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Bonnie
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
Rating: 3 Stars
This was an okay story. It was well-written, but the bottom line is that I really never was involved with the characters. I easily could have put the book down halfway through and have been done with it.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great one by George! This was about Barbara and her Pakistani neighbor. He is called away to the beach to help out a family in crisis, and she figures out through press releases that he is there to help his family with the murder of their future son-in-law. Since she is on leave to recover from her injuries from the last book, she decides to go to the coast to see what’s going on. The lead investigator, Emily, lets her in on the case and it takes off from there. This is strictly about Havers. Lynley and Helen are on their honeymoon, and St. James and Deborah do not appear. The plot revolves around the relationship between the Pakistanis and the local British who are trying to live in harmony in this coastal town. The murder exposes true prejudices, and Barbara ends up in the middle. George is a master at mystery and suspense. Her plots are so intricate, she weaves her way to grab your attention and you are caught in the web till the end. She has become one of my favorite authors.
Shana D.
Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook by Martha Stewart
Rating: 4 Stars
Feel like you should be cleaning your house when you'd rather stay lost in your novel? Grab a copy of MARTHA STEWART'S HOMEKEEPING HANDBOOK and you will be motivated to clean! I got my copy as a gift from my mother-in-law (a hint, perhaps?) and I enjoyed reading it. Martha's essential guide takes you room by room through not just cleaning, but also organization and upkeep. It's so much more than what I expected from the 744-page tome. With my house now sparkling and organized, I feel free to delve into pleasure reading.
Valerie Furr (BahamaValF@aol.com)
Schools Out - Forever by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This series about the Angel children is fasinating. It holds your interest and keeps you wanting more. This last one was great. I could not wait to see the ending, which was right up there with James Patterson's writing --- exciting to the end.
Judy O.
Stripped by Brian Freeman
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a gripping suspense novel by the author of IMMORAL. A woman was murdered 40 years ago in Las Vegas, and it was never solved. Now a serial killer is on the loose, and it looks like these new murders have ties to the one so many years ago. Exciting reading.
Janice Halinar
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
John Grisham's first nonfiction work deals with the justice system (or lack thereof) in a small town in Oklahoma. The extent of corruption is almost unbelievable, if not for the extensive research done by the author. This book will shake your trust in our justice systems.
Leeann Roy
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Rating: 5 Stars
Any Kurt Vonnegut fan will be delighted with the dark, yet witty social commentaries that are written within MOTHER NIGHT's pages. The fictional novel poses a challenge to our moral sense. Along this literary journey, you struggle to define the line between good and evil, reasonable and unjust. As in most Vonnegut novels, a strong message resonnates: we are what we pretend to be, so be careful of what we pretend to be.
M. Blitz
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
What a book. I love the story line about a man named Odd. He can see dead people. He feels things that the average person can't and tries with every turn to make the world better by trying to stop tragedy.
M. Blitz
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating: 5 Stars
In this 2nd book in a series, Odd tries to save a good friend after tragedy enters his own life. More challenges for the young man who sees the dead.
Sandy
The Ha-Ha by Dave King
Rating: 4 Stars
A national bestseller of extraordinary emotional power: When a mute war veteran opens his home to a young boy, he gets a glimpse of life outside his shell --- with all its exuberant joys and crushing sorrows.
Mariebeth
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
A great concept of each life effecting another.
Marsha
The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Sloman
Rating: 3 Stars
Very detailed, dense and sometimes plodding, but this biography has every fact you can imagine about the famous man and his exploits.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoy Clark's books and this one was just as thrilling as the others. The story line is about the fashion world and New York, as well as young love and old love. It's great.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Sweetwater Creek by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 3 Stars
This is about the coming of age for a motherless girl. It's a touching story of the South, complete with eccentric characters, hunting, dogs, alcohol, and loose women. I love the subplot about the Boykin spaniel dogs from South Carolina.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Short Straw by Stuart Woods
Rating: 3 Stars
I normally enjoy Stuart Woods, but this is not one of his better novels. It's a tale of California, Mexico, greed, money, and hate. It's interesting what people will do for power and money.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a lesson in the world of con artists and spies. It was my first Baldacci novel, and I thought it was very good. I loved the characters and the detail. This was a thriller from beginning to end --- I could actually feel the spy breathing down my neck.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Wild Fire by Nelson Demille
Rating: 5 Stars
John Corey is back, in his usual knuckle-dragging, politically incorrect, and hilarious form. What he is up against is not so funny. A group of very wealthy and powerful men have a plan to rid the world of Muslim terrorism for good. They intend to arrange for Operation Wild Fire, a plan in which the U.S. automatically launches up to 122 nuclear missiles at Muslim cities and holy places if ever a Muslim terrorist detonates a nuclear weapon on U.S. soil. The problem: no such act has occured, so they intend to set off their own nukes, purchased from dealers in the old Soviet Union. They can then place the blame on Muslim terrorists and sit back to watch their own nuclear Armageddon unfold.
Brenda
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
This book was an enjoyable read. If you are looking for something light and quick to read, this is for you. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something with substance and with characters you really get to know, this is not for you. I have been a fan of Mary Higgins Clark for years. This book (while I know it's a collaboration with her daughter) didn't really live up to what I've come to expect from her. I did not feel there was much emotion and it ended before it ever really got started. It's good, if you're not looking for much depth.
Jodi
Pretense by Lori Wick
Rating: 4 Stars
This just happened to be a book I saw on the shelf of the library when I was looking for Susan Wiggs. It is such a good book. It follows a family as they are tested and dealt w/ some hard knocks from life. Don't let the size of the book scare you away, you will breeze through it because you can't put it down.
Marsha
Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
Linda Fairstein gets better with each novel. Not only does she keep you on the edge of your seat with suspense, but she manages to introduce you to a subject (this time, the tunnel system history and the story of the sandhogs who built them). She leaves you excited about the next Alexandra Cooper novel.
T. Thomas
Kate: The Woman Who was Hepburn by William J. Mann
Rating: 3 Stars
Interesting but long winded.
T. Thomas (toythomas@tx.rr.com)
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Rating: 4 Stars
Interesting and different.
Kay Keller
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Rating: 4 Stars
Enjoyable, but the plot develops at a much slower pace than other books by this author.
