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Noreen Brown
Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
A real page turner...
Susan
Memory in Death by J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book. Robb's latest book in her "in death" series which are mysteries in the near future... I have enjoyed all of the series. Each book that comes out seems to always be even better than the last one. Her novels are a must read for me!
Susan (Sprocini@aol.com)
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
Rating: 5 Stars
I have just finished the best novel I have ever read. The book, The Brother K, is about a family with 4 brothers and twin sisters. The father is a broken down baseball pitcher and the Mother is a fanatical Seventh Day Adventist. The story takes place from the Eisenhower years up to 1980. The changes and the events that take place in this family and their relationships will keep you up at night enjoying this great book.
Paul Mason (tiggermason19@hotmail.com)
IMPROBABLE: A NOVEL by Adam Fawer
Rating: 4 Stars
Hard to believe this is a debut novel. This thriller has right mixture of action and suspense and scientific theory and character development.
Christi McClellen
For Love and Honor by Lisa Gail Naughton
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved this book. It is very intense. Filled with action and the love story is to die for. I wanted it to go on forever!
Nicole Hulst (kelley899@yahoo.com)
The Cat's Meow by Emily Carmichael
Rating: 4 Stars
A cute story about a woman who temporarily loses her memory in an accident and regains it with the help of a talking cat. Sounds silly, but is actually a very fun book.
Elaine
Murphy's Law by Rhys Bowen
Rating: 4 Stars
I always enjoy a cozy mystery. This is the first one that I have read by this author. It is well written and enjoyable.
Linda
The Turning: New Stories by Tim Winton
Rating: 5 Stars
A collection of overlapping short stories by the Australian author. Winton writes about life in small town Western Australia with such assurance that the reader really is transported half a world away. An excellent read.
Dennis Fowler (dfowler1@insight.rr.com)
Consent to Kill: A Thriller by Vince Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
Great book. Vince Flynn has done it again. I give it 4 stars because I was dissapointed with who he chose to kill off.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
Gentlemen & Players: A Novel by Joanne Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
I just finished reading this GENTLEMEN & PLAYERS by Joanne Harris (in one sitting - WARNING! - once you start you will not be able to stop) Riveting, Absorbing and Gripping. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Carol (mittens0831@aol.com)
The Duchess Diaries by Barbara Dawson Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
I liked this historical very much. The romance and the suspense combine with a surprise ending to make this book a very enjoyable read.
michelle wilson (booklover32@sbcglobal.net)
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
It was a really good book. You could see this happening.The people are funny
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
Virgins of Paradise by Barbara Wood
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an older book (published 1993) but it is wonderful. It examines the Muslim culture and follows a family in Egypt. I found this to be another fantastic book by Barbara Wood. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
Dr. DiAnna Loy
Last Call by Laura Pederson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book evokes so many emotions that it is a wonderful read. Even though I finished the book in tears (something that doesn't often happen) it was incredibly uplifting.
Amy Gross (a1gross@adelphia.net)
Point Blank by Catherine Coulter
Rating: 3 Stars
This book was good but not as good as the past books with the Dillon Savich character. I kept thinking the story was going to build but it never really did. There were so many ways the ending could have been more climatic. This was a dissappointing read.
Amy Gross (a1gross@adelphia.net)
Up Country: A Novel by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 2 Stars
I listened to this book via audio tape. I don't know that I could have read the book because it was so slow moving. The ending didn't make a lot of sense to me. It was like Mr. DeMille just got tired of writing.
Amy Gross (a1gross@adelphia.net)
Sandstorm by James Rollins
Rating: 4 Stars
I had never heard of Mr. Rollins before I bought this book on tape. It was excellent. The characters were good and the story held my interest.
Amy Gross (a1gross@adelphia.net)
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 2 Stars
All I have to say is, no more Patricia Cornwell books for me.
Dr. DiAnna Loy
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
Good read. Real emotion is felt for the characters as they make hard choices and live with them.
Amy Gross (a1gross@adelphia.net)
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This latest book from James Patterson was outstanding, as usual. James Patterson consistently entertains the reader and keeps you involved in the story. I love his books!
Dr. DiAnna Loy
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Rating: 3 Stars
This series has real potential. We'll see what she does with the next one.
Melanie Reinbolt (melanrein@aol.com)
Forever Odd: A Novel by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
Held my interest well - very entertaining story.
Melanie Reinbolt (melanrein@aol.com)
Ghost Walk by Heather Graham
Rating: 3 Stars
Characters are likable but the story was somewhat predictable.
Carole Voss
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rating: 4 Stars
True account of Mr. Wiesel's internment at Auschwitz concentration camp when he was just a teenager. Powerful, terrifying and moving. Must reading for everyone to assure that this horror never happens again.
Maria Bongiovanni (mbongiov@ucsd.edu)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book of a story of a 9 year old girl who is sold to a Geisha House. She is treated as a slave, much like Cinderella, and a competing Geisha takes her in as a younger sister. We see the training that she goes through, the men that form her future, and the beauty of the kimonos that are described in this book.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an exciting thriller that you won't be able to put down, and it is a fast read. Joy Fielding's books never fail to bring the reader into a new world of experience.
Jane Kriebel
The Serpent on the Crown by Elizabeth Peters
Rating: 4 Stars
Ms Peters novels have just the right mix of social awareness, historical facts, mystery and humor. This time around is no different, starting out with a mysterious visitor bringing an even more mysterious egypitian artifact ( which may be cursed) to the Emersons. The fact that Ms Peters is herself an egyptologist brings real historical life to the story . I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book .
Mike Penn
Creepers by David Morrell
Rating: 4 Stars
Just finished "Creepers" by David Morrell. Although I was expecting more of a supernatural, psychological thriller, the adventure story it turned out to be was no less riveting. One of the best action thrillers I've ever read - with plenty of creepiness thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended.
JoAnne Piterniak
The Loch by Steve Alten
Rating: 5 Stars
Very, very exciting book that's a great mix of genres...science, murder mystery, drama/relationship story and more. Gives a scientifically-possible theory behind the Loch Ness monster, all in the context of a great story. Can't wait to finish it and get all the "answers"!
Sandra Furlotte
The Queen and I by Sue Townsend
Rating: 3 Stars
A comic look at what would happen to the Royal Family if the monarchy was abolished. Entertaining, but not up to the standard of her Adrien Mole series.
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
Have You Seen Her? by Karen Rose
Rating: 5 Stars
Karen Rose is one of the best romantic suspense authors ever. I can't wait until her next book is released.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The Man by Irving Wallace
Rating: 5 Stars
By a series of events a black man becomes president....thank God race relations have made great strides since this was written.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Death Of A Prankster by M.C. Beaton
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the 7th in the Hamish MacBeth series and I am loving each and every one of them. They are witty and they make you wonder what is going to happen to poor Hamish this time. I think he always get the better of Blair though. This one was about a father who was very wealthy and told his children and relatives he was on his death bed, so they all came to his home. He was not dying but he played terrible jokes and pranks on them. He is killed and the mystery is who did it from all that were assembled in his home. I loved this one. Even Priscilla helped in a way solve the case.
Lindy
Falling Leaves : The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese by Adeline Yen Mah
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a Cinderella-type autobiography of a Chinese woman doctor from a wealthy family. Fascinating and well-written.
Lindy
Embers by Sandor Marai
Rating: 4 Stars
The haunting story of a friendship of two young men in central Europe, spanning the late 1800s to the 1930's. Although a translation, the beautiful writing is reminiscent of Joseph Conrad.
Jess
Alone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
This one I couldn't put down. If you're looking for great suspense or an incredible story about a hostage situation, this is the book for you. A State Trooper fires his weapon to save the lives of two victims. The mother and her son are being held at gunpoint by her husband. But the real question is, is the wife really the victim? Read to find out- I did!
