| RJ McGill (rjs_justreading@yahoo.com) |
Switching Time by Richard Baer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
From divided survival to whole living.
Imagine pretending to be asleep in order to overhear conversations between your family and friends, so that you can learn your mother’s name, or where your husband works. Karen was continually searching for ways to hide her obvious insanity until a desperate call to a crisis hot line in 1989 led her to Dr. Richard Baer. The complexities of the human mind have never before been revealed with such detail, dimension and compassion. Horrific, unimaginable abuse had forced Karen to create different personalities, with widely varying characteristics and abilities. As new personalities were introduced, the depth of Karen’s suffering became obvious, as did the fear that the darkness would consume her. With careful guidance and unwavering patience, Dr. Baer was able to gain the individual trust of the seventeen alters, convincing each that although they had been created to protect Karen, her very survival now depended upon their complete and total destruction. This is an amazing read! The level of abuse and the detailed characteristics of the created alters are almost beyond comprehension and lead you to question how it is someone that has suffered so greatly could ever be whole again. Which is, yet another testament to the human will to survive.
Although the alters were created as a means of survival, during the darkest and most frightening experiences imaginable, their destruction became a necessary step in the journey from divided survival to whole living. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a compelling, thought provoking, inspiring read.
|
| Karen Terry (mi3sons@mchsi.com) |
Critical by Robin Cook |
Rating: 4 Stars |
It was a very good read, about bacteria-resistant infections and murders. Angela Dawson is the CEO of Angel Hospitals. She is trying to get her IPO on Wall Street. There are deaths occurring at an alarming rates, and this could cause her dream to go under. She enlists her ex-husband to stop the accountant from filing papers to SEC. That is when the trouble begins. Laurie and Jack become involved in the case and Laurie's life becomes endangered when she gets involved.
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| LuAnn (labordi@hotmail.com) |
Simple Genius by David Baldacci |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Every time I read one of Baldacci's books, I become more and more impressed with his writing. He has such a grasp of the language of English and of novels.
This is how SIMPLE GENIUS starts:
There are four acknowledged ways of meeting your maker: You can die by natural causes including illness; you can die by accident; you can die by another's hand; and you can die by your own hand. However, if you live in Washington, D.C., there is a fifth way of kicking the bucket: the political death. It can spring from many sources: frolicking in a public fountain with an exotic dancer who is not your wife; stuffing bags of money in your pants when the payer unfortunately happens to be the FBI; or covering up a bungled burglary when you call 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home.
Isn't that just a great paragraph and a great opening paragraph? Baldacci has a way of pulling the reader into the book right from the get-go. SIMPLE GENIUS is such an intriguing book. Crooked CIA agents, murder, kidnapping, foreign connections, interesting good guys and a main character who is suffering from repressed memories from when she was a child. Bring in a hip psychologist to help her find out why she is doing some strange things and get him involved in the case, too. Wow! Just one thing after another that keeps you reading the book long after you should have turned out the light!
|
| Jessica |
Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Set in the 1950s, Lucia is the only girl in her large Italian family. She is a "career girl" who is juggling an impending marriage with in-laws that expect her to stay at home and raise a family. Life events rock her world and in the end, does Lucia choose a career or her family? This is a fun, easy read that will make you smile.
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| Gerald rosen |
Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mitch Rabb strikes again. Flynn has written another fast-paced thriller revolving around the Iran/Iraq terrorism situation. Well written and hard to put down, this book is especially frightening within today's world situation. Some of the scenes are definitely not for the squeamish.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Psychopath by Keith Ablow |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is an excellent book you can't put down. It is the story of the "Highway Killer" who murders people because of his rage toward his mother. He is a psychiatrist and has the ability to get close to his victims.
Frank Clevenger, a forensic psychiatrist, is brought in to help capture the serial killer.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green by Johnny Rico |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book will make you laugh and cry. Johnny Rico's memory of his time in Afghanistan is a riveting story of being shot at, following senseless orders, and talking about old movies to pass the time. He questions his reasons for joining the military and why we were at war. It tells of his dysfunctional family and what led him to join the Army.
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| Metalfiend11 (metalfiend11@yahoo.com) |
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I finally got around to reading this book. I must say, I was somewhat disappointed. The storyline was good but I really don't think some of the language the author chose was actually used in the 1930s. That kind of ruined it for me.
|
| Lorna |
Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Howard Roughan |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I really didn't enjoy this book. At one point I was going to put it down, but I don't like doing that with any book. It was very predictable, unlike Patterson's other books. I really think it could have been much better. The storyline was good but it didn't do anything for me. Certainly do not judge these authors by this book.
|
| Jon W. |
Terminal by Andrew Vachss |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the latest Burke novel. Vachss is back in good form. I find the lame similes a bit annoying but the plot is very engaging and the gems that one finds hidden in the story are worth reading the book to discover. His diatribes on faith, politics and the state of the world in general are his real message.
|
| Christy Hawkes |
Sexy Beast III by Kate Douglas, Lacy Danes and Morgan Hawke |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Every time I open the pages of a Sexy Beast book it's like opening a box of animal crackers...I never know what kind of animal I'm going to get, but I know it's going to be delicious!
