bake too and competition is there, too, and not just with baking. These women remind me of my mom who loved to bake and freeze and pull it out of the freezer when occasions arose.
Nancy
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
Three Chinese woman of great beauty. One a doctor’s wife who participates in his work. Theirs is a love match, but childless. Another is a delicate, pampered woman with tiny feet destined to be a trophy wife. The third is from an impoverished family, sold by her parents to a brothel owner. Their lives intertwine in 1870 in Los Angeles, still a small village where feuding Chinese gangs vie for power and anti-Chinese racism is rampant. Each woman is trapped in a different cage, each seeking freedom and fulfillment. What they endure is shocking, how they help each other overcome tragedy is inspiring. The story of racism and violence and the misogyny of the time is hard to read, and yet hard to set down.
Pamela
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
A classic read about a man's impending marriage while he considers another woman.
Jayme
The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens
4.5 rounded to 5 stars. Wow, this was a very intense and powerful read that had me riveted. There is a lot of emotion in this book, and the ugliness of war is front and center which might be a trigger for some, but it is well worth the read. I had not read Eskens before but will now put him on my radar.
Sharon
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline
I read other books about the conjoined twins, Chang and Eng, but never took much notice of the sisters that married them. This novel, written from the perspective of one of those sisters, brought new light to the story. I was engrossed from the start and never wanted the book to end. Great read!
Elizabeth
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
I loved MAD MABEL! Without giving too much away, Elsie ‘Mabel’ Waller is a character that had lived a long life ridden with trauma, loneliness, and misunderstanding. When Mabel’s elderly neighbor dies in his kitchen, Mabel finds his body, she is once more put under the spotlight of suspicion. Mabel wasn’t his biggest fan, so once people learn of Mabel’s personal past history, she becomes a larger-than-life suspect.There is lots of emotional character depth, honesty, empathy, humor, mystery, inter-generational relationships, and intrigue throughout the book.
Teresa
The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick
A cute story in the same vein as "It’s A Wonderful Life." A former TV commercial star is trying to make a comeback with no success, while examining her life in general. Can a “magic” cup of coffee let her see what her ideal life would look like?
Darlene
Mailboat II: The Captain's Tale by Danielle Lincoln Hanna
Book 3 in the Mailbox series is good.
Sharon
Want to Know a Secret? by Freida McFadden
I love Freida McFaden's books. This one is so good! Lots of twists and turns, loved it!
Luella
Dark Country by Adam Plantinga
Excellent read. An intense, driven, action-packed adventure. Once I started this book I could not stop reading. Will be checking out other works by this author.
Michelle
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
I learned some interesting history about glassmaking and Italy. However, the span of time the author tried to magically incorporate mixed with the writing was not my favorite.
Peri
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
If you have ever been bullied you would appreciate the experience of the main character, Sam Hill. Born with ocular albinism, his eyes were red. I had never heard of this condition. Sam was tortured in his Catholic school by the other children who called him Sam Hell and devil eyes. This is an interesting coming-of-age novel.
Beverly
The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin
Interesting, entertaining, educational!
Vera
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
An 81-year-old Australian who was the youngest convicted murderer has spent her decades hiding her past. She was cruelly labeled "Mad Mable" at age six and that label has followed her for decades, until a young girl's affection acts as a catalyst for redemption.
Elizabeth
The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
Lots of twists.
Joanne
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Loved it until about 2/3rds of the way through when the sex scenes got heavy. Had a hard time believing that Frankie was so clueless thinking George had feelings for her.
MH
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Two women, both trying to escape from their pasts, cross paths at the airport and decide to switch tickets and IDs after they are through security. One of the planes goes down, and the other woman decides to move into the dead woman’s house and life. Little does she know that she went from the frying pan to the fire. I especially liked the red herrings that the author used to keep the reader guessing. What seemed like too big a coincidence was cleverly explained at the end.
Rosa
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
This extraordinary novel is a fictional account of the way an English village lived through a year of the Plague by sequestering themselves from the outside world. The story is told from the perspective of Anna Frith, a housemaid who serves the rector and his wife as they shepherd the villagers through the illness and deaths of their fellow neighbors. The writing is exquisite. Much of it is heavy because of the subject matter, but I savored every line.
Sheree
Into the Blue: A Love Story by Emma Brodie
I thought it was an okay love story, but for the younger generation that is into the cosplay stuff. It was probably a good love story. I felt it was too long and wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down.
Denise
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
Inspired by real women, this is an emotionally immersive story that starts in 1870 China where you are introduced to two young girls (Dove with bound feet & Petal a big-footed daughter know as Worthless Girl). You learn of their family, the shared respect for their culture & traditions as well as their current living conditions. You follow them on their journey to Gold Mountain’s City of Angels, California. A third character (Moon), now 82 in the year 1926, tells their story as she remembers their past friendship, hardships, heartbreak, bravery & eventual endurance that the three women from different classes experience. See educates her readers about Chinese women in history & draws you into her characters to the point that you care deeply.
Karen
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Loved the characters, the style with the interstitial, and the story of love, family and connection. Another beautiful book by Ann Patchett.
Joan
The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple
I believe most readers would enjoy this book. It deserves attention.
Teresa
The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick
A cute book in the vein of It’s A Wonderful Life. A formerly popular TV commercial star wants to make a comeback, while coping with challenges from her marriage and her teen daughter. Can a cup of coffee from a “magic” coffee shop help?
Carol
The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
Six English sisters navigate the rise of Nazis and fascism. Family and national loyalty are at odds as some sisters become involved in Nazi leadership.
MICHAEL
Duma Key by Stephen King
This was such a great read.
Lynda
Skylark by Paula McLain
This historical fiction novel is set in Paris, France with dual timelines. They are connected by courageous people who flee for their lives during eras of injustice and cruelty, and the defiant people who risk their own lives to help the persecuted. My only criticism is that the ending of the timeline taking place during the German occupation in 1939 was left hanging.
Terry
A River Red with Blood by John Connolly
Confusing story, not his best.
Vicki
Daughters by Corine Demas
I liked the book, it kept me interested. It was a book about the love but complications in mother/ daughter relationships.
Simonne
Tom Lake by Ann Pachett
Three whiny adult daughters demand to know all the details of their mother’s long-ago summer fling with a newly deceased major movie star.
Simonne
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Depression-era novel finds women seeking any means to stay afloat and ahead of the taxman. One is desperately trying to reclaim her daughter who was placed in an orphanage and ultimately adopted by a dysfunctional wealthy couple. The women resort to opening a dance club as a front for a brothel.
Laura
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
I was not expecting much from this book because my friend (from our two-person book club) started it before I did and said it was good, a nice "light, easy, fluff" read. Not so much! We both were completely surprised in the best way. It's the story of an influencer who promotes her "trad" life and what happens when she is transported back to the 1800s. It goes back and forth and is so cleverly done. Highly recommend.
Betty Jo
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
The characters seemed whiny. It was hard for me to cheer them on.