Sharon
Dying in the Dark by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Rating: 5 Stars
I have loved all of
Valerie Wilson Wesley’s Tamara Hayle mystery series. Tamara is a
Newark NJ private investigator. An old friend, Celia, is found dead. Celia's teenage son, Cecil, begs Tamara to find his mother’s killer . .
Sandra Greathouse (Muzzley56@aol.com)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful read...hard to put down!
Sandra Greathouse (Muzzley56@aol.com)
Broken Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 5 Stars
Another edge-of-your-seat thriller! I have been a fan of John Sandford books since the beginning. Can't wait for the next book to see what Lucas Davenport comes up against.
Phil Harben
Hector's Juice by Peter White
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is like nothing I have ever read. Segments of this book could easily be made into a movie. However, as it stands by itself, it is an epic for the ages. It takes you from the beginnings of man to the year of 1994; with nothing less than all the emotions a human being can feel lathered seamlessly in between. Highly recommended for all those that don't have an overwhelming need to be politically correct; that like to laugh, and sometimes cry; but most importantly, feel satisfied at the end of the read.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
California Girl: A Novel by T. Jefferson Parker
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a very interesting book about the late 60's and four brothers and what happened to them over the course of their lifetime. One was a cop, one a reporter, one a minister and one who worked for the CIA. It is about a murder of a 19 year old girl who the boys grew up around and how Nick the cop was the detective that had to solve the murder. There is talk of drugs, Richard M. Nixon and even Charlie Manson.
The narrator of the book did a very nice job and you could actually picture the things that went on during that time. People taking LSD and tripping. Talk of Communism and other radical thinking. The John Birch Society and how they were really against the Communists. The Viet Nam War and the impact it had on the country.
I thought in spots it drug a little bit, but it could have been my mood. I did enjoy it and will probably read more by Parker when I have a chance.
SAndy (jasscs@aol.com)
The Hunt Club by John T. Lescroart
Rating: 3 Stars
The book started off great. I enjoyed Mr. Hunt more when he worked at CPS then I did as an inspector. Good book but not his best.
Sandy (jasscs@aol.com)
The Wave by Walter Mosley
Rating: 2 Stars
A book you can keep! I sure don't want to read it again.
Helen
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Rating: 4 Stars
This murder mystery at a 16th century monastery is entertaining and well-written. Historical detail is fascinating. Excellent read.
Gerry Durisin
Prep: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfield
Rating: 4 Stars
Especially for a first novel by a young writer, this coming-of-age novel set in a New England boarding school is particularly perceptive and always engaging. Though in some ways these high school students seem older to me know than I remember feeling and acting at that age, for the most part the characters are very true to the way many high school students feel and behave toward one another. Definitely recommended!
Beverly
PAM - Life Beyond Death; Joy Beyond Grief by Christy Lowry
Rating: 4 Stars
A compelling spiritual story about the loss of a daughter. The author tells of how she survived the loss of her 13 year old daughter to an automobile accident (the child was hit on her way off the bus on the first day of school). She doesn't dwell on the sadness of her loss; but the happiness she found when she reached deep inside her and realized the true end results of death here on earth. She tells of various visions and feelings she incurred and makes you realize that loss isn't always the most horrible thing. I would highly recommend it for anyone who needs help strengthing their spiritual self or dealing with the loss of someone they love.
LaDonna
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 2 Stars
This was a great read!
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
Dead Aim by Iris Johansen
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm embarrassed to admit that this was my first Iris Johansen read ~ it definitely won't be my last. Lots of action and suspense ~ a great read!
T. Thomas
Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Rating: 3 Stars
Interesting book and I enjoyed it, but I think it could have used some tighter editing.
Nicole
Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 4 Stars
This has been a very good book.... about a little town put under a curse after a woman died.
Laura Gluhanich
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating: 5 Stars
The best novel ever written.
Laura
Ulysses by James Joyce
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a mountain everyone has to climb if they want to consider themself well-read.
Carol Hirsh (CLoisH049@AOL.com)
The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster
Rating: 4 Stars
Good read. Interesting Brooklyn flavor!
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
The Camel Club by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
A convoluted plot to kidnap the president.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
Rating: 5 Stars
Controversial when it was published, although tame for what is published these days. I enjoyed the read.
Judy
Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful book written by the author of "Angela's Ashes" and "Tis". I would highly recommend the audio book as McCourt, himself, is also the narrator. It's rather a stream of consciousness about his days as a teacher in NYC, first at a vocational school and then at the highly esteemed Stuyvesant HS. He waivers between feeling a fraud to being proud. Students can be inspiring themselves or royal pains. Any teacher will surely relate. There are also asides and some reference to his early childhood so those who have read his earlier works have a better idea of how McCourt came to be himself.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Fledgling: A Novel by Octavia E. Butler
Rating: 5 Stars
Shori awakes in a dark cave, in great pain, and with limited vision. She does not know who or where she is. As the story unfolds, we discover she is a vampire. Entertaining read.
SAndy (jasscs@aol.com)
Got the Look by James Grippando
Rating: 5 Stars
A good book from start to finish. It kept my interest and I did not guess the ending. I enjoyed every page.
Emily (blakeek@alfredstate.edu)
Carrie by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
The book was better than the movie! It was a fast read also.
K. Gold
Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a teen novel, but I think the best children's and YA literature is just good literature of interest to people of those ages.
THE PERFECT SHOT is a murder mystery with basketball. A teenage girl, her six-year-old brother and their mom are murdered with one neat gunshot each. Her neighbor and boyfriend is outside shooting hoops in the driveway when it happens. When the girl's dad is arrested and looks more and more guilty, the young man starts wondering if he knows anything that might help.
There's a history connection to the Leo Frank lynching and a powerful lesson about friendship, too. I couldn't put it down.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Rating: 4 Stars
I listened to this audiobook read by Juliet Stevenson (very good reader!). I don't know why, but I missed a lot of the classic children's books as I was growing up. This is a very good, touching story of friendship and how individuals change.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 2 Stars
The 3rd in a series, most of this book seemed to be written by a 16 year old with the characters acting the same age. You can almost tell which parts were written by Patterson and which by Gross. Very disappointing. If book 4 is similar, I won't be reading book 5.
Kam Aures (kerin0874@yahoo.com)
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
After thinking for a long time that I would not enjoy the book a friend finally convinced me to read it. This book was a real page-turner! I read it in 2 days. Very thought-provoking and engaging!
randi odierno (rodierno@aol.com)
Six Hours Past Thursday by Jack Payne
Rating: 5 Stars
A somewhat depraved, and wholly ambitious character, Steve Draves drives some hard (barely legal) real estate bargains during his normal workday. Beyond working hours, he is much the philanderer, the drinker and the boaster. Capitalism's goldenboy, at the crossroads, he finds that fate has a twist he never expected.
L. Hann
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
There are more twists and turns in this book than I expected. It is a fast read and pretty emotional.
L. Hann
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book of hers that I have read. I wish I would have found her sooner. Great read. She has a way of writer that you can hear the characters talking as if they are right there. I felt a connection to each one of them. I can't wait to read her other books.
Sue Leonard
Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
What I love about this series, is that her mysteries are always fresh and we watch the growth of each of her characters in each addition.
Jennie Wright (infogrrl@aol.com)
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm enjoying the book (my first Jane Austen), but must admit it was hard getting started. The writing style was much different when this book was written almsot 200 years ago! I plan to read other books by this author.
Beverly Price (bev208@bellsouth.net)
Dance of Death by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Rating: 5 Stars
I love every book they have written. This one brings Aloysius Pendergast back from the dead and reunites him with his friend Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta to track down Pendergast's brother who is trying to frame him for murders. The book is intriguing and keeps you on your toes wondering what is going to happen next. The book also brings back characters from some of their other books which makes it even more interesting.
