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K. Gold
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Rating: 4 Stars
This is sort of a sequel to HOLES, and it's very good, but without the magical realism. My 13 year old stayed up all night to finish it. I liked it a lot. It's really more like 4.5 stars!
Margo
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent story of a reunion of high school friends at a wedding taking place at a classmate's Inn. Each classmate has an interesting connection to the bride and groom, and the owner of the Inn. It is one of Anita Shreve's best books.
Pat Read (Patrread@aol.com)
Kingdom of Lies by Lee Wood
Rating: 3 Stars
KINGDOM OF LIES has a good storyline and characters, but it dwells too much on the mundane parts of daily life that have nothing to do with the story. I love the historical aspect, and that it takes place in London.
Carolina Diez
Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh
Rating: 4 Stars
Recommended by PAGES magazine, this quirky, dark, and very funny book about a pest control expert (Bob Dillon) who is mistaken for a killer for hire. It's set in New York and reads like a movie!
Elayne
It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong
Rating: 5 Stars
One of the best autobiographies I've ever read. It's full of drama and inspiration from an intense, strong, individual.
Elayne
High Druid of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Rating: 3 Stars
Another great by one of the masters.
Elayne
Auschwitz by Laurence Rees
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is highly interesting --- if you are doing any kind of research on WWII, this would be an excellent choice. There are also a lot of incidents inside that have never been published before.
Elayne
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Rating: 3 Stars
A sweet book abut a high-spirited heroine during the Civil War.
Wasanaa (wsnsmth@hotmail.com)
Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray
Rating: 5 Stars
This was an incredible story filled with mythical creatures, centered around the fight between good and evil. The sex scenes are very explicit and range from fetish to true love. This is the first in a series, and I look forward to the next.
Pascal Downs
The Prison Angel by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan
Rating: 5 Stars
Here is what I wrote in the book's comment section: This is what the latter years of life should be all about: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, no question asked. Like baking the "Perfect Pizza".
Pascal Downs
Frederick Douglass and the Fourth Of July Oration by James A. Colaiaco
Rating: 4 Stars
The Frederick Douglas current display at the Rochester (N.Y.) Museum and Science Center talks about this speech, and thus I was happy to see the book. This was a pivotal speech toward pointing out how the "Negro" people, even those now free, could not enjoy the freedom other Americans were enjoying. So, on July 5, 1852, Douglass delivered the Nineteenth Century's most powerful abolition speech.
Sandra Furlotte
The Fiend in Human by John MacLachlan Gray
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent book by a Canadian writer. Some of the best descriptions of Victorian London I have ever read --- it was so realistic that you can almost smell the fog. This is a Jack the Ripper type crime novel, but certainly one of the better ones with great characters.
Joy
Pocketful of Pearls by Shelley Bates
Rating: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this down. This book
brings out several issues at once.
Sexual abuse, bulimia, and religion.
I will be looking for the second installment from this author soon.
Amelia Adames (TerracottaTurtle@hotmail.com)
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 5 Stars
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the storyline. I'm normally not apt to pick up a vampire-themed novel. Ms. Meyer has taken the vampire theme and brought it to a new level. You will find yourself falling in love with Edward; Bella will capture your heart with her honesty. I absolutely recommend this book and cannot wait until the sequel is released.
Amelia Adames (TerracottaTurtle@hotmail.com)
The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer
Rating: 5 Stars
Ms. Strohmeyer is known for her "Bubbles" mystery series (which I highly recommend) and has branched out into a different genre of fiction. The storyline revolves around an exclusive community in Ohio. There were times when I literally laughed out loud due to the society wives' hilarious antics. A new bride is introduced into the community, and as she tries to find her place among the elusive set, you follow her ups and downs. A great read overall!
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow, is this a good book! Who murdered Kate Townsend? Was it her married older lover, a local drug dealer, or a high school bad boy? Or it is somebody who is not even a suspect? This is the riddle that Penn Cage has to solve in order to save his good friend, Dr. Drew Elliott, from being convicted of the crime. This is a compelling page turner. I really recommend it.
Marsha
Without Fail by Lee Child
Rating: 5 Stars
The "Jack Reacher" series books are absolutely first rate --- spellbinding, rip roaring, thrilling, etc. Reacher is an ex-military cop turned loner vigilante and a hero who never fails to excite.
Elayne (ivadeosra@yahoo.com)
The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr
Rating: 3 Stars
If you love Sherlock Holmes, as I do, you might want to check this book out.
Patti
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
A vivid portrait of female friendship in 19th-century Chinese culture. Their agonies, joys, and a shared strong bond makes a compelling story.
Julie Carter (jccarter25@yahoo.com)
A Changed Man by Francine Prose
Rating: 4 Stars
Through about 3/4 of the book, I didn't really like the main characters, and I thought I knew what was going on. Looking for the twist was confusing...the twist was that there was no twist! So the ending pleasantly surprised me, and made me feel much more kindly toward the book and its characters.
Bonnie
Insatiable Tales from a Life of Delicious Excess by Gael Greene
Rating: 2 Stars
Nonfiction "tales" of the author's life in food writing, travel, eating, and her prolific sex life (too much information).
Lisa
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I could not put it down and finished it in 2 days. After losing her infant daughter, Emila struggles to connect with her husband's son. The story combines heartbreaking moments and humorous incidents amazingly well. Waldman creates characters that you really care for. I will be encouraging all my friends to read this great novel.
Chri (powerpopmachine@yahoo.com)
American Dreamer by John C. Culver & John Hyde
Rating: 5 Stars
Wallace was a visionary intellectual, one of the most important and controversial figures of the 20th century --- and nobody knows him. He was a reluctant politician, agriculturalist, economist, author, and businessman --- loved and reviled. AMERICAN DREAMER is a great bio about a man who should have been president and could have changed history.
Cheryl
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 4 Stars
A good suspense novel told from the perspective of a federal prosecutor, Melanie Vargas. The story is fast-paced, easy reading, and it has a little bit of everything --- romance, betrayal, good cops, bad cops, seedy characters.
Ruth
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
It's been a long time since I found myself turning the pages as fast as I did in this great suspense story.
Ruth
The Piano Man by Marcia Preston
Rating: 4 Stars
A new author for me. I hope to read more of her work.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas
Rating: 5 Stars
This is my 2nd Hard Case Crime book and I look forward to more of them. This one is about a private investigator that sets out to discover who killed his girlfriend he had over 10 years ago. She apparently has turned to stripping and someone shoots the top of her head off. John tries to figure out the who, what and why. He teams up with some seedy characters and is not proud of some of the things he does, but he eventually solves the case. I did kind of figure out the who, but not the why so much. These are a little dark and you have to read them going in with that in mind. The endings are not nice and tidy in some respects, but still very enjoyable. For a debut novel, it was great.
Maryam Barrie (mbarrie@wccnet.org)
Command Performance by Jane Alexander
Rating: 4 Stars
Alexander focuses on her term as head of the National Endowment of the Arts. She gives a good sense of how things come to pass politically, as well as the sort of constant hostility the right has towards the arts in our time.
Ruth
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
Rating: 3 Stars
I wasn't really into all the art history, but found the story engaging. The characters could have been better developed. I was left with a lot of questions.
Sally Lincoln
Seascape with Body by Raymond Flynn
Rating: 4 Stars
This first novel by Flynne is set in current day, Britain. Perhaps being an ex-Brit myself, I found the book refreshing and easy to read. It's full of localism, but not so much that the average American couldn't read the meaning of, even if it wasn't a word or expression they are familiar with. Flynne's strong characters portray the average cop or CID in Britain. In this novel, an old murder case is viewed with fresh eyes on all the mistakes that were made. It was a book that left you hungry for more of the life of these characters you grow to know.
Fancy Reads (TangleOaksInfo@aol.com)
The Entire Callahan Garrity Series by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Rating: 4 Stars
Very light reading with an engaging cast of chacters that grow more real with each book. Read these in order for the continuity and laugh out loud, fun southern experience! Mary Kay Andrews by any other name has a great lineup!
Jenelle (pekepooh@aol.com)
Got The Look by James Grippando
Rating: 5 Stars
Wonderful, suspenseful book!!! You will pick it up and not want to put it down as each page brings a new twist. I know I have found another "A" list author for my lists of favorites. If you like thrillers, try this one.
Erin Shultz
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the wonderful tale of Dinah, son of Jacob and Rachel. Anita Diamant does a beautiful job of detailing life during Biblical times, without imposing religious overtones. A lovely read.
Susan (buycks@aol.com)
The Closers by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Fast moving... can't put it down!
Jill Olson
Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides
Rating: 3 Stars
I was disappointed --- I'd heard a lot about this book, but I found it full of unnecessary information. It could've been a better book if about half the novel was cut and more about the main character (Cal) was added.
Priscilla
The Turtle Warrior by Mary Relindes Ellis
Rating: 3 Stars
I have just started it, and so far, it's very good.
Lisa
The Exiled: A Novel by Posie Graeme-Evans
Rating: 3 Stars
This sequel to Australia's Poesie Graeme-Evans first book, THE INNOCENT, is one that I really want to like, but it has all kinds of unlikely events and a heroine that is not believable. I really wanted to like this book, but it reads more a like a historical romance than a historical novel.
Fancy Reads (TangleOaksInfo@aol.com)
Gone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
This is excellent; be aware that it is a page turner and you should read it when you can spend a couple of hours literally inside this book. I also devoured ALONE and THE KILLNG HOUR this weekend! Awesome writer. Read from the beginning of this series if you can!
