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Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Forever and Always by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 5 Stars
FOREVER AND ALWAYS is the 2nd book in this series. It's fast paced, full of twists and turns, and has a great plot and interesting characters. I also loved the follow-up novel, and can't wait to read the 3rd book!
Ed Judy (Gideontull55@hotmail.com)
The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! These are the best Arthur stories I've ever read. They are real and tangible.
Justine Brewer
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first book in a series with the character Sookie Stackhouse. What a great book! I love that the main characters are a mind-reader (telepath), vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, and more! Sookie is a cross between Buffy Summers and Stephanie Plum.
Justine Brewer
Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 Stars
Sookie travels to Dallas to help track down a missing vampire by using her telepathic skills. This is the 2nd book in the series and another good one by Charlaine Harris.
Justine Brewer
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the 3rd book in the series, and probably the best of the 3 that I have read so far. Ms. Harris introduces a lot of new creatures that Sookie meets in her newest adventure, both friend and foe. I especially love Bubba the vampire, but you will have to read the books to find out which celebrity he used to be before he became a vampire. I enjoy these books very much!
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton
Rating: 5 Stars
SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND was a fantastic read with lots of action, adventure and steamy sex. The characters Gina and Derek were great --- their banter and comebacks were fun and humorous. This book is one that you will want to read all in one sitting. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Forever... by Jude Deveraux
Rating: 5 Stars
FORVER... is an entertaining and fast paced read of fantasy, romance and horror. The characters Darci and Adam are fun and loveable --- Darci is cute and quirky, and Adam is a wounded soul. The interaction between the two is enjoyable and humorous. This story of Ms. Deveraux's Montgomery Clan is darker and more frightening than her other stories. After reading this book I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Sandy
Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating: 2 Stars
I read the other books about Odd Thomas, but about 1/3 the way through, I just didn't care what happened to Odd and the monks, so I quit.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
George Bush, Dark Prince of Love by Lydia Millet
Rating: 3 Stars
My interest was immediately peaked when I saw the cover and title for this one. The book was really kind of funny, despite the fact that I had no idea what portions about Bush were actual fact or fiction.
Kristin Garcia
Crazy Hot by Tara Janzen
Rating: 5 Stars
I would recommend this book for anybody who loves adventure and suspense, with an added bit of romance in the mix. This book will keep you on your toes until the very last sentence. You have sharp shooters, bad guys, and heros, what is not to love? CRAZY HOT is about 6 guys who work for a secret organization called SDF (special defense force). They live in a building in Denver, Colorado in a place called Stelle Street. Their building has the most high-tech stuff in it, it is impossible to believe. They are attatched to the Pentagon, but not officially. They do missions that the President or anyone else knows about, except for General Grant. This is an amazing story about gun fights, high-tech gadgets and romance, all combined into this one book.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 5 Stars
As far as Chick-Lit goes, this was right up there with the best! It has great, believable characters that draw you in and hold you until the very last sentence.
Sandra F.
Bantam of the Opera by Mary Daheim
Rating: 3 Stars
BANTAM OF THE OPERA is one in a series of Bed-And-Breakfast Mysteries. This book is not very good because it follows exactly the formula for all of these mysteries that depend upon a theme.
Sandra F.
The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton
Rating: 5 Stars
The Anita Blake vampire novels are great. These books do not depend on blood and gore --- rather, they depend upon good characterization and plot development.
Sandra F.
Skinner's Ordeal by Quintin Jardine
Rating: 5 Stars
Every Bob Skinner book is better than the last one. For fans of the police drama, this series is for you.
Judy O.
When Darkness Falls by James Grippando
Rating: 4 Stars
Lawyer Jack Swyteck is back, along with his friend Theo. The two of them are involved in a carjacking by a violent, homeless man, who manages to take Theo and 3 other people hostage in a motel room. In the push to free the hostages, decades-old secrets are uncovered. An exciting, compelling book.
P. Corwin
The Right Attitude To Rain by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
The characters become more like friends with each additional book in the series. The ending was quite a surprise! I'm looking forward ot the next installment.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading this true story of death and life, but I was disappointed that the story was comprised mainly of events surrounding Piper's accident and coming back to life. Based on the book's title, I was expecting more of the book to be written detailing the 90 minutes in Heaven. It's still a good book, though, and worth the read.
Rebekah Crain (littleminx@cox.net)
Five-Star Families by Carol Kuykendall
Rating: 5 Stars
FIVE-STAR FAMILIES: MOVING YOURS FROM GOOD TO GREAT is an excellent book for any parent, young or old, to read. It helps to remind the reader what being a family is truly all about.
Fran
Something's Wrong With Your Scale by Van Whitfield
Rating: 2 Stars
This was a fun, lighthearted book about a man who goes on a weight loss journey after his girlfriend dumps him because he is too heavy. Overall, the premise of this book was good --- a man learns to love and respect himself despite his weight. The writing style was humourous; however sometimes the overly stereotypical portrayal of overweight people and the volume of food they consume was overdone. It took away from the story.
Peggy Soler (Peggy.Soler@gov.bc.ca)
Darker Than Midnight by Maggie Shayne
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a suspense thriller with a touch of romance included. Briefly, the story is about a patient who is accused of a murder he does not remember committing. He escapes the mental institution where he is being held and returns to his house that is being rented by a police officer. Believing in the escapee's innocence, the police officer helps him find the real murderer.
Fran
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Rating: 4 Stars
When Sophie Honeywell finds out she has inherited a home on her ex-boyrfriends privately owned family Island, she is quite surprised. Years after she broke his heart, Sophie is thrust into the midst of his lovable, yet eccentric family. Set admist the mystery of Alice and Jack's house, this book is captivating and all-around fun. I loved it and couldn't wait to get to the next page. The characters were quirky and fun, and the book was full of humorous moments mixed in with more serious issues, including post pardum depression. I can't wait to read Liane Moriarty's other book now!
Jen
Showdown by Tilly Bagshawe
Rating: 3 Stars
It is a romantic book, but the characters are too young for my liking. The story is ok, but it moves slowly in places.
Fran
My Sister From the Black Lagoon by Laurie Fox
Rating: 3 Stars
Overall, this book was interesting. It is told from the perspective of young girl who grows up with a mentally ill sister. It is basically about being the "forgotten" one in the family when another family member demands all the attention.
Diane
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting, and so is the story. Joe Leaphorn, retired and restless, gets a chance to settle a cold case. Jim Chee and Bernie, married and back from their honeymoon, are not front and center in this book, which is a nice change.
Diane
Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
Rating: 5 Stars
Take the journey from the innocence of Hannibal Lector's boyhood, through the Nazi occupation, to what makes him tick as an adult. You start out with sympathy for the character, but by the end, you are horrified. It is one heck of a trip. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end.
Linda M (LLSMILL@aol.com)
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of one man and the 3 wives he deceives into loving him, as well as how his children are affected along the way.
Diane
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This book rates at the top. We finally learn who killed his wife, and how it was done. Alex and his family get some peace, and life can go forward.
Diane
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
DeMille's best one yet! The characters are exciting, as usual, and the author gives you a lot to think about when you finish the book.
Lynn K.
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful book detailing the 4th and 5th marriages of Henry VIII of England. The story is told from the perspective of the two wives (Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard) and Jane Bolelyn (wife of Anne Boleyn's brother.) Gregory makes these characters come alive and helps us to understand that being part of the king's court wasn't all that it was cracked up to be!
L. Hann
Too Close To The Falls by Catherine Gildiner
Rating: 4 Stars
Growing up in Buffalo, this book brought back many memories. It is amazing how much history is there, but yet we don't seem to market it. This is great story (memior) that can be appreciated by all, regardless of where you grew up.
Corinna
The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equator by J. Maarten Troost
Rating: 4 Stars
I am not that far into this book, but it is HILARIOUS thus far. My boyfriend was going to go to a small small island of Kirabiti with the Peace Corps and was looking for books on the subject and ran across this. He had so much in common with this guy, from his sarcastic wit to his love for the Washington Redskins. After his and his mother's praise, I picked it up and am so glad! Troost is one heck of a writer!!!
Farrah
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Rating: 5 Stars
This is another installment in Julie Garwood's romantic suspence series about the Buchannan family. SLOW BURN is filled with thrills and a great romance. This is Julie Garwood at her best.
Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com)
Spider Mountain by P. T. Deutermann
Rating: 5 Stars
Cam Richter is called back to do Mary Ellen Goode a favor. They were involved in an early case, in which they were both injured, and all the suspects were never caught. She asks him to investigate the brutal rape and beating of a park ranger, but he becomes involved in the much-bigger crime it is linked to. It involves Grinny Creigh, who rules Robbins County in the Appalachia with an iron fist. She is so powerful the government won't mess with her. It is a great book and Ginnie's character is so evil that you won't be able to put the book down until the end.