Bonnie Cooper
Braided Creek by Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful book of short poems that highlight the beauty of life, as well as frank poems about anything and everything.
Diane
Sleep in Heavenly Peace by M. William Phelps
Rating: 5 Stars
I am an avid reader of true crime. However, I do not read anything against children and/or babies as a rule. One day, I was in the bookstore looking to read "something" as nothing new seemed to be grabbing my attention. Saw the true crime section had a new book - hence, SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE. In reading the back cover, and flipping thru the book I was somewhat disgusted. I ended up putting the book down and left the store. I did not think much of it, and ended up back in the store and buying the book. I then went to a local coffee shop and started reading. As sick as the book is overall, it is well written to the point where I found that I was reading as I was walking down the street, or on a five minute break. I could not get enough of the book, and ended up wanting more when I finished it. I did go back to the bookstore to see if M. Phelps had any other new releases out, and much to my sadness he did not. I can hardly wait until he does have a new release. Guaranteed, I will not even bother reading the back cover--I will just buy it.
A Canadian fan,
Diane
Cindy Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
The Highlander's Stolen Bride by Melanie George
Rating: 5 Stars
Well written, fast paced, full of sexual tension.
Heather Gill Australia
The Color of Law: A Novel by Mark Gimenez
Rating: 4 Stars
A great legal story and it had suspense all the way through and was hard to put down until I finished the book. If you like courtroom drama and lawyers then I recommend this book.
Heather Gill Australia
Head Games by Eileen Dryer
Rating: 5 Stars
A chilling read all the way through and if you like plenty of suspense and murder then this book is a must read!
Heather Gill Australia
Memory in Death by J .D.ROBB
Rating: 5 Stars
What a great read! I recommend that you ladies who have not read J D Robb's books start soon as your're missing out on a lot of suspence and mystery and murder in her books!
Janice Dobson (auntjan28374@wmconnect.com)
Memory in Death by J.D.Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
I am really loving this book-she let's us see inside more inside the childhood of Eve.
Heather Gill Australia
UNDER THE KNIFE by TESS GERRITSEN
Rating: 5 Stars
Love her books and this one is a 2- stories-for-one-price! If your're into plenty of suspence and mystery and some gory details at times then buy the book and you will be a fan of hers for life!
Heather Gill Australia
A GRAVE MISTAKE by STELLA CAMERON
Rating: 4 Stars
Enjoyed reading this book and had plenty of suspense and mystery all the way through and a good storyline and characthers who were interesting and more!
Jennie Wright (infogrrl@aol.com)
Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson
Rating: 4 Stars
I really like this author...CASE HISTORIES was a very interesting read. We are reading another of her books, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, for my book club next month and I can't wait to start on it.
Kathleen
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Rating: 3 Stars
A great story--great concept, but about 150 pages too long! Intriguing story of a young boy who is interested in a book that influences his life in ways he could never even imagine. The story hooks you, but towards the end, he introduces yet another character's voice that is wedged in so obtrusively, it completely interrupts the flow of the story. Not a bad book, but maybe his next one will be perfect!
Charlotte Karpinecz (cek51843@aol.com)
WYCLIFFE AND DEATH IN A SALUBRIOUS PLACE by W.J. Burley
Rating: 4 Stars
Chief Superintendent Wycliffe is sent to the islands to check into the death of one of the inhabitants. There are undercurrents due to a famous pop star and teenage idol who has taken residence on the island and the islanders are not pleased. There are violent undercurrents of fear and guilt from the residents on the island and Superintendent Wycliffe must discover the murderer. , This is a fast read and enjoyable, does keep one guessing until the end.
Brian McClafferty (BrianM8614@aol.com)
The Education of a Coach by David Halberstam
Rating: 5 Stars
The title tells the tale. This is an exceptionally well drawn story of a successful football coach (Steve Belichick) and his even more successful (?) son, Bill.
It's refreshing in that it isn't the trite and hackneyed, typical jock stories. Those books are like eating sweets; not much nutritional value and if you eat too much at one sitting, you yearn to put them away for a while.
"Education of a Coach" is always fresh and revealing. I couldn't wait to get back to it. The book is probative and takes the well-deserved pokes when approprate (Bill Parcells).
If you like football (or not), this is an excellent writer's fascinating study of how one man works his way to the top of his profession, with significant help along the way with a cadre of generous mentors. Enjoy.
Brian McClafferty (BrianM8614@aol.com)
Private Wars by Greg Rucka
Rating: 5 Stars
A smart, sexy, intelligent, atmospheric, action-packed, thriller, "PRIVATE WARS" by Greg Rucka is the most enjoyable escapist fiction I've read recently. Considering that "recently" includes personal favorites Patterson, Baldacci, Turow, Grisham and Flynn, there's some significant praise in the above. The most sincere form of praise, however, is that I immediately went out and purchased the first book in the Tara Chace series, "A Gentleman's Game".
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Rating: 4 Stars
OK, you've finished reading the Kite Runner ...Otsuka's WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE, the story of a Japanese-American family placed in an internment camp during WWII, would be a great literary consideration.
Charlie Ptacek (Ptacek1@gmail.com)
The Big Bamboo: A Novel by Tim Dorsey
Rating: 5 Stars
Wild, zany adventures in the continuing saga of Serge Storms, devoted Florida history fanatic and absolutely crazy guy. If you have ever read Dorsey's earlier books on Serge, you have to read this one!
Dawn (pdshertz@jps.net)
Songcatcher by Sharyn McCrumb
Rating: 5 Stars
Was four stars until I saw film during midread. Wonderfully done about the music of Appalachea. You read and get good visuals of the people and area of the hills of NC.
Dawn (pdshertz@jps.net)
The Associate by Phillip Margolin
Rating: 4 Stars
Good mystery that keeps you up late at night. Good cast of characters and lots of suspense.
Kathleen
The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is making me laugh out loud. Sophie is the only daughter of a close knit Jewish family from Pennsylvania, who stays in close proximity to her brothers and in close contact with her parents throughtout her early adult life in NYC. Her first "chapter" clues us in to her feelings for her family and their faith. This book is really about being Jewish in a very non-religious way. Highly amusing and touching as well. Much better than her first book!
jackie young (myrtleme@sbcglobal.net)
Dirty Sally by Michael Simon
Rating: 4 Stars
I've never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed this book. The story has a lot of twists, but is not hard to follow; I recommend this read.
Gerry Durisin
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Rating: 3 Stars
A tale of four young girls at a Victorian-era finishing school who are torn between the stifling, rule-bound life society has defined for them, and a supernatural, magical world of dreams and freedom. More reality and less magic would have made this one more appealing to me.
Melia Koerner
Team of Rivals: The Political Genuis of Abraham Li by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Rating: 5 Stars
A great historical look back at how Abraham Lincoln handled and worked with his cabinet. Full of facts, yet makes the most interesting point of how Lincoln appointed individuals to his cabinet that he did not particularly like, yet he did what he felt was best for our country and worked with them anyway. Shows how Lincoln overcame obstacles and his genius for dealing with people and situations.
Sally Schenck
The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Rating: 5 Stars
A Britisher writing about Montana may seem odd in itself, but Evans takes particular care to understand the people, the culture, the history and the topography of the area, and comes up with a winner. In stimulating fiction he deals with the complex issue of preserving animal species (in this case, the wolf) versus man's advancing technology and expansion needs.
Kathleen
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this book when it first came out, and re-read it before I went to the movie the other night! Incredible writing, a very compelling read and Mr. Golden does an incredible job of convincing the reader that he is the unusually beautiful geisha, Sayuri. Thoguht provoking and moving. I was sad when I finished reading it. The Japanese "Gone with the Wind!!