Michelle
Kill Me by Stephen White
Rating: 3 Stars
Interesting premise. Fast paced.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
The Year Of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book about Betta Nolan who lost her husband to liver cancer, and what she did to move on with her life. She renewed old friendships that she had in college, she made new young friends as well as old friends. She tried dating and all the things that she was involved in to heal herself. My boyfriend and I had listened to one of the CD's together and even he was laughing and saying that probably could happen. I would have liked to have been able to share the whole book with him and maybe one day I will buy it for us to listen to together. That is how good I thought it was. I was just wishing for a bit of a different ending, but you can't have everything. This was the audio version of the book read by Sandra Burr.
Gretchen Kempff (grkwrk@bellsouth.net)
No Spark of Malice by William Arceneaux
Rating: 2 Stars
Historical nonfiction about a murder in the late 1890s. This book dwells too much on history and doesn't develop the murder/trial in an easy read.
Lisa
The Turk and My Mother by Mary Ellen Stefaniak
Rating: 5 Stars
The insight into the lives of the Croatian characters in this book both during WWII and after their arrival in Chicago after the war is heartbreaking and full of all kinds of surprising plot twists.
Bonnie
The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain
Rating: 2 Stars
I got an advance reader's copy of this nonfiction book --- yet another insider's look at what goes on in the back rooms of restaurants, etc. It sounds like it was made up of leavings on the editing room floor of his previous books. Too much information on the author's previous drug addiction and crime life as well (call it the Frey syndrome?)
Jon Butters
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Rating: 5 Stars
An outstanding nonfiction detctive story. Highly recommended.
Marg
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Rating: 4 Stars
Very engaging review of Lincoln's climb to leadership and the men he surrounded himself with.
Lachelle Warren
Surrender by Pamela Clare
Rating: 5 Stars
When I received SURRENDER a few weeks ago, I started reading it and discovered that it's one of the best books that I have read in the historical romance genre. You will be riveted by Annie and her fight to live... along with Iain, who is just as strong. Once you get innto the book, you will not be able to put it down. SURRENDER is the 1st of a trilogy, due to be released March 1st.
Julie Towson
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 4 Stars
This book keeps you guessing until the very end. It kept my attention and I looked forward to getting back to it when I put it down.
Gisele Courville
More Than Memory by Dorothy Garlock
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good book!
Jen (Pekepooh@aol.com)
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rating: 5 Stars
So powerful for such a small book. It gets your brain working and wondering about the power of evil. The doubts of survival. Amazing work!!!!
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Marriage Most Scandalous by Johanna Lindsey
Rating: 4 Stars
Sebastian is our dangerous hero who longs for the family he's been estranged from ~ Margaret is a plucky strong-willed woman who hires him to help solve a number of mysterious accidents. A thoroughly entertaining and fun read.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
First Impressions by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 4 Stars
Jared is a man's man; Brad has it all. Eden, at forty-something, is starting life over again with both of these men interested in her. A great romantic suspense. Love it!
Sonia Chopra
Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Rating: 4 Stars
Absolutely a guilty pleasure, like gorging on a box on bonbons in one sitting... sexy, racy, trashy, gossipy and so incredibly entertaining --- exactly what you would expect in a Collins novel. Highly recommended for those evenings when you're drained and you just need a book that will soothe your frazzled nerves.
Judy (AZ)
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
Rating: 4 Stars
A sprawling novel that takes 5-year-old Peekay through his teen years. It is really a story about friendship, trust, and determination that is told through the culture of South Africa in the 1940s, boxing culture, and the at-odds cultures of the Afrikaners, the English, and the tribesmen. You may shed a tear or two, but you come away with an uplifted spirit that there truly is "the power of one."
Jen (pekepooh@aol.com)
Vanish by TessGerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderfully written, suspenseful book. I could not put the book down and blame her for a few nights of lost sleep.
John Wood
Resistance by Anita Shreve
Rating: 5 Stars
As a guy, it took me a long time to pick up one of Shreve's books. They all screamed "Chick Book!" But after devouring THE PILOT'S WIFE and telling another male friend and former bookstore manager about it --- who had the same misgivings as I did but then loved it, as I did --- I next read Resistance, which I just finished. This one is even better. Although it's predominantly a love story, it's full of tension and pace and has lots of guy stuff in it, too: Nazis, resistance fighters, Nazis, suspense, Nazis, and the most accurate, on-the-edge-of-your-seat portrayal of a plane crash I have ever read.
Sigrun
Body Double by Vicki Hinze
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book in the "War Games" series written by the wife of a military officer. It is terrorism of the level of one's worst nightmare coming true. The plot, though somewhat farfetched at first, becomes more realistic as the author reveals the story of a courageous female military captain who deals with spies and other problems. As the story continued, I found myself wondering if this might not easily come true one of these days. It would be our worst nightmare. The whole series of 3 full books and a short story deals with the one terrorist organization and the women who go after the participants in the organization pledged to totally destroy the U.S.
Myrna
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm thoroughly enjoying Berendt's book about the city of Venice. Having just visited the city last November, I'm fascinated by the way in which Berendt evokes the special "feel" of Venice. I'm especially enjoying reading about the families who play into the history of Venice as well as the experiences of various writers whose works were influenced by their time in Venice.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
The Girl From Charnelle by K. L. Cook
Rating: 4 Stars
THE GIRL FROM CHARNELLE is well written and thought provoking. Laura Tate is a 16-year-old girl who cares for her three brothers and their father after their sister elopes and their mother leaves the family.
Laura gets involved with a married friend of the family, with tragic consequences.
Laura's father and brothers were thoroughly composed, as was the character of sister Gloria, who seemingly flitted back on the scene when it was convenient for her.
It seemed to me that Anne Lettig provided Laura for her husband John, by inviting her into their family on a regular basis. Perhaps Anne wanted to chose the partner for her husband's dalliance. All the characters were strong and compelling. It was a book I will recommend to others.
Sherri Caldwell - The Rebel Housewife (sherri@rebelhousewife.com)
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman
Rating: 5 Stars
After reading about the sometimes controversial Ayelet Waldman (Pulitzer-prize-winning author Michael Chabon's wife) and her new novel in PAGES Magazine, I couldn't get it fast enough. Here's a woman (Waldman), living life out loud, trying to balance the demands and expectations of being a wife, mother, and a gifted writer, all with the added excitement and challenge of an obvious Type A overachieving personality, for which she has taken a lot of criticism. She's amazing, and the book is too. You can see a lot of the author, and her famous author-husband in the novel. At times, it is hard to sympathize, even like, the main character, Emilia --- a woman suffering the death of her infant, trying very hard to learn to love the "baggage" that came along with her husband: his precocious, six-year-old son and a bitter ex-wife. Bitter for good reason, as the main character is the culprit in breaking up the marriage --- reason enough to give any married woman and mother pause in wholly embracing this character. Somehow, by the end, she comes through, and it is a wonderful, complex, painful story of love and self-knowledge.
Karen Hoover
Warlock by Wilber Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This sequel to RIVER GOD (another excellent book) is about the lives of the decendants of Queen Lostris.
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
Camouflage Soldier by Dana Marton
Rating: 5 Stars
This 2005 Harlequin Intrigue is another hit from author Dana Marton.
Lynn
Death Dance by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
The "Alex Cooper" series is a favorite of mine. I'm only about 50 pages into the book, but I'd still give it a 5.
Nicky
The Genizah in the House of Shepher by Tamar Yellin
Rating: 3 Stars
I read this for a Jewish book club. It was interesting, but a bit hard to read. The story of family prehistory, I think.
Sharlene Miers (themiers@bellsouth.net)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Rating: 4 Stars
Since I just started this book, I can't really give it a definite rating, but it's going very well so far.
Sharlene Miers (themiers@bellsouth.net)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
I'd give this book more than five stars if I could. It's among the best I've read.
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
Don't Tell by Karen Rose
Rating: 5 Stars
Karen Rose is a master storyteller, and every one of her books is on my keeper shelf.
BJ Deese (zandercage2003@yahoo.com)
In At the Kill by S.K. McClafferty
Rating: 4 Stars
This southern Louisiana-set suspense moves quickly.
Harriett
Without Reservations by Alice Steinback
Rating: 5 Stars
This nonfiction work is easy to read but makes you pause and reflect about your life and choices you have made and will make. The author is a journalist on leave from the Baltimore Sun who decides to test her mettle by traveling for a year in Europe alone. She spends time in some cities to see how she copes with a variety of situations and people she encounters. As you read you can place yourself there and experience new emotions and sensations. She has a sequel titled EDUCATING ALICE where she signs up for courses to learn and experience different skills and interests. Provocative!
Kym Neale (kymberli7@yahoo.com)
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Rating: 4 Stars
Believe it or not, I've never read this book before and I have to say, I'm lovin' it! Tolstoy is the master of words, which makes this book a joy to read.
Beth Fahl
The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
Rating: 4 Stars
A National Book Award Finalist --- THE FEAST OF LOVE --- is an engrossing, interweaving story about love "in its sublime, agonizing, and eternal complexity."
Lyn
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Rating: 5 Stars
I am re-reading this excellent documentary. I read it the first time when it was on the bestseller list. Capote wasn't just a good writer, he was a great writer.