L. Hann
A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
Rating: 4 Stars
Very moving. Jane Hamilton has a way of capturing you from the very first page. You'll have yourself wondering what you'd do how you'd react if this happened to you.
Debbie
Whiskey Sour by J. A Konrath
Rating: 3 Stars
This is the first in the series about police lieutenant Jack Daniels. The story is good, and I look forward to reading future books and seeing the character development. Warning --- this book does have some graphic crime scenes.
Stacy
Swimming Upstream, Slowly by Melissa Clark
Rating: 4 Stars
A clever idea supported by good writing and great characters. I was thoroughly surprised by this funny, warm tale of a woman getting pregnant from lazy sperm!
Kathleen Vogel (kvsoon@aol.com)
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 5 Stars
I just loved this book. After four years since the last Stone Gap novel, it was like going home again. I enjoyed this book the most in the series, but I am not sure if it is because of the long absence, the fact that I am facing some of the same issues as the heroine, Ave Maria, or that it is, indeed, better than the first three. It was a very pleasant read.
Janice
The Camel Club by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
A ragtag team of 4 men known as The Camel Club witness a murder, which leads them to their own investigation, and ultimately helping to save the world from nuclear annihilation. The author is excellent in his details, but the 'saving of the world' theme is not new.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Next by Michael Crichton
Rating: 4 Stars
Genetic engineering is at the core of this fine Crichton novel. Primates, and even birds, that can talk and do mathematical problems; numerous companies dealing in genetics, trying to cut one another's throats in order to get ahead in the game in order to engineer man and animal in the image they think is best. It reads like science fiction but with a discomforting sense of reality.
Kathy Boucher (kboucher@cableone.net)
The Promise of a Lie by Howard Roughan
Rating: 4 Stars
This was quite a thriller!! There are so many twists and turns that the reader is kept in suspense throughout. I couldn't put it down!
Wendy Catalano
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 3 Stars
An interesting read for Grisham's first nonfiction title, but I prefer his fiction.
Lindy
Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
I have never read Gerritsen because somone told me she wrote hospital stories. I picked this one up and found that she writes about a Boston medical examiner.
Dr. Maura Isles comes home to find her street sealed off and a woman dead in a car parked in front of her house. She is adopted and finally finds out who her family really is. The book moved fast. I could barely put it down.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
Rating: 3 Stars
I think that I have reached the limit for these Christmas "miracle" stories. A young boy dies, so his older friend may receive his kidney and live. Yes, miracles happen, but I think this story was too sugar coated
Sigrun Schulz
Brainiac by Ken Jennings
Rating: 4 Stars
Ken Jennings is the biggest winner in "Jeopardy!" history. He chronicles the rise of trivia (a term which was not used until the 20th Century) from the publication of the "Athenian Mercury" in 1691. He talked to many people involved in the trivia business, from writers of trivia questions that have to be worded narrowly enough to elicit the answer required to people that study nearly every frame of a film in order to be able to answer some factoid. I used to be a big "Jeopardy!: fan and love trivia myself, but I missed Mr. Jenning's winning streak. The question that also interested him is whether knowing trivia is a mark of intelligence or just the mark of having a brain that soaks up important and unimportant facts like a sponge. His 3-year-old son is readying himself to follow in his father's footsteps.
Nicole Henisse
Steamed by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant
Rating: 4 Stars
Chloe Carter is in a dating slump, so she turns to internet dating. Her very first date ends up dead, and she falls for the prime suspect. A very good "cozy" mystery with a little romance and humor thrown in. I definitely look forward to the next Gourmet Girl Mystery!
dawnymae
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
A very interesting read with lots of characters and storylines of their own. It was very intense, and I'd love to see all the different characters and storylines interconnect.
Dawnymae
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a very good read! I could not put it down, I had to know who had murdered Alex's wife all those years ago.
Tiffany R
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 4 Stars
I am loving this book! It's a great ghost story with characters that are connected across time. Picoult is elabroate in detail, but not overly so. I was drawn into the story and its characters right from the get go.
Fran
Dancer by Colum McCann
Rating: 3 Stars
I had trouble getting into this story. I read through page 165 and just put it down. Oh well, its just not my cuppa tea.
Fran
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely hysterical!! With every installment of this series, I love Janet Evanovich more and more! Fans will delight in this 12th addition to the series.
Donna
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5 Stars
Kathy Reichs's novels are fantastic. This one is the inspiration for the hit Fox series "Bones", so if you enjoy watching that show, you will love this book. This case lands forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan in the middle of a gruesome international scheme. It takes her to the ruins of a Native American burial ground on the Charleston shore. When she finds a fresh skeleton in the burial ground, the real mystery begins. She uncovers a terrible and unimaginable scheme going on with a crew of very terrible people. While helping a friend out in this investigation, she gets even more disturbing news that she cannot believe. An excellent read...
Ginny Lazar (vchl819@aol.com)
Murder at the Opera by Margaret Truman
Rating: 3 Stars
I realize that Ms. Truman has a set plan for this Capital Crimes series, and I used to enjoy it very much. Perhaps it's just too much of the same thing, because I had to work my way through this one. It had interesting Washington D.C. insider insights, but not enough to overcome the continuing use of the formula.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Blood and Circumstance by Frank Turner Hollon
Rating: 4 Stars
Listed as a thriller, I would describe this as a psychological novel about death, insanity, and love. The ending changed all my theories. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which forced me to think, even after I finished reading.
Thomas Barrington
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great read. I think it's his best book to date.
Marlys Davis (marlys366@aol.com)
A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
Rating: 4 Stars
A memoir of the author's whirlwind romance with a Venetian banker and their first three years of marriage, accompanied by the author's recipes for some of the luscious foods she cooked for her lover.
Joyce Farris
Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Rating: 4 Stars
Ms. Mitchard has written a book that provides excitement, laughter, tears, intrigue, information, and good reading. I love books that raise the questions about "what would I do?" and "how would I handle this situation?" This book had everything I was looking for. The time spent reading CAGE OF STARS was worth it for me.
Loretta Sanford
Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 2 Stars
I love the Stephanie Plum "numbers" books --- they are a delicious delight. I even reread them. But, PLUM LOVIN' and SUGAR PLUM are a complete waste of good reading time.
George Mathews (gm12347@aol.com)
Strange Affair by Peter Robinson
Rating: 5 Stars
I have just discovered Mr. Robinson. Inspector Banks, the main character of his series, is one of the best characters I have encountered...ever! I haven't ever really gotten "into" British mystery writers, but this has lit a fire under me and I will buy everything Mr. Robinson has written.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first novel by Koontz I have read. It was pretty good. This book was about Jimmy. While his grandfather is on his death bed, he prophesizes that Jimmy will have five terrible days in his life. The book takes you through each one of these terrible days. When a chapter ends and you think you know what’s going to happen, you get there and you are surprised. I think what makes Koontz so unique is his ability to put humor, terror, and suspense into a story and it all seems to fit. He has a great way with words. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I am looking forward to reading another book by him.
Ginny Lazar (vchl819@aol.com)
Foul Matter by Martha Grimes
Rating: 4 Stars
I hadn't read Grimes in years and was very pleasantly surprised by FOUL MATTER. Her work has changed very much over the years, and this book is worth reading.
Ginny Lazar (vchl819@aol.com)
Green Grow the Victims by Jeanne M. Dams
Rating: 3 Stars
I like Dams's work because it is a little outside the usual detective area. Her heroine, Hilda Johansson, is nosy, likeable, and realistic. An enjoyable little mystery.
Ginny (vchl819@aol.com)
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Rating: 5 Stars
I love John Corey, and this is another winner from Nelson DeMille!
Pat O
The Lucy Book by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was written over a twenty-five-year period. It chronicles Lucille Ball's whole TV career. It talks not only about the shows and appearances, but at the end of each show, Fidelman has comments from people who were in the show, for example: Lucie Arnaz, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Viv Vance, and her friends Ann Southern, etc... The behind-the-scenes talk with people who were in the show is the most interesting.
Andrea (justOneMoreBook@gmail.com)
Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers by Lee Edward Fodi
Rating: 5 Stars
The Magic of Facing Ourselves
This page-turning adventure packs a whollop of a lesson: what we fear most is the truth about ourselves. Luckily, it also helps us discover the magic of facing that truth.
This cleverly crafted fantasy is full of magic, silliness, suspense and adventure and is an absolute hit with the little ones.
Don't miss this exceptionally original fantasy for the 4+ crowd (and be sure to catch the long-awaited sequel when it is released...)
Arlene
Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco
Rating: 5 Stars
A sweetly romantic story of young love lost and found again 40 years later.