Coral
The Tenth Circle: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
Another amazing story by Picoult. Daniel Stone draws and writes for comic books. He has a wife and a 14 year old rebellious, precoucious daughter. The story is about the tragedy in their lives.
Susan Pertierra
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 4 Stars
I won this book from Michele and am making my way through it. I've had to read lately in bits and pieces and the story so far has not compelled me to sit down for an hour and read. Hopefully, the pace will pick up. Melanie Vargas is a good character for a continuing series of books and there is a developing romance with the FBI agent.
Patti Yackulic
The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
Rating: 5 Stars
Once again, Donna VanLiere has struck gold with THE CHRISTMAS HOPE, a perfect sequel to The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing - and once again, a reader must either keep a box of tissues handy or read the novel in the bathtub.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Outside Valentine: A Novel by Liza Ward
Rating: 5 Stars
Beautifully written debut novel. Read this book only if you're interested in a wonderful story- one where you get the opportunity to see the same events through the eyes of three different characters. Experience love, loss, and the things we'll do for and because of both.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Christmas, Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Rating: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the saddest books I've ever read!
Be sure to grab a box of tissues before curling up with this incredible tear jerker.
I've never had read anything by this author before, but will definitely be looking into more by her.
Gord W
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
I know I'm a bit behind the times in reading this one, but I'm finding this book fascinating. Dan Brown takes us into places that very few ever get to see and his incredible story of what happens as science and religion meet head on is a real page turner! Great book!
Carol Bartley Brown
Don't Tell by Karen Rose
Rating: 4 Stars
Very suspenseful with romance as a bonus. It is a book you cannot put down.
Gerry Durisin
The Camel Club by David Baldacci
Rating: 3 Stars
THE CAMEL CLUB, a group of four older men of mysterious backgrounds who share an interest in conspiracy theories, assists a Secret Service agent in tracking down the President of the U.S. after his apparent kidnapping by Arab terrorists. An interesting plot written with the feel of a screenplay.
AMC
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent book! Draws you right into the life of a girl and her journey in becoming a Geisha and the obstacles she faces.
Virginia Ewbank
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Rating: 5 Stars
I first recommended Inkheart, the first in this series--if anything this, the sequel, is better! And the fact that books and the written word figure so strongly in the story make it even more fun for a book-lover!
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Durable Goods: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 4 Stars
I just loved this trilogy with Katie Nash, the 13 year old. I think this one was my least favorite of the three, but it was still very good. I don't know that you need to read these in order because I didn't, but perhaps that would have had some bearing on my rating on this one. You got the reason for why Diane left. Ms. Berg sure knows how to write in a 13-year-old voice. I vaguely remember some of those feelings.
Sally Muller
Trust Your Heart by Veronica Stone
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a romance novel set in the 1200s. It is fantastic. She writes with humor and heart stirring feelings. It's a fast, fun read.
Dot L
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Rating: 4 Stars
A fascinating look at a family who moves to America from India and the difference in cultures. Very little dialogue as compared to other books, but her prose is beautiful. She describes both settings and feelings so accurately you feel that you are experiencing them.
Gale Kearley (marcusnanpop@cs.com)
FEVER CELL by LEONARD GOLDBERG
Rating: 5 Stars
This was one of the best books I've read lately. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I could see this really happening today.
Tami K.
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was so suspenseful...it was unputdownable! It had suspense, mystery, paranormal, romance, and about everything else a good book should have! I recommend it to everyone!
Jeri Moore
Madam, the Grass is High by Dennis H. Christen
Rating: 5 Stars
MADAM, THE GRASS IS HIGH did that for me! I have seldom felt better after reading a story about a bunch of old people. Usually I am left feeling sorry that I am now getting older. My daughter read this book first and loved it and she's not old. Well, she's not young either, but she isn't old and she loved this story and recommended that I read it. I recommend this story to anyone who wants to feel really good about life.
Robyn L (yourstrulee@sasktel.net)
Feet First by Leanne Banks
Rating: 4 Stars
A light romantic read; funny and entertaining.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
The Last Juror by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
Great - Grisham tells another great story involving the justice system at work.
Dusty Johnson (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Up Country: A Novel by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 4 Stars
Great book - great, interesting story and wonderful insite into modern day Vietnam.
Lesley H.
Scarlett by Alexandria Ripley
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the sequel to Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. I enjoy sagas like this and though I thought it was a good book, it didn't quite live up to Ms. Mitchell's work. It continued the original story very nicely and the descriptive writing was also done well. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Lesley H.
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Stephen King and will read anything he writes but this book is my favorite. It's written in his usual style, complete with things that don't make sense at first. It takes a lot to creep me out and this book succeeded. And just maybe it's karma that one of his books is being given away??!!
Stephany
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This suspenseful page turner was full of really good historical facts and great imagery.
Sheldon E Friedman (shelfree@att.net)
Consent to Kill: A Thriller by Vince Flynn
Rating: 5 Stars
A gripping page turner that finds a counterterrorist operative who becomes the target of revenge from the father of a dead terrorist. This book explores in exciting detail the global war on terror. It will be difficult not to finish this novel in one sitting.
Elizabeth S (eswaim@ec.rr.com)
The Oldest Kind of Magic by Ann Macela
Rating: 4 Stars
I wasnt sure I was going to like this at first but now it's one of the best books I've read in the past couple of months.Here's the author's website so you can read more about it.
Cindy
Magic Street by Orson Scott Card
Rating: 5 Stars
Very exciting trip into the world of Urban Fantasy. Could not put this book down and read it straight through the night. Card has a way of making you feel like the impossible really is real and the normal life is the unbelievable one. Would recommend it to fantasy book lovers and anyone else who wants to take a magical journey.
Cindy
In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
Rating: 4 Stars
Great Introductory book into the Sci Fi Genre that is followed by the rest of her books that stand alone, but are all part of a series.
Lindsey Bumpass (bsb_chick76247@yahoo.com)
The Dive From Clausen's Pier: A Novel by Ann Packer
Rating: 4 Stars
I thought this book was really good. I first became interested in it when I saw the Lifetime movie based on this book with the same title. I really related to the main character, a young woman who strives to find herself and escape from the walls closing in on her after her fiance breaks his neck diving off of a pier. We have all felt like we can't escape from something so we try to get out and breathe on our own.
Sharon Haas (sharhaas@charter.net)
The Saints and Sinners of Okay County by Dayna Dunbar
Rating: 5 Stars
What a great book! The story of a woman who finally finds herself despite and because of her family.
Rene' Jackson (rjackson193@comcast.net)
The Death of Mammography by Rene' Jackson RN BSN MS
Rating: 5 Stars
How our best defense against breast cancer is being driven to extinction
Marla
MAD RIVER ROAD by Joy Fielding
Rating: 4 Stars
Another good book that will keep you turning the pages into the night.
Marsha
Cinnamon Kiss: A Novel by Walter Mosley
Rating: 5 Stars
His best book yet. Easy Rawlins has something for everyone. Don't miss it.
MS. MIMI KLEIN
Got the Look by JAMES GRIPPANDO
Rating: 5 Stars
THIS IS A BOOK, THAT GRABS YOU FROM PAGE ONE, AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP READING UNTIL YOU FINISH, EVEN IF IT KEEPS YOU UP ALL NIGHT!!!!
J. Haddow
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't consider many books written today worthy of the full complement of stars, but Joan Didion has done something very courageous here. She has trained her phenomenal powers of observation on her own heart in a time of bottomless grief. A unique and moving experience.
M.Holland (mjhheartsdesire@aol.com)
Up Island by Anne River Siddons
Rating: 5 Stars
A beautifully written book; I'm usually drawn to mysteries, but this was a wonderful story to get lost in. It's been in sitting on my bookshelf for a long time......I'm glad I needed something to take to the beach!