Dr. DiAnna Loy
Remember When by Nora Roberts/ J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
The book provided a wonderful mechanism for blending the writing styles of these two (one) authors.
Dr. DiAnna Loy
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
The book was engaging from the first page to the last.
Eileen Quinn Knight (Knight@sxu.edu)
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
Rating: 5 Stars
The best way to describe this book is that it's loaded with 'cerebral suspense!' It was fantastic. Around every plot twist was another even more breathtaking twist. It is somewhat spiritual in nature as it dwells on finding God. It seems so relevant to all that is going on in the world today. Captivating!
Gina Mitchner
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely loved this novel. I could not put it down. It is written with so much emotion, you actually think you are living the story. Wonderful!!
Sharlene Miers (themiers@bellsouth.net)
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Rating: 5 Stars
When my book club selected this book, it was a reread for me as it's been out about 10 years. I think I enjoyed it more the second time than I did the first. Excellent book.
Jennifer Murphy
The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
Rating: 5 Stars
It's a very interesting idea of what comes after we die and how we are so connected to each other. I found myself caring about all of the people --- dead and alive! --- in this story.
Carrie W.
Flirting with Danger by Suzanne Enoch
Rating: 5 Stars
Lots of fun to read.
Sheldon Friedman (shelfree@att.net)
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Stunning prose, and an engaging story of two families makes Zadie Smith's most recent novel a winner. The primary action takes place in a college in New England. Two very different famlies are linked together by a feud between two college professors whose wives become close friends. Sprinkled with humor and compassion, Smith exlplores the personal and political life of these two families, and the children of one of the professors, married to an African-American. The book is honest and illuminating...a must read.
S. Smith
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Rating: 4 Stars
I think I had read this book as a child, but after a discussion of the real meanings (characters as representations of society at the time of writing) of the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tinman, Winkies et. al., I needed to go back and find out for myself.
James Young
Hard-Boiled Men by Guy Jacobs
Rating: 5 Stars
I ran across HARD-BOILED MEN after a friend told me about it. If you like Henry Miller or Charles Bukowski, you may like this book. I would not go so far as to call this book high literature, but it is a fun quick read that deals with single life in NYC. I think that many women would enjoy this book despite its male-oriented perspective.
Heidi Kraemer
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a fascinating read. It is an easy and palatable way to learn about economics.
M. T. Dobson
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Rating: 4 Stars
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
Yes, it's about a magical pair of traveling pants that brings wisdom and luck to its four owners. It's magical because all four can wear them, although all four are different sizes and body types. But what I found most fascinating was the eagerness to let the pants do their magic! It brings back the feeling of those early years of becoming a woman. A time when there is so much hope in everything and none of the distrust and cynicism that comes later.
Ed from Havertown
Skin of The Gods by Richard Montanari
Rating: 4 Stars
From the first page, "it's off to the races." The story is so exciting you just can't put it down. In a couple of places, there's a little too much narrative or description, but that's OK.
Carrie W.
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Rating: 3 Stars
Too much girlfriend this and girlfriend that.
Carrie W.
The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning
Rating: 5 Stars
Way hot!!!!!
Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
A big read. It's slow to start, but fully intriguing once the plot lines are developed.
Aileen
The Windmill by Stephanie Gertler
Rating: 5 Stars
A married couple, Carl and Olivia, seem to have the perfect marriage. It isn't until each one deals with their past that we see that both have been lying to each other and in some way --- themselves. They both go on to confront their past so that they may have a chance in their own future together.
Carolyn Naden (carolyn333@juno.com)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
I absolutely loved this audiobook. It is absolutely believable and has a lot of interesting twists.
Carrie W.
Nine by Jan Burke
Rating: 5 Stars
The best of hers I've read so far!
Carrie Wall
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
This is about a little-known person in history. Now I want to read about her sister, Anne.
Jen (pekepooh@aol.com)
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 5 Stars
One of my favorite authors. I have not read a book of hers that I didn't like, but this one is really a page turner. Her characters are rich and there is usually a love interest and some mystery.
Marjorie L. Carmony
Pen Pals by Olivia Goldsmith
Rating: 5 Stars
This subject matter of this book is even more relevant now than when it was written, considering the circumstances of the imprisonment of Martha Stewart. I couldn't put it down. Goldsmith put so much time into her research on this one. How sad that she is gone.
Melissa (melissaherlevic@yahoo.com)
The Epicure's Lament by Kate Christensen
Rating: 5 Stars
I like the writing and the story is a hilarious dark comedy. The fact that a female author is writing from a male perspective is very well done.
Mary Sepe
Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
Rating: 4 Stars
The plot, as well as the coming of age through remembering, was thought provoking and pulsating.
Pam N
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
The19th book in the series. Kinsey is hired by Daisy Sullivan to find out what happened to her mother 34 yrs ago. Violet Sullivan disappeared on July 4th in the early 50's. Some say she left her abusive husband to start a new life, yet others believe her husband killed her. Daisy was only 7
when her mother left and wants closure. The book is full of lots of descriptive
detail, so it took me a bit longer than I expected to read, but I still enjoyed. I wondered "who" right up until the end.
toni (tonisandlin@aol.com)
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent book --- a must read. It made me go out to find her other books.
Pam N
The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
Betta Nolan is in her mid-50's when her husband passes. They were a very devoted and happy couple. and they no children, but their world of two was enough. Now on her own, Betta sells her home in Boston
and buys a new home in IL. She makes an assortment of new friends: Benny, her 10-year-old neighbor, Delores the RE agent, etc. She also realizes she has let her old friendships slide, and reunites with her
3 college roommates. She is wobbly in her grief, but is developing a good support system and decides to pursue the dream she & her husband had to open a small shop. Delightful.
Debbie (dm155@aol.com)
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Rating: 4 Stars
Just started it. But in true Patterson form, I'm hooked.
Aileen
Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
What an emotional book! I must have been the last person on earth to read this book and see the movie (which I did after reading the book, of course). It was a beautiful love story with such a hard ending! Get your tissues ready if you haven't read it yet!
Raynne Z.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamtress by Dai Sijie
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a required read for my English class. It was a surprisingly enchanting and charming story. It has a fairytale quality though it is based on the author's own experience.
Raynne Z.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
The latest from J. K. Rowling is the most intense Harry Potter book to date. A definite page turner, "the One Who Can Not Be Named" has returned and there is chaos both within the magical world and without.
Alabama Jack (jquick5342@aol.com)
Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride
Rating: 5 Stars
Another Ian Rankin? Scottish Detective Sergeant Logan McRae has returned to his Aberdeen beat after a year’s medical convalescence to tackle a case that makes even his most callous colleagues cringe: the strangling and mutilation of a four-year-old boy. More children turn up missing and, then, dead and it is obvious the press has a pipeline into the police investigation. Complicating the case is the fact that the forensic pathologist assigned to work with the investigators is McRae’s ex-girlfriend. All in all, an impressive first outing.
Gloria
Murder at Markham - A Sheila Travis Mystery by Patricia Houck Sprinkle
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great read, reminiscent of the Agatha Christie genre. I love Aunt Mary and Sheila, both of whom are great characters. MURDER AT MARKHAM is a very good murder mystery.
Marelou
Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good book. The story is well laid out. Characters are well developed --- three dimensional, and even likable even at their 'worst.' The writing is fluid and readable. I like the way Anne Gracie developed the relationship between Kate and Jack, letting each one overcome their perceived problems and 'rescue' each other. I will have to go find more of Ms Gracie's books.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Life Studies by Susan Vreeland
Rating: 4 Stars
Delivers a rich palette!
Lynda MacWhirter
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 4 Stars
I just finished reading MOST WANTED by Michele Martinez. Althogh a little slow at the beginning, the pace picked up quickly and by page 50 I couldn't put the book down. It's been so long since I read a really good suspense book.
Sandra Greathouse
The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari
Rating: 5 Stars
I just started reading this book and I'm about halfway through it. I haven't been able to put it down, and now I'm going back to reading! Great book!
Beth McGuire
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a quiet story, with characters who are sublte in telling their tale but also possess a powerful will. I wasn't sure I liked this book at first, but by the end I was engrossed in Robinson's powerful writing and unforgettable women.
Kristina (Luckistarr4@msn.com)
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Rating: 4 Stars
So far it is a very thorough, very real-life type of book. It is very interesting so far.
Dani
With or Without You by Carole Matthews
Rating: 5 Stars
Loved this book. It's the best of chick-lit, but without the obvious plot. In fact, I tried to predict the outcome but was pleasantly surprised.
Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia (dglg@telus.net)
The Journey by Josephine Cox
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful story about three strangers who meet by chance in a cemetery and how their lives become entwined. Now I have to read JOURNEY'S END to find out more about the characters and how their journey truly ends. It's a mesmerizing story and a book that is hard to put down.
Beth McGuire
Dreams of My Father by Barack Obama
Rating: 4 Stars
With his memoir, Senator Obama proves that he is a thoughtful and intelligent writer. I was especially fascinated with how he dealt with being a child of a mixed race union. His journey to Africa to discover his roots is an enjoyable, engrossing read.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
The Wheat Field by Steve Thayer
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an excellent story of a deputy sheriff from a small town in Wisconsin trying to uncover the facts surrounding the deaths of two people --- including a woman he had loved since childhood. There are a sufficient number of suspects to keep the reader guessing all the way to a surprising ending.
