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Aletheia Allen
Stiff by Mary Roach
Rating: 5 Stars
Entertain and inform with fascinating information on human cadavers! This wonderfully detailed book offers readers various accounts of how human cadavers are dealt with and have been dealt with throughout history. Each chapter discusses a different method of "disposing" of human cadavers with inoffensive humor that keeps the reader enthralled until the last page.
jenn
The Sound of Us by Sarah Willis
Rating: 5 Stars
Amanda
Dessa Rose by Sherley Anne Williams
Rating: 3 Stars
This novel is set in the 1800's and it revolves around the relationship between a pregnant black woman sentenced to death for leading an uprising in slaves, and a white woman rumored to provide sanctuary for runaway slaves.
Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com)
Without Mercy by Jack Higgins
Rating: 5 Stars
Without Mercy is another great book with Fergueson, Sean Dillon, the Salters, and Roper. It's a great read with several plots working at once. I wish I had another of his books to read right away!
David Rodriguez
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've by Alan Alda
Rating: 4 Stars
This is funny and very interesting.
David Rodriguez
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
Great read!
Aletheia Allen
Albuquerque by Rudolfo Anaya
Rating: 2 Stars
I was tempted to give this book 1 star, but refrained because it is actually well-written and entertaining. The low rating is deserved, however, because the book gives a wonderful 3-dimensional account of male characters and leaves the female characters in a 1-dimensional void. The novel, however, is otherwise well-written and entertaining. It's about a young boxer in Albuquerque, NM, in search of his biological father upon learning that his parents are not who he always thought them to be. Anaya attempts to delve into the psyche of the biological mother, the mother he was raised with, the female mayor, and the girlfriend.
Heather Cowley
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
Rating: 4 Stars
What can you expect to happen when a youngish, single guy moves to a new country? The guy learns about this new country, many faults and all, and has a bit of sex...Just a bit. It's a funny read, but in the end you just hate what has to be. It's all a bunch of merde.
Tarah Pessel
Vanished by Danielle Steel
Rating: 4 Stars
She strays from her usual love story with this page-turner about who kidnapped the son in the story. It keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Jessica
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
A good novel that is a little suspenseful and creepy.
Mary Waite
I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
Rating: 5 Stars
I didn't read this when it first came out because I allowed myself to be swayed by the critics' attacks on Wolfe. But it is now my second favorite Wolfe book, right behind A Man in Full.
Buddy Garrett
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich
Rating: 4 Stars
This is great reading. The author paints a memorable landscape dotted with interesting characters and telling events.
Crystal Gwynn
Rich God Poor God by Dr. John Avanzini
Rating: 5 Stars
A very interesting book that makes you open your eyes.
Matt Horn
I Never Believed In Ghosts Until... by The Editors of USA Weekend
Rating: 5 Stars
Halloween is coming and this is a
great book to read about ghosts. Good ghost stories can make your hair stand on end, but there's nothing scarier than a true ghost story. USA Weekend asked readers to share their most mysterious encounters, and this spellbinding collection presents the 100 best entries and includes tales of haunted houses, possessed objects, ghosts, unseen spirits, and more.
Gina Cone
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Rating: 5 Stars
I started reading this book and had to stop in the middle. It made me want to reread the whole series and still have something to look forward to reading later!! A winner!
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
To Kiss a Frog by Elle James
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great contemporary/fantasy romance.
Trisha McKee (classicdrm@aol.com)
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Rating: 5 Stars
Great classic!
Leann Arsenault (heartoblue@aol.com)
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel focuses on the Italians who helped hide Jewish refugees during WWII. As with all of her books, Mary Doria Russell creates characters that become a part of your life.
Lauren Smith
Black Rose by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book. It is the second in the trilogy, and it is about gardening, love, and starting over a new life.
Gina
Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the second book in the Lucy Stone Mysteries that I've read from this author. The characters are interesting but the plot is not very deep.
Dicksie Milburn
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 5 Stars
An incredible fact-based story of brave Carrie McGavock, whose plantation home suddenly became a hospital for the Civil War wounded. Hicks has brought the war to life in such a way that you'll feel like you were there. A must read.
Patti DelValle
Are You Afraid of the Dark? by Sidney Sheldon
Rating: 3 Stars
I am usually hooked on a Sheldon book in the first few pages --- this one is taking me some time to get "into" it. It has a lot of details, much more than I am used to from his other books. I find it disappointing at best.
Trudee Carreiro (sweeper4@verizon.net)
My Life in the Mafia by Vincent Charles Teresa
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a good read.
Stephanie Holcomb
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved The Kitchen God's Wife by Tan, and she remains one of my favorite authors. This one is a little slower, but still, the imagery is so vivid that I feel like I'm in ancient China right along with LuLing. It's a wonderful book.
Belinda Long
Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
She follows up the Dead Even, Dead Wrong, and Dead Certain series with three new ones (the others are due out this fall). A really good read!
Carol Mintz (mittens0831@aol.com)
Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 5 Stars
This Edgar Award winning novel is well worth reading if you enjoy a good murder investigation. Grace does not believe that her boss committed suicide and she won't stop until she finds out who killed him!
Casey Becher
Executive Orders by Tom Clancey
Rating: 5 Stars
Michelle Tucker
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
Great book! It has been the best one of the series. This book is finally bringing together all the characters of the series, and it's fun to "watch" them interact.
M Pomroy
The Big Bad Wolf: A Novel by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the book. It has a couple of surprise twists.
Sandra Slack
Blood Orchid by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
A very good mystery.
Joe Grammatico (Jgrammatic@aol.com)
Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock by Matthew R. Simmons
Rating: 4 Stars
Quite informative
Leslie in Texas
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from S by Heather Lende
Rating: 3 Stars
The book was a little dry. Many of the stories sounded as though they could be taking place anywhere, and were not uniquely small-town Alaska.
Adam Curley (Falconfan8@hotmail.com)
The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer
Rating: 5 Stars
I really liked this book. It has great characters, good plot twists, and it's written by a great author. I love how he (Eoin Colfer) gives you such a good description of the setting. It really helped me understand the book better. If you are in your right mind, you will go a buy this book RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Julie Herber
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book! I loved these characters! Plainsong left me wanting to know more, and to my delight, he wrote a sequel. After reading this book, I had to track down all his other books and read them too. What a wonderful author.