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Narrows by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
This was one of the best crime novels I have ever read. It brings back Detective Harry Bosch, now retired from the LAPD but working as a private investigator. He is hired by the widow of former FBI agent Terry McCaleb, who readers may remember from an earlier book, Blood Work (it was made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood). While investigating the highly suspicious death of McCaleb, Bosch encounters Special Agent Rachel Walling, who is part of a team trying to track down serial killer Bob Backus, aka The Poet, from the book of the same name. The Poet has resurfaced and is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Readers might want to read Blood Work and The Poet first, as they are almost like a trilogy. But The Narrows stands out just fine on its own. This is a book for night owls, as it's hard to put down once you start reading.
LGettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
The Master Stroke by Elizabeth Gage
Rating: 5 Stars
There were many interesting twists in this tale of big business
Audrey Larson
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 4 Stars
Twilight is a long book (498 pages) about vampires that look like beautiful humans. It is geared toward young people, but appeals to adults as well. It is imaginative, makes you think about people who are "just a little different somehow," and has some surprising twists and turns. It is a little long, but good reading. I give it four stars.
Alabama Jack (jquick5342@aol.com)
MOIST: A NOVEL by Mark Haskell Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Start with a severed arm decorated with an erotic tattoo, add a minimum wage morgue attendant, mix in a one-armed murderer, a Wharton Business School graduate and a masturbation coach with unnatural urges and you have the basis for a one of a kind murder, sex, mobster tale worthy of Carl Hiassen or Elmore Leonard – and it’s a first effort. The jailhouse scene where Bob has to pee like a racehorse to preserve his manhood is in itself worth the price of admission. One funny, funny book.
Lgettle (lgettle@iserv.net)
Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed the characters in this exciting and frightening adventure.
M Pomroy
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag
Rating: 5 Stars
A great book, one of the best.
Kathy L.
You - The Owner's Manual by Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C. Oz, MD
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful user-friendly book that gives you the basics on your body.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Ghost Orchid: A Novel by Carol Goodman
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful book! I was so caught up and drawn in. At first, I had a hard time keeping track of the past and the present, and then it all just meshed together (literally) for me. THE GHOST ORCHID is a great read. I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. to finish the entire book in one sitting.
Carol Wright
The Winning Hand by C.K.Crigger
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a good western novel with lots of entertainment value. It's full of action, humor, and just a little touch of romance. It's good reading for both men and women.
M Pomroy
3rd Degree by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
A good read that keeps your interest.
Sally
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
Although this book is perhaps my least favorite of the series to date, it still is a marvelous read. Rowling's world of wizards and muggles is so incredibly intricate and detailed! In this volume, Harry seems at his "teenage worst," and the return of the Dark Lord continues to deepen the ongoing plot.
Ranurgis
Lady Justice by Vicki Hinze
Rating: 5 Stars
This book can't be beaten for suspense. The moral decisions that the characters have to make are like none that I've ever read about. The action is constant and though the characters have some set characteristics, they do evolve. This book has everything: terrorism, betrayal, mystery and romance. It was released in 2004 but anyone who loves any of these elements will love to read it if they haven't or reread it if they have.
M Pomroy
Infinity's Child by Harry Stein and Laural Merlington
Rating: 4 Stars
A good read; it's different from usual plots.
M. Pomroy
The Footprints of God: A Novel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the top books I have ever read.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 5 Stars
This was the funniest book I've read in a long time. Samantha goes from being a workaholic lawyer to a housekeeper all in the same day. And, the only domestic skills she has is knowing how to call a caterer. Great book! Perfect example of "not judging a book by its cover."
Eddie (Lthobbs1@aol.com)
Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Rating: 4 Stars
The plot had to be swallowed, but all the sub-plots were worth the ride. Pendergast is a treat. Looking forward to re-entering this world.
Kath L.
The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman
Rating: 5 Stars
A great cookbook that literally provides recipes from around the world --- a great assortment. This book is well written, easy to understand, and full of easy-to-follow recipes.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
A Sudden Country: A Novel by Karen Fisher
Rating: 4 Stars
Israel and Lucy Mitchell and children are on their way from Iowa to Oregon via the Oregon Trail. James McLaren is a grieving man whom they take on as a driver of one of their wagons on the trip. This book is an extremely vivid account of the entire trip from Iowa to Oregon from the viewpoint of these characters. The descriptions of their experiences were as real as anything I have read. The book got a little long, but it was a long trip. Some of the author's prose was a little cryptic and took several rereadings to understand. Otherwise, I really recommend it.
Sue Woods
The Frog Prince by Jane Porter
Rating: 5 Stars
For a debut book in a new genre, the author has certainly made an impression on me. I loved the clean, distinctive style and the deep characterization.
THE FROG PRINCE is an emotionally gripping novel that stays with you long after you've said goodbye to the characters. This is the sort of novel every woman between the ages of 20 and 50 should read. THE FROG PRINCE reminds us that we don't have to wait around for Prince Charming to come rescue us... We don't have wait for good things to come find us --- we can and are strong enough go out, grab life by the lapels and make them happen for us. Be strong. Believe in yourself. I think that's the message the author of this book is trying to convey and she's done a wonderful job with it.
Lisa M. (booklover25729@hotmail.com)
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton
Rating: 4 Stars
A great debut novel from this author. I really enjoyed this book, but found the pace to be a bit slow at times. However, it was overall a great book. I am looking forward to future works from this promising author.
Janet Best (best3sons@insightbb.com)
Pawleys Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a very good read. I am a huge fan of PAWLEYS ISLAND, so some of the places mentioned were familiar to me. The story is entertaining and funny.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a very good historical romance with a lot of mystery in it. In fact, I would class it as historical mystery on the cozy side. There is some sex in it, but I am finding that a lot of the mysteries these days use that to boost sales. SLIGHTLY SHADY is another tale of a secret society, and there is a very strong presence of women in this one. There is also mesmerism in this book, which is used at the very end. I really enjoyed Barb Rosenblatt as the narrator and she does the English accent very nicely. I am glad that I have discovered her and will definitely read more in the future.
Lisa M. (booklover25729@hotmail.com)
Alone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
Great book. Lisa Gardner is one of my favorite authors, and definitely did not disappoint. Highly recommended.
Lisa M. (booklover25729@hotmail.com)
Puppet by Joy Fielding
Rating: 5 Stars
A fast-paced, edge of your seat book. Highly recommended.
Lisa M. (booklover25729@hotmail.com)
Goodnight Nobody: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
Rating: 5 Stars
A fun, fast read. Jennifer Weiner's a new author that I really enjoy.
M. Dean
Exile by R.A. Salvatore
Rating: 5 Stars
I have never read the fantasy genre until I heard about this series by R.A. Salvatore. What fun this has been. Once you've completed the first book in chronological order...you're hooked.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
The Mistress by Philippe Tapon
Rating: 3 Stars
This book is set in Paris during the Nazi occupation. It dealt not only with living under enemy occupation, but also with the disturbing and destructive personality of Dr. Bastien, his estranged wife, their 2 children and a SS officer. Simone --- secretary, cook and mistress of Dr. Bastien seemed like the only "normal" person in this book.
Shelly Itkin
The Camel Club by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
His books get better and better and are so up-to-date with things going on in the world around us.
Shelly Itkin
The Other Side of Me by Sidney Sheldon
Rating: 4 Stars
It was very interesting to learn all about this fantastic author and his life.
Shelly Itkin
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book kept you guessing until the end.
Jennifer Youngworth (jmy319@yahoo.com)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
A great, fact and fiction filled read. Finished in 2 nights.
T. Thomas (toythomas@comcast.net)
New Found Land by Allan Wolf
Rating: 4 Stars
Travel with Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery across America. A wonderful telling of the adventure.