Gerry
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
3-1/2 stars. Nancy Wake's story of smuggling people, documents, arms, and money in and out of France, becoming one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance is certainly interesting and well worth reading. I did enjoy this book, but I take issue with the author's choice to go back and forth among interwoven timelines (all within less than a decade), rather than telling her story in straightforward chronological order. I found myself puzzling over the question of how this young female freelance journalist, an Australian expat living in Paris, managed to enlist in the British Special Operations Executives effort to support the French Resistance, and found the back-and-forth in time confusing. Probably better in print than audio.
Gerry
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Artie Dam is a 50-something-year-old history teacher, and a man who daily shows his skill at connecting with his students and making meaningful impacts on their lives. He's married, with one adult son, and is well liked and respected in his community. But Artie struggles with a deep sense of isolation and loneliness, to the point of considering suicide, not so much because he wants to die, but because he is tired of living. This character-driven novel explores one man's relationships and emotions, but also makes them universal as it explores the many things we never tell, even those closest to us.
Gerry
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
3-1/2 stars. I initially found Lisa See's latest novel somewhat challenging to follow, with numerous characters introduced whose circumstances were similarly dire. Once the novel began to focus more narrowly on a few Chinese women and those few with whom they interacted, I began to feel more comfortable with the narrative. Most of these women were brought from China to California under false pretenses, and expecting marriage, found themselves enslaved, bound to contracts as prostitutes, and held in bondage from which they had almost no hope of escaping. While difficult to read, it's yet another example of events from our history in which the dominant (White) culture oppressed, mistreated, and even killed those who looked different.
Gerry
Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson
Listening to the audiobook narrated by Viola Davis made this a wonderful reading experience. Co-written by Davis and James Patterson, the novel featured the crisp prose and short chapters that have long been his trademark, as well as well-developed characters both sympathetic and hateful, in a suspenseful courtroom drama. In present day Alabama, Mary Stone is a no-nonsense, Black female judge who is mostly respected in her community, both for her fairness on the bench and her compassion for her neighbors. When a local physician, also female and Black, is charged with murder for performing an abortion on a 13-year-old girl, Judge Stone must preside over an increasingly precarious trial that has brought a contentious focus to the town.
Gerry
Land: A Novel by Maggie O'Farrell
This novel features beautiful prose, well-defined characters, and an intriguing story set mostly in 19th century western Ireland in the decades after the Great Hunger. Tomás lost his entire family in the famine years and barely escaped a penurious life when a fortuitous opportunity led to a career as a surveyor working (under the demeaning title of laborer) for the British army mapping the whole of Ireland in the Great Ordnance Survey project. In addition to Tomás, we meet his wife, their four children, and their loyal dog, all of whom have major roles to play in this story of family ties -- to one another and to the land -- stretched but never completely broken, and of the legends from the distant past that still influenced the present.
Gerry
This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark by Craig Fehrman
I enjoyed this detailed history of the Lewis and Clark’s expedition to explore and map the lands included in Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase, and to make connections with the Native tribes in order to establish both trade and some understanding of the new relationship between the tribes and the American government. I appreciated the inclusion of perspectives from others on the journey, including an enslaved Black man owned by Clark, and several Native Americans the group met along the way. The little we learned about this in school had left me imagining the trip involving only the two named leaders and Sacajawea, so it was interesting to learn both about the many others on the expedition and the many hardships they had to overcome.
Gerry
Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar
In a very different turn from her previous novels I've read, Umrigar sets this story mostly in Cleveland, OH, with only a brief portion taking place on a visit to India. Aliyah and Samantha are a married lesbian couple, both estranged from their parents because of their "lifestyle" choices. Each woman carries a lot of emotional baggage from her past, which sometimes causes mild friction between them to grow out of control. After one such argument, Sam decides to go for an early morning run alone and doesn't come home. Readers pretty quickly learn the reason for this, but Ali remains in the dark, and struggles mightily with the unexpected racist and homophobic backlash against her that ensues.
Gerry
Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution by Molly Beers
3-1/2 stars. More than a biography of Angelica Schuyler Carter Church, this is the story of her times, and the roles she and other women played in the birth of the United States of America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Angelica was the oldest of three Schuyler sisters, born into an aristocratic family just as the reign of aristocrats over the rest of society was just beginning to wane. Despite her connections to many of the leaders of the American Revolution and the subsequent government, Angelica was forced by social norms to live a life circumscribed by both law and tradition. Still, she managed to wield considerable influence using both “feminine wiles” and carefully applied diplomacy.
Gerry
Nothing to My Name by Kangkang Li Kovacs
NOTHING TO MY NAME is a family saga focused on three generations of women and their relationships with one another. The grandmother, Ah Xue, witnesses the rise of the Communist Revolution while earning a meager living combing the hair of the few wealthy ladies in her small fishing village. Mimosa, the mother, grows up in the shadow of her parents’ struggles as the growing tension of the Cultural Revolution threatens to pull their family apart. And Fei Fei, the daughter, brought up as a “boy” by her activist father, grapples with gender identity in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre. I found the narrative often confusing, despite the date and city name that introduced each chapter. The story barely came together in the end.
Gerry
The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony
A very interesting, though fictionalized, account of the fight in the late 1960s/early 1970s by the women of Ireland for access to contraception, and more broadly, for personal autonomy. The novel focuses on two women, both married, but living in very different circumstances. Bernie and Dan have three daughters, and a fourth child on the way when she meets Maura and they quickly become close friends. Maura is recently married to Dr. Christopher "Christy" Davenport, a wealthy and well-respected physician, and is eager to become a mother, at least until she discovers her husband's violent temper and controlling nature. The audiobook is well narrated by multiple readers, and held my interest throughout.
Gerry
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower
Not a bad novella, but also not interesting enough to make me want to read the rest of the series. Cute, witty at times, but in the end, just not enough to make me want more.
Gerry
View from the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden
I'd been looking forward to reading this memoir, and perhaps my expectations were heightened by the fact that the author holds a doctorate in English and has long been a teacher of literature and writing. Thus, I was surprised to find that the first several chapters felt disjointed, oddly disorganized. While the overall organization of the memoir was largely chronological, the author often inserted memories from earlier times that interrupted or confused the flow of her narrative for me. Some sections were definitely more interesting than others, and those were generally the ones that included more detail about not only the events they included, but also the author's own thoughts, emotions, and reactions.
Gerry
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
This story of two couples and their intertwining lives after the two men are assigned as co-pastors at a Presbyterian church in NY, captivated me from the start. Charles' calling to the ministry came as a surprise to him when he was in college, and he never stopped acknowledging his doubts and questions about God. His wife, Lily, was a nonbeliever and a rather asocial individual having learned early in life to be wary of attachments, since they invariably led to painful losses. James, too, was certain of his beliefs and determined to make the world a better place by living them fully and preaching them to his congregation. His wife, Nan, the daughter of a minister, never seemed to doubt for a minute. Very engaging!