Enid
Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
Rating: 4 Stars
An excellent book following the memoirs of a German Women's Studies professor who explores WW II through her own memoires and those of survivors who are not Holocaust vicitms.
Monica Jordan
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
This story is told by several different characters. It is about a woman who finds out she was kidnapped by her father when she was a small child. It really makes you think about right and wrong. as well as what makes you who you are. It is beautifully written and hard to put down.
Roberta
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
Rating: 4 Stars
If you are into books that have plots dealing with loss and finding the silver lining in the worst possible situations, then I definitely recommend this book.
Ivka
A Dream Across Time by Annie Rogers
Rating: 5 Stars
I love everything about it --- the history in the story, the secrets, the setting --- St. Lucia. This book also has romance and mystery. It's a keeper!
Ivka
Delicious by Susan Mallery
Rating: 5 Stars
I will use title to describe the book --- DELICIOUS!
Gloria
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a good read if you like medieval murder mysteries, which I do.
Louise Keene
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Rating: 5 Stars
5++ An excellent read about the lives of the poor in India, set in the 1970s. The author reveals a vivid picture of the caste system, making the reader feel much empathy with the novel's characters.
Mo (maestraw@msn.com)
Insatiable by Gael Greene
Rating: 1 Stars
I was "lucky" enough to read INSATIABLE for free as an advanced reader copy. The book took Greene through her marriage and her romps in the sack, while traveling to Europe reviewing restaurants for New York Magazine. This is simply not worth reading, even though Greene includes some of her favorite recipes.
Eileen Quinn Knight (knight@sxu.edu)
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Rating: 5 Stars
Fanciful. This word best describes the writing of author Murakami. He writes with such poetic ease. The characters are stong and knowable. The plot, though fanciful, is realistic enough to be inviting. The work is enchanting. It is diffucult to walk away from the journey of Kafka as his adolescence is so compelling. I would recommend this book to all that want to understand adolescent angst, as well as the journey all of us partake in to become full-blown adults. Nakata is a wonderful character that helps us to realize the immensity of the people who cross our path.
Susan
Black by Ted Dekker
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of a man who, while sleeping, has a second life in another world. I gave this book 4 stars because I usually do not like sci-fi or fantasy books --- and that's putting it mildly. This book has kept me fascinated; it moves along at a fast pace, and there are 2 more books to this trilogy. Hurray!
SAaandy (jasscs@aol.com)
Blindfold Game by Dana Stabenow
Rating: 4 Stars
An author I had overlooked. This is a good book and it's worth the time to read it.
Liza
Shadows on the Coast of Maine by Lea Wait
Rating: 4 Stars
A very intersting mystery by the author of SHADOWS AT THE FAIR, which won an Agatha Award. The sleuth is an antique print dealer who solves a murder in a small town in Maine. The book is full of antedotes, and interesting information about antique prints and the business of dealing in them.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story about a child conceived to keep her sister alive. I have two friends who were put in the position of keeping their sibling alive. They were not conceived for this purpose. The author is very close to this problem and the book is very exciting and thought provoking.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
Saturday by Ian McEwan
Rating: 4 Stars
SATURDAY was one of the first post - 9/11 books to come out. It's a little slow at the beginning, but it picks up as you go along. You also see great changes in the characters. It reminded me of BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES.
Tabitha M.
The Cat Who Dropped A Bombshell by Lilian Jackson Braun
Rating: 4 Stars
One of my favorite mystery writers, Ms. Braun is up to her twenty-eighth mystery featuring Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum-Yum, as he investigates Cool Koko's interest in a visiting architect. Leave it to the psychic cat Koko to dig up clues pointing to the architect's missing aunt and uncle, and for Qwill to deduce what the cats are telling him.
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Rating: 5 Stars
A small book that can be read in a day or so. However, you just can't get it out of your mind, and it was definitely an eye opener to those of us who were not familiar with the Japanese Internment.
Heather Fineisen
Middlemarch by George Elitot
Rating: 5 Stars
A long but lasting read with many elements that will intrigue readers with varied interests --- history, romance, feminism, and reformation, just to name a few. This took me a long time to finally pick up, but it was well worth the wait!
Sandy (jasscs@aol.com)
Dope by Sara Green
Rating: 3 Stars
'Okay' is the only word I can think of when it comes to this book. It's not good, but it's okay for a fast read.
Diane L. (larudiane2000@yahoo.com)
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a good read, filled with lots of themes to think about. Its academic setting in a well-respected university and the characters of two families whose fathers dislike eact other, mothers come to care for each other, and children who love and hate each other have much to say about race, marriage, family, politics, academia, --- and yes --- beauty.
Joan Woods
In the Garden Triology by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
These are books about three women and the ghost that lives in their house. There is mystery, romance and humor. Nora Roberts has never written a bad book.
Heather Fineisen
Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg
Rating: 5 Stars
You don't have to be an aspiring writer to enjoy this guidebook on writing. This will provide enhancemet to the art of reading as well. Goldberg --- also a Zen Buddhist --- offers insight to apply to everyday life, the love of reading, and of course the practice and hopefully publishing of writing. Indulge!
Ruby Davis
Night Laws by Jim Michael Hansen
Rating: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this book down. A realistic story about a vicious killer who lets an attorney know that she is on his list, and a Homicide Detective who wants to get him before he kills again. I will be waiting for this author's next book.
Cindy Duhamel (c.duhamel@comcast.net)
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
Wow! What a ride. A brand new member has just entered the club with gusto and is ready for anything. Unfortunately, from the start, she gets her wish! I would, however, like to see James Patterson get into more detail with the characters personal lives.
Bobby Rutherford
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 5 Stars
Just Finished reading THE LAST TEMPLAR by Raymond Khoury. If you enjoyed THE DA VINCI CODE you will enjoy this book. It's not quite as good but equal too or better than ANGELS AND DEMONS. I absolutely recommend this book.
Noreen Brown
Whores on the Hill by Colleen Curran
Rating: 1 Stars
I had no interest in the three girls. I gave the book 61 pages and that was enough.
Maithe Ortiz (maithe007@bellsouth.net)
Tall, Dark, and Cajun by Sandra Hill
Rating: 5 Stars
This book just makes your mouth water when you here the word Cajun. Sandra Hill has written a book which is funny, romantic, and hot.
L. Hann
Indelible by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent!!!! Very suspenseful.
L. Hann
Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 3 Stars
This is not one of her better books. The story is ok, more like a Stephen King novel. I like Stephen King but this is not what I am used to from Tess Gerritsen.
Bethany Leager
Eva: Diary of a Drama Queen by Kristina DeVary
Rating: 3 Stars
Good book.
Merle Lean (merlelean@comcast.net)
Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx
Rating: 4 Stars
"Brokeback Mountain" is one of the short stories. It was excellent. It, and the other short stories give a very interesting picture of the hard life in that part of the country in the recent past of my own younger years. As I am from the east coast, it was a real eye opener.
Bethany Leager
A Different Point of View by Kristina DeVary
Rating: 3 Stars
Good book.
Debby (Debby236@aol.com)
Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur
Rating: 5 Stars
FULL MOON RISING is a book peopled with vampires and werewolves. Fans of Laurel K. Hamilton will find this one fun to read.
Kristi Darling
Maybe the Moon by Armistead Maupin
Rating: 5 Stars
A great book with a different subject matter. I can't put it down and there's a lot to discuss.
Margaret Ball (kcqueenm@yahoo.com)
Surrender by Pamela Clare
Rating: 5 Stars
I have not yet finished this wonderful historical novel yet. It is fast moving and I just love tales of the old frontier. Anne was robbed of her inheritance and branded as a thief and sold as an Indentured servant and shipped to the Americas by her evil Uncle. The family that held her bond were slaughtered by Indians and along comes Lain, the tall dark Ranger, to save her from sure death by the Indians.
Lu
Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull
Rating: 3 Stars
I can't really tell yet. I am on pg. 70. I do like it but can't figure out yet how many stars I should rate it.
Maithe Ortiz (maithe007@bellsouth.net)
Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Rating: 5 Stars
It was a very sweet, heartwarming, and sexy book. It is going to make me take a second look at all the nerds around me. (lol).
Linda
An Unquiet Grave by P. J. Parrish
Rating: 5 Stars
Parrish's newest "Louis Kincaid" suspense read takes him away from his usual tropical setting and back to his childhood territory of chilly Michigan. The story and setting are also very chilling in this story involving an isolated sanitarium and the contents of its desolate cemetery. The mystery leaves no dull moments at all, as old secrets are uncovered that lead to new murders. Well written and suspenseful from beginning to end.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Indian Creek Chronicles by Pete Fromm
Rating: 5 Stars
This is about a college student and his dog who spend seven months guarding salmon eggs in an isolated Idaho wildlife sanctuary. He expects to handle it as a mountain man from a century before, and part of the time he does. A really good book.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
Rating: 5 Stars
This was the first book I'd read by Perrotta, but it will not be the last. Very well written, fast paced, and entertaining!
S Beam (sdbeam318@aol.com)
The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the best I've read in a long time. I couldn't read the pages fast enough. The pace and suspense of the book was wonderful. Richard Montanari, without a doubt, has become one of my favorite authors with just the one book I've read. I cannot wait for the release of SKIN GODS, the sequel.