Julie Herber
Eventide by Kent Haruf
Rating: 5 Stars
I read the first one, Plainsong, and had to read the sequel. It sure did deliver. I loved them both.
Julie Herber
The Last Juror by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
This isn't a recent release, but it's one of his best in the last few years. I highly recommend it!
Julie Herber (samohtts42@aol.com)
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I've read lately. I really "felt" for these characters and wished the book would not have ended. Any book that leaves me with the desire to know more about these characters and when they go next, in my opinion, is a good book. Give me more.
Julie Herber
Beach Girls by Luanne Rice
Rating: 3 Stars
It was an okay read, but I was expecting a really juicy "beach read". I have read others by the same author that I thought were better.
Danielle
Fatal Embrace by Aris Whittier
Rating: 5 Stars
This book kept me up until two in the morning!
Joan Burton
The Color of Light by Karen White
Rating: 4 Stars
The Color of Light was an easy read with a good story line. It's about a young divorced mother of 2 who moves back to the Low Country of South Carolina. She meets some of her childhood friends and they try to solve the old case of a missing friend from their childhood years. A good read.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Riptide by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a long book, but it's really good if you can get into it. My friend lent it to me and told me to read the prologue and first couple of chapters; she said that if by that point, I wasn't showing interest, then I probably wouldn't later on. I, however, was hooked from the start. So, this is just another suggestion for those of you who like to have your nose in a book as much as possible --- like me.
Nannette Ryan (ponyanddogshow486@yahoo.com)
No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book.
Gayle Morgan (gmor@farmwagon.com)
Lucifer's Shadow by David Hewson
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book that you just can't put down.
Colleen Kruger (auntcolleen60@yahoo.com)
Adrenaline by John Benedict
Rating: 4 Stars
A well-written, heart-pounding medical thriller that will grab you from the first chapter. Benedict puts a new spin on the medical genre by telling this gripping story from the viewpoint of the anesthesiologist. Characterization and dialogue are top-notch. I could not put this one down!
Toy Thomas
Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs Mysteries) by Jacqueline Winspear
Rating: 5 Stars
Both of these books are wonderful and I look forward to reading the third in the series.
Grace Chu
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
I started reading this book back in 2000 but had other priorities in life then that wouldn't let me continue. Since I picked it back up, I can't seem to put it down. The upcoming movie can't possibly do it justice.
Mary Schreiner
Lucky by Alice Sebold
Rating: 5 Stars
This author's true account of her rape during her freshman year in college is so compelling. She shows you how violence changes your life forever, and once a victim, you will always view the world and the people in it differently.
Mary Schreiner
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is told by a 14-year-old murder victim. She describes heaven and looking down on her family and her killer still on earth. This is a wonderful story and one you will not soon forget.
Debra Kinman
The Last Day by Glenn Kleier
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is based on the year 2000 and the fears and hopes that the world would end when the new year began. It is a book that will really get you thinking.
Lesa Holstine (lholstine@yahoo.com)
Next Man Up by John Feinstein
Rating: 5 Stars
One of our best sportswriters goes behind the scenes with the 2004 Baltimore Ravens football team. Every coach, staff member or player has a brief bio in the book when they come up in the course of the season, but Feinstein points out the realilty of football: no one is irreplaceable, and the team will just move on to the "Next Man Up." It's a fabulous book!
Marjorie Clark
With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book by Ms. George that I've read, and I now plan on going back and reading her entire series. Her writing is full of edge-of-the-seat suspense and I enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery that isn't solved until the very end.
Carol Mintz (mittens0831@aol.com)
Every Breath She Takes by Suzanne Forster
Rating: 5 Stars
Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this book very much! You will keep changing your mind about who did it until the very surprising end! This story could go so many ways that it will keep you guessing.
Carol Hirsh (CLoisH049@AOL.com)
The Amourous Busboy of Decatur Avenue by Robert Klein
Rating: 3 Stars
It was interesting to read about someone who came from the Bronx, as I did!
TJ
The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue
Rating: 5 Stars
An OUTSTANDING first novel set in 1920s New Orleans and Louisiana now. Razi is an amazing, progressive character. It's more than just a love story, it's an exploration of life itself. The book is full of terrific characters, and it's an intelligent and beautifully written story. I can't wait for Domingue's next one.
Lynne Seay (labassist@aol.com)
Perfect Nightmare by John Saul
Rating: 5 Stars
This book grabs you from the beginning and never lets you go! A mother's worst nightmare comes true when her daughter vanishes. Perfect Nightmare describes what happens as the mother searches, as well as the daughter's captivity. One of John Saul's best.
Stella Schmitz
A Place to Call Home by Deborah Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story to get lost in. It's easy to read, and it's just wonderful to share the lives of this Southern family as they experience daily life.
Wendy M.P. Dyment
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 5 Stars
This is just fantastic --- I love the Eastern European / Middle Eastern History connection. I only have time to read a chapter or two at a time, and I wish I had a whole day to jump right in!
Gisele Courville
Table For Five by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 4 Stars
This was my first Susan Wiggs book, but it won't be my last. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Carmen (guinn1248@bellsouth.net)
Compulsion by Keith Ablow
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is about an infant girl who is murdered in her home and the whole family are suspects. As the book moves along, it uncovers family secrets, keeping you guessing who did it.
Madeline (mora-summonte@comcast.net)
Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey
Rating: 4 Stars
Nonfiction. This fascinating nonfiction tale is about sharks, their place in scientific study, and in the world in general. It reads like a novel.
Madeline (mora-summonte@comcast.net)
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent legal thriller --- the main character is flawed and thoroughly more enjoyable than the typical "hero" in other cookie-cutter legal reads. Plot twists keep you guessing.
Nina Picone
The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
If you like period novels, this is really enjoyable, but I do suggest reading The Other Boleyn Girl first. I have The Virgin Queen on deck next by the same author
Lynn Krzyzaniak
The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
Rating: 4 Stars
Margarita (mhaury2@aol.com)
The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams
Rating: 4 Stars
This humorous novel is full of engaging characters and its quirky plot keeps the reader totally engaged. This story about a tiny American town was a terrific read!
Randi Odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 5 Stars
An amazing story chronicling the historian's and his successors' search for Dracula and the mystery surrounding that search.
Coral Harrison
Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 5 Stars
Scottoline writes mystery books about lawyers, each complete and stand-alone. Devil's Corner is about Prosecutor Vicki Allegretti, who is working on a case about drugs in Philadelphia, and how she makes the good guys win.