Gerry
Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn
FAMILY OF SPIES is a fascinating true story about family secrets that came to light decades after WWII. Christine Kuehn's father was a young boy when his family moved from Germany to Hawaii. As she was growing up, she knew almost nothing about her father's family, so close-mouthed was he about his past. Her questions always seemed to yield the same brief, formulaic answers, essentially telling her his parents had moved back to Germany and died there. A trained journalist, Kuehn knew how to research history, even in those pre-internet days, and soon she amassed a trove of articles and artifacts that overwhelmed her with their painful stories about her grandparents. This book is a well-narrated - and revelatory - compilation of her findings.
Gerry
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
3-1/2 stars. THE CALAMITY CLUB brings together women that society has thrown away: prostitutes, a Black woman passing as White, a barren spinster, and a formerly imprisoned mother. Together, they prove that women the world called worthless can hack the system, at least for one desperate weekend. I enjoyed this novel set in Depression-era Mississippi, but did feel it went on too long, and that the women's solution to their poverty and potential loss of their home stretched credulity a bit. The thread dealing with the orphanage was heartbreaking, but also completely believable. Meg was a well-drawn character with whom readers can't help but empathize, and Birdie was also quite appealing. Overall, interesting but not compelling.
Gerry
So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan
Claire Keegan is one of very few authors whose short stories I enjoy. Her writing is spare but evocative, drawing her reader into the setting and creating interesting, well-developed characters even in short selections. This book is a compilation of three stories centered on relationships between men and women, and the dynamics that can damage or destroy them. I don’t know anything about the author’s life, but do get the sense that she’s witnessed some difficult men. Even better as an audiobook than in print!
Luella
Exposition & World's Fairs by Bob McGlincy
This is a well-researched, educational and informative book. I especially appreciated the photos and was impressed by the number of inventions introduced and the stories behind them. I had no idea of the impact the World's Fairs had on our world today.
Teresa
The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb
An easy read, but oh so much to discuss.
Jeanne
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
A PAIR OF ACES by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a well-written, well-researched historical fiction set in 1930s New York. When two women from totally different walks of life, the first black U. S. District Attorney and a high-class madam secretly collaborate to bring down the lethal mob boss of New York, Lucky Luciano, the sparks, danger and action begin to fly. This book does an excellent job of describing how women were treated in this era. I was riveted to my seat from beginning to end, and it was exciting to read how the “pair of aces, brought down the man known as The Boss."
Beth
The Echoes by Evie Wyld
The book was hard to follow at times and the characters were very dysfunctional.
Jean
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
A look into a different world and time. Set in 1959 to 1964, it tells the story of a hard working educated Black family man who can't stay completely honest. Ray Carney uses his furniture store to hide some of his illegal activities and rarely thinks of going completely straight. I liked Ray and wanted a better life for him.
Kelley
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Lovely book, beautifully written.
Barbara
Five by Ilona Bannister
You are introduced to five characters waiting on a train platform and you are told right away that one of them will die before the train leaves the station. You are given each of their backstories. You will also meet several who are just waiting for the train. This book was so interesting, and for book clubs there’s a lot to discuss. Enjoy!!
Gerry
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
I listened to this one and am glad I could speed it up and get to the end more quickly. For me, this was a book filled with absurd and too often unlikable characters, especially Rocky, who was the definition of "all about me". I don't think I could spend an afternoon, much less a week's vacation, with her in real life. The dialog between her and her children seemed more than a little over-the-top. Her "I love my children SO much" mantra didn't take long to seem forced and a bit phony. Both of her children (and her husband too, if I'm not mistaken) called her out for her narcissism, and I couldn't blame them. I've been through the sandwich generation, and while it certainly had its difficulties,I still couldn't relate to all her whiny angst.
Gerry
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
Five young women are in their early twenties and at the beginning of their careers, of marriage, of motherhood, and of big-city lives in New York and Los Angeles. Desiree and Danielle are sisters, raised by their maternal grandfather, and their relationship is fraught with long-standing resentment and competition. January is the youngest, and the one most in need of support from her friends. Nakia is a talented cook and businesswoman struggling to make a name for herself and her restaurant in a profession her family sees as beneath her. Monique is a blogger/vlogger on social media, hoping to support herself as an influencer. These young Black women are struggling in various ways amid rising violence against Black, brown, and poor people.
Gerry
A Brief History of the World in 47 Borders: Surprising Stories Behind the Lines on Our Maps by Jonn Elledge
There was a lot I liked about this book. It included a great deal of interesting and to me unfamiliar information, and illuminated events around the world that led to alliances and conflicts that still have impact today. The writing style was conversational and easy to read, and the included maps made me glad I opted for a print edition rather than an audiobook. The author included numerous footnotes and sources for further reading, organized by topical chapters in the book. On the negative side, his snarky asides began to wear on me after a bit, and the sections about boundaries and borders in the seas, the air, and the space above the earth's atmosphere were of less interest to me. Overall, a worthwhile if less than fascinating read.
Jane
A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart
Feuds, birthmark, dreams, love and acceptance all-in-one. Kallie lost her mom and a baby sister so became a young mother to her brother and sister. Quinn and Kallie were friends but life's problems pulled them apart. When God has a plan, He works all the details out to bring it forth. Kallie harbored a dream to read and write. But troubles kept her from it until God opened adult classes. You will love this book.
Francisca
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
In 1960s suburban Virginia, four “housewives” meet and form a book club. Their first pick is Betty Friedan’s THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE, which inspires them to seek more from their lives. It’s a fast and entertaining read, and I’m glad that young women of today have this glimpse into a past era so they can appreciate the sacrifices made by so many women to give them the opportunities they have today.
April
A Breaking of Realms by Jasmine Young
This is a good book, don't get me wrong. The first book always has a lot of world-building, which Jasmine does very well, but it makes the first book a little difficult to get through. This is coming from a person that usually reads thrillers like Freida McFadden. I do love fantasy, too. I love Tolkien and CS Lewis. This series really ranks right up there with the likes of them. I would say this is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and dragons. The thing that I like the most about this series is that there is no smut! Some people like all that stuff, (you know who you are) but I don't. Give me a good battle with elves, dwarves, and dragons and a good plot line and I am very happy.
April
Death Row by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden nails it again! I love her books. There is always an unforeseen twist at the end that you don't see coming. The book starts out with a woman on death row for killing her husband, but is that the complete story? I don't want to give any spoilers away, but it's well worth the read.
Cynthia
The Viking by Carrie Cotten
This was a good read. I enjoyed the characters and storyline. I read the previous book in this series, THE HUNTRESS, and it was excellent. This book follows that story with the focus on the character Astrid.
Minna
The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach
Very curious as to what the sequel coming in the autumn will be like.
April
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
This is an intriguing read where you see both sides of a person's persona. You see the side that is presented to the world, but you also see the side that is darker and more hostile. You see both sides in how the character responds to her Dear Debbie column that she writes for the local newspaper. I love all of Freida McFadden's books and this book didn't disappoint. I love reading in first person narrative and this is how most of Freida McFadden's books are written.