Kate Douglas is one of my favorite authors and her Wolfies keep me coming back for more. It was wonderful to see all of the previous characters and their evolving relationships. I'm looking forward to reading Baylor's story!
Lacy Danes and Morgan Hawke were both authors that were new to me, which is one of the reasons I like anthologies --- you get introduced to new authors. I enjoyed both of their stories and look forward to reading more of their work.
Dragons and tigers and wolves...oh my!
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@gmail.com) |
Last breath by George D. Shuman |
Rating: 2 Stars |
The story idea behind this book is brilliant, but the execution leaves readers weeping in pain.
|
| Sharon Lumb |
Afternoons with Emily by Rose MacMurray |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Emily Dickinson comes to life in a book written by her supposed best friend. Modeled in the style of a 19th-century novel, the reader is drawn to the life of the poet and her family. It is also interesting that this is the author's first novel, which was only published after her death. What a loss to book lovers.
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw |
Rating: 4 Stars |
After seeing the movie and reading the book THE PERFECT STORM, I became very interested in reading more about the captain of the Hannah Boden, (sister ship of the Andrea Gail) Linda Greenlaw. When I found out she was a writer, I immediately jumped online to get one of her books. This is her first. She writes about a specific fishing trip she commanded and all the trials and tribulations of getting a good catch and bringing it home. Although she downplays the fact that she is a female captain of an ocean fishing boat, I think she is amazing. I have become a big fan! I highly recommend this and I can't wait to read more about her.
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Fear No Evil by Allison Brennan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the 3rd installment in the Kincaid family series.
Lucy Kincaid should be preparing for her high school graduation, but instead she is facing a vicious execution. She has been lured by an online predator and she's destined to die a horrible death --- live on the internet, while hundreds of heartless viewers watch and vote on the method of her murder. Former FBI agent Kate Donovan has faced this sadistic killer before and is determined to rescue Lucy and not let the maniac escape again. Kate and the Kincaid family race the clock to find Lucy before the bloody webcast airs.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
On Borrowed Wings by Chandra Prasad |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the best books I have read in 2007 --- seriously!
|
| Marjorie Clark (marjclark@comcast.net) |
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I just finished this book by the author of THE LOVELY BONES and just like her previous book, it catches you with the first sentence. This books revolves around untreated mental illness and the burden of children's responsibility to their parents. A Very good read that makes you wonder what you would do in a situation such as this.
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| Sandra |
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I almost quit this one after the first chapter, but I kept going and it wasn't all that bad. It was kind of rough in the beginning, though.
|
| Kathy |
The Spirit Stone by Katharine Kerr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
THE SPIRIT STONE is the second book in the Silver Wyrm series, I am enjoying the whole set of her books; they are amazing, and make great reads for fantasy lovers. Try to start from the beginning if you can.
|
| Marsha |
Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins |
Rating: 4 Stars |
In 1943 preceeding the Allied advance in Sicily, a British Intelligence Officer, two American Rangers, an extraordinary young nun and Mafioso overlord Lucky Luciano parachuted into Nazi-occupied Sicily with the mission to convince the Sicilian Mafia to cooperate with the Allied forces in an effort to save thousands of American lives. It's quite a caper, and possibly true.
|
| gerald rosen |
The Race by Richard North Patterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A political thriller filled with all of the hot-button issues: tem cell research, gay marriage, race relations. The final 80 pages at the Republican Nominating Convention portray a frightening picture of what could face us in 2008. Patterson does it again.
|
| Trudy |
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book gave an an appreciation of what life is like in Tehran as the lives of 8 women are discussed in their quest for knowledge.
How Lucky we are to have freedom in the USA.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Shelter From The Storm by Photography by Karim Shamsi-Basha |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful, eye-opening photo journal of The Salvation Army shelter in Birmingham, Alabama. This really makes you realize that "but for the grace of God, go I" and that not all homeless people are drug addicts and derelicts. As stated so eloquently by the photographer.."Their eyes told a million stories".
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the 1st book of the 2nd series by this author.
18-year-old Angie Vance was murdered in an exceptionally vile way --- her mouth was glued shut, an obscene word was scrawled on her chest, and she was suffocated in a garbage bag. The killing seems personal, so Detective Carina Kincaid focuses on the victim's ex-boyfriend, Steve Thomas, but there is no physical evidence to tie him to the crime. The prime suspect's brother, Sheriff Nick Thomas, starts conducting his own investigation. Nick is still scarred from a recent confrontation with a serial killer, but he's determined to prove his brother is innocent. His confidence is shaken when he learns of Steve's dark side, and when a friend of Angie's is murdered in a similar fashion, Nick and Carina must work together to stop a psychopath.
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| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
See No Evil by Allison Brennan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Book 2 of the Kincaid Family series.