Marsha
Web of Evil by J. A. Jance
Rating: 4 Stars
This tale of suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's an enjoyable read as the heroine overcomes several obstacles as she becomes the prime suspect in a tangled web.
Linda
The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved THE RULES OF SEDUCTION and highly recommend it to all!
Linda
Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James
Rating: 5 Stars
In her debut novel, Eloisa James brings a fresh new look to the regency romance. This was an intelligent, funny, charming portrait of a less-than-perfect hero and the woman who captures his heart. I laughed out loud, I cried when he broke her heart, I LOVED it!
Linda
Anyone But You by Jennifer Cruise
Rating: 5 Stars
I laughed so hard while reading this book that people were edging away from me on the bus. Nina, newly 40 and freshly divorced, adopts a basset hound, the very unperky Fred. Then she meets her sexy younger neighbor and sparks fly. This is probably one of the most witty, enjoyable romances I've ever read. Highly recommended!
Noreen Brown
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 4 Stars
This book should be required reading for everyone. If it were fiction, it would be hard to believe... but it's true.
Fran
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi
Rating: 5 Stars
This is my first experience with a book by this author and I am absolutely loving this family saga. It is the first in a trilogy that traces the life of Celia Lytton and her family during the 20s. I cannot put it down! I can't wait to get my hands on the other two books to find out more about this family! What a fun read!
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
Rating: 5 Stars
When three friends of Tom Dunleavy are shot execution-style after a minor altercation between a white and a black player, Tom finds himself in the unenviable position of having to defend another friend, Dante Halleyville, who is accused of the murders. Tom knows Dante would never have committed the crime, but how to convince a town that wants a noose around Dante's neck is a real problem. The plot twist at the end is great.
Linda
Getting Rid Of Bradley by Jennifer Cruise
Rating: 5 Stars
A very fun read. I like her humor and find her romances to be very entertaining. I highly recommend this book. I am addicted to Jennifer Cruise's books now.
Louise Hintz
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
Rating: 5 Stars
Hampton Sides is a historian, but writes like a novelist. This book chronicles the life of Kit Carson while relating the history of the Santa Fe Trail, the Manifest Destiny, the Navajo Long Walk, and the US invasion of New Mexico and California. There is no revisionist history, but there is an explanation of events based on thinking and attitudes of the times.
Lindy
Ransom by Julie Garfield
Rating: 5 Stars
If you enjoy Scottish novels, the medieval historical genre, or great romance, this is for you.
Gilliam and her sister Cristen were young girls when Baron Alford murdered their father for a trinket box filled with jewels. Gilliam finds a home with a relative, but when she is older, Baron Alford goes after her to see if she knows where King John's jewel box is hidden. She travels to Scotland to find her sister, who she thinks had it last when they escaped their father's castle. In Scotland, she finds love.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Stone Maiden by Tina Gerow
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was a great supernatural read with plenty of action and adventure. I loved the characters Ariel and Logan, along with Ariel's three sisters, James, Gabriel and Alonna. All of the gargoyles, angels, vampires, zombies and fairies made for a fabulous fantasy read and kept me entertained and enthralled. This is the first book of Ms. Gerow's that I've read and I look forward to reading FIRE MAIDEN with sister, Kefira's story. I'm hoping there is a series with the other two sisters, and of course, I'd love to read James' story too.
Maria Bongiovanni (mariabong@cox.net)
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a true story of four young children who were raised by parents who were not very responsible. The father would often drink and waste all the money for food and rent. Their mother had no rules and felt that children needed to learn to take care of themselves, including the baby. They would live from town to town, in broken-down shacks, on the street, and everywhere else. Jeannette tells how the children rose above all that and became prosperous. This is a fantastic book and I would recommend it highly.
Darryl
Blood and Fire by Roy Hattersley
Rating: 4 Stars
Everyone is familiar with Salvation Army bell ringers at this time of year. Here is the remarkable story of how William and Catherine Booth, both seemingly with no qualifications to handle any kind of large organization, created and developed a hugely successful international outreach of hands-on Christianity.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Master of Desire by Jessica Trapp
Rating: 5 Stars
This delicious can’t-stop-reading medieval romance was a fast and enjoyable read. The plot is great and the characters are likeable --- in fact, Gabriel is absolutely irresistible. I was enchanted with the sensuality and humor ("Some things in life are not nearly as pleasant done alone.").
Betty Jo Harris (harrises@bayou.com)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5 Stars
This book, narrated by Death, is one of the most unusual books I have read in years. Don't miss this holocaust story.
Jane H. (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 5 Stars
Faye is the master of mystery. This is a very good thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.
Lindy
The Gods of Newport by John Jakes
Rating: 5 Stars
Set in the gilded age of Newport, RI in the late 1800s, this is a blcokbuster detailing the excesses, class struggles, and greed of the rich and not so rich.
It is the story of Sam Driver, a railroad mogul in the days after the Civil War, and his daughter Jenny, whom he hopes to marry off to at least a count.
This is a very intersting study of this period in Newport when the fabulous summer cottages were built by the very wealthy and socially prominent.
Lindy
The Short Forever by Stuart Woods
Rating: 5 Stars
Another book in the wonderful Stone Barirngton series set in London. A new client, John Bartholomew, approaches Stone to investigate his "niece" Erica and her boyfriend Lance Cabot, whom he suspects of being a drug dealer. Stone finds her, but she is not Bartholomew's niece. The pace is fast and interesting, with a brief spot by former gal pal, Arrington, and Sarah, the artist he lived with for a short time.
Rita
Helen of Troy by Margaret George
Rating: 3 Stars
This interesting really makes Helen and Paris come alive. However, it becomes tedious at times.
Rita
The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
Rating: 1 Stars
Don't bother. If there is a plot, I could not discover it.
Rita
The Messenger by Daniel Silva
Rating: 4 Stars
This is an excellent book, though it is not difficult to determine the author's agenda. Still, I like Silva's works because they are tense but not gruesome. This book concerns the tracking down of international terrorists, especially those who fund the operations.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Master of Pleasure by Jessica Trapp
Rating: 5 Stars
A fun romantic read that draws you in immediately with likeable characters and an entertaining story line, with great detail to the time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it all in one sitting.
Judy O.
Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh
Rating: 4 Stars
This book contains an "ensemble cast" of characters. They are Hollywood cops going about their daily duties. At times, the book is serious --- especially when abused kids are the problem. At other times, the book is hilarious, as it was in the scene with the crazies at Grauman's Chinese Theater. It's a satisfying read and shouldn't be missed.
Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia (dglg@telus.net)
Summer At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Rating: 4 Stars
Another great read by Susan Wiggs.This book tells the story of a young woman who spends the summer helping to rennovate her grandparents' summer camp for their 50th wedding anniversary. The story flashes back to the past when she is a young, overweight, insecure child spending her summers at the camp and dealing with her parents' divorce. She meets the boy of her dreams, only to have her heart broken. Now all grown up and successful, she is reunited with that same boy from her past at the camp. The story swings from her past to the present and weaves in family secrets. A great story with a happy ending!
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Rating: 4 Stars
This was an incredible book. Not only was it about the Andrea Gail, which was totally lost at sea, but it was also the story of other life-threatening experiences during this horrendous “Halloween Storm,” like the 5 men in the National Guard that had to be rescued from the water and the 3 people aboard the sailboat headed to Bermuda. Junger gave a very detailed and eery description of what it's like to drown. He also portrayed what life is like in a fishing town, whose citizens are a very close knit, keep-to-themselves kind of group. I think he was lucky to get anyone to talk. In a way, I was kind of glad I saw the movie first. I at least had a vision of what it was really like, even if some of it was speculation. I'm glad I read this.
Sharon Gomez
A Tourist in the Yucatan by James McNay Brumfield
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked up this book after seeing it recommended on Word of Mouth a month or so ago, and I am glad I did! It's a cool thriller mystery set in an exotic locale that tells the story of a young gringo couple that gets into some trouble down in Mexico. The book also includes great info on Mayan ruin sites!
Sandy
A Case of Need by Michael Crichton
Rating: 4 Stars
One of Michael Crichton's older books that was very good. A pathologist turns detective to save his friend from going to jail for murder.
Marsha
Notting Hell by Rachel Johnson
Rating: 3 Stars
Morally bankrupt, these wealthy women who seemingly "have it all" compete for everything. These wickedly funny capers will amuse you and you'll feel like a voyeur in Notting Hell.
Marsha
Homeland by Clare Francis
Rating: 3 Stars
In 1946, servicemen are returning to Britain to find shortages and a desperate housing crisis. The unexpected arrival of the soldiers of the Second Polish Corps is regarded with much impatience and suspicion as they compete with jobs and settle into a new life.
Frances Robson
Life Guard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 5 Stars
This book kept me awake long after my bedtime, for I could not wait to see what was on the next page. The twists and turns in the plot are great.
Roxie
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a nonfiction book based on a girl growing up in the 60s and 70s and her highly dysfunctional family. It reads like fiction. It will literally make you laugh out loud, and your heart will hurt for the family. A must read!!
Rita Carter (gandmari@aol.com)
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of 2 sisters, one a "power player" and the other a social worker. It illustrates their interaction and how they handle turmoil in their life. The book had a good story line, but the end seemed to be lacking... as if she said, "Ok, story's over, let's wrap it up." I felt like the characters could have been filled out more, but all in all, it was a good read.
Roxie
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a quick easy read about a young girl whose mother dies and her father is an alcoholic. It's the story of what she goes through trying to find a family that loves her after it's no longer safe living with her father. This is a book that will make you laugh and cry. It follows THE LIFE ALL AROUND ME BY ELLEN FOSTER, which is also good, but not quite as good as the first.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
I read this the morning after Christmas. It was an enjoyable quick read. I am usually not a fan of Mary Higgins Clark but this one kept my attention. It's the story of a family who is in New York for Christmas. The father has leukemia and is having an operation to remove his spleen. The mother and two boys, Brian and Michael, are spending some time looking at the Christmas decorations in the city. Taking a break from the tension, they are watching a fiddler play Christmas carols. When the younger boy, Brian, sees a young girl pick up his mom's wallet that has fallen out of her purse, he follows the girl because the wallet contains a special metal he wants to give to his father for Christmas. He doesn't realize he is beginning a dangerous journey that will eventually take him hundreds of miles away from safety with an escaped convict. If you are looking for a quick, suspensful, heartwarming story, this is a good one to try!
Jud Hanson
Twice Shy by Dick Francis
Rating: 4 Stars
This is another oldie but goodie by Dick Francis from the earlier 80s. The plot is centered around a computer program written in BASIC to assist gamblers with betting on horse races. It's well written and engaging through the end. I recommend this book to all Francis fans.
JAZZY
Deep Inside LiteBlue by Ronald Williams
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is a dynamic story about the post office. The same type of stuff goes on in lots of organizations. The author kept the story interesting and full of life. It is short and packed full of discussion. Highly recommended to all readers. Everyone can relate to the mail in one way or another. The author expresses a desire for change and teamwork in an outdated world. There is also a great webpage with more details and comments at deepinsideliteblue.com
Sally B., San Antonio TX
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
Rating: 3 Stars
A journalist recalls his childhood in a New York neighborhood and the bar that affected his life. Men would probably like this story better than I did. The ending did have some redeeming qualities, though.
Christy
Sugarplums and Scandal by Various Authors
Rating: 3 Stars
Lori Avocatos's short story was the best one in the book. I love her series and loved this story! Suzanne Macpherson's also was cute, but I didn't care for the rest. And, I just can' t read Mary Daheim's writing.
Ruby
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Rating: 4 Stars
I am currently reviewing an advance reader's copy of HEART-SHAPED BOX, and so far, I am enjoying the story. It's very different from anything I have read before --- an aging, has-been goth musician buys a ghost at an online auction site, then realizes that the ghost arranged the sale pre-mortem in order to seek revenge on the musician. The progtagonist, despite his macabre lifestyle, is actually a sympathetic character and I am having trouble putting the novel down. It seems that there is no escape for Jude, the musician, from the ghost and one spontaneous purchase has turned his life into a ticking time bomb.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Lights and The Beautiful Lady by Louis and Betty Guenther
Rating: 5 Stars
I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to possess this book for the short time I have it. Reading it was humbling. It truly is a reminder of the spirit and the human sacrifice of the men who fought for the allied forces during World War II.