Terry
The Witch by Marie NDiaye
Short book, one continuous story, very strange.
sherry
She Didn't See It Coming by Shari Lapena
This was not one of my favorite books of hers. The characters were insufferable. There really weren't any "twists". The ending also felt rushed.
Sandy
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Learned a lot about the first female to be appointed to the cabinet, the beginning of social security, and the presidency of FDR, all told in an easy to read novel.
Abby
Birds of Prey by Harlan Coben
This book was unknown to me, but I received it as part of a program through my local library where you automatically receive books by certain authors you identify. Harlen Coben edited this book of short stories in which various well-known mystery/thriller writers were challenged to write a story that features something relating to a bird of prey. I found almost all of the stories very compelling. Would recommend this to those who like mysteries and want something that you can read through quickly on your own timeline.
Joan
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
A quirky, fun-filled novel with fascinating characters.
Debbie
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
Interesting, engaging and emotional.
Michelle
Dolly All the Time by Annabelle Monaghan
I love a romantic comedy that features main characters that are fully adult, in their thirties and beyond, as well as writing that includes banter that makes me laugh out loud. This book includes both, and I absolutely loved it, especially the audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan.
Linda
The Librarians by Sherry Thomas
Convoluted. Slow going.
Shelley
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
So well written with engaging characters.
Judy
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Daphne runs into a former stepfather she hasn’t seen for years. They get together and catch up. Loved it.
Bliss
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
Great storyline, fabulous character development. I loved this book.
Vicki
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
I love the story of how Ina met Jeffrey and the beginnings of her career. The audio is read by Ina and discusses her early family and later life.
Elizabeth
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Since I love reading historical fiction and I am fascinated by ancient Egyptian history, this book was right up my alley! I enjoyed every minute of it.
PJ
The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne by Darcie Wilde
What a great story. The characters were extremely well developed and the story was amazing. I liked that there was a love interest but a clean one as sometimes the physical part is way over the top and doesn't do anything to advance the narrative. Rosalind is definitely a strong female character that thinks things through before acting but still manages to get into scrapes. I have to admit that I do love historic mysteries and this one did not disappoint. Now that I know there are 8 more before this one, I will search them out. Highly recommend.
Sylvia
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I read this for one book club and now I am rereading it for a second book club. I loved this historical fiction novel, and everyone in the book club liked it also.
Kathy
Heartwood by Amity Gaige
I enjoyed the book a lot. It seemed to drag in parts but then it would pick up. The descriptions of the Appalachian Trail were beautiful.
Barbara
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
This incredible piece of nonfiction reads like fiction. What a riveting telling of this period of unrest in Irish history as we get to know the players and their roles. I couldn't put it down! It’s a must-read. Having recently read LONDON FALLING, I couldn’t wait to read this other masterpiece by Keefe.
jana
Country People by Daniel Mason
Loved this new author to me about a family starting over cross country to live in southern Vermont.
Anne
The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons
Captivating historical that is memorable, beautifully written with wonderful character portrayal and vivid descriptions.
Judith
Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall
The greatest book I have read this summer. It contained aspects of family, love, heartache, loyalty and twists and turns, which at times blew my mind.
Elizabeth
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
I didn't love that the author depicticted the underground railroad as a real railroad. Otherwise, I loved the book.
Michael
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
Another riveting read from Patrick Radden Keefe. I have loved every book I have read by him. This story is bananas! I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say it is about a boy/young man who is pretending to be something he is not and it spirals out of control. True story and extremely well told.
Barbara
I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney
This book had me both laughing and crying. It is about an obituary writer who is about to be fired and how he learns through friendship how to live.
Diane
Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Everyone in my book club loved this book, which doesn't happen very often.
Luella
Showboat Soubrette by Brodie Curtis
This was a great read. It's historical fiction with action adventures, mystery and riverboats. Tells of the power of love and to what lengths someone will go to protect and keep their loved ones safe.
Ann
Country People by Daniel Mason
Quick read, full of laughs.
Tammy
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
I feel like this book did a good job of emphasizing enjoying life while you can, because it is short. Many different scenarios are given of people facing death and their reactions. Told in a matter-of-fact, unemotional way (which is the way Death, the narrator sees it) they are almost little stories of their own. Because they are normal people with basically normal lives, it makes the story be almost retrospective. When Death actually starts having feelings for a woman and her daughters, you can see a little shift in his narration. However, because there were so many different little stories mixed in with the big one, I occasionally had to stop and figure out whose perspective I was currently reading.
Katherine
True Crime by Patricia Cornwell
Very interesting story of the author's life.
Toni
Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane
I loved this book about a big Irish family of 11 brothers who, after a sudden tragedy, are set on different paths. Some stay in Ireland while others go to Montana and New York. The story spans out over many years, and the brothers go through life, love, hard work, marriage and raising children. After one of the brothers' disappearance, it alters the family dynamic and the rest of the brothers make it a quest to find him.
ROSE
Last Seen by J. T. Ellison
3.5 of 4 stars, rounded up. Halley James's life is imploding. She is wrongly blamed for a cyberattack at her job, and they force her out. Her father has fallen and is in the hospital, and her marriage is on the rocks because her husband doesn't want children, but she does. Halley decides to leave DC and head to her hometown to help her dad. While there, she discovers that her mother and her half-sister, Cat, didn't die in a car crash, rather, her mother was murdered, and Cat has been missing for years. Halley decides to investigate and stumbles upon a sinister plot in a Stepford-type town. Just when you think the ordeal is over, it isn't! Eerie ending.
Joanne
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
Although I found it beginning a bit slow, it picked up quite a bit and had an interesting ending that leaves you wondering. Good book for book club discussion.
Susan
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It take place during the Great Depression in 1933 and follows the lives of several women who come from different times in their lives and walks of life, but all have the same goal of a better life. This book is over 600 pages but well worth the read.
Carolyn
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
This historical fiction novel reads like a fairy-tale of a woman who sets out to change the world and is changed in the process. She meets larger-than-life people who can help her crusade and whom she enhances to be better. She champions women and children and betters the lives of every worker in America and goes on to be the first woman to be appointed to a Presidential Cabinet. A remarkable story of a most remarkable woman. Great for book clubs looking for a long, meaty read that leads to a lively discussion.
Lisa
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Horrifying, interesting, and deeply moving.
Lisa
Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Down on their luck single moms have a place to live because of Alice. A recent widow, Alice takes in her niece and then some local women to live in her beach house, the mommune, as it’s called, has many rules, but everyone pitches in with the meals, chores, and shuttling the kids around. A perfect summer read.
Amy
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
I loved this book!
Sandra
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
This was humorous, and a bit suspenseful. It was fun to go back in time of how we lived then…pink foam rollers!