A troubled teenager has been charged with the gruesome murder of her stepfather. The evidence is damning: Emily was found alone at the scene with blood on her hands, and an incriminating e-mail she wrote describes exactly how she would murder him if she had the chance. Julia Chandler is a deputy district attorney and Emily's aunt, and she is determined to prove Emily's innocence and protect her. She hires private investigator Connor Kincaid. and together they must find the real killer.
|
| Bonnie |
Punching In by Alex Frankel |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Jumping on the NICKEL AND DIMED bandwagon, the author goes undercover and works at UPS, Starbucks, Gap, etc. and writes about his experiences.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a pretty engrossing book that actually follows two plot lines, apparently separate. Lieutenant Lindsay Box is investigating a double homicide. In each case, an attractive young woman was found dead in an expensive car that was not hers, wearing very expensive clothing, which also wasn't hers. At the same time, a trial has begun against a San Francisco hospital where a large number of recovering patients have died after receiving the wrong medication. One of the victims is the mother of Yuki Castellano, a member of the Women's Murder Club.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great story about travel by train, the mode of travel from yesteryear. This made me remember a trip from Chicago to San Francisco as a child --- the sleeper compartment, etc. The love story and play within a play were fun.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Where Trouble Sleeps by Clyde Edgerton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A great story of a small Southern town with only one stoplight. The title and many of the events and names have a double meaning --- Trouble is a dog that predicts the weather, Settle Inn is a motel where the stranger settles in for life, and all the quirky characters in between.
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| Kathy (talley54@comcast.net) |
Almost Dead by Lisa Jackson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another great book. This was a suspensful story about a woman whose relatives are dying all around her, while she wonders whether she or her infant son are the next victims. I did not figure out who really was doing the killing until the end, though the story sort of dragged about three-quarters of the way through I found it tough to keep going.
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| Kathy (talley54@comcast.net) |
The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate by Ted Chiang |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A quick read about recognizing Allah's will and accepting it. I chose the book because the title fascinated me. This is the story of one person's unique journey through the past, present and future.
|
| Lesa D |
The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Excellent travelogue of a train trip through the America, beginning on a snowy Boston morning and continuing right down through South America. This is the perfect time of year to start this book.
|
| J. P. Feingold |
Absolute Power by David Baldacci |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm a big fan of Baldacci, but this one gets off to a slow and violent start. It's not the page turner I'm accustomed to from him.
|
| Mary B |
Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A wonderful, inspirational memoir. Poitier reveals a personal side to his readers, giving us a glimpse at his struggles, courage and integrity. Great work!
|
| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ms. McCarty has had me by the throat since I first read her Promises series. I am hooked on her romance/erotic western historicals! So much so that I've been waiting and wishing on this book and finally pre-ordered it over 3 months ago. The day it arrived had me glued to the chair devouring it and still thinking about it for days afterwards. This book is a fantastic read! I loved everything about Caine and I am so looking forward to reading the other seven men in Hell's Eight stories. The summer of 2008 cannot come quickly enough.
|
| Jen |
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A light, easy read that was worth the time as the author is amusing and talented. I've enjoyed all of Weiner's books --- you cannot go wrong.
|
| Melanie |
King of Lies by John Hart |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a really engrossing read --- I did not want to put it down. I couldn't figure out who the murderer was for myself, which is a good thing.
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| Christy Hawkes (hawkes@citlink.net) |
I'm Your Santa by Lori Foster, Karen Kelley and Dianne Castell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Three sexy and sizzling stories from three of my favorite authors, I'M YOUR SANTA is a fun and light-hearted read that will get you in the holiday spirit.
Lori Foster's "The Christmas Present" will remind you of the importance of family. Levi and Beth make an adorable couple and from previous books, Noah, Grace, Ben, Sierra, Kent and Brooke also make appearances.
"It's A Wonderful Life" by Karen Kelley reunites us with Fallon and Wade as Wade's younger sister, Bailey, finds temptation from actor Jeremy who is incognito while researching the part of a traveling preacher.
Lots of meddling at O'Fallon's Landing and appearances from characters from previous books make for a funny and heart-touching read in Diane Castell's "Home for Christmas." Sebastian "Handsome" and LuLu find happiness together whether they want to or not.
Very highly recommended!
|
| Miss Dee |
Moloka'i by lan Brennert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I haven't read a book about lepers since I was a teen many years ago, but I find that I am really enjoying this bittersweet story about a young girl who is torn from her family and I look forward to the rest of her tale.
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| Meg (megvt@aol.com) |
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 4 Stars |
If you liked EMPIRE FALLS, you will love this book. I am having trouble putting it down. You will love the characters, the small town and all that goes on.
|
| Louise Pledge |
In My Wildest Dreams by Christina Dodd |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another charming 1800s England love story which Chistina excels at. Can a gardener's daughter strike up a successful romance with a member of the ton? You'll love the main character, Celeste, but I feel it important to issue a WARNING: The book contains very graphic sex and a lot more of it than I was comfortable with.
|
| Louise |
Love Songs by Katherine Stone |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Getting a little tired of my usual mystery genre, I decided to relax with a good love story. And Katherine Stone's book gave me more than I bargained for: several love stories. The couples become intertwined in some fashion as the story evolves, and, for a while, you have to wonder how it's going to end up. I have enjoyed everything Ms. Stone has done, and LOVE SONGS was certainly no exception!
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| Jen |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A fabulous read --- one I could not put down, but was forced to at times for the sheer "weight" of the material. I love this author (THE KITE RUNNER) for his detail and incredible storytelling ability. He gave great insight into another culture and way of life. A must read.