Cynthia Burnham (c17itzme1@aol.com)
The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
Rating: 5 Stars
You have to love history to read this book. The story gives you more than just the history of the great pandemic of 1918 --- you will learn about the medical profession and how John Hopkins lead the way, scientists, doctors, W. W. I, and politics. This is a most timely book with the bird flu in the headlines today.
Anna Lisa McKenrick (Topsail246@aol.com)
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
Another winner for Susan Elizabeth Phillips! This was an entertaining book. Her books always make me smile!
Anna Lisa McKenrick (Topsail246@aol.com)
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of her best books! Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop until I finished. It's thoroughly engrossing!
Dennis Fowler (dfowler1@insight.rr.com)
Creepers by David Morrell
Rating: 5 Stars
It's definately not what I expected. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was awesome, and I read it in one sitting.
Kathie Hackney (jewelry224@aol.com)
A More Perfect Union by J.A. Jance
Rating: 4 Stars
I love J.A. Jance's books and I'm currently reading some older ones I haven't read yet. I am crazy about the Joanna Brady series, and of course the J.P. Beaumont mysteries, which are set in my hometown of Seattle. Her books are always exciting and fun to read.
R. Honey (meenmom714@aol.com)
Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel is entertaining in a Dominick Dunne sort of way. It's about the east coast prior to WW II, and is a thrilling book of war and the resistance. It's history made very interesting, especially about little-known Denmark's role in the 2nd World War (its rescue of most of its Jews) and it also provides an interesting commentary on marrriage in our parent's and grandparent's generation.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
There Are Jews In My House by Lara Vapnyar
Rating: 3 Stars
These are beautiful Short Stories --- tales about Russians and their lives in Moscow & Brooklyn. It's sad, funny, and full of many discussable issues! There are Jews In My House is an emotional addition to our literary world.
Gerry Durisin (GerryD8784@aol.com)
Climbing Higher by Montel Williams
Rating: 2 Stars
Montel Williams’ description of his diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and how he’s coping with Multiple Sclerosis elicited sympathy, but ultimately couldn’t hold my interest.
Tracy Allen (tracyallen@cox.net)
Straight Into Darkness by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 2 Stars
It was slow and full of miscellaneous information. I found it fairly boring. It seems like this author is more interested in her topic than the general reader might be. Although a similar book set in the same time period, Deaver's Garden of Beasts was very well done and certainly more enjoyable.
Debbie (Deb1teach@aol.com)
Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
Another winner by Picoult. I loved the characters, and I was interested in the way the author described the jail scenes. I wasn't disappointed.
Monique Tatum
Love in Another Lifetime by Victoria A. Key
Rating: 5 Stars
An easy read and a great love story. It made me think, "Did I know my soulmate before and will I meet him again....?"
My sister read it and the ending meant something different to her, so you can draw your own conclusion...
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
The Wedding Song by Farideh Golden
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a beautiful story, and is full ofexcellent issues to cover in book clubs. Highly recommended!
Coral Harrison
Crimes Against Nature by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is about how George W. Bush and his corportate Pals are plundering the country and hijacking our democracy. It is very well-written and documented, and is for everyone, not just the Democrats. It is scary, but easy to read.
Anna Lisa McKenrick (Topsail246@aol.com)
Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy
Rating: 5 Stars
A neat book that has a fast pace and an unusual story line. I didn't want it to end, and I hope there will be a sequel.
jackie young (myrtleme@sbcglobal.net)
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Rating: 5 Stars
So very interesting --- it's a great tribute to a great cook.
Anna Lisa McKenrick (Topsail246@aol.com)
Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter
Rating: 4 Stars
It is a futuristic romance that makes for an interesting read. I hope there will be a sequel.
L Peters
The Flowering of the Soul by Ed. Lucinda Vardey
Rating: 5 Stars
This one's a 'keeper' --- a book to have handy all the time.
K Peters
Bone: Dying into Life by Marion Woodman
Rating: 5 Stars
A majestic memoir of transformation through illness.
Dennis Fowler (dfowler1@insight.rr.com)
Angels in the Gloom by Anne Perry
Rating: 4 Stars
This doesn't fall under my normal reading genre, but I won it by contributing here. It was a surprisingly good read.
Philip Doyle
Stop That Girl: A Novel in Stories by Elizabeth McKenzie
Rating: 5 Stars
I've really enjoyed this book about a girl growing up in Los Angeles in a complex, literature-worthy family. There's a lot of truth to her experiences with her overwrought mother and unbalanced grandmother; on the other hand, there's also a lot of humor, which makes it all go down easy. This is genuine humor --- it's not just funny because the author is trying to be zany or begging for a laugh. I've used several stories at the school where I teach, and they went over well --- students could relate (as I can, too). This book is stylistically interesting, being divided into different segments that take Ann Ransom from childhood into motherhood. I don't think I've read a book quite like it, unless maybe it was Monkeys by Susan Minot. In the end, despite all the talk about what an accomplished humorist McKenzie is, I found Stop That Girl to be indelibly poignant and memorable.
Jenelle Rodenbaugh
Teeth in a Pickle Jar by H.B. Milligan
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a chick-lit book with a good story about a 40-something woman in New York who meets a man on the internet. It has many other events going on that keep the book interesting, such as an old world Italian "Mamma," a single college-age daughter who gets pregnant, and a friend with cancer.
Cindy Newman
Second Wind by Dick Francis
Rating: 5 Stars
I just re-read Second Wind, which is about a meteorologist who flies through the eye of a hurricane in a small plane. It's a classic Dick Francis mystery with some creepy bad guys and gals, which I found interesting to read again after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Louise Keene (lekeene52@msn.com)
The Colour by Rose Tremain
Rating: 5 Stars
This look at the lives of diverse personalities is vivid in description and filled with emotion. Set in New Zealand in the 1800s, Tremain brings to life the the trials of starting over and the lure of the gold fields --- just of "the colours."
Excellent read!
Jack
Been There, Done That? DO THIS! by Sam Obitz
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this book for the first time about a year ago and then re-read it again a few months back. I decided to give the exercises in it a try and was surpised at how well they work. If you suffer from any type of anxiety, the TEA form exercise may be what you need. I just wish I could have tried using it when Ifirst read the book a year ago so I could have experienced the power of it sooner. Highly recommended to those with dysfunctional backgrounds.