It is an actual account of an American soldier who was shot down in battle and became a prisoner of war in a German POW camp. It was published by the family of the soldier. This book was sent to me as a bookray from bookcrossing.com.
It is available from Lulu.com in both a hardcover and a paperback edition.
Peggy Soler
Last Kiss Goodbye by Rita Herron
Rating: 4 Stars
The book is about an innocent man who is incarcerated for 15 years for a crime he did not commit. Through DNA testing, he is finally released and returns to his home town in search of the real killer. The story continues with more murders, cults, voodoo magic and raging hormones sparking.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Deck The Halls by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
This wasn't bad. I am not particularly a fan of Mary Higgins Clark and have never read Carol, but I enjoyed this. It was a quick book with suspense, mystery and romance. Three days before Christmas, Luke Reilly, the owner of a string of funeral homes, and his young female driver, Rosita Gonzalez, are kidnapped for ransom. Luke is married to Nora Regan Reilly, a bestselling mystery writer, and they are parents to Regan Reilly --- Carol Higgins Clark's series detective (TWANGED, etc.). Regan gets on the case at once, but she doesn't make much headway until she pairs up with Alvirah Meegan, the cleaning woman-turned-private eye after winning a $40-million lottery in Mary Higgins Clark's WEEP NO MORE, MY LADY. Regan and Alvirah meet at the dentist's office where her father was suppose to be. Meanwhile, Luke and Rosita remain chained on a small boat offshore from New Jersey. Here it gets a little comical. The kidnappers are complete idiots and, as a reader, you wonder what's taking so long for them to get caught. Not a bad read for the holidays! I liked it.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Rating: 3 Stars
I was told this is a fabulous book --- which I never did see. I saw a lovable, but destructive dog. I am a cat person, so maybe I missed something. Yes, I have endured problems with the cats.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler
Rating: 3 Stars
This was not stellar work from Tyler. It is rare that I don’t like the main character, but I thought that in this story, Justine was weak. She should have left Duncan, her husband and her first cousin, years ago. He is a total loser and can’t stay with a job. When he does find something he is interested in, it is only a matter of time before he gets bored. The drinking and solitare starts up until he finds something to settle the restlessness. The whole family, including the aunts, the uncles, and the cousins are dysfunctional. The title, “Searching for Caleb” literally is the search of Caleb, a long lost relative, by Daniel, Justine's Grandfather. Caleb is his brother who left home when he was really young, and was never heard from again. Caleb and Meg --- Justine’s daughter --- are the only ones able to leave the family and the strong ties that bound them all together. This story was choppy and jumped around a lot. I struggled through this book and was happy to finish it.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Big Shuffle by Laura Pedersen
Rating: 3 Stars
I felt dismayed that this young lady undertakes caring for all her brothers and sisters and the house when the father dies and the mother suffers a breakdown. What valor and comedy. In the end, all works out.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Rating: 5 Stars
I was told this would be good and was not disappointed. It's a black man's viewpoint of New Orleans and the black community. I was surprised by the attitudes by both the whites and the blacks, and even in the 21st century this "caste" system seems alive. I could see the utter disinterest in teaching black children.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Rating: 2 Stars
The only redeeming part of this tedious novel is the brief history of fashion at the start of each chapter. Had these been omitted, I would not have completed the book.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
To Live & Die In Dixie by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Rating: 3 Stars
In this 2nd installment in the Callahan Garrity series, I like Callahan's independence, and love the mother-daughter relationship.
Rudy
The Chronicles of Virago, Book 1: The Novus by Michael K. Bialys
Rating: 5 Stars
Great book. The author incorporates actual history, real locations, mythology and fantasy to weave a modern-day coming of age fairy tale.
Furthermore, it is nice to see a young female protagonist for a change.
This is an exciting, fun and quick read!!!
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
This is set in Edinburgh, Scotland,with a society patterned on a rigid codes of ethics. It was very interesting, but I wondered about Isabel's safety --- she walked the streets at night. Plus, it seemed that the problem with insider trading was never solved.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
The 2nd in the Africian series about a lady detective and her sense of justice when dealing with customers. I like the circular motion of the story, in that one action will eventually cause a reaction. I also like the sense that in spite of evil, there will always be the Good Samaritan.
Gord Wilson
Death of a Charming Man by M. C. Beaton
Rating: 4 Stars
This is one of the earlier books in the series featuring Constable Hamish MacBeth of Lockdubh, Scotland. It is early established that Hamish is Hamish --- no matter what his fiancee wants. In nearby Drim, the ladies of town are making themselves beautiful for the handsome new Englishman who moved to town. When said Englishman disappears, the list of suspects is not a short one!
Jean Anderson
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
Rating: 5 Stars
This first novel by McLarty is the best book I've read since THE KITE RUNNER. Part THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, this is a hilarious and touching coming-of-age story.
Joan Gilland
The Everyday Life Bible by Joyce Meyer
Rating: 4 Stars
Everyday living enhanced with God's word.
Linda M. Johnson
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
Rating: 4 Stars
The first of Reichl's 3 memoirs that explain her lifelong affair with food. Reichl is a former restaurant critic for The New York Times and presently an editor for Gourmet Magazine. The book is reasonably peppered with recipes. Her start reminds me of my own --- my mother can't cook either!
Linda M. Johnson
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Rating: 5 Stars
A haunting book, which I believe was meant for young adults, that takes place during the Holocaust. The protagonist is a 9-year-old boy who is torn from his comfortable home and friends in Berlin. He does not comprehend what is going on in his new world --- why would his parents want to move to such an ugly place; why there are no children to play with; what disagreements are infiltrating his family. The revelations come wisely to the reader, overseeing the protagonist. It still won't stop the pain felt.
William McDougall (abby.grey@hotmail.com)
A Party of One by Anneli Rufus
Rating: 4 Stars
A PARTY OF ONE is a treatise on the life of a loner who chooses and enjoys being alone, and the difficulties this causes. Solitude is gold for a loner, and being invited to a party elicits angst. The media jumps on the loner bandwagon with every deviant criminal, giving loners a bad name. Deviant criminals are often far from being true loners; they are usually trying to get attention from the masses. Being a loner can be a fulfilling and rewarding life --- many authors, painters, musicians and philosphers are loners, and the solitude is the food that sustains their thinking.