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| Susan Babendure (susanababendure@yahoo.com) |
The English Assassin by Daniel Silva |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have read all of Mr. Silva's books and they keep getting better. Not only would I like to meet his characters, but I love all of the historical information that he writes about. I look forward to his next book with Mr. Allon, who fast becoming my favorite fictional character!
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| Jen Mulsow |
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It was wonderful. Everyone should read it.
|
| Dirk (foxtrot@dirkjones.com) |
Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The best action thriller I'v'e ever read. Take my word. The Jack West Jr. series is now above the Shane Schofield series.
|
| Mo (maestraw@msn.com) |
Third Degree by Greg Iles |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have read all Iles's books so far, and have nothing but praise for them. This latest begins with a bang, and the tension is taut throughout the book.
|
| nmc |
Girls of a Tender Age by Mary-Ann Tirone Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A memoir interwoven with a murder mystery. Wonderfully written!
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
The Cove by Catherine Coulter |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This mystery was about Sally Brainerd. She goes to “The Cove” to escape all of the publicity and hype after her father is murdered. FBI Agent James Quinlan is undercover and looking for her. He is trying to solve Armory St. John’s murder and believes Sally holds the secret. He finds her in this quaint little town off the coast of Washington --- a town that has suddenly become the most beautiful place, it’s almost unreal. Coulter puts together a sultry, suspenseful mystery that did grab my attention. However, the plot lacked the true intelligence of a real thriller. It was hokey and unrealistic. I didn’t hate it, though.
|
| Disgruntled in Pa |
Good dog. Stay. by Anna Quindlen |
Rating: 1 Stars |
I was all set to read this, until I was looking at my newest Bark magazine. Quindlen wrote about how she doesn't like people dressing dogs up, and all this smack about it. I love dressing my dogs for holidays, etc. She insulted me so I'm not bothering reading her book.
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| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
Norway to Hide by Maddy Hunter |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As always, she never disappoints. I read this sixth book in her series in one day! Grab any of her books, you can't go wrong! I love these books!
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| Christy (oltlfreak@aol.com) |
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Painful to read, but I kept going. I'm glad that I didn't spend my own cash, but borrowed it from a friend. I miss the old Patricia Cornwell books. This doesn't even seem like it's her writing them, and that's what my friend thinks too.
|
| Susan |
Painting the Invisible Man by Rita Schiano |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent book based on the author's life. This compelling story about a woman coming to terms with her unusual childhood and the murder of her father is a must read.
|
| Lesa D |
Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Redwall is such a wonderful fantasy series, and this book is a treasure! The characters are fabulous, especially brave mouse Mariel. My kids like these books, but I think I like them even more.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
The Jaguar Legacy by Maureen Fisher |
Rating: 4 Stars |
THE JAGUAR LEGACY gives the reader a combination of suspense and romance mixed together with humor. Also, Fisher has an uncanny ability to weave dialogue into a scene. Overall, this is a great story!
|
| Laura Guillory |
Savages by Bill Pronzini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This Nameless Detective series by Bill Pronzoni is funny and keeps the reader enthralled.
|
| Irene G. |
The Elevator by Angela Hunt |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the story of three women --- a betrayed wife, a fugitive, and a determined mistress --- all trapped in a elevator in a Florida high rise building during a raging hurricane. All have different reasons why they decided to brave the storm and go to this building. THE ELEVATOR is an easy book to read, and holds your interest.
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| Maithe |
Creation In Death by J. D. Robb |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As always, J. D. Robb has written a story that grabs you from the first page. I have read all of her books in the In Death series, as well as all of her other books written as Nora Roberts. I highly recommend this book. It was full of action, suspense, and the relationship between Eve and Roark continues to develop in a way that just wants you to keep on reading to see what the future is going to bring these two. Robb should be commended for such a fantastic job!
|
| Kay Keller |
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An unforgettable memoir by a woman who suffered from child abuse, rape, abandonment, drug and alcohol addiction, prostitution, gang banging, and more --- and then turned her life around and is a practicing attorney at one of the largest law firms in California. I couldn't put down this book!!
|
| Gerald Rosen |
Dizzy City by Nicholas Griffin |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Set in 1916 New York City against a backdrop of World War II, this is a very engrossing story of dueling con-artists, told from their individual points of view.
|
| Antoinette from Calgary, Alberta |
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I picked this book up after I heard author reading from it and it captured me immediately. The main character in the book loses her father, and after the funeral, when she is going through his papers, finds her birth certificate and discovers that he is not her biological father. So begins her journey to Lapland to find her real father and herself. Beautifully written book --- I could not put it down till I finished it. I highly recommend this book. So glad I got to hear the author read when I was in Toronto.
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| Antoinette from Calgary, Alberta |
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Excellent book, but I felt the ending fell a bit short for me. I loved the different perspectives the author brought to the story --- a mass killer made human and empathetic to the reader; his family and there torment; his peers and the effects of bullying. As with all Jodi Picoult books, it really makes you think. I definitely recommend this book.
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| Jimmy Coleman (jcole43@bellsouth.net) |
Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The book did not live up to all the hype I saw and read. It doesn't make a complete story without watching the movie.