Mary Dolata (maruclare@aol.com)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Rating: 5 Stars
Definitely not a quick read, THE THIRTEENTH TALE is a complex and old-fashioned story with fascinating characters, and twists and turns right up to the ending.
Wendy Catalano
Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Rating: 4 Stars
It took me a while to get started, but once I did, there was no putting this book down.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 5 Stars
A nonfiction account of the police and court system in Oklahoma. I still believe in the death penalty, but I question some of the arrests and convictions made. A chilling look at what can go wrong.
Priscilla (pmflynn@webtv.net)
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a Hannah Swensen Mystery. Hannah runs the Cookie Jar, where she makes, bakes and serves her own cookies. She also helps solve the most recent murders. It is a light, quick read, with a touch a humor and romance. It has some great recipes too!
Carol
Too Rich To Live by Lawrence Light
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is filled with fast-paced action and is hard to put down. It's about a reporter investigating the murders of billionaires who make their fortunes by taking over companies, firing the workers and hiding their profits from the government. The main character is someone you can't help but like, along with her "crazy" family. I'm looking forward to reading more of the books in this series.
Cynthia Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
How To Say It by Rosalie Maggio
Rating: 5 Stars
HOW TO SAY IT is full of choice words, phrases, and sentences for every situation. A great book, whether you're writing a thank you card or a business letter.
Cynthia Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
The Bargain by Julia Templeton
Rating: 5 Stars
A real keeper. The story is passionate and fast paced, and the characters are well developed.
Cynthia Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
Selling Used Books Online by Stephen Windwalker
Rating: 5 Stars
A well-written and very informative guide to selling books online. I would highly recommend it to someone starting an online book-selling business.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Under Orders by Dick Francis
Rating: 3 Stars
I adore horse racing and understand that many times the "odds" are fixed. Still, I missed many secrets of the racing world. The mystery and solution are better done by other authors.
Marsha
Tehano by Allen Wier
Rating: 4 Stars
TEHANO is a 714-page blending of fiction and historical events chronicling the final years of the eighteenth century as settlers come to Texas through various routes. Through the Civil War and Reconstruction, many lives were changed forever --- African American freedman and slaves, Native American warriors and their women, Confederate and Union veterans and immigrants. Their stories are woven together in the Comanche territory of Texas. This adventure will capture your interest and your heart. It's a wonderful way to revisit the history of these times.
Jill
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 5 Stars
So great!! An inspirational story that I hated to see end!!
Ann in Nashville
The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
Rating: 5 Stars
Sometimes, by the time a series gets to the sixth book, the characters or plots become a little too familiar or repetitive, but not this time. Detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Maura Isles have met much more than their usual serial killer. The sidebars into Jane's family issues and Maura's relationship changes help balance a very intense book. Highly recommended!
Cynthia Knisely (cynderma@aol.com)
The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day
Rating: 5 Stars
This is fast moving and well wriiten, with characters that developed nicely. A very passionate story with a nice ending.
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
Full Blast by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 3 Stars
Evanovich is fun to read with her quirky characters and the mayhem that the main heroine encounters. The minor characters are what give the story that extra kick.
Dusty (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
Harvard Yard by William Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
A great mix of history and enjoyable adventure make William Martin's books enjoyable. I have read all his novels and loved them all.
J.P. Feingold
The Collector by David Baldacci
Rating: 4 Stars
Another page turner from Baldacci.
Aimee
Heat by Bill Buford
Rating: 4 Stars
An insider's adventure into Mario Batali's background, cooking, and 3-star New York City restaurant Babbo, written by a self-proclaimed kitchen slave who wanted to truly immerse himself in the culinary scene.
Julie
Songs in Ordinary Times by Mary McGarry Morris
Rating: 5 Stars
This book takes place in the summer of 1960, in the small town of Atkinson, Vermont. Marie Fermoyle is a strong but vulnerable divorced woman whose loneliness and ambition for her children make her an easy target for a con man. If anyone has every read THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, Morris's narrative of this town and what happens in it is similar.
Sandy
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 5 Stars
Anyone who has read the Big Stone Gap series will not be disappointed!
Patti D
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
I got drawn in by the first sentence, then that was it. I couldn't put it down! I felt as if the characters were my friends and I was sad when the book ended. A must read!
Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com)
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a very good read. The author is not only prolific, but he is also a versatile and intelligent writer. The story has mystery and intrigue. It about the disappearance of a silent screen actor.
Mary Kay Ball
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 3 Stars
A father's choice one snowy winter night changes the lives of his family and his nurse's as well.
Edwards draws a complex tale of both families and their lives after the decision had been made.
T. Brown (tsbrown62@aol.com)
Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Rating: 2 Stars
I found this book boring. I still don't know what the plot was. It took me two weeks of forced reading to finish it.
Donna
Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book and would give it 10 stars if I could. I have read all the Alexandra Cooper books, and this one is the best. I was captivated by the subject of the tunnels and sandhogs (people who work there), and I liked the New York City history too. I can't wait for the sequel.
Wanda Stevens
Pilgrim by Fred Saberhagen
Rating: 3 Stars
The copyright for this book is 1987-88. It has some odd twists and turns in it. It is about some people who go back to ancient Egypt to find a special type of gold to fuel a space/time travel ship. I'm giving it three stars because I'm only half-way through it, but I can't wait until I'm finished.
L. Hann
Triptych by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 5 Stars
I actually listened to this on CD. I found myself taking the longer route to the store and work just so I could listen to what happens next. This book has a lot of twists and turns and keeps your attention. You never expect what happens at the end. Excellent read.
Dusty (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
The Kills by Linda Fairstein
Rating: 5 Stars
I love Linda's books, and this one is no different. The great story held my attention throughout.
Phyllis
Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood
Rating: 3 Stars
The author continues the stories of the Buchanans and the MacKennas; this was Noah's story. The characters and plot could have been developed more; it was easy to figure 'who did it' before the ending.
Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com)
True Evil by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
If you've ever wondered what true evil looks like, then look no further than to the main character in this book. Mr. Iles has delivered one of the most exciting, page turning, books that I've read in years. The suspense builds and builds and you won't be let down at the end. Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore or library and ask for this book. You won't be sorry.
Patty
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
Rating: 5 Stars
This book shows you what it is like to live through abuse when you're younger and what it can do to the whole family.
Patty
A Cold Christmas by Charlene Weir
Rating: 5 Stars
A very good mystery and just a nice read for a chilly evening, all snuggled under your covers.
Patty
Seven Brides Rose by Leigh Greenwood
Rating: 5 Stars
A very good book that you never want to end. It's so good it makes you feel like you lived in the book. Leigh Greenwood is a great author.
Ruby Davis
Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful story of friendship, loss, relationships, love, and hope --- a multi-generational story of families split apart, and yet forged together in different ways. It will steal your heart, and is a book to keep on the bookshelf to read again and again.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi
Rating: 4 Stars
In this "virtual trip to Italy!" de Blasi's vivid descriptions and mouth-watering recipes take you into the heart of this beautiful country. A memoir not to be missed!
Carol Newey (carford@aol.com)
K is for Killer by Sue Grafton
Rating: 5 Stars
A delightful read with PI Kinsey Millhone. The author is descriptive and makes you feel like you are there. I have read nearly all of Grafton's books and can't wait for the next one to come out.
L. Hann
Pop Goes The Weasel by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Mr. Patterson does it again. Alex Cross never seems to catch a break when it comes to his love life. Now that he has found someone he could spend the rest of his life with, the Weasel has different ideas. This book will have you on the edge of your seat.
Renee (tfranzen2124@comcast.net)
Beyond Knowing by Janis Amatuzio
Rating: 4 Stars
What a unique collection of stories by a forensic pathologist from Anoka County, MN. This is her second collection of true stories of people who have experienced the transition of life to death. A beautiful and encouraging read.
Terri Dobson
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
I picked this up in the "Clearance - 99 cents" aisle, while I was looking for a quick road trip read. I was quite surprised how quickly I was drawn into the characters of Gracie and Bobby Tom. There were lots of cliches, but Gracie brings back all those middle school/high school years; and, you FEEL for her. Yes, it's predictable, but who would deny that this ugly duckling turned swan needs a happy ending?
Mary Ann Weaver
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 4 Stars
What a hilarious adventure through the minds of people. The main character wants to make a difference in the world and will go to any lengths to do so. All the characters have "character flaws," which made for a funny read. I look forward to reading more of this author
Saundra M.
Triptych by Karin Slaughter
Rating: 2 Stars
I usually like reading Karen Slaughter, but this book was the exception. I had the ending figured out near the beginning of the book, so the rest of the story seemed to be just filler. The story was really typical, and there was no surprise or plot twist.