Mary Beth Helmick (NurseMBH@aol.com)
Leaving Normal by Stef Ann Holm
Rating: 5 Stars
Kudos to Stef Ann Holm for writing an entertaining and believable story about a newly divorced 40+ year old who realizes there is more to life than finding another man after a divorce. She makes us realize that it's never too late in life to set and achieve new goals. Opening her own business gives the main character a strong sense of self worth. Of course, the inevitable romance occurs, and with a younger man, but it does not monopolize the story. Separate side stories about her father, as well as her daughter, round out this book and boost it to a 5 star rating! Leaving Normal captivated me from the very first page and kept me burning the midnight oil until I finished it! I highly recommend all of Ms. Holm's books.
Rhoda MacMaster (Tiggi47@aol.com)
The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
He is a great writer who keeps you interested.
Heidi Kukta (thekuktas5@cs.com)
Flesh and Blood by Johnathan Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
Not a bad read --- I like Kellerman and have read his whole series, and I enjoyed it.
Mary K. Paxson
Shadow of the WInd by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Rating: 5 Stars
Shadow of the wind is a wonderful story with an exciting plot full of twists and turns. The descriptions of Barcelona make you almost believe you are walking the streets of that city. This story has a touch of mystery, a touch of romance, and atouch of gothic horror --- something for everyone.
Gina
The House in Amalfi by Elizabeth Adler
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a good beach read about a woman
finding herself after her husband's
death. The writing flowed easily and the chapters were short.
Corky Mayo (cmayo@dppl.org)
Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein
Rating: 5 Stars
A debut novel/thriller that takes place in a resort area of NJ --- complete with Bruce Springsteen lyrics. It is fast paced, contains great characters, and has an excellent finale. Look for the continuation of the series with Mad Mouse.
Jacki
Derailed by James Siegel
Rating: 4 Stars
I bought this book at Dollar Tree and it is AWESOME. It's now a movie with Jennifer Aniston, which will be coming out in November. I can't imagine the movie being anything like the book. Look on ebay to buy if you can't find at your local DT.
Sandi
The Year of Magical THinking by Joan DIdion
Rating: 5 Stars
Anyone who has suffered losses in their lives will connect with Didion. She expresses what is hard to express when you are making your way thorugh the loss. I feel a shared experience.
Vikki (VikkiVand@aol.com)
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
The memoir of a family that might not agree with your way of raising children. It's worth reading.
Sheila Smith
Killing Rain by Barry Eisler
Rating: 4 Stars
A well-written, intelligent action-adventure novel.
Valeen Nielson
Velocity by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
This is Dean Koontz at his best! Talk about an "edge of your seat" read! I love this suspense-filled book and I'm sure you will too!
Rhoda MacMaster (Tiggi47@aol.com)
Superstition by Karen Robards
Rating: 5 Stars
A very good book about the supernatural.
Robyn Lee (yourstrulee@sasktel.net)
Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Rating: 5 Stars
Humor abounds, which is good for the soul.
Kayla Stassa (Kaylakittie@earthlink.net)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
Robyn L. (yourstrulee@sasktel.net)
Turner's Woman by Jenna Kernan
Rating: 5 Stars
A great read for those winter months.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Anne Frank: Young Diarist by Ruth Ashby
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful biography for children about Anne Frank. I have never had any desire to read Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, but now that I have read this biography, I want to read Anne's words.
Debra Wilfert
Family First by Dr. Phil McGraw
Rating: 5 Stars
The book is excellent on family issues.
C J
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam by Robert Spenser
Rating: 4 Stars
This book has some fascinating facts that are very topical to our world today.
Cheryl from Allison Park, PA
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Rating: 4 Stars
A quick read. This is an enlightening story of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and all that was taken from the Chinese people. It describes how "forbidden" books (i.e. Balzac) opens the characters' eyes to what life may be like without Communism, and how reading these books changed them.
jb
4th of July by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is just as good as the first three! I love the series!
John Pevsner (jpev90210@aol.com)
I'm Watching You by Karen Rose
Rating: 3 Stars
J. McAfee
His Oldest Friend-The Story of an Unlikely Bond by Sonny Kleinfield
Rating: 5 Stars
A great read!! This is a touching and moving story about a friendship that crosses the generation gap.
Mary Schreiner
Fay by Larry Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
I was drawn into Fay's world and could not put this book down. One minute, you want to protect her, and the next, she will shock you with her brazen acts when she feels threatened. She is one tough lady who keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@adelphia.net)
Popped by Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is part of a series about Regan Reilly, a private investigator. This is only the second I've read, and it's entertaining. I would like to read the rest of the series. She isn't as good a writer as her mother, but she does very well.
Maryse Mills-Apenteng
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
Rating: 4 Stars
Seriously funny . . . Hornby treats a serious topic with hilarity.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
The author of THE HORSE WHISPERER has really done it again. This is one of the best books I've read all year. It explores the realm of family relationships, plus the effects of a child "gone wrong" on the life of that family. I just "lived" inside this book, and I was sad to see it end because I missed the world of the story. It's a must- read for book lovers.
Dawn Gepfer
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
Rating: 4 Stars
I am really enjoying this book --- it's a light read with a bit of suspense, and a some giggle every now and then. I'm captivated and cannot wait to find out what happens next!
jenn
The Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
jenn
The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews
Rating: 3 Stars
Sandy Sherwood (jasscs@aol.com)
Immoral by Brian Freeman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a page-turner by a new writer. Mr. Freeman has been around awhile, but this is his first novel and I can't wait for the next one! The action just never stops and I never called all the shots. I compare him to Deaver or Grisham, and he's better then Connelly. He will get better with time and I can't wait!
Karin M.
A Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a refreshing and very well-written read. You really cheer for the main character as he bikes across the U.S., rediscovering who he is in the process.
Amellia Hansen (vbsami@qwest.net)
Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause
Rating: 4 Stars
Maybe a Miracle is a book about faith --- faith in a situation, faith in yourself; about believing in something bigger than yourself.
I can't say after reading this book if it was enjoyable or not. This is almost an eye-opening book whether you want it to or not. It's an emotional journey that isn't one you'd pick to travel. However, it's almost one of those journeys everyone should take. Whether you're religious or not, this is worth your time.