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| Jimmy Coleman (jcole43@bellsouth.net) |
The Deep Blue Good-bye by John D. MacDonald |
Rating: 5 Stars |
As usual for this writer (my Favorite), this was a very readable novel. I think I have read all his books.
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| Jimmy Coleman (jcole43@bellsouth.net) |
Primal Scream by Michael Slade |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very good book.
|
| Jimmy Coleman (jcole43@bellsouth.net) |
Never Go Back by Robert Goddard |
Rating: 1 Stars |
Don't even try this book unless you are British.
|
| Jimmy Coleman (jcole43@bellsouth.net) |
Supreme Justice by Gary Hardwick |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A nicely written suspense novel.
|
| Annette Allen |
The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the third in the series of the journal of Sarah Agnes Prine, and is worth reading. I found the characters so engaging, that I felt myself become attached to them. I felt like I had been exposed to real-life heroes after reading this book.
|
| Irene Grigas |
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book gives insight into the world of the rich and their nannies. I was amazed at the gall the nanny had to endure while trying to make the child's life a little happier. It was a book that I had a hard time putting down. Well worth the read!
|
| Brady (bradylee@myway.com) |
Indefensible by David Feige |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have never been too fond of defense attorneys up until now. After reading this book I completely understand their position (I am talking about the "good" ones) and wonder what makes them want to defend the dredges of the earth, usually, and in places like the Bronx in New York City. This enthralling book.
tells you case after case of what an attorney has to put up with along with judges of great compassion and then judges that pay no attention to you whatsoever. This book is a good example of why I enjoy non-fiction.
|
| Dancing Frog |
Evil Inc. by Glenn Kaplan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Well-written thriller with a great plot and interesting characters make for a fast-paced, enjoyable read.
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| Teri (TLB46Rka@aol.com) |
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Not one of her best. ON LOVE was a powerful read; LOST IN THE FOREST, not so much. The theme of the book was disappointing. A 15 year old's erotic affair with a man nearly forty years older was tough to stomach. It was clearly sexual abuse, but it was never defined that way.
|
| Patti D. |
A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very descriptive, captivating first novel for Ms. Read. It's well written and her characters are well developed. Wonderful murder mystery!!!
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz |
Rating: 1 Stars |
He just kept going on and on and on...and on and on...and...
|
| Diane Dubay |
The Love Wife by Gish Jen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A really interesting novel about a modern blended American family --- Chinese father, white mom, 2 adopted Asian girls (one abandoned, one from China), one biological son, and one Chinese girl brought over as part of Mama Wong's will... It explores issues of family, identity and race from the viewpoints of almost all the parties.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Fondle the Fear by Richard Stockton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is the funniest way to turn your self-doubts into power.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts |
Rating: 5 Stars |
On of the best books I have read this year. I kept laughing so much throughout the book, my husband had to read it. He laughed too!
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
The Prometheus Project: Trapped by Douglas E Richards |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the next!
|
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
A Pale Horse by Charles Todd |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A good, haunting mystery. The atmosphere is very intense.
|
| Fran |
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Janet Evanovich never fails for an action packed, fun filled adventure with Stephanie Plum. Another fun installment in this series. I laughed out loud several times.
|
| Coral |
On Wings of Morning by Marie Bostwick |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A semi-historical novel of flying and World War II. Morgan flies in the South Pacific and Georgia is in the WASPs flying planes to relieve men in combat. It is a good story of how they meet. I highly recommend this book.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was one of the most unusual books I have read. The plot was very interesting and the writing was in a league of its own. Margaret is an older woman who lives in a mansion with an antique collection that she protects and keeps as if the pieces were alive. When she discovers she has a brain tumor, she tackles life in a way that is so valiant it is hard not to become a huge fan of this character from the start. As part of her determination to live her remaining days to the fullest, she takes in a border named Wanda, who has a troubling past of her own and is immediately drawn to this friendly older woman and her museum-like house. Kallos takes you through the past of each of the women to formulate the main plot and pulls in several characters, including one in the middle of the book that helps tie up the ending with a big red bow. The story is woven with words so beautifully, there is a lesson to be learned in every chapter. I enjoyed this one immensely.
|
| Danna Lambert (dannalamb@aol.com) |
Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Her plots are engrossing; her characters are fully developed and often touch a familiar note to my life.
|
| Eileen (knight@sxu.edu) |
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing |
Rating: 5 Stars |
When I found out that Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize for literature, I wanted to read all her books and her biography. Here is a woman with an education up to 8th grade! THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK covers her experience in South Africa, her political life, her fictional life and her diary. Anna, the heroine, tries to bring all four of these aspects together.
|
| Genie |
Dates From Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelly Armstrong et al. |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Paranormal dating disasters by 4 authors:
Kim Harrison - "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil"
Ivy Tamwood is a living vampire better recognized as a character in the Rachel Morgan series. It was fun to see Ivy as the main character in this short story.
Lynsay Sands - "The Claire Switch Project"
Claire Beckett is a scientist who undergoes some interesting changes due to an accident in the lab. I have to admit, this was my least favorite of the stories.
Kelly Armstrong - "Chaotic"
Hope, is half-demon who enjoys and soaks up chaos like a sponge. She finds herself in a life-threatening situation when she tracks down a jewel thief who turns out to be a werewolf. Armstrong is known for her Women of the Otherworld series.