Joan Woods (buckeye14@tampabay.rr.com)
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
In this 12th and last book in the Alex Cross series, Alex finds out who killed his wife in the first book. This one has has mystery and romance. Another great book by James Patterson.
Beth Schweikert
Accidental Happiness by Jean Reynolds Page
Rating: 4 Stars
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are so many secrets to keep you wondering.
Nunu In Niagara
The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the story of a young woman who is broke and down on her luck. She decides to become a surrogate mother to make some easy money. She has been chosen by a wealthy well-known family from Texas and can't believe her good luck. However, when she moves into their stately home, she finds that she has gotten herself into something she wasn't looking for. Once again, Judith Henry Wall weaves a realistic story.
Gale
Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 4 Stars
A good fill in between the numbered books...all the usual suspects are back, in fine form. Evanovich neatly ties up a series dangler and leaves a couple more in front of us.
Gale
Stalemate by Iris Johansen
Rating: 4 Stars
Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn advance their relationship in some telling and surprising ways in Iris Johansen's newest forensics thriller.
Maria
Dark Desires by Eve Silver
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a deliciously gothic romance centerd around the affair between a doctor and his maid. It has a Dr.Jekyl and Mr.Hyde vibe --- we don't know if the doctor is good or evil. I could not put it down.
Dusty (bjohnson-att@comcast.net)
High Five by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 4 Stars
Loved this book --- I am getting hooked on the adventures of Stephanie Plum, the slightly bumbling but lovable bounty hunter.
Peggy Hagel, Norfolk VA
Lying With Strangers by James Grippando
Rating: 5 Stars
A psychological thriller with frequent plot turns and twists, this story --- set in Boston with flashbacks in Florida --- will keep you turning pages while mulling over deeper meanings. Peyton Sheilds, a pediatric resident at Boston Childrens' hospital, is being stalked. Her husband, who is less than faithful and has a "professional" sideline he is trying to hide from his legal firm --- does not believe her, nor do the police. Peyton must save herself and, maybe, delve into her husband's secret affairs. The title can be interpreted two ways; sleeping with strangers, or fibbering to strangers. Both could apply. All of James Grippando's books are excellent and original.
Mary Ann Weaver
About Alice by Calvin Trillin
Rating: 5 Stars
This was a peek into the life of a very interesting person after her death. Truly a love story as well as a tribute to his wife of 36 years, Trillin manages to celebrate as well as mourn his loss. A vey quick read.
L. Hann
We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent! I can not even begin to tell you how this book touched me. I think we all could learn from it. We seem to go on about our lives and really forget what true family is and how too many secrets can destroy it. In a time where the family unit seems to be deteriorating, this book will make you stop and think, and re-evaluate what is really important.
Sharon Lumb (swl44th@hotmail.com)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Rating: 5 Stars
A shepherd is the hero in this story who gives all --- country, wealth, love and himself --- to obtain his life quest. Although the story is short, I kept reading more carefully to understand the meaning of the seemingly simple story. It caused me to consider how much of my life is spent pleasing myself and others, rather than seeking my quest.
Carol from Cleveland
The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Frank Rich
Rating: 5 Stars
The author is a columnist for the New York Times, and the subject is how the Bush Administration sold the Iraq war to the American people through a series of lies that they knew were lies when they told them. I knew I didn't agree with the way this administration ran things, but I had been too naive to believe how far they would go to achieve their ends. Very eye opening.
Carol from Cleveland
Big Stone Gap by Adriani Trigiani
Rating: 4 Stars
I heard the author interviewed on NPR, and this series sounded very interesting. BIG STONE GAP is the first of 3 in the series so far, and in this one, a woman named Ave Maria --- who lives in a small Virginia coal-mining town, and whose mother has just died --- finds out that the man she grew up thinking was her father was not really her biological father. The story was very enjoyable; I look forward to reading the others.
Angie
Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
Rating: 4 Stars
A fan of pretty much all of Cabot's work, I might be a little biased when I say that this is yet another winner. I wasn't convinced the first time around, but the second time I read this, I was charmed at this sweet and actually surprisingly mature young adult novel. Check it out!
Jean Utley (jutley54@yahoo.com)
Snakeskin Shamisen by Naomi Hirahara
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is third in a series of mysteries about a Japanese gardener in Los Angeles who is a Hiroshima survivor and solves mysteries. The dialogue can be a bit off-putting until you get into it, but the storyline is wonderful. Mas Arai, a grumpy, aging widower, gets invited to a party thrown by a man who has won a half million-dollar jackpot in Las Vegas. The man is murdered and a rare old Okinawan musical instrument is found by the body. I loved the characters and learning about other cultures.
Jeanie
Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin
Rating: 5 Stars
WRAPPED IN RAIN is a grand book about two boys who grow up unloved by their father but deeply cherished by their nanny, who teaches them about God. Both young men are deeply scarred, one more than the other as he has mental problems stemming from his father's neglect. Charles Martin's books are always a joy to read. He writes so descriptively that you feel you are in the moment!
Jeanie
There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene
Rating: 4 Stars
The plight of the AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia and the devestation on the orphaned children is highlighted in this nonfiction book. Children who were rescued from the streets had been left homeless by their parents' death to AIDS. The author goes into great detail on the history of AIDS and cures, etc. but I skipped those parts and enjoyed reading about the heroine, Haregewoin, who harbored those abandoned by the AIDS epidemic.
Lindsey (bsb_chick76247@yahoo.com)
The Secret Ingredient by Jane Heller
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the funniest book I have read in a long time. It basically deals with a woman who wants a change in her marriage, which has gotten too comfortable. She gets way more than she bargained for when her husband changes...but not for the better. She realizes that things were a lot better when she left her husband the way he is and looked at herself as perhaps the source of the problem.
Joanne Roberts
Bloodlines by Joseph DiLalla
Rating: 5 Stars
I love mysteries, especially with exceptionally story lines. This page turner had me reading all night and unwilling to turn out the lights. When I did wake up the next day, the first thing I did was pick up the book immediately and finish it. I loved it!
Krishna
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Rating: 3 Stars
I received this book as a part of a bookray from bookcrossing, and I just finished it. The story was interesting and unique. I liked the way the mystery was developed. The person I expected to be at the bottom of the mystery wasn't who I thought it would be, so it was a good twist. The buildup was a bit slow and I wanted them to get to it already --- you don't find out the big event which starts the story off until page 125. Other than that, it was a good read.
Rachael
Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic book dealing with forensic science and an intense murder mystery. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you don't mind all the gritty forensic details, it's a great book!
Sandra Greathouse (Muzzley56@aol.com)
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourne
Rating: 5 Stars
I loved this book! It's a wonderfully rich mystery that will keep you turning pages well into the night. If you like historical mysteries, this is for you. SILENT IN THE GRAVE is Ms. Raybourne's first novel and I can't wait for the next one!
Stella Schmitz
The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring
Rating: 5 Stars
A wonderful summertime story of 2 best friends and assorted family members who keep things lively. This book is not to be missed...you will laugh and cry.
Margaret Ball
The Demise of Luleta Jones by Mark Allen Boone
Rating: 5 Stars
Mark Allen Booke paints a portrait of a woman both scorned and envied by her peers.
Luleta Jones is hired by the Lincoln Manor Academy of the Arts to teach children an appreciation of the fine arts. She is devoted to the arts and to her students, and her students are devoted to her. Luleta implements new music from forgotten Black composers, much to the chagrin of her fellow teachers. Being fired from her job and evicted from her apartment onto the streets is not enough to satisfy her enemies. The locals had one of two stances about Luleta Jones; they either loved or despised her. Even after her death, some tried to scandalize her name, but her greatness lives on through those whose lives she touched. A reporter interested in the human-interest aspects of the story became enraptured by Luleta's story and was determined to unravel the mystery behind her death.
Gina
Web of Evil by J. A. Jance
Rating: 4 Stars
J.A. Jance is always a great storyteller and WEB OF EVIL does not disappoint. You are drawn into the story and feel like you are back with some old friends. This was an easy and enjoyable read.
Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com)
Killing Spree by Kevin O'Brien
Rating: 5 Stars
This is the first book I read by the author, and it was a great find! I couldn't put it down, and it kept me reading till I finished. Afterwards, I went out and bought five more of his books.
Rebecca (vicvan52@aol.com)
Water for Elephants by Gruen
Rating: 4 Stars
Fascinating story told in flashbacks of a young man in the 30s who joins the circus as a vet. Quirky characters abound.
Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com)
The Secret Lives of Men and Women by Frank Warren
Rating: 4 Stars
I love his postsecret.com website, even sent some of my own secrets in. The traveling exhibit was in Reading in October, and I made the trip to go see it. I loved THE SECRET LIVES OF MEN AND WOMEN, but I noticed that each of his books are getting shorter and more expensive with each one. His first book was thick and the best, at 276 pages. The second and third book were 144 pages.