A tragedy strikes immediately at the novel's opening, just as the reader feels they have formed a relationship with the characters. During Annika's hospital stay, her brother explains her situation, and her diagnosis is horrific. This almost made me want to quit reading; I didn't think I could take over two hundred more pages of sadness, but I pushed on and kept going. With any horrible family tragedy comes other circumstances --- people change, attitudes change, your friends are no longer your friends, or you find your real friends. You "might" find your faith. With Annika's situation, we see what happens in this family, and we witness faith and yeah, "maybe a miracle."
I wanted to quit reading a few times because I found some of the "miracle" that happened to Annika just so crazy. But for Monroe's sake, I wanted to find out what happens to him, and how he puts things into perspective. So, I managed to hang on and I'm sure glad I did. I learned a little something about believing in miracles, believing in things when no one else will, believing in family. Without these miracles in life, where would we be?
This is an amazing book, sometimes difficult to stay with, but push on --- it's worth it in the end.
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
This books is the 6th in the series, and is not a disappointment. Although I knew one of the surprises at the end, there were many more. I'm looking forward to the last book.
Valerie Lynn Worsham
Memories of a Cherry Blossom Tree by Fletcher Johnson Jr.
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a book that adopts and nurtures children into international families of love from a place called "Stillwater's Orphanage." Memories of a Cherry Blossom Tree is amazing, and I have not seen a book like this since Charlotte's Web.
Desmond Warzel
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Rating: 5 Stars
Never mind that movie that just came out recently; the novel is the best incarnation of this particular tale. I'm rereading it for the umpteenth time right now. If you've read it, no explanation is necessary; if you haven't, no explanation will do.
Nancy
Perfect Nightmare by John Saul
Rating: 3 Stars
The Perfect Nightmare was a good story, but it had kind of an abrupt ending; I would have liked an epilogue to tie up loose ends. However, I would still recommend this book.
Nancy
The Winners Circle by Christopher Kilm
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a great book. I loved the main character, Jerry, our reluctant lottery winner. The Winners Circle was an easy and highly-enjoyable read.
Lisa Craven
Trace by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great Scarpetta novel, full of suspense, mystery, and excitement. A must-read!
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a wonderfully suspenseful story, and it came with a twist at the end that I totally didn't see coming. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.
Catherine Burke
A Light in the Window by Jan Karon
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the Mitford Series books, which are about a small village and its inhabitants. The main character is Fr. Tim, the pastor, who married his beighbor/writer Cynthia at the age of 62! The book is beautiful and uplifting... and full of faith!
Lisa Craven
Limbo by A. Manette Ansay
Rating: 5 Stars
I love anything by A. Manette Ansay and this memoir is no exception. Her down-to-earth, honest, free-flowing writing is a pleasure to read, and her life story is very interesting. If you love Ansay's books, you'll love this memoir.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great, romantic story! Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy.
Judy Salisbury (kiuki_99@yahoo.com)
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Rating: 2 Stars
This autobiography chronicles Burroughs's teen years, which are populated by dysfunctional people: an absent alcoholic father, a mentally unstable mother, an "eccentric" psychiatrist (who, in my opinion, is unethical and possibly mentally ill). While I kept reading to see "how it all turns out," I found it difficult to read about this life. The sexual activity is graphically portrayed and may be offensive to some. I just found it all so sad. I was depressed when I was done.
Judy Salisbury (kiuki_99@yahoo.com)
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
A story of love, fire, family. The family pizzaria is burned down by a disgruntled neighbor, and Reena Hale becomes enamored with arson investigation. As the years go by, Reena finds that fire is entwined in her life with sometimes deadly results. A taut thriller with romance and family humor, and a fast and fun read.
Janet Ross
Delectable Mountains by Earlene Fowler
Rating: 4 Stars
When Benni discovers the badly-beaten body of the church maintenance man, it sets off an investigation that involves an unlikely set of suspects. This light, romantic mystery was a very pleasant read.
Kimberly Blankenship
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Rating: 4 Stars
A great book that covers how societies choose to fail or succeed.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
Gosh, I thought The Noteboo' pulled at your heartstrings, but this one takes the cake for being a tearjerker! It's such a sweet story though. I'm really not one for general romance books, but Sparks has a way with his words and his storytelling that just makes his books so much more than romance.
You gotta read this one if you haven't already.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Rating: 5 Stars
My husband and I have a really good marriage, but like anything, a little extra work can't hurt. I read this book this past week, and can honestly say that I think I have a stronger idea of what will help keep my marriage full of spark, love, and happiness over the years. So, that said, if you're married, even completely happily married like I am, you should pick up a copy of this book. It's not very long, but it's packed with such a wealth of information and the author supplies you with great questions to really help you figure out what love language you and your spouse both speak.
Judy Salisbury (kiuki_99@yahoo.com)
Dragon Bones by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting murder mystery involving a Liu Hulan --- an inspector for the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing --- and her American lawyer husband, David Stark. The story allows us to see glimpses of politics and culture in modern China, while focusing on an imploding relationship and the deaths of foreigners around archeological digs.
Deb from Lawrence
Last Witness by Jilliane P. Hoffman
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked this follow-up to her last book, Retribution, which was also enjoyable.
Melanie House
The Devil Served Tortellini by Shirley Jump
Rating: 5 Stars
This is fabulously funny reading! It's great for those blue days that need a lift. Also, the recipes are tremendous.
Connie Melancon
Naked Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 5 Stars
I just started the latest in the Lucas Davenport Prey series and I can't put it down!
Connie Melancon
London Bridges by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Another Dr. Alex Cross --- It was great!!
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
The Linnet Bird by L. Holeman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is such a complete story of one woman's life in the 1800's in England. From the squalor of living a life as a whore at age 11 to living in affluence in India as an adult, this book clearly tells about how women had to exist in that time.
Bonnie Gluhanich
Turning the Tables by Steven A. Shaw
Rating: 5 Stars
An entertaining, illuminating, and informative book about the restaurant industry by a food critic who also worked behind the scenes at several restaurants. Everything from why some restaurants make it big and others fail, to how to get that elusive reservation at the hottest restaurant in town.
Sandra ()
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a book I cannot put down, full of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue. It is about Henry VIII and the Boleyn sisters, along with how families worked to achieve the king's favors.
Susan Meehan
Life of PI by Yann Martel
Rating: 4 Stars
My Book Club selection this month --- it was a very interesting story with a most bizarre setting, and a touching ending.
Mary Lou (mlwreader@aol.com)
Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 4 Stars
I received this book as a "hand-me-down," and is not one that I might otherwise read. The writing is very good, and the story line is humorous, even laugh-out-loud funny once or twice.