Pat Palermo
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
Rating: 4 Stars
A great read that touches on what drives individuals to consider ending their lives. It is told in a touching and humorous way but it also touches you in a sensitive and poignant way too. Four people --- Martin, Jess, JJ and Maureen --- each meet unexpectedly on the roof of an apartment building called Toppers on New Year's Eve. They have all come there to end their lives but instead create a very special support group. Each chapter is told in first person of one of the characters and readers are gradually made aware of what drove the characters to their desperate actions on that fateful New Year's Eve.
Nunu In Niagara
Right As Rain by Bev Marshall
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the story of two black women who work for a white family in Southern Louisianna during the 50's. They become friends and their story spans 2 decades. The lives of the women and their children are interwoven with the white family. We read of their hardships, and joys and family secrets. It is an amazing story. I could not put the book down until I was finished. A great read.
TereseRose
Nice Big American Baby by Judy Budnitz
Rating: 2 Stars
Because short stories usually confuse me, I will give this book two stars instead of one. Maybe it is "me." I usually see short stories as shock value writings and these stories are bizarre. Get it out of the library and give it a chance --- but I can't recommend spending money on it. Twisted.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Lifeguard by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another excellent thriller from a very prolific writer. Ned Kelly is trying to make an honest living when the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself. All Ned has to do is set off a few alarms around affluent Palm Springs to keep the police busy while his friends steal three paintings from a specified house. It all goes well until Ned finds out the paintings have already been stolen and the whole thing is a setup. Ned's friends and his girlfriend are murdered, and Ned is on the run from the police and FBI, while trying to find out who set them up (with the help of a female FBI agent who believes his story). It's quite a page turner, though the loyalty of Ned's FBI friend stretches one's belief a bit too far.
TereseRose
Mouthpiece by Edward Hayes
Rating: 5 Stars
Unless you are a Court TV fan, you might walk right past this book! But don't! It is a terrific memoir written by Eddie Hayes, a lawyer and Court TV commentator. But this book is so much more! It is the story of a man who took a difficult life growing up and used what he learned to succeed.
Joe Lin
The Butterfly Trap by Dennis Jon
Rating: 5 Stars
The concept of a travelogue is simple. Travel somewhere --- anywhere, keep a diary of your observations and interactions with people, and then write them in a first-person narrative. But it takes someone of Dennis Jon's relentless curiosity to elevate the pedestrian travelogue into an art form.
With his willingness to go places and do things that the typical travel author dare not --- or at least dare not admit --- his stubborn individuality and insistence on truthfulness, often at his own expense. His refusal to go the route of previous travelers, instead jumping into the abyss with reckless abandon makes THE BUTTERFLY TRAP a unique experience.
His writing is tight, with equal parts description, dialogue, and internal angst. His view of the world is unfiltered and razor sharp, but it is his exposed personal faults that make THE BUTTERFLY TRAP such a fascinating read.
Cheetahsister
The Hatwearer's Lesson by Yolanda Joe
Rating: 2 Stars
A book club choice. The language usage and reference points will tend to resonate with African-American readers, as it reflects our shared culture in many respects. A very linear and unidimensional story line.
Beth Haley (blhaley@qwest.net)
Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
I just recently discovered Koontz --- I didn't realize what I was missing, and now I can't get enough. I just started reading FEAR NOTHING, but it already has me hooked.
Katherine Stephens from Raleigh, NC
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked this. It was suspenseful and, at times, downright scary to know anybody could end up in that situation. When you first meet someone, how do you really know when they are telling the truth?
Corky (cmayo@dppl.org)
The Inside Ring by Michael Lawson
Rating: 5 Stars
I listened to this novel on audio. Scott Brick did the narration, which was excellent. The story was superb --- fast pacing, interesting characters (even the bad guys!), and a great plot. I would highly recommend this first-time author and look forward to more by him.
Kathy V.
Two Harbors by Kate Benson
Rating: 5 Stars
This was the best first novel I have ever read. Her characters are described extremely vividly, as are her town descriptions. I eagerly await her second novel. I would recommend this to all readers!
Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com)
Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot
Rating: 4 Stars
The story of Iliad told from Helen's point of view made for an intriguing read. Enough elements of the tale have been changed to keep it interesting.
Barbara Dormer (bdorm@aol.com)
The Roots of Desire by Marion Roach
Rating: 5 Stars
A must for all redheads! While much of the genetics was beyond me, as a redhead, I found the book compelling. some of the old wives tales I had never heard before.
Diana Thomas (ohiorengril@gmail.com)
Restoration London by Liza Picard
Rating: 4 Stars
Would you like to know what people in the late 1600's used to brush there teeth, or maybe what happened when you were sent to debtors' prison? Reading this very informative book will give you an idea. Liza Picard doesn't just focus on the nobility and upper class of London, she also tries to give the middle class and poor a voice too. She gives you a look into people's everyday lives that is interesting.
K. Aures
The Half Brother by Lars Saabye Christensen
Rating: 4 Stars
A very lengthy book (close to 700 pages), but a page turner!
K. Aures
The Seas by Samantha Hunt
Rating: 4 Stars
Great character development! Very engaging!
Carroll Johnson
Minotaur by Barbara Vine
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. Unrelentingly suspenseful, this almost-Victorian style story of psychological suspense kept me up until I finished it. Ruth Rendel,l aka Barbara Vine, is the finest writer in the English language. The whole of the story vibrates like a tuning fork.
LaDonna
The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. Le Carre is a great author.
puzzlej88 (puzzlej88@yahoo.com)
A Blade Of Grass by Lewis DeSoto
Rating: 5 Stars
A BLADE OF GRASS is set in 1970s African farming land. Two women are left to run the farm. They soon realize that one must do whatever it takes to live from one day to next. I highly recommend this book. I felt like I was one of the women the entire time I was reading. I could see, feel, and smell this land. The author writes in such a way that one can not help but feel they are there.
Kellie Smith (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Rating: 5 Stars
This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is a story of 2 boys who grow up in Afghanastan in the 70's. It takes you through their lives up to 9/11. It is a heartwarming story, very well written. If you read nothing else this year, read this one.
Michelle Miller
Kill me by Stephen White
Rating: 3 Stars
KILL ME is an interesting story, but it jumped around a little too much.
I was bothered by never finding out the main character's name!
Arkansas reader
Last Call by Laura Pedersen
Rating: 5 Stars
Although you are pretty sure of the ending, it won't be like you anticipate. You know from the first page that Hayden has terminal cancer, but what you don't know is how he meets this fact head on. In fact, he helps his friends and family to get through it. There are lots of laughs, absolutely lovable characters that you'd like to know, and yes...even some profound ideas. Don't miss this one. It's a winner.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
In Her Soul by Lorie O'Clare
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the 5th book in the "Lunewulf" series and it is just as good as the previous 4. Adam Knight is an alpha-male (tongue in cheek) and Trudy Rousseau is a strong-willed heroine. Great read.
Bernice (bjohnston@arialink.com)
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Rating: 3 Stars
Don't you get upset when your old favorite good authors start to just slide along --- think Anita Shreve's last three books. Fielding's got an interesting title and little else --- a mishmash of characters with no depth, plus cliched plot lines that make this reader say, "just get it over with." Too bad; waste of talent.
Judy (joswood@msn.com)
The Hunt Club by John Lescroart
Rating: 3 Stars
I really liked the first 1/3 of this book and the last 1/3, but the middle third fell flat. It seemed to be going nowhere at this point. There is a good mystery here, but it is almost hidden for a while. Thus, it could have been shortened by 100 pages and still have a positive impact.
Sandra Furlotte
The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter
Rating: 4 Stars
This is part of the series featuring Inspector Morse, which is set in Oxford. THE WENCH IS DEAD is rather different from others in the series in that it deals with a crime committed in 1859. Morse is laid up in hospital and reads about this century-old crime. The story deals with Morse's recovery and his increasing interest in the death of a young woman in Oxford. This is a great series featuring a very literate hero.
Judy (kiuki_99@yahoo.com)
Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting historical novel about the last days of Rasputin, told through the eyes of his oldest daughter, Maria. Though the story is nothing new, Alexander gives a different perspective of this hated/beloved/feared figure.
Sheila
Queen of the Underworld by Gail Godwin
Rating: 2 Stars
Only my respect for Gail Godwin's talent kept me going to the end. I gather this novel is somewhat autobiographical, a fact I wish I’d known as I read; perhaps I'd have cared more about the irritating Emma.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Infernal by F. Paul Wilson
Rating: 5 Stars
Repairman Jack, Gia, and Vicki return. Jack's dad is killed at the airport luggage carousel when he comes to New York to visit. Tom, Jack's brother sends them all in a tailspin.
Janice Kind (KINDLEELF@AOL.COM)
Dead Run by P.J. Tracy
Rating: 5 Stars
In the genre of mystery, this novel holds all the features. DEAD RUN has a page-turning exciting premise, which is also timely as the war on terror colors everyone's life. The Monkeewrench gang have again stopped a massive attack from happening.
Karyn Johnson
Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book! This is one of the best travel memoirs I've ever read. Alice Steinbach writes about her self re-discovery while traveling alone through Paris, London, Oxford, Tuscany, Venice, and Rome. The postcards that are printed throughout the book are also pretty to look at.
Bernice (bjohnston@arialink.com)
A Family Daughter by Maile Meloy
Rating: 5 Stars
Maile Meloy is a new author not to be missed. Read LIARS AND SAINTS and then her new one. She covers so much territory, and does it with such feeling, truth and direction. This is what writing a novel is all about. She's on my "favorite authors" list.