Barbara
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
I listened to this book while driving to and from work. I liked that it was an easy listen. I was able to follow the plot along with the navigating traffic. That isn't always easy to do. The story was interesting, though I felt that it did drag at times during the middle, and the ending felt a little abrupt. But the premise was great and had me guessing until the end.
Donna
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
The writing in this book is nothing less than gorgeous. It’s a tale narrated by Death itself, who is personified by an ordinary man named Travis. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dalia and Layla and their relationship with Travis, and would have loved to have seen even more of the book dedicated to their story. The ending was quite compelling, and “A Twenty-Minute Gift” was both thought-provoking and heartbreaking. Even though it is a book about death, it is more life-affirming, about living your life to its fullest. Although life is full of both ups and downs, this book reminds us that some of the best times are those small moments of everyday life, and we should not simply let them pass us by.
Debbie
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
l loved it. Great story and characters. Love historical fiction and this was quite eye-opening to that time period of gangsters and prostitution.
Colleen
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel
Imagine having a baby at the age of 77? ENORMOUS WINGS is the story of Pepper Mills (yes, you read that correctly), whose family had just moved her into a retirement community. Pepper is not happy about giving up her independence, her car, and her home, but goes along with with her children want for her. She meets up with her neighbor, Moth, who she begins to have feelings for. t
This book has very humorous parts, but also serious thoughts as well. This is a family drama with many interesting characters.
ROSE
Skylark by Paula McLain
Under Paris there is a series of tunnels, and these tunnels play an important part in this novel told across two different timelines. In 1664, Alouette works with her father to develop beautiful dyes. She has a gift for developing formulas for beautiful colors, but she isn't supposed to work as a dyer. She meets Etienne, and they fall in love. After her father is wrongfully imprisoned, she stands up for him, but is sent to an asylum where she witnesses the terrible treatment of the inmates. Ultimately, she finds the tunnels and uses them to her advantage. In 1939, Kristof is a Dutch psychiatrist working in Paris when the Nazis begin their occupation. Kristof helps to hide Jewish teens and assists their escape using the tunnels. Heroism.
Robin
The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner
I enjoyed this book as a different look at bravery in WWII and the Holocaust. I very much enjoyed this true story.
Linda
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick
This is our July book club selection, and it's about a fictional medical center that people can visit to deal with grief by sleeping for a month. It's going to be a very good discussion, and I would definitely recommend this book.
Joanne
The Paris Gown by Christine Wells
Historical fiction involving three women in different stages of their lives, Paris, and a Chanel gown. A sweet story that you will love.
Wanda
Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan
WHISPER CREEK was a riveting, suspenseful story. It had many plots going on at the same time and kept me on edge with how each one would unravel. Ellen McKenna struggles to keep her Texas family farm operating after the death of her husband. There is a corporation that is interested in the surrounding small farms with the McKenna's place in particular. Havoc and misfortune throughout the story, keeps you in suspense. A great read.
Shari
Weddings by Danielle Steel
Wedding dress designer Dominique Dupont has been designing wedding dresses for dignitaries and presidents' children for years, and is very successful. She has three children, two daughters and a son. Unfortunately, being married to a narcissist for five years and having three children is not an ideal situation to raise her children, so she divorced him. She has been having an affair with a married man for sixteen years and realized things have to change. When one of her daughters, Felicity, who was in no hurry to get married, is suddenly pressured by Taylor, her boyfriend of several years, things seem to change suddenly. She is willing to get engaged but not in a hurry to marry, but Taylor does not feel the same.
Debbie
Murder at the Radio Station by Davin Colten
I adore a good mystery. Unfortunately, MURDER AT THE RADION STATION does not meet that worthy praise. The story centers in London in 1928 when the radio dominated the life of the average citizen. Radio personalities received tons of letters and adoring praise from the audience. The story follows the brutal deaths of the star of the radio mystery program and the death of the station manager. As a child, I loved books written primarily in dialogue; now I want more development of setting and characters. Too much dialogue hinders the flow of the book, and the full name of the characters and their job heading appear too often. Too many chapters end with two characters looking at one another with malice, but not towards one another.
Kim
Inside the String by J. Leigh Brown
This eye-opening novel features the running theme “to join the cause before there is no longer a cause to join”. A group of First Nation tribal members and concerned supporters band together to save wildlife and their habitat by purchasing pieces of land from north to south along the western ranges. The group is quickly labeled domestic terrorists. The reader quickly learns there’s more to this attack on the group then it appears.
Luella
The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
This was a complex story. The further you read, the more you realize things are not what you think. Definitely holds your attention.
Mary
The Lonliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
This is a complex, multi-layered book about the issues that keep the two main characters from having fulfilling lives. The book transcends the lives of Sonia and Sunny because many of the issues they face apply to humanity as a whole.
Gerrie
The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller
This book covered all the bases. It is a coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a thriller all packed into a historical framework from WWII. I Highly recommend it!
Janet
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
The book was very interesting. The plot twist was suspenseful.
Donna
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This is definitely not my genre (thriller) yet I am so glad I got it. Just the fact that it was very different for me but I loved the story. I am not a gamer either yet this book was in reality and out of this world with your imagination, creativity, tech world, business and relationships with all the drama. I really enjoyed stepping away from thrillers to enjoy this book immensely! I am just glad it ended close to what I was hoping. Taking a chance to read this book will not disappoint.
SEAN
Lost Light by Michael Connelly
I wasn't sure how Harry's time away from the LAPD would go, but this case sucked me and the last five chapters blew me away. The case started off tame and escalated into so much more. I loved it. Missing is some of the supporting cast we're used to, but we get some different elements here and they all worked. Harry's desire to pursue justice despite how it affects him is never dull. There are also some new developments in his personal life and it all worked. I loved the many degrees of evil and how they're portrayed. This was a fantastic police procedural that was exactly what it needed to be.
Suzanne
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
I enjoyed this immensely with its quirky characters and the relationships between them.
Darlene
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
This was a great book!! Highly recommend it for book clubs!!
Simonne
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Great story about women trying to keep afloat during the depression, the unlikely friendships formed and unusual way they help each other. One woman’s quest to find and reclaim her daughter is at the center.
Pam
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
A coming-of-age in a time of conventions...that are questioned.
Barbara
Santa & Company by Fern Michaels
The story is typical Fern Michaels, light and cute. This is one of her last books - her stories will be missed.
Chris
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Absolutely delightful! An adventurous tale of what happens to a person's memories after death and the team dedicated to protecting them. Fiction. Engaging characters.
Jonell
Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Fascinating portrayal of two women - a Black lawyer and a Jewish madam - in the 1930s - who challenged the mob. These beloved authors created a well-paced and entertaining story.
MH
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
I don’t get what all the hype about this book was. I finished it trying to “get” it, but can’t recommend it. I didn’t identify with any of the characters, especially Natalie.
Susan
The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley
This book was an enjoyable read about three sisters, from different walks and stages of life, who inherit a restaurant from their grandmother. They must work together for one year along with the chef, who inherited one quarter of the restaurant, or the sisters' shares go to Paul, the chef. The book is a predictable. A nice, easy story.