Krishna
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
Rating: 4 Stars
The story is a collection of essays on "books." The author describes everything from how her and her husband's libraries were combined after years of being married, to things she read as a child that made impressions on her. It was a great book to make you recall the reasons you love to read.
Sandra F.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rating: 4 Stars
Do not be put off by the length of this book. It is a wonderfully written account of the historical Dracula. The DA VINCI CODE pales by comparison.
Sandra F.
On South Mountain by David Cruise and Alison Griffiths
Rating: 4 Stars
The gripping true story of the Goler Clan of Nova Scotia. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it's a story that had to be told. It is a well-researched and well-written account of the incest rampant in one clan who lived for generations on South Mountain.
Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net)
Hidden Prey by John Sandford
Rating: 4 Stars
Lucas Davenport is up to his ears in Russian spies when a Russian sailor is murdered in Duluth. It turns out that an entire network of old, Soviet Cold War spies are still following the Communist party line in Minnesota's Iron Range. Lucas searches for the killer and the leader of the group as the body count climbs.
Bonnie Levy
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 4 Stars
This book will bring tears to your eyes. As always, Mr. Albom has written a story you will never forget about love, life, and forgiveness. What talent!
Tina H.
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
Rating: 4 Stars
This was a great read with memorable characters. Some parts had me laughing out loud.
Christopher Starling (jesuschriss666@yahoo.com)
The Existential Imagination by Ed. Frederick R. Karl and Leo Hamalian
Rating: 5 Stars
For anyone interested in existentialism or classic fiction literature with deeper thought that goes beyond genre, THE EXISTENTIAL IMAGINATION traverses from William Shakespeare to Jean-Paul Sartre. The eighteen specially-chosen stories included here have come from some of the brightest and best philosopher-writers, such as Leo Tolstoy, Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, and Samuel Beckett. As the Fawcett World Library says: "This unique anthology charts the development of existential thought through the classic literature of past and present." Although this collection was compiled and printed first in the 1960s, it remains a must-have for any reader of a deeper-thinking fiction.
Pam Cassel
Necroscope III: The Source by Brian Lumley
Rating: 4 Stars
If vampires turn you on, this is a book to read. I don't mean sappy love vampires, but mean, in-your-face vampires. "Jazz" Simmons is a British spy who gets pushed through a one-way portal by the KGB. Vampires stalk Travellers and Jazz becomes part of the Travellers. With the help of Zek, a female the KGB pushed through earlier, Jazz gets a lesson on the history of the Vampire and Travelers' world.
Joyce K.
Between Friends by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
The story is told through the letters and diaries of two best friends who are growing up in the 60s. I like how the current events of the time are woven into the story. This was a very interesting and enjoyable read.
Virginia
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a series our school librarian has been recommending to the students (high school) this year. As a reading teacher, I read the entire series (there are 7 books) last semester and they are absolutely fantastic! There's action, intrigue, a little romance... everything.
My students have actually been lining up to get these books!
Sandra F.
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a sequel to the THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET and continues the story of the lives of women touched by a shared love of knitting. A lovely story for a winter afternoon, curled up by the fire.
Sandra F.
The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a lovely story of four women who come together through their love of knitting. They meet in a yarn shop on Blossom Street and find the joys of friendship through the shared experience of knitting.
Sandra F.
Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Rating: 5 Stars
A scary, thrilling, and wonderful book featuring FBI agent Pendergast. This is the first book in a trilogy and is one of the best these authors have written. Can the devil really come to claim souls? Read this and find out.
Sandra F.
Uncatalogued by Julie Kaewert
Rating: 4 Stars
This is part of a series featuring publisher and booklover Alex Plumtree and his wife Sarah. These two are constantly embroiled in mysteries surrounding literary figures --- in this book, it is Samuel Pepys. A witty and fun read for booklovers everywhere.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a story about a man who is at the lowest point of his life. During an attempt to commit suicide, he ends up at his childhood home, where he sees his deceased mother (alive). He is able to spend a short time with her, and learns about her life while he was growing up --- things he never knew, sacrifices she made. The guilt he had felt since her death overwhelms him, but he is able to tell her he loves her, he misses her, and that she was a good mother. There is a quote in this book that is notable:
“…Parents, if they love you, will hold you up safely, above their swirling waters, and sometimes that means you’ll never know what they endure, and you may treat them unkindly, in a way you otherwise wouldn’t."
That is a great quote. As a parent and a daughter, this book has truly touched me.
Judy O.
True Evil by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
FBI agent Alex Morse is sure that her brother-in-law has caused the death of her sister, his wife. In her attempt to uncover the plot, she alienates herself from her bosses at the FBI. This does not stop her from uncovering 2 serial killers and weapons of mass destruction in the form of bioweapons. This is an exciting book, one that is almost impossible to put down. Iles's books are always intensely readable.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 3 Stars
(#1 of the Isabel Dalhousie series)
I am still not sure whether or not I liked this book. I think the author could have omitted a lot of the babbling on philosophical ideas that came from the articles Isabel was reading. I enjoyed the characters, Isabel, Jamie, and Cat. I am not quite sure what “The Sunday Philosophy Club” is because the club never met, and Isabel never mentioned who was in the club.
The writing in this book was so different from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, I am surprised they are written by the same author. It is almost like he geared his writing style towards the readers he thinks will read the particular book. I will try the next book in the series and hopefully will enjoy it more than this one.
Cathy
The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a wonderful story about estranged family members rallying around the illness of their mother. Each chapter of the book begins with information about the life of a sea turtle paralleling the life of one of the characters.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Luck of the Irish by Kate Douglas, Jennifer Dunne and Chris Tanglen
Rating: 3 Stars
This was an enjoyable and lighthearted anthology about three men who capture a leprechaun and are each granted the wish to possess his greatest desire. The fun comes when they realize that their greatest desires are not what they might think they are, or as easy as they sound.
Sandy
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 4 Stars
I always like to read James Patterson because the chapters are so short and the books go by so quickly. This one is as good as all his others.
Larena Wirum
In the Groove by Pamela Britton
Rating: 5 Stars
It is a great romance that gives you laughter and tears.
Jan
Keeper of the Keys by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Rating: 2 Stars
I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book, even though it is was not part of the Nina Reilly series. However, the book was so BORING that it was almost painful to read. I am so disappointed in this dynamic writing duo.
Jan
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
Rating: 4 Stars
Another great book in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee series. This was a very engrossing story incorporating Navajo cultural and spiritual aspects. As always, Hillerman doesn't disappoint!
Alexis
What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George
Rating: 4 Stars
WHAT CAME BEFORE HE SHOT HER is extremely complicated, and quite different from the Lindley and Havers mysteries. My mind boggles at George's ability to gather all the facets together. To read this book, you need 2 cups of tea, a fireplace and lots of time to absorb.
Amy Honan
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Rating: 5 Stars
Alexandra “Barney” Barnaby and NASCAR driver Sam Hooker are together again in another one of Janet Evanovich’s novels, MOTOR MOUTH. Hooker and Barnaby are joined up with a couple of new faces this time around: Gobbles, a spotter for another driver, and Beans, Hooker’s dog. There are also some familiar faces from the previous book, namely Rosa and Felicia.
IN MOTOR MOUTH, Hooker and Barnaby highjack a rig, dismantle a couple of racecars, lose a race, find hidden technology on the winning team's car, and rescue their friend...and that is only in the first couple of chapters...
Hooker and Barnaby figure out that this new technology is traction control that will help race cars drive around curves faster without worrying about crashing. The owner of the cars with the technology want them both back, so he holds their friend ransom in return for the missing traction control chip. But, Hooker gets nabbed as well, leaving Felicia, Rosa, and Alex to save them.
There is never a dull moment in this book, which was is fast paced from the beginning to the very end. Even more stuff getting blown up in this one then in the first book, METRO GIRL, and was just as good.
Sandy
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Rating: 5 Stars
Even though I knew from the title that the main character was innocent, I loved reading all about his life and the lives of anyone connected with this story. True stories are great when they are written as well as this one.
Jane H. (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com)
By My Side by Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 Stars
Nora Roberts nails her characters, and she draws the readers in with precision. I highly recommend this to anyone.
Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net)
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
Rating: 4 Stars
I really enjoy this series. It is so unique. All the books take place in Botswana. It seems as though the author is really big on teaching lessons in morality through them. Very good lessons indeed.
Shanna Loewen (shannadl@hotmail.com)
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great story about a man who goes on to have 3 wives. The characters, except for Ken Kimble, are all well defined and you truly come to learn about and care for everyone. The only thing that keeps me from rating this higher is it seems to drag on, and by the time it's over, you never really get any views of why Kimble left women like he did, or why he refused to connect with his children. All the characters give you a very emotional tie, and yet, he lacks any emotion at all.