Janet Best (best3sons@insightbb.com)
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 4 Stars
I just read an Advanced Reader Copy and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I believe it is much, much better than THE DA VINCI CODE, and just as exciting and suspenseful. I will recommend it to all my reader friends, book club buddies, and people I just run into at the book store, etc.
Sam
Saving South Beach by M. Barron Stofik
Rating: 5 Stars
A great read that tells the story of the transformation of Miami Beach and the people who lived there. The story has implications that reach far beyond South Beach and a cast of characters that will engage every reader.
Ginger Louden (ginger.louden@sendit.nodak.edu)
A Million LIttle Pieces by James Frey
Rating: 5 Stars
I have read this book for the second time now that it has come under such scrutiny. I read it when it first came out and then sent it to a former student who was in rehab. I still highly recommend reading it because if anyone knows of a person going through these problems --- it is a "real" tale.
Amanda Stepro (Mandy41283@yahoo.com)
Temporary Sanity: A Crime Novel by Rose Connors
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the second installment of the Connors series based on attorney Marty Nickerson. Marty is a prosecuter turned defense attorney with a teenage son, an old dog, a lawyer boyfriend, and a great sense of humor. Connors's books are thrillers and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, while also keeping a smile on your face.
Carol from Cleveland
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 3 Stars
Sequel to WICKED, this book is about Liir, Elphaba's (maybe) son, and his adventures after her death. I liked it, but it just wasn't as good as WICKED, which was a great read.
Carol from Cleveland
The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde
Rating: 4 Stars
The first in a new series by Fford. The main character is Detective Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crimes Division, and he's investigating the death of Humpty Dumpty, while his enemy, another detective named Chimes who's a media darlng, attempts to steal the case from him. I really liked this book.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@ao.com)
Vendetta by Fern Michaels
Rating: 1 Stars
This is the worst book I have read in a long time. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The only part I liked was Murphy, the German Shepherd. I also thought the long haul trip that Kathryn and Myra took was good. Other than that, this would have gotten 0 stars.
Pamela White
Lunar Park by Brett Easton Ellis
Rating: 3 Stars
It's hard to get into, but has a worthwhile ending.
Julie Carter (jccarter25@yahoo.com)
The Darling by Russell Banks
Rating: 5 Stars
THE DARLING is an amazing account of the life of Hannah Musgrave, an expat American in Africa who can't return home because of her past in the Weather Underground. She marries an African, bears children, takes care of chimpanzees and becomes embroiled in the country's bloody political upheavals. This was a fascinating and beautifully written story. I absolutely loved it (and the audiobook version read by Mary Beth Hurt is fabulous)!
Amanda Stepro (Mandy41283@yahoo.com)
Comfort and Joy: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 4 Stars
Kristin Hannah never fails to put a feel-good spark in a reader's heart. Even though this is somewhat of a "Christmas" novel, if you need a pick-me-up, pick up this book. It will cheer you up for sure!
Amanda Stepro (Mandy41283@yahoo.com)
A Little Love Story by Roland Merullo
Rating: 5 Stars
This is honestly the quirkiest love story I have ever read! Though at various times throughout the novel you wonder if the couple is simply grasping at some feeling that isn't really there, Merullo keeps forcing in the truth --- that true love will prevail.
Genie
The Mercy of Thin Air: A Novel by Ronlyn Domingue
Rating: 5 Stars
A first novel by this author, and a surprisingly touching love story. THE MERCY OF THIN AIR is told in the first person by Raziela, who tragically dies and is stuck in "the between." I thought about this book for many days after I finished reading.
Nancy in Atlanta
My Ex-Best Friend: A Novel of Suburbia by Beth Brophy
Rating: 3 Stars
A cute mystery that was enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone.
Toni Forcino (tforcino1120@aol.com)
Son of a Witch: A Novel by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a terrific continuation of WICKED! It's another tale of Oz!
Nunu In Niagara
Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught
Rating: 4 Stars
One of Judith McNaught's best yet. The plot is full of twists and the main character is very believable. A must read.
Melissa
Killer Swell by Jeff Shelby
Rating: 5 Stars
Surfer dude private eye... who'd have thought? EXCELLENT! I'm hoping this will turn into a series. This book also contains great secondary characters. I got KILLER SWELL from the library, but next time I buy him.
Sandra Furlotte
Cold Coffin by Gwendoline Butler
Rating: 2 Stars
This is the first book by this author that I have read. The plot was good but the writing seems very choppy. I was never quite sure if the character was actually saying the words to someone or was just thinking them. I don't think that I will be tempted to read anything else by this author.
Sandra Furlotte
Half Moon Street by Anne Perry
Rating: 2 Stars
I have read most of Anne Perry's novels, but this entry in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series is not very good. The plot is thin and most of the book is taken up with Victorian social mores that Ms. Perry has done to death in the other books in the series.
Debbie Maskus (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Dangerous Undertaking by Mark de Castrique
Rating: 4 Stars
The opening scene starts with a bang, and the action continues throughout the book. DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING gives an interesting look into funerals and local events.
Michelle Featherston (m.featherston@insightbb.com)
The Summoning by Bentley Little
Rating: 4 Stars
I like his books. They compare to Stephen King.
Barbara in Jackson, NJ
Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox
Rating: 5 Stars
You can almost 'hear' Michael J. Fox's voice read his own words. It is truly written from the heart. One can understand the man, where he comes from, and where he is in life.
Paul Mason (tiggermason19@hotmail.com)
Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Rating: 4 Stars
This is latest entry in the Special Agent Pendergast mythos. In this book, readers are introduced to Pendergast/Holme's nemesis Diogenes/Moriarty. This is a fun, fast-paced thriller, and the authors' writing gets better with each book.
Rachael
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 4 Stars
I just started this book, but I am liking it already. She has a great style to her writing and always keeps you in suspense.
Ray
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent book! I highly recommend this author!
ry
Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes
Rating: 3 Stars
This sequel to COLD FLAT JUNCTION and HOTEL PARADISE chronicles the adventures of Emma Graham.
Ray
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. There is a sequel to it called THE LANGUAGE OF THREADS. Tsukiyama is an excellent writer and I highly reccomend this book.
Brian
Havana by Stephen Hunter
Rating: 3 Stars
Stephen Hunter always gives a good ride for the money, and HAVANA delivers. A fine read.
Robert Gannon (BobG186@aol.com)
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
Classic Scarpetta --- dark and scary
Nancy F (nanfork@ptd.net)
Emire Falls by Richard Russo
Rating: 4 Stars
A poignant tale of the decline of a small American town that was once the center of industry. The families are an interesting mix of comedy and tragedy.
Diane S
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
A must for everyone. Even if you read it when you were younger, you need to read it again. I read it many years ago and am currently rereading it. I am getting so much more out of it now.
Deborah Chapel (Mjesijames@aol.com)
Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! I just discovered this author and I am reading her books as fast as I can. She writes with insightful simplicity about everyday relationships, mothers and daughters, best friends, past high school crushes. She is writing "our" stories!
Heather Gill
Locked Doors by Blake Crouch
Rating: 4 Stars
A very suspenseful book to read. I loved the storyline and characters. Well done, Blake!
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent page turner with a smart new prosecuter who does as much investigating as the police.
Bonnie Szul
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 5 Stars
Fielding is such a terrific writer and her books are such charms to read.
Jean Parker (hyjean@shaw.ca)
A Short History of Nearly Everything by bill bryson
Rating: 5 Stars
It is not a light read, initially, but it is fascinating, comprehensive, and an invaluable resource. I don't know how I ever managed without it.
Brady Buchanan (bradylee@myway.com)
Hastened to the Grave by Jack Olsen
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a true crime story that points out major weaknesses in police forces --- particularly in San Francisco and other large cities --- and the apparent infallability of Gypsies in being prosecuted. This is a wild story of a band of Gypsies preying on senior citizens, which seems to be a big problem throughout this country and the world. The writing is just great and Jack Olsen is noted for true crime of a high order.