Rosemary
Five by Ilona Bannister
Five troubled people wait on a subway platform. All have troubles in their lives right now. One of them will die in less then 10 minutes, under the wheels of the train. The author gives you the background and problems of all of them, and until the train comes it's anybody's guess as to who the victim will be! A quick and intriguing story, perfect for a hot summer's day reading!!
Kay
Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
Absolutely unputdownable (is that a word?) The mother, the main character, is a determined, if not a bit flawed and reacts to an unbelievable situation in ways that spiraled to an unimaginable conclusion, at least by me.
Marilyn
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore
Our book club greatly enjoyed reading about these three friends, the Supremes, who have been lifelong friends supporting each other through the thick and the thin of life. Parts of it were quite humorous, like the ghost of Eleanor Roosevelt visiting one of the women. Parts of it were quite sad: alcoholism, cancer, betrayal. Still, a very enjoyable read.
Sandra
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Definitely unable to put down. Read half the book the first day. Easy to know from the beginning that not everything is as it seems, but you had to continue to discover more. Recommending it to friends and sharing my copy.
Julia
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
This story is told between two main characters, an 11-year-old child, Meg LeFleur, and a 24-year-year-old woman, Birdie Calhoun. The story of how they become unlikely kindred spirits is the heart of this story. It takes place in Mississippi during the depression and it has the vibe and quirky feel of the author's last novel THE HELP. I highly recommend this. It is engrossing and entertaining.
Jean
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
Clara's mother disappeared when she was eight years old. Now a mother of an eight-year-old daughter, Clara travels to England to retrieve papers from her mother. Stuck in the great London Smog with her asthmatic daughter, they escape to the Lake District with a new friend. How the papers relate to Clara, her mother, and the entire family of her English friend make for an intriguing story.
Beth
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
Everyone needs to read NO MORE TEARS. As its subtitle promises, it tells of the dark secrets of Johnson & Johnson. They weren't corrupt from the beginning. But in later years, money became more important to the top executives than the lives they have been supposedly saving. I promise, the details that Gardiner Harris has found will astound you. But Johnson & Johnson couldn't have done it without the complicity of the FDA. This is a government agency you may no longer have any confidence in. Harris finalizes NO MORE TEARS with suggestions to correct the deception, corruption, and death. It all makes perfect sense, but will it happen? How can it happen?
Linda
The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann
Bizarre and fascinating.
Sandy
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy
A touching story about a young man who was brain damaged at birth. He is charming, despite his being clueless to some of the difficult expressions in the English language. He understands everything spoken literally which can get him into trouble. The love he feels from many people is what makes his life doable.
Liz
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
I do not like to give negative reviews because all readers have different tastes. In my opinion this book was not a psychological thriller, just a pointless story with a ridiculous ending.
Liz
The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids
Great psychological thriller about a recently separated woman who finds an unexpected new love in a bookshop. She starts receiving threatening texts and phone calls. Is her soon to be ex-husband jealous? Thanks NetGalley for this audiobook that keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end.
Sheree
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Loved this book because it taught me some historical fiction. It was so well written. I love how the characters worked together to get justice. I hated the way women and African Americans were treated and are still treated today.
Kathy
Isola by Allegra Goodman
ISOLA appealed to me as a historical novel based on a real person. I especially liked this novel because it showed the strength and perseverance of the main female character as she battled to stay alive on the island she was deserted upon. Plus, the fact that she opened a school upon her rescue showed me her true character. My book club has read many historical novels, mainly concerning war, so this was a different path for us, and it was well received.
Lynda
The American Queen by Vanessa Miller
This is a fascinating historical fiction novel. It tells the little known story of a courageous woman, "Queen" Louella Bobo Montgomery. Her vision and leadership led a group of freed slaves during Reconstruction from the South to establish a community called "Kingdom of the Happy Land" in the Appalachian Mountains.
Susan
Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate
This is the second YA book I have read by Katherine Applegate. This is a story about a WWI mascot bear who lives with other ‘lost’ stuffed animals that hope to find a new home and forever family. This is a book about love, loyalty, second chances and mascot bears.
Sandy
The Keeper by Tana French
On a cold night in the remote Irish village of Ardnakelty a girl goes missing. Sweet Rachel Holohan was about to be engaged to the son of the local big shot but instead she is dead in the river. Loved this book!!
Muriel
Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict
With the book’s dual timelines of early 1900s and 1470s BC, I learned a lot about the time of the ancient pharaohs and later the work of excavating the tombs of these various dynasties. As usual, Ms. Benedict researched both time periods well. She brought to life a woman pharaoh named Hatshepsut for whom there are only sketchy details relating to her life and rule. The details she imagined seemed very plausible and leave the reader wishing for more. Some notable parts of the book are Evelyn Carnarvon’s work with archeologist Howard Carter and Madame Zaghloul’s efforts to rally Egyptian women to rebel against British rule. They and Hatshepsut show women not afraid to go beyond what was considered proper for their times.
Deanna
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
Overall, I thought THE SHAMPOO EFFECT was an okay read. It took me a while to really get into the story as the pacing felt slow in the beginning. The settings were beautifully described, but I think the introduction and development of so many characters could have been shortened, allowing the main scandal to unfold much sooner. That said, I'm glad I stuck with it. As the story progressed, I found myself genuinely caring about the characters and becoming invested in their journeys. At its heart, the novel explores the messiness of life, the importance of honest conversations with the people we love, and how working through difficulties can ultimately strengthen relationships.
Luella
A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker
An excellent read. One of the most enjoyable books. I could appreciate the humor, the environment and the mystery. The main character was engaging. So much was going on, but it all came together.
Janice
Morningside Heights by Joshua Henkin
I loved this story of a Jewish family in New York. The story opens when Pru enters graduate school at Columbia and meets Spence, a brilliant professor, and her future husband. The story tells of their dating, marriage, parenthood, and then of Spence's diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's at age 57. The author's writing skills are apparent, with the descriptive language with which he explores each relationship within an extended family, and the emotional experiences of each character. I won this book from Bookreporter.com in a previous "end of year" contest, and was thoroughly absorbed in this novel.
Vicki
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Couldn't put it down. The audiobook is awesome.
ROSE
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
This is a retelling of the Cinderella tale from the perspective of the stepmother. When the celebration is announced for the prince naming day, Lady Tremaine is upset that her daughters, Rosamunde and Mathilde, weren't invited, yet her stepdaughter, Elin, is invited. Lady Tremaine believes this is due to her strained relationship with the queen. Elin becomes betrothed to the prince. But, when Lady Tremaine finds out about the secret the prince and his family are hiding, she knows she must protect all her daughters, including Elin. I enjoyed this re-imagining of the classic fairy tale.