Kathy Kasten
Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Rating: 4 Stars
This book captivated me from the start. I couldn't put it down and stayed up way too late for several nights.
ThymeWaits
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Rating: 5 Stars
A perfect 5.0!
This is Atwood as she should be: staunchly feminist, broodingly dark, and funny. I know Margaret Atwood has a good sense of humor. It came through in her first novel and anytime she speaks. It's just been hidden from her novels.
If you only know Atwood from THE HANDMAID'S TALE (creepy), this will show you a different side.
This book is written from the perspective of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. After her death, she relates the story of her life with (and waiting for) Odysseus, and her rivalry with her cousin, Helen of Troy. Penelope is backed up with a chorus of 12 maids who are irreverent as all get out!
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Sharon Bryan
Howling Moon by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp
Rating: 5 Stars
This is part of the great Sazi series. Buy it and read it, you won't regret it. But, I bet you will want to buy the rest of the series.
Phill Brown (pbrown@yahoo.com)
Across the High Lonesome by James McNay Brumfeld
Rating: 5 Stars
A great story set in the modern American West. I picked up a copy after seeing that the book received praise form Larry McMurtry. The great characters, beautiful country descriptions are all mixed together with a little drama, humor, adventure and romance!
Brenda
The Things We Do For Love by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 5 Stars
Kristin Hannah does it again! This is another heartwarming story that keeps you turning the pages.
After losing her father, her newborn daughter and her husband (to separation), Angela Desario moves back to her family's cottage by the sea in her hometown. In an attempt to deal with the losses in her life --- including the fact that it seems she is unable to have children --- she realizes it's better to give than to receive. Lauren Ribido, a struggling teenager with an absent mom, enters Angela’s life, and together they start to face the challenges in their lives.
The characters are so realistic that you feel like you're there with them. The story has some unseen twists and keeps you wondering how the characters will handle the situations they are in.
A wonderful book!
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
A Wish, a Kiss, a Dream by Shiloh Walker, Mary Wine and Lora Leigh
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great anthology from three of my favorite authors. The first story from Ms. Walker is a sweet romance with a magical being. Ms. Wine's story with an Army Ranger is a part of her Dream series and will leave you wanting to read the three previous installments. And, Ms. Leigh's intense erotic story with a rugged Cowboy sizzles. All three stories are well written with loveable characters and intriguing plots.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Marly's Choice by Lora Leigh
Rating: 5 Stars
This was an extraordinary book with extremely hot sex scenes. Ms. Leigh is one of my favorite authors, and she never disappoints. I've already purchased the next two books in this series so I can read both Sam and Brock's stories.
Christy (hawkes@citlink.net)
Cross by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great thriller full of twists and turns that will leave you reading from beginning to end. Alex Cross is back, and this time he is after the murderer of his wife. This is one of Patterson's better books.
Kim (kim_orlikowski@hotmail.com)
Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
I have really enjoyed reading each of the books by Jodi Picoult that I have purchased. She has a way of writing about topics that are so controversial, and this one is no exception. As you read it, you wonder what you would do if you were faced with the same problem with one of your children. I have not been able to put it down!
csevcik (csevcik@comcast.net)
Backroads by Tawni O'Dell
Rating: 4 Stars
A suspensful and hard-to-put-down novel about the lives of teens who have been through a horrible family ordeal. It is easy to like the characters.
Kym
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Rating: 5 Stars
Bill Bryson is absolutely one of my all-time favorite authors. He is so funny that he always makes me laugh out loud --- even on the fifth or sixth time reading the book (yes, I've done that. I'm telling you, he's that good!)
He is so very funny that it's easy to overlook what a brilliant writer he is. He has a knack of saying things in exactly the right way to make you understand just what he means, while learning something in the process too.
Bryson is one of the few authors I will buy before I've already read the book because I know I will enjoy it again and again. If you've not read him, you're in for a treat!
Melanie
Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Rating: 5 Stars
Another great Harry Bosch novel that explores the gray areas involved in solving murders.
Kathy
Born In Death by J. D. Robb
Rating: 5 Stars
Another winner for Nora Roberts. In this book, we find Eve and her fabulously wealthy and smart husband going after someone who murdered two individuals senselessly and someone who snatched a very pregnant friend of Eve's very pregnant friend. How the two fit crimes together is interesting to watch as the plot unfolds. Once again, Even does her thing, and does it quite well. I highly recommend this book.
Kathy
H.R.H. by Danielle Steel
Rating: 5 Stars
Great book perfect to spend a rainy weekend with. The author has developed a heartwarming story about a royal who chooses to be as human as the person on the street. The princess is someone everyone can relate to.
Priscilla Escajeda
The Tenth Circle by Jody Picoult
Rating: 5 Stars
A great story of the relationship between a father and daughter. The book held my interest --- I couldn't put it down.
Christopher Starling (jesuschriss666@yahoo.com)
American Holocaust by David E. Stannard
Rating: 5 Stars
David E. Stannard is renowned for his works on idigenous peoples and minorities of the United States. In AMERICAN HOLOCAUST, he reveals a fascinating and brutally honest study of the Native Americans and their European conquerors. Many people do not know or realize that the genocide of the American Indians is history's largest holocaust, with more than 100 million people murdered. This book rightfully goes beyond the typical studies of this racial warring, as it transforms death toll numbers into individuals. This book is also important because it delves into the mindset of the Europeans. For example, Stannard writes that some influential Europeans actually considered the natives to be a cross between monkey and man --- though closer to monkey --- which made him a natural slave, created divinely for European use. I have read many books on Native America and AMERICAN HOLOCAUST truly is the most important. Written with passion, Stannard's style takes informative nonfiction and makes it a work that can't be put down. For anyone interested in learning the truth of American history and humankind's largest holocaust, no other work is needed.
Liza
The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey
Rating: 4 Stars
A winner! The book comes out this month, but I read an ARC. Part Dennis Lehane, part George Pelecanos, this is about a small-time ciminal, Danny, who leaves the scene of a robbery gone bad and his partner goes to jail for 7 years. While the partner is away in jail, Danny beomes a model citizen with a job, home, and loyal girlfriend. However, when the partner gets out of jail, he comes looking for payback...in another "job" that he forces Danny (with threats to destroy everything he holds dear) to help him with...involving kidnapping a child for ransom. It kept me reading late!
Aimee
The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
Rating: 4 Stars
A short, sweet story with a great message for all. THE CHRISTMAS BOX is a book that could (and should) be read a number of times in a lifetime to keep us all on the right track.
bookczuk
Ghost Portrait by Gregory Norminton
Rating: 5 Stars
I'd not heard of this book before a friend sent it to me. It takes place in 17th-century England and spans the Civil War, Cromwell's reign and the Restoration. In a sense, it is like getting three tales in one because of the three stories told, all involving painter Nathaniel Deller. The story starts out with Nathaniel, now blind, summoning his former pupil William Stroud, to finish a portrait Nathaniel started of his long-dead wife. If William finishes it, Nathaniel indicates that William may once again look with love and win Nathaniel's daughter Cynthia (who lives with and cares for her father, trapped in the dark and stern household.) Interwoven are stories from two other time periods of Deller's life --- the night of Charles ll's return from exile in 1660, when Deller is accused by his former friend Thomas Digby of betraying their ideals; and 10 years earlier just after Charles l's execution, when the young Deller had joined a political group too radical even for the Roundheads.
GHOST PORTRAIT is a small book and a rapid read, but as I started it late at night, I was glad for the dates at the headings of the chapters to help guide my brain through the time periods. I admit that the concept most fascinating was of Deller guiding Stroud how to complete the painting of a subject he could see so clearly in his head that Stroud had never seen. And how to judge the complete work, when there was no one alive who had seen the deceased Belinda alive.
bookczuk
Killing Time by Linda Howard
Rating: 3 Stars
Not a bad little mystery/romance, with a spot of time travel thrown in.
Cristina Myer - YA Book fanatics (cristinamyer1@lycos.com)
Wireless In the Fabric of Time by E. I. Johnson
Rating: 5 Stars
WIRELESS IN THE FABRIC OF TIME is one of the most impressive and emotionally wrenching YA books I've had the pleasure to read. The characters Von Muir Carmichael and his best friend are as real as any college students I've run into recently. Yes, it is time-travel of a sort. Von is somehow transported to the past through his handheld scanner device, and Sir Oliver Robert, his newfound friend during the Edwardian era in England, is a masterful, albeit heart-rending character.
Von can't wait to graduate college and have an adult life. He'd love to just get away from school and start his new job as a security analyst specializing in software tech. But, an assemblage of tangled wires lying in his dorm room short circuit, causing his electronic device to malfunction and take him to 1908 London.