Sandra Furlotte
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman
Rating: 4 Stars
I am a hugh fan of Tony Hillerman and have read all of his books featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee who are Navaho Tribal Police officers. THE SINISTER PIG is not the best in the series, but it is still a very good read. The story deals with drug smuggling on the New Mexico border, rather than the usual setting of the Four Corners area.
Book Momma
Got The Look by James Grippando
Rating: 3 Stars
I read this for the Miami locale. It's a pretty good read --- a bad guy kidnaps women and asks that the ransom be "what they're worth." If it isn't what he wants, he kills the kidnapped woman.
Book Momma
Sea Change by Robert B. Parker
Rating: 3 Stars
This is typical Parker. I like the Jesse Stone character, but I'm seeing more and more similarities to Spenser, particularly the relationship to the wife. There's too much introspection by the main character, IMO.
Carol from Cleveland
Until I Find You by John Irving
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm on about page 450 of this 800-page book, but I really like it, as I've liked just about every John Irving book I've ever read, starting with THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP. The protagonist starts as a very young boy traveling with his mother, trying to find his Dad, who left them before he was born. The child, Jack Burns, is molested when he is very young for a long period of time, and grows up to be an actor and live, platonically, with his best friend Emma, who is a novelist. I've read that there are elements of autobiography in this, as John Irving was also molested as a child.
Carol from Cleveland
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
I liked this book quite a bit --- the story of a family living in a university town. The father is a professor who's feuding with another professor on arcane art ideas as well as political ones, and has recently had an affair with a colleague. His wife is an independent woman who isn't sure how her life should continue, and their 3 children also have interesting stories. The only negative aspect was that you're left in the middle --- I guess we can't hope for resolution on all fronts, but it would be nice!
Claudia
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Rating: 4 Stars
I loved this book by the author of THE VIRGIN SUICIDES. It's a hard book to describe. It's the story of a hermaphrodite, but also the story of his grandparents who imigrated from a small town in Greece. A real family saga! I loved the quirky characters and didn't want the story to end. If you read and liked this book I would also recommend THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD by Jackson Tippett McCrae.
Corinna (Alize55@aol.com)
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
Rating: 4 Stars
It is hard to rate this book b/c I am only about 1/4 way through. I wanted to comment on it though b/c I really like the style of writing. It is told in a unique way. So far, it seems pretty sad but almost in a positive way. It is about two sisters, one of whom seems to try to always look at the bright side of things. So far, so good!
Corinna (Alize55@aol.com)
Derailed by James Siegel
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a great book full of suspense. The author really kept you guessing and there were a few twists and turns. Always some sort of action ocurring. I would definitely reccomend it. It is also a movie but I have yet to see it.
Lipika F
Riding Through Shadows by Sharon Ewell Foster
Rating: 4 Stars
I have read 2/3 of this novel and am entranced by the tenacity of this broken little girl. Shirley has been stripped of her parents, torn from her Big & Little Uncles and her one same-aged friend, Sheri. Foster's characters react to the Civil Rights Movement and the war in Vietnam, realistically showing how they are affected by each in their daily lives. RIDING THROUGH SHADOWS is so outstanding that I got Foster's PASSING BY SAMARIA to read next.
Bridget
Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander
Rating: 5 Stars
A very interesting novel about a very interesting period in Russsian history.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Lost by Joy Fielding
Rating: 3 Stars
I really thought I was being manipulated in this one by Joy Fielding, but in the end I was in a way, but not the way that I thought. In fact I was getting really tired of Cindy and how she felt about her missing daughter and everything that Cindy was going through to be exact. This book is set in Toronto and area and because I have been there, I did recognize some of the areas she talked about. It is about a daughter that goes missing and what a mom goes through when that happens. She has another daughter and that daughter realizes that she isn't as significant as her sister is and will never be. From the perspective it was very sad. I think the book could have been told in less pages though as it did seem to run just a bit. I do have Puppet on hold at the library and maybe it will come in before too long so I can see if it is better.
Karyn Johnson
Educating Alice: Adventures of a Curious Woman by Alice Steinbach
Rating: 5 Stars
This followup to WITHOUT RESERVATIONS is another wonderful account of Alice Steinbach's experiences living and learning in places all over the world. She spins wonderful stories of people she meets, people from her past that she conjures up into her present, and the histories behind all the wonderful places she visits and things she sees. I highly highly recommend this book. But, only read this after you've read WITHOUT RESERVATIONS.
Marge Kobrin (mrkobrin@aol.com)
Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
Rating: 5 Stars
When visiting Paris, I always wonder how the Parisians know to address me in English, before I say a word. Sarah Turnbull describes her experience of being a foreigner in Paris and discusses why the French interact as they do among themselves and with foreigners. She also gives insight on how to 'look' French.
Linda (linda604b@yahoo.com)
The Divide by Nicholas Evans
Rating: 3 Stars
This book deals with the effects upon family members when the husband leaves looking for happiness elsewhere. The daughter joins an environmental group determined to stop strip mining and its effects upon the land. The son changes from a weakling to a strong individual in his own right.
Diane
S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked the way this story unfolded, and I enjoyed the characters.
Amanda Stepro (Mandy41283@yahoo.com)
Last Witness by Jilliane Hoffman
Rating: 3 Stars
This book was a bit of a disappointment compared to Hoffman's first novel starring the smart prosecutor, Chloe Larson. I feel she focused too much on C.J.'s emotional baggage and not enough on the thrill aspect of the book.
Diane
The Third Secret by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
I liked the story and some of the characters. Another mystery in the Vatican...
Kim Salyer (salyerkd@aol.com)
Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen
Rating: 5 Stars
In 1911, in the tiny town of Olalla, Washington, one woman thought she had the answers that the traditional medical community did not. She was Dr. Linda Hazzard, and her "fasting treatment" was supposedly known the world over. In fact, Dr. Hazzard was a truly evil woman, who set about starving her patients, and then retrieved the contents of their bank accounts in the process.
This book is utterly fascinating. And while I think this phrase is often overused, I simply could not put this book down. When I wasn't reading, I constantly thought about when I would have time to read it again, and at the same time, not wanting it to end.
The journalistic detail in this book is second to none. The reader is completely transported back in time, and into the heart of a dark story. It is hard to believe this story is true, but it makes reading it all the more exciting and fascinating.
While some purists shy away from "true crime", I enjoy it --- but I am extremely selective in what I read. The writing must be as good as the story. STARVATION HEIGHTS does not disappoint in this area. This is investigative reporting and writing at it's best. Fans of true crime will be thrilled to read such a well-written account, and those who don't typically read true crime will find that this story reads like a novel.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I guarantee that for whatever reason you decide to read it, you will NOT be disappointed.
Arianna Hawkins
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Rating: 5 Stars
An out-of-order tale in which everything makes sense in the end! This is a laugh-out-loud novel --- highly recommended to people of all ages over fifteen!
Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com)
Shipping News by E Annie Proulx
Rating: 1 Stars
I'm reading this for a book group. It reads quickly, but is dark and cold. If it weren't for the reading group discussion I'd have quit chapters ago.
marys18
The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz
Rating: 5 Stars
Think of this as an Egyptian GONE WITH THE WIND. This is a hefty-sized family saga encompassing 1917-1935 in Egypt. It is beautifully translated from the Egyptian, and consequently, the language at times may seem a bit stilted. It has great content and portrays cultural attitudes of that time. Despite it's daunting size (over 1300 pages!), I could not stop reading until the end. A super "winter read!"
Julie Towson
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book dramatically entwines the history of the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893 with the true-life account of a serial killer. It makes the reader aware of a newly discovered, little known, history of the fair with all the thrills of bestselling fiction. An all absorbing account that I couldn't put down.
John
Bad Altitude by Jack Leonard
Rating: 5 Stars
Finally! A book that is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Revolving around a flight attendant as he parties all over the world, it combines a love interest in the form of the beautiful Anna with several hilarious passenger incidents. If you add in all the facts --- some amusing, some amazing --- about commercial flying, this one is a brilliant page turner.
Diane
Murder of a Smart Cookie by Denise Swanson
Rating: 3 Stars
A fun read for a snowy weekend. You start with one large yard sale, a few antique dealers looking for a deal, and a body in a liqour cabinet.
Linda (linda604b@yahaoo.com)
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Rating: 5 Stars
Another Kay Hooper novel that you can't put down! People have been disappearing from The Lodge for many years and no one can find any trace. The FBI sends in its best. Who is the bad guy? It keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Great Book.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Courage Tree by Diane Chamberlain
Rating: 4 Stars
A little girl with kidney disease gets lost in the woods and meets up with an aging movie star whose psychopathic daughter has just escaped from jail. A good story that kept me guessing.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a really good book written by a woman who raises huskies. Being a husky owner myself, I was especially interested. The only bad aspect was that she allowed the dogs to roam which I feel is not only illegal, but irresponsible.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Rating: 3 Stars
I've always enjoyed ancient myths and legends and this book looks at The Odyssey from a different point of view --- specifically the wife of Odysseus and the cousin of the beautiful Helen. I enjoyed the book, but sometimes it was a little hard to follow because it jumped back and forth from both after and before the death of Penelope.
Kathy Kasten (kkasten911@yahoo.com)
Pope Joan by Donna Cross
Rating: 4 Stars
Very interesting premise and an altogether enjoyable read.