Elizabeth Padgett
Nora, Nora by Ann Rivers Siddons
Rating: 3 Stars
Her best book is FOX'S EARTH. It is a stick-with-you-forever book. I read it two times.
Victoria Zackheim
Edges: O Israel, O Palestine by Leora Skolkin-Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Leora Skolkin-Smith has given us the gift of a beautifully crafted novel, set in a time and place of change and turmoil. Every scene pulled me further into the story and held me captive. The author is as much poet as novelist, with each lilting phrase somehow revealing an entire story. Tight writing, nothing wasted, the purest form of literature. I was sure that I knew where the story was headed...and I was wrong. Every page will surprise.
Sandy
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating: 5 Stars
I took the hint from several readers who rated this book 5 stars, and when I read it I totally agreed!!! This is one of the best novels I have read in a long long time.
Nunu In Niagara
The Strangler by William Landay
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a very good book. I won an advance reading copy from a publisher and was not disappointed. It takes place in Boston in the 60s, during the terror of the Boston Strangle, and is the story of an Irish American family with 3 sons. The oldest is a cop like his father, who was killed on the job, then Michael is a lawyer and Ricky is a professional burglar. The boys are trying to come to terms with their father's murder when Ricky's girlfriend is murdered. Is it the Boston Strangler or is it someone else? Have the boys stumbled upon something that the police force and the mafia want left covered up?
Judy O.
Amagansett by Mark Mills
Rating: 5 Stars
Amagansett is a small fishing town near East Hampton in the state of New York. There is a wonderful sense of that place in this book, because there is much description of the fishing and other activities native to that area. There is also a strong sense of time --- about 1946, after World War II. This is a mystery story about a body that is pulled out of the sea by two local fishermen. She is the daughter of a wealthy resident, and also the lover of one of the two fishermen. The solving of the mystery is exciting and intense. I really loved this book. This was a first novel by Mills, and I hope he is working on another one.
Anne Fescharek (annfesh@myway.com)
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
The main character of this novel is a mysterious presence in the life of Henry VIII. Lady Rochford was there to testify against her own husband and send him and her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, to the block! She also helped to bring about the downfall of her cousin, Queen Katharine Howard. Who was this woman? Evil Incarnate or just a Jonas? At this point in the book, the answer have only been hinted at...(I think she was a rejected paramour, but we'll see..) Great historical fiction!
Marsha
Him, Her, Him Again, The End of Him by Patricia Marx
Rating: 4 Stars
Even without referring to a thesaursus, you will laugh out loud. It's that kind of book.
Jen
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5 Stars
Page turner suspense with a great heartwreching underlying story.
Donna Marton (donnawho@webtv.net)
Turbulence by John J. Nance
Rating: 5 Stars
This book had me speaking out loud to the characters, and when I finally put it down I said: Wow!
In today's post-9/11 world, the premise of this airplane's situation is all too possible. In fact, I wonder if it might really have happened. Be warned...you'll have trouble putting this one down.
Kellie
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
Rating: 4 Stars
I am so glad I got the chance to read this. Before I even started the book, I asked my mother if she had ever heard of PEYTON PLACE. Oh, yes she had. She even hid it under her mattress. Of course, this book is very mild compared to the stuff out there today, but I think it was important for its time. With its boldness and openness about sex, incest, abuse, alcoholism and just general life that was kept hidden in those days --- especially in small towns. This was a story of the town, and the people as a reflection of it. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The only negative was that I wish there was more of a resolution with Selena’s story at the end. Maybe it’s revealed in RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE.
bookczuk
Where Truth Lies by Christiane Heggan
Rating: 4 Stars
Not a bad little mystery, though it was pretty clear who the bad guys turned out to be. There were some nice side plots and twists. But, I do have to say, I'm kind of tired of all the CIA and FBI agents who turn up in novels that seem to be handsome, single hunks...
Danna Lambert
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
A unique and interesting story, told in tantalizing layers. The pace of
the tale held my interest until the very last word!
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
The Knights of Black and White by Jack Whyte
Rating: 4 Stars
I just started reading this book today. I know it will be one of my favorites for this year. It is the story of the beginning of the Knights Templar.
Rosalie Sambuco (tigersmama43213@aol.com)
The Space between Us by Thrity Umrigar
Rating: 4 Stars
THE SPACE BETWEEN US is a fascinating novel of the caste system in India. It tells the story of a Parsi widow and her maid, and their interactions concerning their families.
Sandra F.
Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis
Rating: 4 Stars
Jill Davis certainly shows her background in writing for television in this book. The writing is clean and crisp with witty dialogue. Emily, a thirty-year-old lawyer turned receptionist, always has one foot out the door. She has commitment issues in a big way and it is only when her mother is diagnosed with cancer that she starts to face her past and her future. Emily's new relationship with her father who had left the family when she was a small child is written in an amusing and loving way.
This book is for everyone who is trying to come to grips with the family dynamic. Laughter easily turns to tears in the course of reading this gem of a book.
Fran
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
Rating: 5 Stars
A unique ghost story/love story that is mesmerizing from the first page! Laura Whitcomb's debut novel is eloquently written and leaves the reader craving more! I certainly will recommend this book to others!
bookczuk
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Rating: 5 Stars
All I can say is that this a good, well-written tale, and the bits of science and events in the future that come into the story are entirely plausable. And readable. And thought provoking. And entertaining. And humorous, serious, and interesting. Other than that, it's okay!
Krista J.
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Rating: 5 Stars
I just finished reading this newest book from children's author, Kirby Larson. HATTIE BIG SKY is about a 16-year-old woman who inherits a claim in the Montana wilderness, leaves behind the world she knows, and ventures forth alone to work the land and become a farmer. Hattie is a brave and strong female character, and she is the perfect role model for young women who will read this book (I suggest it for ages 10-14). The book is a great read, with lots of information about turn-of-the-century homesteading. It's clear the author did a lot of research, and it's well presented in the book. Though Hattie's adventures do not always turn out well, in the end, this is an inspiring story.
Krista J.