Von, of course, would rather this whole thing be just a ’nightmare’ because the alternative seems to be insanity. But when his "nightmare" starts giving him accurate answers about things he's never heard of, then all bets are off.
E. I. Johnson used the literary technique of magical realism, bringing readers a serious tale of friendship, redemption, justice, lost love, family values and modern technology. Johnson’s novel incorporates mysticism into the protagonist's 1908 time travel to Exeter College, Oxford University, England: the aristocratic British University.
Evocative descriptions and elegant phrasings make the writing most enjoyable for young adults and because the author uses a first-person voice, the story seems very personal, and readers will Von's turmoil and angst. E. I. Johnson’s fans and those who like a fantasy and adventure with the new generation technology will find something intriguing here.
Margo
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a beautiful love story about a soldier and a college student. They fall in love while he is home on leave, and plan to be married when he gets out of the army. Then comes Sept. 11th, and he feels the need to re-enlist. John gets a "Dear John" letter while he is in Iraq. The story doesn't end there. I really loved this book.
Suzanne
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 3 Stars
I've read almost every one of Nicholas Sparks's books. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't able to really get into the characters and I thought it was very predictable. I easily could have put the book down and not even finished it.
Roxie
World of Pies by Karen Stolz
Rating: 4 Stars
This book revovles around the life of a girl named Roxanne. It starts with her at age 12 and moves through her 40s. It begins in the 60s and covers the issues of those years. It's a light, easy, but very enjoyable read.
Roxie
All The Numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen
Rating: 5 Stars
This story revolves around a mom who loses her son in a freak accident. It goes through the effects on family and friends. It's very emotional (especially hits home for parents), and is a major tearjerker but an awesome read!
Jacki Sanders (j20sanders@yahoo.com)
The Dare by Newton E. Streeter
Rating: 4 Stars
Great book...
Audrey Burke
Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan
Rating: 3 Stars
I love all of her books but wasn't so thrilled with this one. It didn't have as much dialogue as her others, and just didn't leave me dying to read more.
Mary Angela Young
A Little Magic by Nora Roberts
Rating: 4 Stars
A very fast but very enjoyable read.
Rose Marie Fries (Rosemariero5@aol.com)
Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 4 Stars
Her books are always great reads. As entertaining as her stories are, you also get a lot of insight and information that makes you want to explore the subject further.
Betty Pickering
Lifeguard by James Patterson
Rating: 5 Stars
Excellent read. I wish I had time to finish it in one sitting.
April Lemesh (alemesh@aol.com)
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 3 Stars
This book has been around for a while, but the musical has renewed interest in the book, I think. I was asked by my daughter to read it before she let her 13 year-old-daughter read it. While I enjoyed it very much as a new take on the Oz legend, the inclusion of some graphic sexual encounters made it off limits for young teens, in my opinion.
Wanda Stevens
Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Rating: 5 Stars
If you liked The Lord of the Rings, you'll love THE SWORD OF SHANNARA. It's the first of a long series. It has the usual "small, not likely to win" hero and the "huge, virtually unbeatable" bad guy, both striving to win for good or evil. However, there are a lot of twists and turns in the plot that'll keep you wanting more. A definite read for fantasy fanatics.
Joyce A (joyce@wino.com)
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
Rating: 5 Stars
One is hard pressed to meet quirkier characters than those thought up by Carl Hiaasen. In his latest book, he doesn't dissapoint. I always thoroughly enjoy his humor, satire, and offbeat mysteries. This one does not disappoint.
Gail Handler (g_handle@bellsouth.net)
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Rating: 4 Stars
This book not only gives you an insider's look into the life and beliefs of Barack Obama, it also leaves you with a hopeful feeling for the direction of our country and the Presidency.
Gail Handler (g_handle@bellsouth.net)
A Hand To Guide Me by Denzel Washington
Rating: 3 Stars
An interesting compilation of essays by famous people --- including Denzel Washington --- about the people of importance in their lives who were mentors. In addition, at least some, if not all, of the profits from the book go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, an organization that Washington claims kept him on the correct path in his youth.
Linda M. Johnson
101 People Who Are Really Screwing America by Jack Huberman
Rating: 2 Stars
This book was obviously written as an answer to Bernard Goldberg's 100 POEPLE WHO ARE SCREWING UP AMERICA (AND AL FRANKEN IS #37). I previously read Goldberg's book. He presented the conservative viewpoint. Huberman, who includes Goldberg in his list (#67, I think) idealogically had me on his side, but he blew it. I feel as if I have just been through the campaign season and once again, was inundated with negative ads. Huberman has many valid points, but he blankets them with negativity and name calling. Not a pleasant read.
Linda M. Johnson
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Rating: 4 Stars
This is Eggers's story of life after his parents' death with the responsibility of raising his much younger brother. Very Unique. Eggers is a very talented writer who doesn't rely on clichés.
Renee Kropnick
The King of Lies by John Hart
Rating: 4 Stars
Lovers of mysteries will enjoy this debut of Hart's. I look forward to his future books, which I am sure will come.
Nancy V. (Bookmomma@aol.com)
Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood
Rating: 3 Stars
Jordan Buchanan travels to the small town of Serenity, Texas in an effort to refute claims that her family clan is responsible for ancient crimes. Somebody doesn't want her there, and dead bodies start showing up in the trunk of her car. Garwood interjects humor into this thriller, with good results. A terrific love story is also depicted.
J.M. Kraetsch
March by Geraldine Brooks
Rating: 4 Stars
I was anxious to read this book, because I found the subject intriguing. Having read all the Alcott books in my early years, it struck me that Mr. March "wasn't" ever around. Ms. Brooks does a beautiful job of protraying the characters, the time period, and the "fictional" story in her Pulitzer Prize-winning ways.
Nancy V. (Bookmomma@aol.com)
The Tailor's Daughter by Janice Graham
Rating: 3 Stars
An historical saga about a deaf woman who becomes a successful tailor to the British aristocracy, although not without many personal struggles.
Mary
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
Rating: 5 Stars
PARANOIA is a thriller about a man who gets caught dipping into company funds, and rather than turn him over to the police, the employer sends him to spy on the competition. A fun, quick read.
Mary
No Use Dying Over Spilled Milk by Tamar Myers
Rating: 4 Stars
A cozy mystery set in Amish country about an innkeeper whose Amish relative dies under unusual circumstances. When she goes to the funeral, she discovers that there had been another recent unusual death. The book contains recipes as well as a bonus. I made the appetizer and it was good.
Pat Miller
True Evil by Greg Iles
Rating: 3 Stars
The concept of book is good, but it's very slow reading.
Pat Miller
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger
Rating: 3 Stars
This was kind of boring and hard to keep reading. The plot seemed to be redundant.
Marion (lamamil@aol.com)
Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a translation from a manuscript written during the Holocaust. The author did not survive. It is a wonderful study of classes and meetings and a changing country (France).
Sandi
Kissed a Sad Goodbye by Deborah Crombie
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm nearing the end of this book and have enjoyed it immensely. My first Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James novel, it takes place in the late 90s with flashbacks to World War II England. I will be reading more of her books as I found the mystery and the writing very good.
Rose Marie Fries (Rosemariero5@aol.com)
The Mission Song by John Le Carré
Rating: 5 Stars
Le Carré gets darker and sadder with this latest book. This heartbreaking story of innocence and betrayal is Le Carré at his best.
Donna
He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark
Rating: 3 Stars
This is really an adorable Christmas tale of a man who dies, then sits in a waiting room to enter the gates of Heaven. Finally, everyone is called and he is left alone. Someone does comes to get him and tells him he must return to earth to do a good deed before they will consider letting him into Heaven. In other words, he needs to change and help someone instead of being selfish. It has a very good ending and is an enjoyable read...
Rose Marie Fries (Rosemariero5@aol.com)
Ricochet by Sandra Brown
Rating: 2 Stars
Although Sandra Brown is an excellent writer and keeps you reading, I definitely did not like this story line. It was too ridiculous. I was annoyed with myself for even reading this book.
Suzi Skutley
The Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum
Rating: 5 Stars
I'm thoroughly enjoying the suspense of this spy thriller, and looking at philanthropy in a new way. The road to hell is paved with good intentions....
SMB
Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas
Rating: 3 Stars
Will Thomas creates a new Sherlock Holmes with the name of Cyrus Barker. This was an enjoyable read set in Victorian London and told through the narrative of Barker's assistant, Thomas Llewelyn. There are good scene descriptions, which set a very mysterious tone as the Holmes mysteries did.
Cheryl Scaccio (goycrazy@aol.com)
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
Rating: 5 Stars
This is an incredibly fun and addictive collection of the great writers' essays and musings on a variety of topics. If you've been too intimidated by the length or reputation of his fiction, his non-fiction is a great introduction.