Robert Gannon (BobG186@aol.com)
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
An unusual look at criminal defense. It includes all the Connelly twists and evil we have grown to expect. THE LINCOLN LAWYER is a great read.
Carroll Clark (carroll_clrk@yahoo.com)
If It Ain't One Thing by Cheryl Robinson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is about love, forgiveness,
and family. A must read for anyone who thinks that life can't work out.
It's about the things we go though
in life and shows how we can still
come out on top. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will think...
Carroll Clark (carroll_clrk@yahoo.com)
Love Changes Everything by Karen White-Owens
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is very romantic and it deals with real life issues, from the older woman/ younger man perspective. It can open your heart and your mind. If you are looking for romance in all the right places, than this is a must read....
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Divine Evil by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and even up too late at night. An artist returns to her home town from New York and ends up in the middle of a Satanic cult.
Sue
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 4 Stars
All of Fielding's books are worth a read.
Janet Slezak (kazels@sbcglobal.net)
Got The Look by James Grippando
Rating: 3 Stars
This was definitely NOT his best work; he can do better. It was a good story but it just didn't have the action and suspense his other novels have. I actually found parts of it a little boring.
Maestraw@msn.com (maestraw@msn.com)
Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill
Rating: 4 Stars
What an interesting book. Not only does it deal with dead beat dads, but also some absolutely terrible and mean women. It traces the history of little Ursula Wong, who falls in an abandoned mine shaft while on a picnic with her parents, Justin and Annie.
Jenn :)
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 3 Stars
This is Michele Martinez's first book. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters and hope to see more of them soon. I also hope that those who commit the crime are not as easily found as in this first book.
Janet Slezak (kazels@sbcglobal.net)
Fever by Sean Rowe
Rating: 5 Stars
What a great debut novel, this guy can really write! He grabbed my attention from page one and made me hang on every word until the end. I can't wait until his next one.
Shannon Leonetti
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
I have been reading Sue Grafton for years and appreciate her maturing talents. But more important is meeting Kinsey again, which is like running into an old friend and asking what she has been up to over the past few months.
Julie Towson
Hollywood Animal by Joe Eszterhas
Rating: 4 Stars
A candid, heartwrenching memoir about being an "insider" in Hollywood as a screenwriter. It was thoroughly engrossing, and I couldn't put it down.
Lillian Porter (wpriest99@yahoo.com)
Birds of A Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
Rating: 4 Stars
Maisie Dobbs is a respected psychologist and P.I. who has been hired to find a missing heiress. Her search leads to a connection to a brutal murder of another woman.
This is a period mystery set in 1930. It is well written and the characters are well developed. I enjoyed it very much.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Viva la Repartee by Dr. Mardy Grothe
Rating: 3 Stars
The subject matter was really cool, but the writing became repetitious very quickly. This is a must read for lovers of the English language, though.
Sue
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
One of her best!
Mark Szocik
Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke
Rating: 5 Stars
A real page turner. I'm loving it and would recommend it to everybody who loves novels of suspense.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman
Rating: 2 Stars
I listened to this unabridged audiobook read by Kathe Mazur.
The reader's voice wasn't strong enough for the personalities in this story. The personalities suffered because of the plot line. Retribution is full of inconsistent characters, improbable circumstances, and a lack of probable events.
Janet Slezak (kazels@sbcglobal.net)
Killing Rain by Barry Eisler
Rating: 5 Stars
A fabulous addition to his John Rain series and also my favorite one of all. This author gets better with every novel! Highly recommended.
Laurie Blum (Laurie Blum@hotmail.com)
Passion: A Novel of the Romantic Poets by Jude Morgan
Rating: 4 Stars
Morgan has erected a fantastical tapestry of equal parts history, romantic comedy, and tragedy. PASSION is perfect for Valentines Day gifts and personal reading!
Patricia
Death Dance by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 4 Stars
I always love Linda Fairstein.
Bonnie Margay Burke
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 5 Stars
A delicious dip into small-town life in Elmwood Springs, Missouri from the 1940s on. Brief, poignant anecdotes layered together so beautifully, you won't even notice until it's too late that you've fallen in love with everyone in the tale.
Alabama Jack
Pursuit by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Rosa
Rating: 4 Stars
Saturday Night Live once had a skit featuring a Hispanic television game show parody entitled Who is Most Macho? In this fifth Inspector Espinosa installment, the subtitle might be who is most crazy? The tale involves a psychiatrist, his family, and a patient, as well as the good Inspector. The point of view is sometimes that of the doctor, of his daughter, of the patient, and occasionally, Espinosa. There is murder and revenge, which may or may not be appropriate, some chilling moments and unusual insights. Nothing in the book will enhance your opinion of the profession of psychiatry, or as the Amish would say --- all are crazy, except me and thee, and I sometimes wonder about thee. It’s a love/hate book, which I liked.
Coral Harrison (charris@pctelecom.us)
Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best stories of World War II. It's about David Dubin, a lawyer in the army who is told to bring Ralph Martin for trial. His son does not learn his story until after he is dead and tells the story then.
Jenn :)
The Body Box by Lynn Abercrombie
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a great "first" novel by Lynn (otherwise known as an author who has been around the board a few times). I loved the depictions of how tough it is to be a black female cop with an attitude. This was a great read and I look forward to seeing more in The Cold Case Series.
Coral Harrison (charris@pctelecom.us)
Remains Silent by Michael Baden and Linda Kenney
Rating: 5 Stars
REMAINS SILENT is the first book by these authors. It is about a forensic pathologist and a female attorney cursading for the disenfranchised. They investigate bones that were found on a construction sight. Of course, this leads to lots of factions, but is also a love story. I'm anxious to read their next book.
Patricia Lewis
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Rating: 4 Stars
An extremely short but poignant book about Ellen, a young girl who overcomes adversity with humor, spunk and determination. It is a must read for book clubs as it draws on emotions and morals.
Haether Gill
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Rating: 5 Stars
A very interesting book that is a joy to read. It's full of suspense and mystery all the way through.
Heather Gill
A Lesser Evil by Kate Mosse
Rating: 5 Stars
A very enjoyable read that is so full of suspense that you're left wondering what is going to happen next.
Lorna
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished reading this last night.
I couldn't put it down when I reached the last 100 pages. It's the first I've read by this author and I can't wait to read more. Very good suspense with lots of twists at the end.
Madeline
The Great Stink by Clare Cook
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this historical fiction book --- who knew the sewers of Victorian London could prove so interesting?! Some good characters and interesting twists make this a well worth it read. It runs a little long but I would definitely recommend it.
Jacki
Flip-Flopped by Jill Smolinski
Rating: 3 Stars
Funny and fun!!!!
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steel
Rating: 4 Stars
This book was kind of slow to get into, but eventually became a page turner. I loved it!
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
Sandra Brown's latest books have been outstanding, and this is no exception. A real page turner.
Gisele
Jimmy's Girl by Stephanie Gertler
Rating: 4 Stars
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and it's been worth the wait.
Pamela Gordon (waterpam1@aol.com)
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Rating: 5 Stars
An old standby of a novel that surprised me with its utter fabulous characters and story.
We follow the main character, Ignacious, in his quest for the "life well lived." In the course of the story, meet some wonderful people --- his mother, the wife of the factory owner, a senile worker who only wants to stay home, as well as an array of all the interesting people that New Orleans has to offer.
Read this book --- you will laugh until you cry!!
Pat from Sugar Land
The Motive by John Lescroart
Rating: 4 Stars
Such good writing, with a very interesting plot. Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitsky, San Francisco... Every book in this series is excellent and every one of them ends too soon for me!