Lori Handeland - "Dead Man Dating"
Mara Naomi Elizabeth Morelli (Kit), is a literary agent who signs up for an online dating service and is matched up with an exceptionally handsome man. Unfortunately, he turns out to be a murderer. When her life is saved by a demon hunter, things take a strange and dangerous turn.
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| Thomas (tomjac0850@charter.net) |
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Rick Dockery is a third-string NFL quarterback with a penchant for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Spurned by every team in the NFL, his agent finds him a spot as starting quarterback for the Parma Panthers, in Parma, Italy. And so begins Rick's new life, where he experiences a different language and culture, discovers fine food and wine, finds romance, and meets new friends who are more loyal to him than anyone else has been. This is a really fun book to read.
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| Jo-Ann Burton (jenni_the_lionhearted@yahoo.com) |
500 Great Books By Women by Erica Bauermeister, Jesse Larsen, and Holly Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've already read this book half a dozen times. It's worth re-reading. I'm attracted to books about other books, and this one centers on those written by women from the year 1300 to the present day. The book blurbs are very nicely written and most are the size of several paragraphs. They are quite illuminating in their description of the books' central theme, the characters, etc. This is truly worth reading.
|
| Pam C |
The Navigator by Clive Cussler |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What's the connection between King Soloman's lost treasure and Thomas Jefferson? An ancient statue called the Navigator. It's been stolen and everyone wants it!
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Dowry Bride by Shobhan Bantwal |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved this book! It was captivating, and even though it is fictional, I know this kind of thing happens.
This is the story about Megha, who lives in India and has an arranged marriage to an older, mean and spineless man. His mother dominates everything --- and she plots to get rid of Megha because her father has not paid the bride's dowry.
Very interesting.
|
| gerald rosen |
Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Top-notch legal thriller by a first-time author. Intricate plot with many unexpected twists and turns. Hard to put down.
|
| Debbie Wernert (MoM3g2b@aol.com) |
The Abduction by Marc Gimenez |
Rating: 5 Stars |
After Carol's comments and the fact that her husband hurried through golf to finish this novel, I looked forward and was not disappointed in this author's novel. Thanks again, Carol !
|
| Dorothy |
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was just a wonderful story about true love. I recommend it to everyone.
|
| Dorothy |
The Gift by Richard Paul Evans |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A heartwarming story that brings tears to your eyes. A really good read.
|
| Toni Savchuck (tonisandlin@aol.com) |
Old Sins by Penny Vincenzi |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What happens when a rich man dies and requests that, at the reading of his will, his ex-wife, his present wife, his daughter, and his mistress be present?
|
| Dolora Schlesinger |
Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have read several of the Lincoln Rhyme stories. The storyline is developing a little slowly, but I plan to continue reading.
|
| Julie Towson |
Dinner With Anna Karenina by Gloria Goldreich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
DINNER WITH ANNA KARENINA takes us into the very interesting lives of the six women in a book club. We learn of their concealed rivalries with each other to problems with their husbands and lovers.
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| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
The Crime Writer by Gregg Hurwitz |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the first book I have ever read by Mr. Hurtwitz, and I have to say that I simply could not put it down once I started it. It is that good. It has a keep-you-guessing plot with a lot of humanity and compassion to go with it. I don't think anyone who likes suspense fiction can go wrong with this one!
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
My Lobotomy: A Memoir by Howard Dully |
Rating: 5 Stars |
In the 1960s, Howard Dully was a typical boy --- rambunctious, moody and getting into trouble. When his father remarried, his step-mother did not like Howard and set out to get rid of him.
She met Dr Walter Freeman, who was famous for doing transorbital (ice pick) lobotomies. Howard was one of his patients.
After surgery (he never knew he had this done till adulthood), Howard spent time in jail, mental institutions and on the streets. This was an an amazing story about barbaric treatment of a young boy.
|
| Caroline Savard |
Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Although this book was published seven years ago, I just finished reading it now. A caterer/PBS cooking show host gets mixed up in murder and mayhem in a ski resort town in Colorado. This was a culinary treat as well as a good mystery. Even better, the recipes for the succulent dishes prepared by the main character are included. A literary feast!
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| R. L. Engebretson (rox@rleco.com) |
The Lobster Chonicles by Linda Greenlaw |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Ms. Greenlaw does great job of describing life on an Island of 40 year-round residents. Each character presented is almost life-like. You feel as if you may know them and could strike up a conversation upon meeting them.
With her descriptions of a life of fishing --- its rewards and hardships ---- Ms Greenlaw allows you to be a part of her daily life on the boat and on the island.
I am anxious to read her other book, THE HUNGRY OCEAN.