ROSE
Beneath a Broken Sky by Joshua Moehling
Continuation of the Ben Packard series. A tornado rips through a small town. When a wife and mother is found dead, the husband calls Det. Ben Packard in to investigate the crime. As Ben digs into the murder investigation, he uncovers secrets about the family. One secret is that Noah, the son, was terribly teased. This leads Ben to search for answers about the town's attitudes towards certain things. Roofers in town, cleaning up after the storm, hold the key to the murder mystery.
Another storyline examines Ben's relationship with his former lover when the sister shows up. Ben begins a new relationship with someone else, which helps ease his pain. I enjoy this series, but I seem to have missed a few! I will go back and read them.
ROSE
The Last Bottle by Marcia Breece
Music prodigies, Audrey and Ted, fall in love as teens in NYC in the 1920s. Audrey becomes pregnant, her mother arranges for an adoption, and takes Audrey to France. After working in a vineyard during WWII, Audrey is gifted 4 bottles of Burgundy, which she opens at special moments in her life. Audrey realizes music is her calling and devotes her life to the piano. Meanwhile, Ted, a violinist, marries and has more children, although the first child born in that marriage is actually not his. DNA testing reveals how several families are entwined. Sergei, the baby given up for adoption, is a piano prodigy like his mother. The story spans about 100 years, and Ted's violin proves to be a valuable part of the story. A story of family secrets.
ROSE
Dante's Revenge by Lotchie Burton
Preston is unhappy because the woman he loved abandoned him and took some damaging information with her. Now he seeks to get her and the information back. However, Amelia, now going by Sherrie, isn't interested in getting back with rich, manipulative Preston. She has fallen in love with Dante, and he will protect her. Sherrie is no longer the fearful girl that Preston used; she is strong and fearsome, and with Dante by her side, she can finally break free.This is a romance with a bit of intrigue. I liked how Sherrie decided what she wanted and pursued it. This book is part of a series, but it stands on its own.
ROSE
Murder at Tutley Brewery by Behcet Kaya
When his granddaughter's body is found in a fermentation tank at the brewery, Detlef Wein Jr. hires Jack Ludenfance to investigate. Jack doesn't want to take the case, he wants to stay home with his wife and young daughter, but he is intrigued. As Jack delves into the case, he discovers family secrets and a rivalry between families. The family secret is something no one wants made public, but it ultimately leads Jack to the person who dumped the body. Another solid entry in the Jack Ludenfance series. I like how Jack is growing into a family man!
ROSE
Island Club by Nicola Harrison
Three women on Balboa Island in 1956 find strength in each other at the Island Club. Milly's marriage is falling apart. Sylvia's husband has been risking their financial security. Adele's past has haunted her and kept her from enjoying the game she loved. Now, each of these women must rely on each other to overcome these difficulties and move forward with determination. It is a beach read about female friendship and resilience. Overall, a decent story. Life was certainly different in 1956!
ROSE
Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
I absolutely loved this book! Flo is a woman who recently learned she has weeks to live. She decides to leave everything to Ruthie, who grew up next door to Flo. At times the story is quite humorous, but overall, it is a heartwarming story of the wisdom of a woman who has lived a long life. Flo tells Ruthie about her marriage to Terrence and the life they shared. She highlights objects in her home, objects that would hold little meaning to most people, but had a deep, emotional meaning to Flo. She also reveals a secret from her marriage, hoping it will help Ruthie in her own marriage. Teresa is a death doula and Flo's neighbor. They become close friends in the final weeks of Flo's life. An absolutely wonderful book.
ROSE
Last One Out by Jane Harper
An atmospheric mystery set in Carralon Ridge, New South Wales, a once booming town that is becoming deserted as the mining company takes over. Ro and her family had planned to stay, but when her son, Sam, disappeared without a trace five years earlier, the event broke them. She and her husband separated. When they and their daughter return on the anniversary of his disappearance, things feel different this year. Sam had been developing an oral history of the small town to keep its history alive, so his disappearance was a shock. As Ro discovers, there is a more sinister reason behind his disappearance. As always, Harper's writing makes you feel the landscape as an integral part of the story. The love of the land is relevant.
ROSE
After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico
Emilia and Paul fell in love while playing music together. However, Paul's wealthy family didn't approve of Emilia. Paul's brother believed he needed to bring Paul back into the family business and devised a plan. Emilia and Paul married in Puerto Rico and boarded a cruise ship. When Paul doesn't return to their cabin, Emilia is alarmed. Authorities declared Paul dead, and Emilia a suspect. She goes into hiding. Now, 30 years later, she is Emily, divorced with two daughters. Someone sends her a picture showing Paul alive. She goes to find him, and her daughters follow, hoping to uncover the secrets their mother kept. Another good story by Rico.
ROSE
Death and Peaches by Nova Walsh
Cute, cozy mystery set in the small town of Sugar Creek, TX. Abby has left LA and wants to start a catering business there. When she is denied a permit, she is disappointed. She gives out samples of her food, and when the man who denied her permit dies, she is a suspect in the murder. Later, while catering the man's funeral, another person is poisoned. Along with her friend, Cassie, and the dog she found, Abby tries to clear her name. She isn't happy that her love interest, Ryan, a cop, questioned her, as she believes it will hurt her business. Cassie, Abby, and the dog take matters in their own hands (and paws) and find the culprit. Fun cozy.
ROSE
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
I enjoyed this so much more than PINEAPPLE STREET! Caroline is determined to make it as a writer, so when she wins a fellowship to spend time in Greenhead, MA, she takes it. While on the train there, she briefly meets Van. She notices him several more times in town, and they then begin a relationship. Van and his friends grew up together, and Caroline is an outsider. When Van admits that he and his former fling, Bailey, are having a child, he still wants to be with Caroline. Caroline observes the friends and how they treat her. Ultimately, she writes a tell-all story which is published in a magazine. This story causes the friends to take a good look at their own lives. I was sad at one point, but very happy with the ending.
Donna
Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry
After reading some heavier reads, I thought I’d go for something lighter and funnier, and LAST NIGHT WAS KILLER by Mary Pauline Lowry sounded like just what I was looking for. But, and I’m sure you knew there was a but coming, it just wasn’t for me. I thought the premise was unique and had lots of possibility. However, as someone who has a difficult time suspending reality, this one stretched credibility beyond the max. Currently with a 4.10 rating on Goodreads, I’m clearly in the minority on this one. If you love cozy mysteries that veer into the wild and crazy, then LAST NIGHT WAS KILLER just might be for you.
Jeanne
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett was a captivating, impressive, outstanding, well-written book set in Mississippi in the 1930s focusing on how some orphans were treated in an orphanage. It was a dual storyline line for me because it also covered the story of a band of women who life circumstances forced them to do what they had to do to survive in a town full of snobbery and hypocrisy. The author did a brilliant job meshing these two complex storylines together. It was funny, heartbreaking and full of emotion. I did think it ended a bit abruptly. I rated it a five, but it’s deserving of a much higher rating.
Ruthanne
Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy
This is a beautiful fiction novel by this author. Set in Nantucket, the story deals with a mother/ daughter relationship and a late great aunt's influence. While I enjoyed the writer's writing style, I felt the storyline was too predictable and a standard beach read. I had hoped for more.