Bev Price (bev208@bellsouth.net)
Chainfire by Terry Goodkind
Rating: 3 Stars
As I have not read much of this book now, I may not give it the correct number of stars. So far I really like CHAINFIRE. It really holds my interest.
Genie
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Rating: 4 Stars
Although the ending is a little sugary for my taste, overall I enjoyed this book. As usual, Fannie Flagg has come up with some wonderful characters in a small town setting.
Genie
High Country by Nevada Barr
Rating: 5 Stars
Nevada Barr has written another great read! Ranger Anna Pigeon works as a waitress in an undercover operation. She encounters more serious problems than she bargained for during the investigation. There are more individuals and reasons behind the disappearance of four young employees in Yosemite National Park than anyone suspected.
Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@adelphia.net)
The Cat Who Said Cheese by Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: 4 Stars
The is another edition of "The Cat Who" series about Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, one of which helps him solve mysteries. This novel is about the Great Food Expo. There is an explosion in the hotel & an employee dies.
Phyllis
The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a Southern story to be sure, but it's so interesting. I had been to most of the places in Florida King mentions, so I could relate. The main character, Dean, is a unique "preacher's wife" and I thoroughly enjoyed the read!
Sally B. from San Antonio TX
The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 3 Stars
3.5 stars. I read this book for our discussion group. The beginning was slow --- it mainly dealt with the many architects hired for the fair, and its planning and construction. The second half of the book was more intriguing and dealt with the opening of the fair and it's notoriety, as well as the problems and successes while the fair was open. The core of the last part of the book was geared toward the personality of H.H. Holmes and his many murders.
Jenn :)
The Jump by Martina Cole
Rating: 4 Stars
This was the second book I had read by Cole, and at first thought I wasn't going to enjoy 600 pages of plotting a jailbreak. But I was wrong, and found this to be as equally enjoying as THE LADYKILLERS (my first read).
Bonnie Cooper
Winter Morning Walks by Ted Kooser
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful book of poetry that should be read by everyone. Mr. Kooser demonstrates his love of life and of nature in a very compelling way. A MUST read!
BK
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Rating: 2 Stars
A frustrating book to read --- too much gratuitous violence. The author’s lack of punctuation marks is distracting. (Punctuation, like good manners, is used to make communication easier.) Run-on paragraphs that lasted up to a page made it difficult to read. Bouncing around from voice to voice with no clue to the reader that the viewpoint had changed was a challenge. The storyline for various characters was not clearly revealed, nor was it tied up at the end. I'm sorry I can’t recommend this book.
BK
The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Rating: 4 Stars
The story is fiction, but closely based on the life and actions of Carrie McGavock, the mistress of Carnton Plantation where the Battle of Franklin (TN) took place, resulting in 9200 casualties. Carrie’s home was turned into a hospital as 4 generals lay dead on her back porch. A true steel magnolia, she tended the wounded, gave comfort to the dying, and did whatever it took to survive what came next. After the war, she relocated the graves of the fallen to her plantation land to protect the remains. Until the day she died, she guarded the graves, respected each fallen hero, and aided the families who came after the war seeking their dead boys. The book makes you praise Carrie, and hope that you would have the strength to do as she did. It also makes you feel so very, very lucky that war has not graced our backyards since 1864. This book is not about battlefield maneuvers and accounts; it is about the story of the people that destiny led to Franklin, TN at that fateful moment in history.
Noreen Brown (nortomb@webtv.net)
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 3 Stars
I don't know why this book hasn't kept me turning the pages like her others. Maybe because most of the characters aren't that likeable. Or maybe because there are too may of them to keep straight with the jumping back in forth in time.
Linda.H. (readingissomuchfun@yahoo.com)
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
I been asking about this book for awhile. My friend had bought it for me and I am very happy she did. This is one of Susan's 1st books that I have and I really enjoy it a lot. This book has some very good characters, and it's full of romance and humor. I really enjoy this book a lot. My favorite characters are Heath and Annabelle.
Annabelle is tired of being the lone failure in a family of overachievers. She's endured dead-end jobs and a broken engagement. Even her hair's a mess! But that's going to change now that she's taken over her late grandmother's matchmaking business. All Annabelle has to do is land the Windy City's hottest bachelor as her client, and she'll be the most sought-after matchmaker in town. Nothing is going to stand in her way, not her family's disapproval, and certainly not the lingering effects of a broken heart.
With his money green eyes and calculated charm, Heath Champion is the best sports agent in the country. He's wealthy, driven, and gorgeous. So why does he need a matchmaker, especially a red-haired screw-up like Annabelle Granger? True, she's entertaining, and she does have a certain quirky appeal, but Heath is searching for the ultimate symbol of his success --- the perfect wife. And to make an extraordinary match, he needs an extraordinary matchmaker, right?
So now Annabelle is here to find Heath the perfect wife. Does she find him the perfect wife?? You will just have to get a copy of this book to find out. I highly recommend this very excellent book. It's a must read.
Carol Wright
The Winning Hand by C.K. Crigger
Rating: 5 Stars
Not your grandfather's western! A fun tale with a lot of humor and a touch of romance.
Don Forsythe
Conspiracy Theory by Jane Haddam
Rating: 4 Stars
I hadn't read any Jane Haddam for quite awhile, and now that I am reading CONSPIRACY THEORY, I am not sure why! This Gregor Demarkian mystery explores Internet conspiracy theory groups in the US. It contains many of the authour's best loved characters from her earlier books.
Bonnie Cooper
The Making of a Writer by Joan Lowery Nixon
Rating: 4 Stars
An enjoyable book filled with enough description so you can feel like you are in the room with Joan as she lives through everyday experiences that mold who she becomes.
Jeanne Sheats (catslady5@aol.com)
The Gift by Julie Garwood
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the third of a series. I think she writes the best historical romances of anyone. There is a wonderful storyline, humor mixed in with the romance, and characters you can't hep but love.
JoAnne Piterniak (joannep1@hotmail.com)
Entombed by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 2 Stars
It was really hard to get into this one --- there are too many characters and too much jumping around. But, it does pick up. I'd just like a few hints/red herrings to keep me going. Right now, I'm 3/4 of the way through and there aren't even any suspects yet!!
Patricia Lewis
The Wild Girl by Jim Fergus
Rating: 5 Stars
This author has done his homework! This is the tale of a young man's search for adventure and the wild Apache girl who invites him into her world. It is enthralling and you are engrossed from page one.
Kristina (Luckistarr4@msn.com)
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting, very quick, and very witty read. She must have been a very interesting child!
Kristina (Luckistarr4@msn.com)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 4 Stars
A very good read that kept me interested the whole way through.
Joanne Tynan
Crest of Eagles by Jocelyn Howe
Rating: 5 Stars
This story is one of the best I have read in years. It kept my interest in so many ways and the history of Rhodesia was so great, intertwined with modern day. Very cool!
Readers can find it online at Amazon and through the publisher, www.abetterbewrite.com
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Outside Valentine by Liza Ward
Rating: 4 Stars
OUTSIDE VALENTINE skips around a bit from past to present, which caused me to get a bit confused at first --- hence only 4 stars. Otherwise, this was a really good book, with just the right amount of mystery, romance, and feeling.
Kendra
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: 2 Stars
The latest in the Cat Who... series seems to focus less on sleuthing and more on the regular everyday activities of the main character, Quilleran. There aren't many twists and turns, and the outcome is fairly obvious and predictable. I enjoyed "visiting" with Quilleran, Yum Yum and KoKo, but found the mystery part lacking.
Lorraine Molloy (ljm6@columbia.edu)
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 4 Stars
I read the book mainly because I was going to see the movie with some friends --- and was very glad I did. It was very interesting and I learned a lot about a culture that I really didn't know much about before reading the book, which was very well written.
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