J. P. Feingold
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Rating: 4 Stars
The first chapter is rather slow going, but plow through it, as it is not representative of the way the rest of the book is written. This is an amusing, yet poignant, tale of a world I can only hope is small, where filthy rich people have children they do not want and don't know how to raise. They hire minimally screened nannies, pay them badly, and treat them like personal servants. Written from one nanny's perspective, there is humor in the story but also great sadness.
Rich Hjulstrom (hjulstrom@peoplepc.com)
The Town That Forgot How to Breathe by Kenneth J. Harvey
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a nicely crafted suspense novel about a coastal town in Newfoundland where strange creatures appear from the sea, and bodies of long-lost seafarers appear. At the same time, the town is gripped by a mysterious illness that makes folks forget how to breathe. The characters and the setting are believable, and the pace of the story is just right to keep you guessing. An enjoyable read from start to finish!
Sonia Chopra
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Rating: 5 Stars
I love this book. I can't put it down. I have to know what happens next. It's all about survival and power games in the corporate world of Manhattan. Through it all, your girlfriends are there for you.
It's not Pulitzer Prize reading material, but it's one of those guilty pleasures that are so hard to resist. Read it, you'll love it. Think Sex and the City and the relationship between the girlfriends.
Just Steph, Avid Reader (skarakozia@comcast.net)
Man Walks Into A Room by Nicole Krauss
Rating: 5 Stars
I had already read History of Love (another 5-starrer) by this author based on great critic reviews and recommendations from customers at the bookstore I work at where, if I'm fortunate, I get this stuff for free (advance reader's copies and the like). It's relatively new, so I splurged and bought the hardcover.
I don't regret the purchase for a moment. So, of course, I HAD to buy her earlier (and I believe first) novel, Man Walks Into A Room, and my personal opinion is that this is an author to watch and embrace. Oh, and read anything she writes you can get your hands on, even if it's just a postcard.
Another fantastic one is The Miracle Life of Edgard Mint, a debut novel by a guy called Brady Udall who is making me very impatient in expectation of his second novel. (He told me he's working on it, but even in its infancy, it is a tome. I guess the editing is taking longer than the writing.)
Erik Lundgren
Code of the Street by Elijah Anderson
Rating: 5 Stars
A very informative book about violence and posturing in the streets.
Mary Lou (mlwreader@aol.com)
3 x 33: Short Fiction by 33 Authors by Mark Winegardner
Rating: 5 Stars
I ask myself why I special-ordered this heavy (couple of pounds at least) expensive (over $50) book. I am not taking a class (it is a text book for a writing class) and I haven't even heard of half of the authors! But I did, and I am really enjoying it. Sometimes you just gotta follow your nose, and I did just that in the process of buying and carrying this heavy thing around with me. I discovered that short stories are great reading to fill in the blanks while waiting in a drive-through or some such activity!
Liza
Rain Fall by Barry Eisler
Rating: 5 Stars
A very hip, very cool mystery with a likable "hero", John Rain, who is a hired assassin. He has some rules: he will not kill women or children, and he only works alone. He's got a sensitive streak, and you find yourself liking him, even though he does some nasty things. I rate it 4 stars.
Susan C Noe
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Rating: 4 Stars
It's an excellent book, but I expect no less from Diana Gabaldon. She makes time travel believable and something I would love to do.
LauraMarie Taylor
Stiff by Mary Roach
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an awesome book about dead bodies --- entertaining, informative, sometimes disgusting, all-around fun.
Ernie Lanterman (joanne@goes.com)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
An awesome continuation of the series.
Cheryl from Allison Park, PA
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips
Rating: 2 Stars
I thought I would enjoy a book on ancient Egypt and the discovery of an ancient tomb. But, I didn't care for the style of story telling (letters, journal entries,etc) and felt like I was left hanging on many plot points at the end of the book.
Dawn Miller (princesssaurora@aol.com)
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel is very good --- it's about a man's journey to reclaim his life from depression that had actually started long before his parents and sister's deaths. The writing is excellent --- the author weaves the past and present in a way that leaves you wanting more.
Dawn Miller (princesssaurora@aol.com)
Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart
Rating: 5 Stars
Dark and mysterious, in this novel you follow the movements of the serial killer and the cop who ultimately catch him. I couldn't put it down, it had just the right amount of twists and turns and cliffhangers!!!
Dawn Miller (Princesssaurora@aol.com)
Blaze by JoAnn Ross
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent read --- a fast-paced sexy mystery. I loved it, and the ending had a great twist!
Kathy (kahoho@aol.com)
The Greatest Man in Cedar Hole by Stephanie Doyon
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked this up as an advanced reading copy at a local bookstore. I absolutely loved it. It was charming and poignant and reminescent of John Irving's books.
Debra Wilkening
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Rating: 5 Stars
The Lord of the Rings series has nothing on this.
B.J. Simon
Dealing in Murder by Eliane Flinn
Rating: 3 Stars
The first book in her series dealing with an antique dealer protagonist.
Corky Mayo (cmayo@dppl.org)
The Ocean Between Us by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent story about a career naval family and how they handle life-threatening changes.
John Sheppard (johnsheppard@mac.com)
Our Napoleon in Rags by Kirby Gann
Rating: 5 Stars
The intertwined lives of the regulars at a neighborhood bar in a crumbling-apart town in Kentucky are limned in the second novel by Kirby Gann (The Barbarian Parade). Sharp characterization rather than plot is the motif.
Valerie Furr (BahamaValF@aol.com)
The Lifeguard by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent and very suspenseful book that kept you hanging. The chracters are very colorful and you can just really get into the story. James Patterson, to me, is one of the best writers out there.
Jackie Taylor-Gast
Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs
Rating: 5 Stars
He's a great writer!
Deborah Wellenstein
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 5 Stars
Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys sort of picks up where American Gods left off. It's imaginative and fun.
Sally Lincoln
Envy by Sandra Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
I must be one of the few who hasn't read any of Sandra's work. While recently looking through the airport bookstore, I was amazed just how many she had and how many of those were in the top 20!
I decided to check a book out of the library to see just how good she was, and there were so many to choose from. I think I only chose Envy as it is based in Georgia, where I live.