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| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
A Pigeon and A Boy by Meir Shalev |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a love story, set in Israel, of a homing pigeon handler named Baby who is killed in the war. The narrative, provides vivid detail on the relationships between the birds and their keepers. A unique read where one not only enjoys the novel, but learns from it as well.
|
| Kelley Burhans |
The Gardens of Kyoto by Kate Walbert |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This rich debut novel is a sweet, yet sad story of a young woman's coming of age during World War II.
|
| Jane |
You've Been Warned by James Patterson |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I've been a James Patterson fan for many years, but was disappointed in this book.
|
| Mary |
I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great historical fiction! This is the story of Lisa di Antonio Gherardini, the woman in Leonardo di Vinci's Mona Lisa. It tells the story of Lisa and the Medici family set in city of Florence in the late 1400s. Good use of historical facts woven into engaging story.
|
| Ivy (ipittman26@yahoo.com) |
What You Have Left by Will Allison |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A well-told story about what happens when a father leaves his daughter with his father-in-law after his wife dies, the relationship between the granddaughter and grandfather, and the outcome of her longing to find her father and to find peace.
|
| Janice G. |
Black Storm Comin' by Diane Lee Wilson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A great historical fiction read for upper-elementary and middle-school readers, yet engrossing enough for adults. This is the truest account I have read of hardships and realities of westward expansion and pioneer life.
|
| Janice |
Candy Apple Red by Nancy Bush |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Promoted as an alternative to Stephanie Plum with a female process server/detective. Although, I think Stephanie is safe for now.
|
| Julie |
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I just starting reading this book but am enjoying it very much and find myself staying up too late to read it.
|
| Linda Bass |
Anathema by David E. Greske |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a horror story about a demon who lived in a cave close to Prairie Rest, WI. 20 years ago, six men tried to destroy it and only 3 survived. The demon was only wounded and killed children so he could have their essence. 20 years later, he brings a family from California to live in the haunted house that sat empty, where he planned to take over the town of both living and dead.
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| Edie (Eworobe@yahoo.com) |
All Through The Night by Suzanne Brockmann |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Suzanne Brockmann is one of the best writers of all time.
|
| Joan |
The Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This started off a little confusing to me, but once I got into it, I was very absorbed. I liked this book better than her last one.
|
| CV |
Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I have the ARC of this, the release date is 1/2/08. I think that the story is interesting and I want to know what happens, but it is way too British in writing style, which is making it a chore rather than just something for enjoyment.
|
| Stella |
Shiver by Lisa Jackson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is not for the faint of heart, as a twisted psycopath goes wild and kills his victims in pairs. Not my usual reading choice but this is a skilled author nonetheless.
|
| Ezmerelda |
Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I am still reading this book, but am enjoying it very much. It is the second in book in the Dream-Hunter series, which is an off-shoot of the popular Dark-Hunter series. There are lots of characters to love and hate. I definitely look forward to Kenyon's next book (in whichever series it happens to be).
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| Val Stark (vstark@quincylibrary.org) |
Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Karen Kingsbury never misses. While her books are definitely faith based, it's not forced down a reader's throat. BETWEEN SUNDAYS is about a little boy who has more faith than the adults around him and believes what others think is impossible.
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| Val Stark (vstark@quincylibrary.org) |
Body Count by P. D. Martin |
Rating: 3 Stars |
BODY COUNT is a thriller by a debut author. It has it all: suspense, relationships, and a hint of the paranormal. I'm waiting to see if this becomes a series and fleshes out the characters a bit more. Otherwise, a good solid read.
|
| Booklover from the big city |
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was my first "adult" Meg Cabot book. I like her young adult fantasy books. QUEEN OF BABBLE was a fun quick read. I liked Lizzie and I liked the introductions to each chapter --- part of Lizzie's "senior thesis" --- they made me laugh. Lizzie was fun and certainly "knew her clothes and labels." Andy was hysterical as her erstwhile boyfriend, and Luke was something special. I hope there are more to come.
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| Mary |
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book is so well written that it is hard to put down, but at the same time, I found it so aggravating. It seemed like the two characters were married 100 years ago, not 45. The contrast between the early 60's and the sexual revolution is well emphasized, You just want to get hold of these two and shake them. I guess that is the power of the book; but their inability to communicate was so painful to read that it made the book a slow read for me.
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| Valerie Wiesner (ackleyvalerie@yahoo.com) |
The Reincarnationist by M. J. Rose |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I cannot say enough great things about this book; it simply has everything in it, including something different than most suspense fiction. It actually addresses the metaphysical in a logical and thoughtful way. It is a great story and I loved every minute of it.
|
| Coral |
Between the Tides by Patti Callahan Henry |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book was recommended to me and I'm glad I read it. It is a low-key story about Catherine (Cappy) Leary's life. When she is 30, her father dies and she is forced to learn and accept what she wouldn't before.
|
| Bobbe Banks Salkowitz |
Songs Without Words by Ann Packer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Beautiful writing about loss, love and redemption. The story of a seemingly ordinary family doing everything right, when this perfect world is shattered with an act by one of the children that forces them to examine their lives, the lives of friends and relationships.