Calibre by Ken Bruen
Rating: 4 Stars
Acclaimed Irish author Ken Bruen has just written this latest book featuring Inspector Brant, a great current literary character. Brant is not a truly likeable person, but neither are the criminals in this book. CALIBRE is different from anything I've ever read; it has numerous subplots, features a number of characters on the police force (in fact, I don't think there is really a MAIN character), and there are several crimes (though the most disturbing is a serial killer offing people with "bad" manners). It's a quick read and I do recommend it.
Wendy Anderson
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
A well-written account of well-meaning but misdirected love that affects the entire family. The author reveals the story in such a way that the reader continues to wonder how the events will unfold. This is an insightful look into how disability was viewed in the 60s.
Sue
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
I am an avid fan of the Alex Cross series! I thoroughly enjoyed Patterson's new book CROSS! It took you into more of Mr. Cross's personal life and the toll of policework on his family life. The story dealt with Alex Cross, the man. Of course, it had the spectacular thriller mystery that made you want to read the book to the end without putting it down! Kudos to Mr. Patterson for Mrs. Cross' death, which was not a direct result of Alex's profession, but hers. This book made you feel bad enough for Alex as it was without adding more.
Tricia Blount
Bone Harvest by Mary Logue
Rating: 5 Stars
I enjoy reading Logue's Claire Watkinsseries because it deals with the area of Pepin County in Wisconsin where I live. It's always interesting to see how she uses the area in her story.
Judy (AZ)
Secondhand World by Katherine Min
Rating: 4 Stars
The novel begins with Isadora in a pediatric burn unit in upstate NY. Flashing back in time, we see her as a teenager struggling to fit into the world of American teenagers, as well as the world expected by her Korean-born parents. The loss of her brother years ago sets up the teen to feel uncomfortable in both worlds. When she meets an albino boy whom she names Hero, her life changes drastically. Yet, no one can escape what has come before.
This is a very readable book about being a second-generation American teen who doesn't quite understand herself or her parents.
Judy (AZ)
The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
Rating: 4 Stars
Judge Grace Silva visits her teenage son at an exclusive Mexican prep school, only to discover he is being held for ranson. Her ex-husband (who is nowhere to be found) has millions of dollars that a ruthless drug cartel wants back. If she cannot produce her ex, "The Butcher" will kill her son. The gutsy judge contacts someone from her past who (along with his contacts) may help her through this ordeal in the shadowy world. This book is full of breathtaking danger and peril interlaced with deep emotions and past secrets.
Judy (AZ)
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 3 Stars
THE HANDMAID AND THE CARPENTER is a different way of telling the story of Mary and Joseph. They are depicted as real people with real emotions. At the ages of 13 and 16, they are just teenagers in the ancient world, with everything hanging in the balance. This is a short read that is quite different from Berg's usual fare.
Priscilla
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 4 Stars
Very good book. It will hold your interest!
Marsha
Eat the Document by Dana Spiotta
Rating: 3 Stars
A very convoluted story of youthful crimes that come to haunt the characters in their adult years. I needed my motive for their actions.
Phyllis G.
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
Elizabeth Berg tells the story of segments of the lives of Mary and Joseph from their first meeting until the death of Joseph in a beautiful, touching manner. The story of their doubts, their faith and especially their love is told with emotion and detail. Definitely worth reading.
Sheila Partin
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritesen
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the best on-the-edge book I have read in quite awhile. It keeps you going from start to finish.
Fran
Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
I have really enjoyed Faye Kellerman's Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series and this one was excellent. When a renowned surgeon is found murdered, everyone is considered a suspect. Does Peter's wife hold a secret that could be the key to solve this mystery? Excellent!
Mike Lowrie
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Rating: 4 Stars
Highly addictive read that leaves you wanting to start the second book right away. Lindsay is deft at getting into the head of a semi-under-control serial killer who plays the role well. Dexter is a funny twist to thriller fiction.
Douglas R. Cobb (goofier1@wmconnect.com)
What Is The What by Dave Eggers
Rating: 5 Stars
WHAT IS THE WHAT by Dave Eggers is a fictionalized account of the real-life story of Valentino Deng, one of the Sudanese "Lost Boys". It's a fascinating, page-turning narrative of his harrowing life in the Sudan during the civil war there, and his fleeing of Sudan with other boys to first refugee camps in Ethiopia, and then Kenya.
He is terrorized by lions that drag off other boys, soldiers who either try to either kill them or recruit them, and almost succumbs to starvation. It's told primarily from the perspective of Valentino, tied up in his apartment by robbers, through his thoughts back to his former life. He has left behind many turmoils, but finds that America has its share of terrors, as well. It's a fantstic book I highly recommend to everyone, and all proceeds go to helping Valentino go to college, and to other Lost Boys --- what could be better?
Fran
Witch Child by Celia Rees
Rating: 3 Stars
Although I enjoyed this story, I think I expected more from it. That being said, it was an enjoyable read!
Michele L.
Touched By Angels by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
This third book in the series is centered around the lovable, wacky, angels Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. They are sent to Earth to deliver miracles to three people who are in need of them. Three different story lines are interwoven into a delightful, funny, and sometimes suspenseful plot.
One story is centered around a girl named Hannah who is engaged to one guy but falls head over heels in love with another. Will she be able to break off her engagement?
The second story is about a teacher named Brynn who takes a job at a high school in a disadvantaged neighborhood. She wants to teach the students to dream that they can do anything that they set their minds to. What Brynn finds out is that her students teach her a lot more than bargained for.
The third story involves a country girl, Jenny, who aspires to be an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway. Jenny has been in New York for 3 years now, and she still hasn't had her big break yet; but, she holds on to that dream of making it big. The angels step in to touch Jenny's life in ways she never expects. Someone from her past in the country arrives in New York to talk Jenny into coming home.
Paula C.
Wives Behaving Badly by Elizabeth Buchan
Rating: 4 Stars
WIVES BEHAVING BADLY is the sequel to REVENGE OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN, told from Minty's (the other woman) perspective. Buchan has the abiltiy to show both sides of a story in a marriage, divorce, and second marriage.
cstellagreen
The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't know what inspired me to get this book, but I am so glad I did. It is suspenseful, but thought provoking, and I was so sorry it ended.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Lost Lake by Philip Margolin
Rating: 2 Stars
A so-so thriller. At points, the story becomes confusing and unrealistic.