The book was good from the very start, and I wanted to continue even though I had limited times for reading. As I got into the story, I guessed quite easily what the twist, or some would call outcome, would be. But, for some reason, this did not deter from the ful enjoyment of the story. It still had a little surprise at the end. It was well put-together with a nice sprinkling of romance that didn't smother the storyline. I will be reading some more of Sandra's work.
Anne Edwards
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 5 Stars
Oprah picked this memoir as her latest Club selection, and it is an account of recovery (from alcohol and drug addiction). I couldn't put down! This is an inspirational sharing well worth anyone's time.
Karen Agee ()
The Mitford Years by Jan Karon
Rating: 5 Stars
Having never really been a fan of Christian fiction, it was quite a pleasure when I picked up the first book of this series and read it. I felt I was at home. I have read all of the series except the last book, and am having a problem locating a store in my area that sells it. I look forward to reading other writings of Ms. Karon's in the future.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 4 Stars
It's a great book, though starts a little slow. It took almost 200 pages just to get Harry to Hogwarts. I would have liked more excitement. It's still great series, however.
Enid Grabiner
The Rescue Artist by Edward Dolnick
Rating: 4 Stars
A nonfiction account of the theft of Edward Munch's Scream told in detail, as well as other art robberies and the attempted recoveries of artwork. Nice attention spent on personalities of the thieves and the recoverer.
Carol Zwick
The Sari Shop by Rupa Bajwa
Rating: 5 Stars
A fascinating and thoughtful novel about modern India that glimpses into the lives of a wide range of people. The Sari Shop has stuck with me and I have recommended it to a number of people. If you're looking for a novel with depth, this is a great choice.
Coral Harrison
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
Rating: 5 Stars
I liked this book. It is easy to read, and tells a different kind of story. It is about a man and his daughter finding a new born baby left in the snow to die, and how this event changes their lives.
Carol Mintz (mittens0831@aol.com)
Everywhere That Mary Went by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 5 Stars
This is my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I liked it so much that I have bought several more and have put them on top of my to-be-read pile. She writes suspense with humor. Mary thinks becoming partner in her law firm is the most important thing in her life until she realizes that she is being followed, and her life is in danger. This is a book you won't want to put down!
Coral Harrison
Out of Range by C. J. Box
Rating: 4 Stars
The continuing story of Joe Pickett, and his family in Wyoming, where he works as an interim game warden. He finds all sorts of problems and solves them. Good outdoor scenery etc.
Vicky Deane (avdeane@sympatico.ca)
Unzipped by Lois Greiman
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished reading this and I loved it! If you enjoy Janet Evanovich, then you'll surely like this one too! The main character, Christina McMullen, is someone women can identify with.
Shawn
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoy this book because it's so suspenseful and, at the same time, it educates you about dinosaurs, etc.
Betsy (by.my11@verizon.net)
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Rating: 5 Stars
Although this is a western, it is a wonderful story of friendship and survival and a fairly accurate picture of the western life. It is also funny and the characters are wonderful.
Karen Agee (kagee54@bellsouth.net)
The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye
Rating: 5 Stars
Again, the Christian fiction genre was one I had not enjoyed in the past, as they were mostly simple love stories which occurred back in the early days of the west. This series puts a whole new perspective on what will happen when the end of time comes. I just finished book 2 and can't wait to get into #3 of the series.
Merrylee Schuman
Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Richard Sharpe is an incredible hero.
Marilyn Shoemaker
Goodness Had Nothing to Do wiith It by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
It's an incredible story and I couldn't put it down! This is a sequel to Come Up and See Me Sometime, Marcus and Veronica's story.
Book Summary:
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
The last woman who business consultant Marcus Danvers expects to find at Kline Electronics is Veronica Richards. He’s supposed to be rooting out a corporate spy, not rehashing an old love affair --- with the woman who sold out the company they both used to work for and then took off without so much as a kiss goodbye. All the clues point to Ronnie as the firm’s newest mole, which means he’ll have to spend time with the stubbornly reticent --- and mouthwateringly sexy --- woman he hasn’t been able to forget, and uncover every last thing she has to hide...
FANCY SEEING YOU HERE
It’s just Ronnie’s luck. The one man she’d hoped never to see again is suddenly everywhere she looks --- and taking up a starring role in her daydreams, too. Remembering the passion she and Marcus once shared certainly isn’t going to help, though, not when she has so many secrets, and no explanation for the way she left him eighteen months ago—or at least not one he’ll want to hear. The problem is, when Marcus is around, all her good intentions go up in smoke...
Debbue
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
The type of book that really, really makes you think about life. An excellent read.
Debbie
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second book I've read by this author. It's a must read that captivates you from the very beginning.
Allan Campbell
Bad Company by Jack Higgins
Rating: 5 Stars
This was very predictable and just like his last couple of books. I think I'll wait until he finds a new theme.
Marilyn Shoemaker
The Disobedient Virgin by Sandra Marton
Rating: 5 Stars
She's young, innocent and rich...
Catarina Mendes, at twenty-one, is finally a free and independent woman. However, it's freedom at a price....
Bound to a stranger...
Jake Ramirez has become guardian to Cat. He must protect her from unscrupulous men and find her a husband.
By her most precious gift!
Jake is overwhelmed by Cat's beauty, but she's still a virgin. Can he resist bedding her --- before he finds her a suitable husband...?
This is the final book in the Ramerez Brides series to be released in November. I found this book to be romantic to it's fullest, teeming with sexual tension, and it held my interest from beginning to end. Another wonderful book by Sandra Marton.
Sherri Ginsberg
Daughter's Keeper by Ayelet Waldman
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very good story about a single Mom trying to raise her daugher, who unfortunately gets mixed up with an illegal alien and winds up in prison.
Sherri Ginsberg
Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig
Rating: 3 Stars
A memoir of a Jewish daughter with OCD...
Diane K
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Connelly is a great author. I've read all of his books. The Lincoln Lawyer is a fast-paced legal thriller and hopefully is the start of a new series. Connelly blows Grisham out of the water with his latest book.
Betsy
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
Wonderful friendship stories that are central to knitting and the knitting circle of friends. Some of it was rather improbable, hence the 4, but nevertheless pleasant to read.
Kathy
Straight Into Darkness by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 3 Stars
Kellerman at her best. Set in the late 1920's, this book is both a historical novel that looks at the rise of Naziaism, and a murder mystery that she is so VERY good at.
Nancy F.
The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall
Rating: 3 Stars
I find this novel to be a provocative parody of Gone With the Wind. The references to the above novel said through the observances of the black community are both witty and profound.