Bridget
The Little Balloonist by Linda Donn
Rating: 5 Stars
I hate to use words like delightful and charming, but find I simply must when describing this book. I read it off and on over the course of a long Saturday, finding myself neglecting chores to find out what happened next. The main character was a totally sympathetic one. The characters based on real people (Napoleon and Josephine) were presented in a believable way. I hope Ms. Donn writes more fiction, because I would definitely want to read other books by her.
Pat Galas (gummybaba@msn.com)
The Valley of the Horses by Jean M. Auel
Rating: 5 Stars
A great author.
marys18
Half Broken Things by Morag Joss
Rating: 4 Stars
Think of an English "Fargo." This is a rather macabre British mystery that is filled with great discription of characters. It could possibly be faulted for stretching the limits of believability, but is very forgivable for the great storytelling. It would make a very entertaining and visually stimulating movie.
Arianna Hawkins
Od Magic by Patricia A. McKillip
Rating: 5 Stars
I love the way she writes. The reader feels as if on the edge of a dream. The story is a painting made out of words.
Tabitha M.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Rating: 4 Stars
I finally got around to reading this book! I had heard good reviews, and am pleased to announce that they were all right. I did enjoy this suspenseful read; it was a wild ride from Paris to London while searching for the elusive and mysterious Grail.
Christina (pictorvia@aol.com)
Night by Elie Wiesel
Rating: 5 Stars
An absolutely wonderful book!! Mr. Wiesel gives a great account of his time spent in the concentration camps. A must read for anyone, whether you are a history buff or just want to read a good book.
Arianna Hawkins
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an incredible story about one girl and how she makes her life good in the end, even while getting through a tough time through which a lot of girls would fall apart. A heartwarming story, WHERE THE HEART IS will appeal to (mostly) women of any age.
Arianna Hawkins
Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
It's a sweet story, but really, does every one of his books have to end the same way? I mean, okay, it works in most of them... but there was no reason for it, I think, in this particular novel.
Arianna Hawkins
Tales of a Drama Queen by Lee Nichols
Rating: 5 Stars
A much more enjoyable read than other so-called coming of age stories like THE PRINCESS DIARIES. The main character is considerably older than Princess Mia, and that is not saying much. However, the drama queen really is coming of age about ten years too late, and it is a wholly bittersweet and hilarious path in getting there.
Gerry Durisin
Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
I'd actually give 4-1/2 stars to this touching and inspiring memoir. It's not only about the brothers’ three-week trip around the world, but also --- and more importantly --- of their lives together as children in an unusual but remarkably functional family, and as adults starting their own families. Nicholas and Micah Sparks have had to overcome more difficulties than most of us ever face, but are still luckier than many because of the strong bond they’ve developed between them.
Julie Towson (julietowson31@yahoo.com)
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 4 Stars
I don't normally read murder mysteries, but this book kept my interest from the very beginning. There are many plot twists, and it's a real page turner. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Martinez's books in the future.
Gerry Durisin
Sunstroke by Jesse Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
Gloria Mendez has long been in love with her boss, a taciturn man who seems completely unaware of her ardor. When he disappears during his annual vacation to Mexico, Gloria feels compelled to find out how and why. Jesse Kellerman, son of Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, definitely shares his parents’ talent for writing, and this first novel bodes well for more to come.
Gerry Durisin
Most Wanted by Michele Martinez
Rating: 3 Stars
Prosecutor Melanie Vargas stumbles --- literally --- onto a homicide while out walking with her six-month-old daughter. Seeing this case as one that could make her career, she insinuates herself into the investigation, but finds her progress hampered by apparent leaks --- if not outright tampering --- from someone on the inside. Melanie is an interesting character, but needs more development if this is going to become a viable series.
Gina
Sea Change by Robert B Parker
Rating: 5 Stars
As with the "Spenser" and "Sunny Randall" mysteries, I am hooked on Jesse Stone too. SEA CHANGE delivers the right amount of mystery and love. In further developing the relationship between Jesse and Jen, I once again cannot wait for the next one!
Gerry Durisin
A Kiss From Maddalena by Christopher Castellani
Rating: 2 Stars
Set in Italy during World War II, this novel started off strong, but seemed to lose focus in the middle and dwindled to an unsatisfying ending. Still, I’m told that the sequel, taking place in Wilmington, Delaware (my home town) after Maddalena and her husband emigrate to America, is better, so I’ll look forward to reading it soon.
Arianna Hawkins
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
For anyone who likes fantasy combined with royal intrigue, this is the book for you. Lords battle for the throne, while across the sea, an exiled queen makes her way in life. These take place at the same time as dark forces are gathering again after hundreds of years.
Amanda Stepro (Mandy41283@yahoo.com)
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was absolutely amazing. I have never come across a book that held my attention or got my heart beating quite as fast. Now, not only do I want to read everything Dan Brown has written, I want to visit Italy and see all the places where the action took place! Great novel!
L. Hann
A Cup of Comfort by Colleen Sell
Rating: 5 Stars
Great stories to lift your spirits. I laughed and cried, but it reminded me to stop and really breathe in life.
L. Hann
No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 5 Stars
Love it!! I am an avid reader and just love Mary Higgins Clark. It amazes me what a great writer she is.
Aileen
Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this little book. It was my first book by Berg (certainly not my last), and it was a very good, quick read. I will definitely be reading the sequel, JOY SCHOOL.
Linda.H.
Her Frog Prince by Shirley Jump
Rating: 5 Stars
I am about 7 chapters into this book and I must say this is a very very GOOOOOOD book. I love it. It's an excellent love story. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more by her. Shirley Jump is a great writer and I highly recommend HER FROG PRINCE.
Heather Gill, Australia
Mr Clarinet by Nick Stone
Rating: 4 Stars
A great suspenseful novel to read --- it gets you in from the first page to the last! Don't be alone at night to read it!
Heather Gill, Australia
The Rosary Girls - A Novel of Suspense by Richard Montanari
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great scary novel to read and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last
Marilyn Shoemaker (Seattle Snoops)
Wedding Vow of Revenge by Lucy Monroe
Rating: 5 Stars
WEDDING VOW OF REVENGE is passionate, provocative, and sensitive. I couldn’t put it down once I began Angelo and Tara’s journey. Yet again, Lucy Monroe entertains her readers with another incredible story.
Mel
Alone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
Riveting, suspenseful and shocking! A real page turner that won't let you down.
Connie Rutter (consurutte@aol.com)
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book and thought it was one of the best I have read by Nora Roberts. It is set in Alaska --- in a town called Lunacy --- and has wonderful characters. The narrator brought this book to life for me. A Boston police officer, who was involved in a shooting that killed his partner, takes a job as Chief Of Police and his rules and order have the town in an uproar. He has some bad depression days and the people of the town can see this, but they leave him alone. His way of policing is sometimes funny to the community and I didn't fully grasp who had committed the murder, but I did have an idea. The mayor and many of the Lunatics in this small town are hysterical, but Nate came to love each and everyone of them. As time goes on so, does his darkness. I would highly recommend this book.
Lee
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Rating: 4 Stars
Goodness, what a great story. Just as I was starting to think that I knew it all... BAM! Didn't see that one coming. I'm only about 1/2 through it but can't put it down. A lot of chasing, shooting, some murder, and lots of history.
I will say that I have tried to read the Amber Room twice and just can't get into it. This seems like a different read.
Maureen
The Finishing School by Michele Martinez
Rating: 5 Stars
Melanie Vargas makes this book great. She is a federal prosecutor who is investigating the deaths of two girls and the disappearance of another from a prestigious private school.
Jen (pekepooh@aol.com)
Got the Look by James Grippando
Rating: 5 Stars
I won this book here. It is so good I cannot put it down. The story flows well and is well plotted. It is a suspense book, which is my favorite genre. You will not go wrong with this.
Heather Gill, Australia
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
A great novel to read. It is full of suspense and mystery from the first page to the last! I'll be back for more of Greg's books!
Lew (mipalew@aol.com)
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Fascinating analysis of our subconcious in making decisions. Very entertaining to read.
Kristina (Luckistarr4@msn.com)
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Rating: 4 Stars
I haven't gotten into it much yet but the descriptions so far are unbelievable!!
Sally (SalbyC@aol.com)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is fantastic --- the best of the series to date, in my opinion. Rowling's writing just gets better and better as she grows with Harry and friends. I anticipate her next and final book in this series, but it will be very difficult for her readers to come to the end of this chronicle.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Rating: 3 Stars
Don't let the size of this book scare you --- it's over 1500 pages long. It is about arranged marriages in India. I found it fascinating and compelling, and I enjoyed learning about this other culture. A very good read!!!!
Jenne
Almost Perfect Moment by Binnie Kirshenbaum
Rating: 3 Stars
The author is a talented writer but the plot seems mostly predictable. The mother of the main character seems to be the most interesting character so far, but the book doesn't really explore her character that much. I think I would have preferred to have the story told from the mother's point of view all the way through. There is a lot of religious symbolism in the book and I will finish it.
Dale A. Wellman
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
A good light read. It is a sequel to ODD THOMAS, which I also liked. This book follows Odd into a strange adventure and his thoughts throughout the book are interesting and sometimes enlightening.
Lisa Guidarini (lguidarini@aapld.org)
Murkmere by Patricia Elliott
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is an example of how intelligent young adult fantasy can be, and should be a benchmark by which others in the genre are judged. It is completely intoxicating, and engaging to the point you let dinner burn on the stove as you can't bear to put it down! It is, as the saying goes, a "thumping good read."