Kathleen Josephson
Between Friends by Debbie Macomber
Rating: 4 Stars
Lesley and Jillian have been friends since kindergarten.The book chronicles their lives over several generations as they experience the joys and sorrows of growing up. The book is also a history lesson with many references to actual events through the years. With mention of favorite books and music, tragic assassinations, wars and uneasy peace, I found the book could be almost a history of my life as I also lived through the same events.
Peggy K. (cali_lb@msn.com)
Tower of Shadows by Drew C. Bowling
Rating: 4 Stars
This is a great start to a new series by a new, very young author. Where are these guys coming from? If you liked ERAGON and are a fan of Lord of the Rings, you'll love this book. It has a little bit of everything. It is a bit simple in some places, but there is a lot promise from this author and I think the next in the series will be even better, with mercenaries, dragons, wizards, damsels in distress, and a new land to learn. It was a pleasure reading this book.
Peggy K. (cali_lb@msn.com)
True Evil by Greg Iles
Rating: 5 Stars
This man is good, and I mean good, in pulling you into his creepy thrillers set in the South. You can almost feel the Spanish Moss growing on the trees. This may be his best book yet, and perhaps will set a new high for the definition of evil.
Kathleen Josephson
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Rating: 4 Stars
Sparks writes books that are very easy to read. This is one of his classic love stories with a twist. I enjoyed it very much, and learned more about autistic behavior than I knew before, so I was educated as well as entertained.
Neil Hofstetter (nnhof@adelphia.net)
Allah's Scorpion by David Hagberg
Rating: 5 Stars
This book is very up to date as as todays real news.
Suzanne from Texas
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Rating: 5 Stars
Hauntingly dark. This is the story of a father and son traveling to the coast across the landscape of a destroyed America. As you read the sparse, poetic words, you wonder, and fear, if this is a picture of the future.
NMc
Gilead by Marianne Robinson
Rating: 4 Stars
A dying father imparts life lessons to his young son, via his journal. It's beautifully written.
Sheila M
Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman
Rating: 5 Stars
A very charming book subtitled, Confessions of a Common Reader. Fadiman has had a lifelong love of books, reading, writing, language, and large words. This small book contains 18 short stories. One of my favorites is when she and her husband "married" their books --- something my husband and I have not been able to do in 13 years of marriage!
Sheila M
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Rating: 4 Stars
Very interesting book that looks at why some ancient societies/races succeeded and others were conquered or died out. Diamond makes a great case for the relevance of geographical and ecological factors. I like that the book made me look at historical events in another light.
Mel B
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
Rating: 5 Stars
I have to admit that I'm not even finished with this book yet, and I love it. It has a great story, the characters are easy to follow, and there are some great twists in it. I also find it interesting that you learn some of the Indian language as well. (There is a 2-page glossary in the back).
ThymeWaits
Hard Landing by Stephen Leather
Rating: 4 Stars
Wow, this was good. It's a thick book (471 pages) and is exciting throughout. Leather is a good writer who has researched his subject. It doesn't read like it's make-believe... I look forward to the next 2 installments in this series and will check on his other books as well.
ThymeWaits
Minus Time by Catherine Bush
Rating: 4 Stars
This family has no history of abuse or addiction. Maybe you could say there's abandonment, though both David and Barbara Urie stay in touch with their teen/young adult children on a regular basis. David goes from one disaster to another as a relief worker and Barbara is an astronaut trying to set an endurance record as the longest inhabitatant of the space station. This is not your typical dysfunctional family...
Bridget
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Rating: 3 Stars
I was disappointed with this book. It was told from the point of view of three characters. At times, this made it a little confusing. I did not think there was sufficient character development. Kitty Howard was depicted as a shallow, stupid girl (which she very well may have been), but I expected more. Anne of Cleves was also "lacking." This book just doesn't compare to Gregory's earlier Boleyn/Tudor novels.
ThymeWaits
Single & Single by John LeCarre
Rating: 4 Stars
The subject of this novel is international money laundering. It comes together nicely in the end. (Nicely for the good guys.)
L. Hann
Morrie: In His Own Words by Morrie Schwartz
Rating: 5 Stars
If you read TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, you should read this book as well. This book is written by Morrie himself before his death. You really learn more about ALS and how illness effects people. Regardless of what you are suffering from, this book shows you that you should live each day. This is a must read.
L. Hann
700 Sundays by Billy Crystal
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a great book. From page one, Billy Crystal brings you into his family. I found myself reading this book and saying to myself that that person reminds me so much of someone in my family. We are all delt a hand in life, but how we choose to play it can make all the difference. Billy Crystal ties in a lot of humor in this book as well. It is a fast read too.
Jennifer Buhr
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 4 Stars
This novel is a very quick read that is unlike any I have ever read before. The premise of the book is a daughter's coming of age. She has a mother who is completely paralyzed and can move only her head. She contracted polio during her pregnancy and had her baby while in an iron lung. It's quite interesting and I do recommend it.
NMc
Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon
Rating: 4 Stars
A fun and engaging read with an interesting view on family dynamics.
Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com)
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
Rating: 4 Stars
This book discusses the delicate balance between class and gender in modern-day Bombay --- a real story!!
Kathleen Josephson
Isabel's Daughter by Judith R. Hendricks
Rating: 3 Stars
I finished this book in record time and would have found it hard to put down even if I had felt more like doing housework. This was a very interesting story, and I felt that the ending was quite fitting as it tied up loose ends but still left a bit to one's imagination.
I holidayed in New Mexico in October, and having toured along Canyon Road in Santa Fe, it was easy to picture the scenes there.
Jean
The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg
Rating: 2 Stars
This was disappointing. I usually like Berg's books, but this was rather boring.
Carol
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Rating: 5 Stars
An excellent book with an unusual story and complex characters --- one that really makes you think.
CJ
A Cold Heart by Jonathan Kellerman
Rating: 4 Stars
A pretty good mystery in Kellerman's series.
Lee
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Rating: 4 Stars
From the author of WICKED comes another book to make you go hmmm. The heroine is one of Cinderella's stepsisters, and this is her story of how she copes with being "ugly".
Lee
The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry
Rating: 3 Stars
A good book that follows a predictible path of "clues" to a "treasure," but an easy read.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
Now You See Her by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Rating: 2 Stars
The beginning of this book is way too confusing to get into. By the time everything starts to make sense, the book is almost over.
Michael Gonzales
The Secret Lovers by Charles McCarry
Rating: 5 Stars
This book was first published in the late seventies, but it has just been re-released by Overlook Press. I had always meant to read Charles McCarry, but had not gotten around to it. THE SECRET LOVERS is about spy Paul Christopher, who smuggles a novel by a Soviet author out of Russia, and what happens after. This is the third McCarry novel I have read in the last few months, starting with The MIERNIK DOSSIER and TEARS OF AUTUMN. Since reading these three, I am wondering why I did not discover Charles McCarry earlier. His novels are as good as LeCarre's and are similar, except with an American slant.
Ricki (rickimc@aol.com)
7 Days at the Hot Corner by Terry Trueman
Rating: 5 Stars
Even though I know nothing about playing baseball, I really enjoyed this book. It is a YA novel about a high schooler coming to terms with his best friend being gay.
Shelley Hunt
Edge: O Israel, O Palestine by Leora Skolkin-Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
It took me only a few days to read EDGES, this book blew me away. It is hypnotic and frightening, the feeling of danger never let up, not for a second. It is beautiful and visceral --- I think of it and smell oranges and the desert (I grew up in a desert). The author so nailed that terrible longing that I remember feeling at 14 or so. I was in heaven and scared to death at the same time while reading he scene in Palestine with the mother, all those shops, colors, smells.
To be able to write somebody like this mother, horrible and beautiful all at once, takes great talent. I also loved that it was smooth one second, then raw as hell the next. I think this is why the unexpected moments worked so well, why a Jewish mother worried about safety would suddenly drag her youngest daughter into a place that turns out to be not safe at all (those boys, after night fell, in Palestine), and why I completely bought Liana's taking off to find William, to find Paris, to find that something she longed for.
It's absolutely not perfect, but that's a good thing,
Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com)
The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere
Rating: 4 Stars
THE CHRISTMAS HOPE is another one of VanLiere's Christmas novellas. It is a heartbreaking story of foster care for children and the hardships of less fortunate people that illustrates that the sense of fate and divine intervention are present every day.
Sally B., San Antonio TX
Crime Beat by Michael Connelly
Rating: 2 Stars
2.5 stars.
CRIME BEAT: A DECADE OF COVERING COPS AND KILLERS consists of newspaper articles about the crimes that inspired his novels. The text needed more analysis by the author, and numerous articles were repetitive.
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