Dick from Groton
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rating: 5 Stars
This one of the most unforgettable books I've ever read. A father and son travel along "the road" seeking food, water, and safety a few years after the earth is thrust into a nuclear winter. The scenes McCarthy paints are of what it could be like, and they are frightening. I couldn't put the book down.
Pat Hoel
A Good Dog by Jon Katz
Rating: 5 Stars
Warm, joyous, and heartbreaking, especially for those who have had, as Katz did, a "lifetime" dog. I did, and I cried for my Klaus, and for Katz and Orson, throughout. This no-holds-barred honesty can be beautiful as well as painful.
David Siegel (dlsiegel@uwalumni.com)
Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West
Rating: 5 Stars
This novel is a few years old, but it's a wonderfully written chronicle of lost souls in a small, rural Montana town whose one hope is for the tiny high school basketball team to win a game.
Barbara (ozzie49@hotmail.com)
Cell by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
Suspenseful and hard to put down.
Sandy (BIGSANDY121@YAHOO.COM)
Across The High Lonesome by James McNay Brumfield
Rating: 5 Stars
This is probably not quite five stars, but if you're looking for something a little different, this might be it. It is classified as a modern-day western, but those looking for a typical western may not be happy, and those who typically don't read this genre will probably enjoy this book. There are great characterizations, some humor and drama, and even a little romance. I picked up ACROSS THE HIGH LONESOME after seeing that Larry McMurtry had given it high marks, and he was right!
Sheila M
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Rating: 4 Stars
An interesting book with some good humor. It gets a bit long-winded in spots, but overall, it's a great read about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans in restaurants. Bourdain is a true foodie!
Sheila M
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4 Stars
I listened to the audiobook. It was entertaining and had a well-developed plot. The reader was fantastic! Lenny Henry kept me enthralled, and he does great voices. If you are familiar with the Anansi tales (folk hero to the Ashanti's of Africa) you may find this book particularly interesting. I did :-)
Judy O.
Echo Burning by Lee Child
Rating: 4 Stars
I now have read all of the books in this popular series, and I'm ready for the next new one to come out. Jack Reacher is hitchhiking, and a beautiful young woman picks him up somewhere near Pecos, Texas. She has a story full of spousal abuse and wants Jack to come to her rescue. He does, and the rest of the book is an exciting story of bad people doing bad things.
David Siegel (dlsiegel@uwalumni.com)
Ask the Parrot by Richard Stark
Rating: 4 Stars
A brief, tight story about crime and those who commit it or want to.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
Women on the Edge of a Breakthrough by Isabel Sharpe
Rating: 3 Stars
Although chick lit is not my favorite genre, WOMEN ON THE EDGE OF A BREAKTHROUGH by Isabel Sharpe has a very good story line.
Jennifer Buhr
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an excellent read. If you like books with depth and symbolism, then this is for you. I strongly encourage you to select this story. It is a very quick read --- about 2.5 hours --- and you walk away feeling enriched. It is about the Holocaust and I'll leave it at that.
L. Hann
Cat & Mouse by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent. Alex Cross has been searching for a killer for a long time now. Thomas Pierce is called in on this case. What Cross finds out about him is distrubing.
Miriam Klein Kassenoff (m.kassenoff@miami.edu)
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
You must read this book! It is, by far, the best Demille book yet. I actually didn't want to finish it so I could savor every exciting page --- a great read and a terrific present for Demille fans.
Barbara S.
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
Rating: 4 Stars
I just started reading this book, and already, I don't want to put it down.
Joan Woods
Impossible by Danielle Steel
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story about a woman who meets a younger man after her husband dies and the problems that arise out of their meeting. Have a box of tissues handy when you read this one.
Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com)
Saint by Ted Dekker
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is about a man named Carl, who is trained as an assasin to murder the president of the USA. When he doesn't complete the mission, he becomes a target. It is a fast-paced book and it involves murder, action, and the supernatural. I really enjoyed it and it was my first novel I read by this author.
Bonnie Levy
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Rating: 5 Stars
Wow! I felt like I was in nineteenth-century China. This book is so beautifully written, and so heart wrenching. I could not put it down and I recommend this book to all.
Sheila M
St. Lucy's Home For Girls Raised By Wolves by Karen Russell
Rating: 3 Stars
This is a collection of short fiction. While I found a couple of the stories to be exceptional, a few were just not well developed enough to satisfy me.The one about the Minotaur really appealed to me. The children in many of the stories speak like adults, and I think that annoyed me. Still, This is an interesting book that I am glad to have read.
Julie Towson
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
Rating: 4 Stars
I found this book very absorbing. It's about an ancient manuscript that has been found amid the ruins of Peru. It reveals nine key insights that are critical to the evolution of the human race. It contains secrets that are changing our world and it tells you how to make connections between the events happening in your own life right now.
Donna Padgett
Beauty In Black by Nicole Byrd
Rating: 5 Stars
What a wonderful book, full of lively enchanting characters! Now I've got to buy more of her books for sure!
Carolyn Waring (carolynwaring@belleringerpr.com)
The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first novel I've read by the prolific British author Ruth Rendell. Though definitely a novel, it's built around a mystery. The interwoven stories and eccentric characters that are connected through an antique shop are very well drawn. It's a great read!
Pam K
Sleeping With The Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson
Rating: 5 Stars
When a friend asked if I wanted to read something different AND fun, I said, "Yes!" SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES was her recommendation. It's funny, fast paced, and different from my usual fare. The ending left me wanting more and the plotlines assure there will be. I can't wait.
Maryellen Goodwin (mgood222@hotmail.com)
The Interpretation of Murder: A Novel by Jed Rubenfeld
Rating: 5 Stars
Sigmund Freud's 1909 visit to New York City coincides with the sadistic murder of a beautiful woman in a posh hotel. An attack on another woman, very much like the first one, results in the victim's 'hysterical paralysis'. Dr. Stratham Younger, a student of Freud's, tries to recover the survivor's memories only to stir a dangerous pot of politics, psychology, kinky sex and the rich and famous.
Robyn Hawk (robynahawk@yahoo.com)
Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938 by R.A. Scotti
Rating: 4 Stars
This had to be one of the best history books I've read. It was gripping, informative , and read as easily as a novel.