Borrowing from the gothic tradition of literature, _Murkmere_ is a great brooding, dark sort of book. It's dark in the way _Wuthering Heights_ is, with the setting being as much a dominating force as any of the characters. It also reminds me of the wonderful Gormenghast series of books, to the extent I wonder if Elliott wasn't influenced by them. The imagery is just gorgeous, and allows even this jaded adult reader to completely lose all sense of the outside world while reading it.
The characters are brilliantly drawn and sympathetic from the start, and the use of myth and legend is done with just the right touch. Elliott writes with such a graceful flair, and never falls into the trap of being self-conscious. You can tell she believes in what she's writing, which makes the magic of it all absolutely take flight.
I read a fair amount in this area of fiction, and aside from the Harry Potter books and a few other gems I haven't found anything at all that's as completely consuming as this book. I can only hope Ms. Elliott keeps writing, and the more prolific she is the better! A brilliant book. If there were a higher than 5 star rating I would give it!
Whip me, beat me
Suite Fantasy by Janice Maynard
Rating: 3 Stars
A book of three erotic romance tales. The first story is good but the next two stories leave a lot to be desired. No pun intended.
Liza
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a story of a family falling apart after the father's accidental death. Two teenage daughters and a young son handle the tragedy differently, and the book focuses on the middle daughter, who is drawn into a sexual relationship with a much older friend of the family. Creepy reading during the seduction, but the book was enjoyable.
Rachael
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Rating: 4 Stars
I really liked this book. It starts off a little slow in present time, but once the flashbacks start, the book gets better. I heard Amy Tan rewrote parts of the book after it was written. It definitely feels like two different books, between the flashbacks and present time. It's a really good book though, so I recommend it.
Heather Gill, Australia
Gone by Lisa Gardner
Rating: 5 Stars
A great novel full of suspence and thrills all the way through! I will be reading it a second time as I enjoyed it very much!
Jacki Sanders (j20sanders@yahoo.com)
True Speed, My Racing Life by Tony Stewart, with Bones Bourcier
Rating: 5 Stars
If you are a Tony Stewart fan, this is the book to read!!!! He is a true CHAMPION!!!!
Rachael
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 3 Stars
This book had a lot of hype around it. It was good, but it didn't blow me away. Too many questions were left unanswered and I just wasn't thrilled with this book.
Elle Schueler
Do they Wear Heels in Heaven? by Erica Orloff
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the story of Lizzie, a reporter who gets a mamogram done for a story.
After the proceedure she is diagnosed with breast cancer. This is her story --- as told thru her voice and the voice of her best friend ) who is gay, Michael.
The story is lighthearted and entertaining. Erica Orloff does not get "into" the disease --- this is the story of a woman who finds out she has a deadly form of cancer and how she deals with her life on a somewhat lighthearted side ( including finding romance while she is bald) and enjoying what life she has left to live.
The book was excellent --- I would rate it five stars.
Susan Curtis
Joy Comes In the Morning by Jonathan Rosen
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading this book.
It dealt with the same questions I am asking myself --- where does my religion fit in my life? Is my religion so important to me and how do I fit with the rest of the nation?
When I first found out I had to read this for a book club, I wasn't interested, but I changed my mind after 50 pages.
Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net)
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Rating: 5 Stars
Lindsay Boxer is back again in a page-turning suspense-filled ride with this fifth book in the "Women's Murder Club" series.
Edna King-Miller
Looking for Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky
Rating: 5 Stars
Delinsky is one of my favorite authors, and she doesn't fall short in this one. The people in a small town are sure it was the model for Peyton Place, and when a well-known author comes home to visit, rumors fly that she has come to recreate the scandalous novel using the characters that live in her hometown. No one trusts that she has no such plan. Delinsky never fails to please, and I think this is one of her best books.
Marsha
Falls the Shadow by William Lashner
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a brilliant and clever legal thriller that is very absorbing and thoroughly engaging.
Dick (jawadana@gmail.com)
Driving Down the 101 by Jawa & Dana
Rating: 5 Stars
The FUNNIEST book I have ever read. Characters are unique, situations are unusual and hilarious. This is, by far, the funniest thing since Seinfeld.
Edna King-Miller
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a true story of a Chinese girl who was shunned and humiliated by her stepmother and 2 of her brothers. The period is before the Cultural Revolution, and Adeline is sent to an orphanage, then to a Catholic school, where she is all but forgotten by her family. When Mao Tse-Tung comes into power, her aunt finally rescues her, and she is sent to school in the U.S. where she becomes a doctor. Even then, she isn't free from torment by her family. I was outraged and angry at the things she had to go through before she finally received a measure of justice.
Noreen Brown
Malpractice in Maggody by Joan Hess
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoy this book, as I've read the whole series. It's just a fun book with a mystery thrown in. For newcomers, I'd suggest starting with the first book because there are lots of unusual characters in Maggody.
MIMI KLEIN
NNNNN by Carl Reiner
Rating: 5 Stars
This is one of the funniest books I've read. Carl Reiner is known for his great wit; this book does not disappoint. It also is one of the most unusual stories I've read.
Debra Czarnogursky (d.czarnogursky@comcast.net)
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Rating: 4 Stars
A great romantic suspense, a real page turner.
Gary
Driving Down the 101 by Jawa & Dana
Rating: 5 Stars
AMAZING!!!
Aarti
Goblin Moon by Teresa Edgerton
Rating: 5 Stars
Sadly, this book is out of print, but any lover of fantasy and historical fiction should snatch it up if ever he/she sees it! Edgerton is a dash of Georgette Heyer coupled with Dorothy Dunnett, with a hint of magic thrown in. Her hero is Scarlet Pimpernel-esque and her heroine is wonderfully down-to-earth.
The story takes place in an alternate Georgian England, with hobgoblins and gnomes, fairies and trolls. The plot isn't so complicated as in most fantasies, and so Edgerton is able to do what so few fantasy authors are able to do --- write a wonderfully "alive" book in less than 300 pages.
GOBLIN MOON is the first book in a duology --- the second is called THE GNOME'S ENGINE. I haven't yet read the second, but I'm eagerly anticipating its arrival in the mail, and I fully intend to snatch it up, drop whatever I'm reading then, and read it through to the end!
Karen of Wellington, FL
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved the comfort in which the author wrote about this Pennsylvania Polish family living in a mining town. Being of PA-Polish descent, I could FEEL what she was writing about. The characters were believeable and reminded me of some of my Dad's family. Great story, entertaining.
Peggy Kincaid (cali8@verizon.net)
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Rating: 4 Stars
This book has the feel of a Steve Berry book. It isn't quite as fast moving but I still find it easy to get lost in while riding to work and back. I love history and puzzles and this one fits very well into that arena.
Peggy Kincaid (cali8@verizon.net)
The Finishing School by Michele Martinez
Rating: 5 Stars
I like Melanie Vargas, and I mean I really like her style. She is very young mother but she has more courage than most people her age, as well as a strong desire to see justice done. This often brings her up against her own bosses, but it is that drive that makes Ms. Martinez's books so good. We all want to be Melanie Vargas. This is one lawyer everyone loves and roots for.
Janelle (aaronandjanellehoos@yahoo.ca)
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
James Patterson never disappoints! I loved this book. There was a lot of character development for Dr. Alex Cross and the plot was fast paced and kept me interested. I read it in 3 hours.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Girls Dinner Club by Jessie Elliot
Rating: 2 Stars
A fast read, but a typical teen romance. It would have been cool if it had recipes.
A. Thomas
The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm only a chapter into this one since I started it last night, but it's flowing nicely and has the potential to keep me hooked to finish it over the weekend.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Darkhenge by Catherine Fisher
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent psychological fantasy. It's aimed at teens, but I think most adults will enjoy it for an easy read.
Margarita (mhaury2@aol.com)
Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger
Rating: 4 Stars
I love knitting and I love murder mysteries, so I was prepared to love this book! I wasn't disappointed, although it did contain a few silly cliches. However, it was very satisfying altogether and I will definitely seek out the next installment.
Janelle (aaronandjanellehoos@yahoo.ca)
Sick of Shadows by Marion Chesney
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the third in the "Edwardian Murder Mystery" series. I thought it was wonderful. Marion Chesney also writes the "Agatha Raisin" and "Hamish MacBeth" series as M.C. Beaton. I love these books for a few reasons. The historical aspect adds a lot of color and interest. The main character, Lady Rose Summer, is great. She is spunky and independent. As a reader, you are really rooting for her to get together with Captain Cathcart. A great read!
Rachael
Cliffs of Despair: A Journey to the Edge by Tom Hunt
Rating: 5 Stars
I plucked this book off the "Discover Great New Writers" shelf at Barnes & Noble because the cover intrigued me. The story is as haunting and hypnotic as the cover photo: a sheer precipice against a backdrop of endless sea and sky. With writing that is both fresh and perceptive, Cliffs tells the story of Beachy Head, England whose cliffs comprise the third most popular suicide spot in the world. You wouldn't think there'd be so much to tell about people jumping off a cliff, but Hunt (compelled to investigate this topic by a suicide in his own family) explores the network of people that are touched by the deaths at Beachy Head — from family members to cab drivers to rescue workers to coroners. He even profiles an eccentric “white witch,” as well as a man who jumped and survived. Through the eyes of these characters (th |