ROSE
Fourth-of-July Forgery by Tonya Kappes
Cute cozy mystery. When a body washes up on shore on the 4th of July in the small town of Holiday Junction, Violet jumps into action. As a journalist, she plans to solve the murder. Her investigation leads her to suspects in the art world, where she discovers that some of the art work being shown are forgeries. She eventually confronts the killer, putting herself in danger. If you like cozy mysteries, you would enjoy this series.
Shelly
This Changes Everything by Lisa Scottoline
Is Julia psychic? If you read the previous book, you will remember how Julia and her best friend Courtney not only helped solve her husband's murder and helped the police in ways they never would have known. Now the tables are turned as Julia must return home to Pennsylvania to solve the murder of Courtney's grandmother. Things are never easy, and when more people are dying, there has to be a reason. Are they covering up something? Who is involved in these murders?
Julia's psychic powers are sending messages she is not comfortable with, as they are not directly linked to Kay's murder. As Julia finds some answers, there are twists, turns, and surprises almost until the last page. You won't be able to put it down. Fantastic!
ROSE
Last Patient of the Night by Gary Gerlacher
This is the first book in a new series featuring emergency room doctor and crime fighter AJ Docker. When a young woman dies in the ER, Docker recognizes her as someone he treated previously. Now, she had been dropped off at the ER by an anonymous person who ensured they could not be identified. As he researches what could have happened, he stumbles into a crypto scheme run by some Ukrainians. Along with his cop friend, his diner friend, and some hospital smarts, he is able to confront the killer and earn a hefty payday. Docker is a wisecracking doc with a generous heart. I look forward to his next adventure!
Terry
The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
Good book, better than expected, kept me guessing until the last pages.
Luella
A Necromancer 's Guide to Grave Mistakes by Melissa Wright
This was a delightful and cute book. It has mystery, untamed magic, humor and the most unlikely pairing of a necromancer and a prince. It's a great read.
Mitra
Country People by Daniel Mason
A family of four, Matt, Kate, Wesley and Olive, together with their truffle hunting dog Giuseppe, move from California to Vermont, where Kate has accepted a position at a college there, and Matt plans to finally finish up his PhD dissertation. The book is filled with charming and quickly characters and unusual events move along at a delightful and frothy pace while Miles masterly procrastinates writing his dissertation. Each member of the family including Giuseppe have their role and entertains dialog. While THE PIANO TUNER and THE NORTH WOODS are majestic books, this is lighter but in no way lesser than his other books. It is highly entertaining and moves along lyrically as the New York Times says, ‘like a babbling brook ’. Excellent read.
Tessa
Death Mask by Kathryn Fox
This is only the second book in the series that I’ve read. I really like Anya as a lead character. She’s intelligent, tenacious, unflappable and a strong advocate. She’s up against a pretty powerful organization this time. The team owners and star players don’t appreciate being “dragged through the mud,” and their public relations professionals are working overtime to spin the events to put the blame squarely on the victim’s shoulders. The action is pretty fast-paced and there are several twists that keep things interesting.
Donna
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Heartwarming and poignant. You want to know Theo and wish he was your neighbor. Loved this book. It's so good you don't want it to end and when it does it leaves you with a nice surprise.
ROSE
Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore
Why is this book an Editor's Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon? It is a gruesome story of corporate ambition and deadly consequences. The premise is that the team is headed to a private island for a corporate retreat. However, the CEO has a different plan in mind. Fletcher desperately craves a better position with the company and is determined to be on the trip. Fletcher and Waylon, the CEO's son, met briefly years earlier, and she has hated him ever since. On this trip, she must learn to trust him because both of their lives depend on it. Some parts were humorous, but most of the book was unrealistic.
Sandy
The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer
I would have given this book 5 stars but I found it a little difficult to follow because the women in the British SOE operative had real names and code names, but it was a very good book overall. I love historical books about WWII.
Rose
Meet Me at Midnight by Brianna Bourne
This is a young adult novel about two teens, Aria and Strat, who meet each other at exotic places at midnight in their dreams. After this happens a few times, Aria realizes that the boy in her dreams is a real person, not just a dream. She realizes that some of the dreams she is having are actually memories. After a traumatic event, Aria chose to erase her memories, but doesn't know why.
Meanwhile, she has a strained relationship with her twin sister who is in a coma. Aria struggles with some decisions she made prior to the "erasure", and she wonders how to move forward. A unique love story. I enjoyed it.
Luella
Unworld by Jayson Greene
A different book. The setting in near future/ otherworldly. It tells of the thoughts of a group of people and their separate ways in dealing with a common tragedy.
Rose
Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews
After their mother's death, sisters Maeve and Therese go on a road trip to Ireland to uncover family secrets and the truth behind a painting their mother treasured. Finding out that their mom was tricked by a charlatan into mortgaging her house to contribute to his mission, they desperately need the money the painting might bring. However, Maeve and Therese have different outlooks on life, and their clashing personalities affect their decisions. They look into their family's history and discover that some people would rather they not learn the answers they seek. After a murder, their lives change drastically. A fun read.
Donna
The Girls by John Bowen
This charming, comedic tale is set in the English Cotswolds. Janet and Susan, a lesbian couple, are living their idyllic life. The beginning is slower taking us through their peaceful day-to-day life of running a craft store. When an unexpected pregnancy disrupts their lives, things really start to pick up. I don’t want to give anything away, let’s just say when the action starts is when the macabre drama begins. Suspenseful, hilarious, dark, and entertaining all describe this little gem of a book.
Rose
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto
When Mebel's husband leaves her for a younger woman who is a chef, Mebel is upset. She devises a plan to win him back. Her decision takes her to Europe, where she enrolls in a culinary school to woo her husband through food. This story's main character, Mebel, was a lot like Vera Wong from Sutanto's earlier novels. She has very definite views on how a 63-year-old woman should behave and look, primarily for her husband. Through her education and friendship with Gemma, she learns a lot about herself, while becoming a culinary personality. Another fun novel with a good message from Sutanto.
Rose
A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray
This was an informative and enjoyable read about Abigail Adams. It outlined her marriage with John Adams, her hopes for her family, her business, and her fight for women's issues. Abigail was a formidable woman who held her family together while her husband lived overseas as an ambassador for the US. It also gave information on her children's lives, their health, their loves, and their struggles. Learning about Abigail Adams and the start of our country, and hearing about many of the founding fathers' hopes and dreams for the U.S. was very interesting. It is amazing what they accomplished.
Donna
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi
This slasher novel was recommended by a friend. The main character, Rose, a retired school teacher, buys a unit in a retirement community. Her daughter wants her to live with her, but Rose doesn’t want that and wants to keep her independence. First, her best friend dies and then other individuals begin to die. The police and retirement community seem unconcerned since the dead are elderly. She and friends start investigating. The book offers an insight into the invisibility of older individuals. A recommended read for mystery lovers.