Jackie Stott (jackiestt@yahoo.com)
A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
Rating: 4 Stars
A wonderful short book with a great message. I wish everyone could read it.
Rodney Aaron Thomas (rthom389@bellsouth.net)
Pretenses by Keith Lee Johnson
Rating: 5 Stars
The finest thriller genre novel I have ever read. I am recommending it to everyone I know who avidly reads.
Margie (mbunting@sbcglobal.net)
Brainiac by Ken Jennings
Rating: 4 Stars
Jeopardy's long-running contestant writes about the history of trivia competitions and, of course, tells about his own experience before, during and after "Jeopardy". This book is worth reading if you're a trivia junkie.
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Ricochet by Sandra Brown
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I couldn't stop reading it.
Sue
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Rating: 2 Stars
This is not one of her better books. I think a true sign of the author's success is whether you care about the characters and what happens to them. Well, I just want this to be over with. I threw in an extra star actually because her books are usually very well crafted.
Sheila M
Rascal by Sterling North
Rating: 5 Stars
My family and I listened to this book on CD. It was phenomenal! It was a very heartwarming story of an 11-year-old boy and the year he spent raising a baby raccoon. The reader, Ed Sala, was excellent.
Beverly Lister (Bflister@aol.com)
True Love (and Other Lies) by Whitney Gaskell
Rating: 5 Stars
A knock-your-socks-off Chick Lit novel about 30-something Claire Spencer, a travel writer who works in a dead-end job for a senior-citizen magazine and has her creativity cut by her boss constantly. While on a flight to London to research the city for an article she's writing, she meets a great guy. However, Claire is a child of divorce and has a lot of hang-ups about love. She and Jack, an American attorney living in London, really like each other but there is a catch. Someone else got to him first. This is a definite winner. I loved the book.
Angie Lindell
Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House by Stephanie Barron
Rating: 5 Stars
This faux Jane Austen mystery series is still fantastic in this 6th book. Naval life mixes with the wit and intelligence of our beloved Jane Austen come to life. This novel, with its excellent intrigue and surprise ending, will not disappoint!
Donna Volkenannt
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rating: 5 Stars
For me, THE ROAD is a story of hope in the midst of despair, love in an environment of hate, and life in a culture of death.
A father and his son travel the desolate and dangerous roads across the USA after destruction had rained down on its landscape. With only the clothes on their backs and a few possessions --- including a gun --- packed in their wobbly shopping cart, the father and son journey toward the coast, in hopes of finding safety, survival, and salvation.
In a cold, gray world the father protects his son from the elements and from predators, including human ones. This is a story of man at his basest --- what it means to be human, what some men will do to survive, and what some men will do for love.
Carole
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Rating: 4 Stars
A moving novel about the occupied France in 1940.
Paula (pjhess55@hotmail.com)
Stripped by Brian Freeman
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent thriller! Once again I was hooked in the first chapter by this author. The book takes place in Las Vegas and the story is nonstop.
Ozarks Annie
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
Actually, my personal jury is still out on this quick read. The writing is outstanding --- you will go back and read many phrases many times. Who knows?? Events like this may really happen. But, I still don't know if I'd recommend it because it's definitely not a feel-good book.
Angie Lindell
Jane and the Ghosts of Netley by Stephanie Barron
Rating: 4 Stars
I would give this 4 and a half stars if I were able. It is the 7th book in the series and was equally wonderful as the others. It just didn't keep me quite as enamored as the others in the series. But, it included more subtle romance and a beautifully rendered tragedy near the end. Still, definitely, a must read!
Angie Lindell
Jane and His Lordship's Legacy by Stephanie Barron
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is great as an amazing follow-up to the preceding novel in the series, while also concocting its own new murder mystery! The new small town that Jane and her family moves to is harsh but entertaining to read about. Again, a must read!
Maria
Goes Down Easy by Alison Kent
Rating: 5 Stars
The perfect romance. It was very sexy and very well-written. I loved it!
Eileen Quinn Knight (knight@sxu.edu)
Modern Humorous Quotations by Fred Metcalf
Rating: 5 Stars
At a time of year when we all seem to be stressed out, this is an excellent book to read! As a professor, I especially liked the quote: "During the exam do not attempt to write on both sides of the paper at once!'
Relax with this book for about an hour and all the stress is gone.
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 3 Stars
I have read all of his books, but I was very disappointed in this one. This was not a grabber like most of his books.
Pat Miller (pudgypb@aol.com)
Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels
Rating: 5 Stars
I read this in one night, and I couldn't put it down. Loved it!
Colleen in Ohio
Cross by James Petterson
Rating: 4 Stars
Alex Cross is back with a huge bang. CROSS definitely is one of the best in this series about the DC cop turned FBI agent. Patterson does a remarkable job throwing the reader for twists and turns and keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
Diana Flanary-Bray (imluna47@yahoo.com)
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
Rating: 4 Stars
Well, folks, Joe Leaphorn has been retired from the Navaho Police just about long enough to get good and bored. Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito have finally tied the knot, and just as they return from their honeymoon, Joe Leaphorn comes for a visit. But he has an ulterior motive --- he needs help solving a case....
Joe Leaphorn solves it, eventually, in a very unusual method, considering his background. Read it and see for yourself.
Diana Flanary-Bray (imluna47@yahoo.com)
Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Ok, so Hannibal is a monster. Did you ever wonder what caused him to be the way he is?
Well, this book delves into the nighmare world of yourng Hannibal, and takes us right along with him as he manages to live through the Nazi invasion of his country.
You will feel like you know Hannibal intimately by the close of the book.
Linda Chaput
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Rating: 4 Stars
LONG WALK TO FREEDOM is factful and keeps your interest. I love biographies.
Kathy Kasten
Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur by Bernard Cornwell
Rating: 4 Stars
Book 3 in The Warlord Chronicles reveals the end of an era in which Arthur and allies attempt to stave off the Saxons from settling in Britain around 500 AD. Merlin tries to get the old gods to help. Well written and completely engaging.
Kathy Kasten
Dead Man Below Deck by J. E. Rohrer
Rating: 3 Stars
A comical look at a small-town murder in Wisconsin. It was very quick, and a lot of fun to read.
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