Maureen
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm reading for my book club, and so far so good. It's a very interesting story.
Tammy Kelley (AnnieWhitsMEME@aol.com)
Keeping You Close by Celya Bowers
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading Keeping You Close. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to read what is going to happen next.
Marjorie Langohr
100 People Who Are Screwing Up America by Bernard Goldberg
Rating: 5 Stars
This was very well written.
Marjorie Langohr
First Families by Bonnie Angelo
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a really interesting book for history lovers.
Lester Huffmire
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
Mia Jacobs
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
Rating: 3 Stars
A light story about relationships.
Kathy
Where God Was Born by Bruce Feiler
Rating: 4 Stars
A history lesson, a geography lesson, a religion lesson, a travelogue, and a political examination of the Middle East all rolled into one. Bruce Feiler takes you to the heart of the Middle East in an attempt to discover the roots of the world's three great religions, Islam, Judiasm and Christianity. A MUST read.
Nancy F. (nanfork@ptd.net)
Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
As always, I find her stories powerful, and with ingenious plot twists. Once begun, they're hard to put down until completed!
Sharon Davis (lupinea@aol.com)
Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 5 Stars
As usual, Vicki Allegretti, prosecutor, arrives at a dirty row house in Philadelphia. Her two compatriots are not so lucky. This is an excellent book by an excellent author.
Sharon Davis ()
Forests of the Night by James W. Hall
Rating: 4 Stars
A police officer, Charlotte Monroe, comes home and finds her husband visiting with a man who is #8 on the FBI's Most Wanted List. After discovering that he is actually her husband's son, her life changes radically, and we learn how bad things can really get.
Judith Musick (fats82439@aol.com)
The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks
Rating: 5 Stars
Kim McHughes
Bad Guys by Linwood Barclay
Rating: 3 Stars
Betty Newbold
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
A remarkable book of love and forgiveness. An important book to read in this day of war and different cultures.
bberry (bberrycrk@aol.com)
The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
Rating: 3 Stars
It kept my interest, but it meanders all over the place.
Donna Kokolis
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I just received this as a bookseller's advance copy. Patterson is great as always!! Alex Cross justs keeps getting better.
Lindsey Bumpass
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
I really like this book so far. I'm only half-way through this 600+ page-turner, and it's been putting me on the edge of my seat the whole time. So, if you like history and intrigue, pick this novel up.
Marlie Warren (justme@xmission.com)
A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
Rating: 5 Stars
A WONDERFUL tale of love. I have trouble putting it down!
Kirsten Kimball
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Rating: 5 Stars
I had always meant to get around to reading this book, but somehow, there was always something else to read. I don't know what got me to finally dig this out of my bookcase, but WOW. I know so much has been written about this book, but trust me --- everyone should read this. It is about a world I never knew and only imagined; about a life that shows anyone can survive anything with strength and determination. I have two daughters, 20 and 10. I plan on making it a goal of mine: read this book.
Rachel Geiger
Bachelorette #1 by Jennifer O'Connell
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting book about realizing what you have when it's almost too late.
Arthur Harriman (hrrm42@aol.com)
A Fistful of Rain by Greg Rucka
Rating: 4 Stars
Rucka's complex plotting nestles
high speed action into actual settings in a dangerous world. Characters in the novel seem fairly well-formed and their behaviors are plausible within the improbable
situations that the author has created.
Pat from Sugar Land
Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Rating: 5 Stars
Another grand book by these two authors. Chilling and clever and sometimes funny.
I can't get enough of their books!
Tricia Begnaud (tricia.begnaud@gmail.com)
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great book with an unexpected end result. How far will you go for those you love? I have read some of her other titles and they all just really dig deep into your heart.
Carol
Out of the Dark by Sharon Sala
Rating: 4 Stars
The story is about a young lady who escapes from a cult and goes into hiding. When she is found by her father after 15 years it becomes a news story, which puts her name out there for cult people to see. It's a well-written book.
Deborah Fochler (fochler@erols.com)
Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause
Rating: 5 Stars
This book hooked me from the first line. It leaves you with the hope that if something horrible happened, that maybe your family could cope, and possibly get their miracle. It made me laugh and cry, and I'm just amazed at the writer's ability to tell this story.
Ruth Utterback
Memorial Day by Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
Though I always enjoy Vince Flynn's books, this is not his best. I love Mitch Rapp, but this one did not grab me the way Third Option and Term Limits did. Still, it's a good read, all in all.
Ruth Utterback
Life Support by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a medical thriller, full of twists and turns similar to Robin Cook's Coma. Medical experiments with fetal tissue sound plausible and possibly not very moral. Dr. Toby Harper is a great heroine and medical detective. I loved this book.
Ruth Utterback
Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't finished this book yet, but I am enjoying it. This is the first Anna Pigeon novel --- she is a park ranger with a nosy streak and a great weird sense of humor. She sees suspects in all of her co-workers. They are trying to solve 3 accidents --- 2 resulting in deaths, and Anna's, which was a fall. It's a good book so far, and I am looking for her others. A friend and I are always looking for new authors.
Maureen
Creepers by David Morrell
Rating: 4 Stars
I won this book through you website, and so far, I love it. It's very suspenseful and is definitely a page-turner.
Roseann Kies
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 4 Stars
Rosalie Mittelman
Lost In The Forest by Sue Miller
Rating: 4 Stars
The complex relationship between the parents (divorced, she recently widowed), and the younger daughter, Daisy, is written so realistically that the reader becomes completely involved in her transition; she moves from confusion to anger, to defiance, then to the acceptance of love for her father and herself. The inability to express love by both her parents and to communicate their feelings towards each other is also very much addressed.
Gaye McGill
Cruelest Journey by Kira Salak
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent true adventure story of a young woman's dangerous and fascinating kayak trip down the Niger River.
Kam Aures
Kiss The Girls by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I am a fan of all of James Patterson's Alex Cross books and this one is a very suspenseful page-turner. It will definitely hold your attention!
Carol
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is fabulous! It's a great story with some interesting ethical and moral questions.
Jerry
Welcome to the Fallen Paradise by Dayne Sherman
Rating: 5 Stars
This one would just not let me go --- couldn't put it down until I finished.
Jana Harver (jlharver@yahoo.com)
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 5 Stars
A realistic and often shocking look at addiction and life in a rehab clinic. I couldn't put it down.
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