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| Lyla D (dragonqwester@hotmail.com) |
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I found the blurbs intriguing and expected to be entertained --- I was more then entertained --- I was moved to tears. This is about a young girl who loses her mother. Born in the early 20th century to a costermonger and homemaker in Edwardian London, Maisie's choices in life are somewhat limited. A young girl who loves to learn, she is encouraged by her parents to look ahead to the future, university, even. After her mother dies, her father helps her gain employment as a "tweenie" in one of the big houses where he delivers vegetables. The lady of the house is progressive and helps young Maisie with schooling and she is accepted at a women's college, just as World War I is gearing up. Maisie becomes a nurse, at the front. The story follows her to France, where she sees the horror of war. The descriptions of what happens to the soldiers, nurses and doctors brought tears to my eyes. Maisie returns, struggles daily with her memories and creates a job for herself --- a private inquiry agent. In the course of an investigation, she revisits these memories and confronts some of her demons. Woven throughout is the love and respect of and for her father, patroness and teacher. The courage she shows and the path she choses for her life are difficult and dangerous. I will read the other books in this series. I expect to be entertained and moved.
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| Janet Pruett (jmpruett@alltel.net) |
State of Fear by Michael Crichton |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another exciting book from Michael Crichton, STATE OF FEAR is about a race to save the world from a global catastrophe. It's packed with excitement from Paris to Malaysia to Vancouver to Antarctica and other parts of the world. A 670-page turner that ends too quickly.
|
| Thomas |
The Kidnapping of Aaron Greene by Terry Kay |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a suspenseful book with a few odd twists and turns. Aaron Greene is a nobody who comes from a family that is not wealthy. Even his high school teachers don't remember him. So why would someone kidnap Aaron and demand $10 million in ransom? The further I read, the better it got.
|
| Laura Guillory |
Life of Pi by Yann Martel |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This audiobook was a story of survuval, and it was strange to the point of wanting to read further. The author takes one subject and goes on forever. Stick with it, it was an enjoyable read.
|
| Sandra |
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just finished listening to this and fans of audiobooks will love it! I don't know if it is the story or the reader that made it so good. It is a romantic novel (light on the romance) full of murder and mystery.
|
| Fran |
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert |
Rating: 2 Stars |
My book club selected this for our November read. Despite hearing so much hype about this book and wonderful reviews, it was not a book I would have ever selected to read on my own. After reading it, I'm still not sure what the hype was about. I could not relate to the author, who I found self-centered and whiny. I had difficulty feeling sorry for her depression and self-loathing as I had trouble seeing her privileged life situation as dire. As for her travels, parts of it held my interest, however her whining tone took away from that.
Overall, I rate this book as average. It had some redeeming qualities, but parts of it were repetitive, boring and preachy. I'm glad she found so much meaning on her own life journey; however, I did not get the same sense of growth or meaning from it.
|
| Cynthia |
The Know-it-All by A. J. Jacobs |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Laugh-out-loud reading! Mr. Jacobs finds the profound amongst the trivial by reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. The chapters are set to each letter and while you are reading of the everyday life of this very creative man. you end up a little smarter yourself, as he provides snippets of information from his 32-volume set. What a delightful and welcome read after so many novels with heavy subjects.
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| KNM (rjsluvbug@yahoo.com) |
Simple Genius by David Baldacci |
Rating: 4 Stars |
David Baldacci is synonymous with mystery, intrigue and suspense. With a distinct flair for weaving a bit of truth into his fictional creations, Baldacci captures the reader’s imagination, while presenting a believable story. Add the talented actor/author Ron McClarty narrating, and SIMPLE GENIUS is a knockout, one-two punch. He uses all the narrative tools, and the result is an audio experience second to none!
After her latest outburst of self-destructive behavior and threatened with jail time, investigator Michelle agrees to enter a private clinic. While she is under treatment, her partner, Sean, contacts his ex-lover for an assignment. With funds drying up, he did not have the luxury of holding grudges.
Suicide or murder? Officially, Monk Turing’s death was ruled a suicide, but Sean was interested in the unofficial version. Monk’s body was found just inside the perimeter of the CIA’s top secret training facility, Camp Peary --- known as the “secret place” by the locals. It didn’t take long for Sean to understand that the research conducted there was highly sensitive.
Monk’s autistic daughter, Viggie, is frightened and has great difficulty expressing her feelings. When anyone gets too close, she withdraws into her own world. At times, Viggie plays a specific selection on the piano, shouts “codes and blood,” then disappears up to her room. When Michelle arrives, Viggie takes to her instantly. Numbers and codes, secrets and stories --- Monk had programmed his daughter --- and now the only way they can protect her is if she trusts them enough to tell them what she knows. And that is a very big if.
Baldacci takes the reader on a fast-paced, breathtaking journey into a town’s buried secrets, where lives depend on the codes hidden in the mind of a grieving child. The character interaction, combined with a multi-layered plot line, creates an engrossing story that builds upon itself with the turn of each page. Baldacci successfully ties up all the threads in a shocking, but satisfying conclusion.
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| KNM (rjsluvbug@yahoo.com) |
A Mind Apart by Susanne Antonetta |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Susanne Antonetta explores the lives and abilities of those who are considered by society to be different. The thought processes of those with multiple-personality and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, autism, and various other neurological conditions can be mystifying to those on the outside, including family and friends. Suffering from manic depression for many years, Antonetta utilizes her own experiences to paint a detailed and often personal portrait of the beautiful contributions made by these individuals, and the potential consequences of eradicating such conditions.
Advancements in technology are presenting man with many options that were at one time unthinkable. Today, with genetic manipulation and engineering, the eradication of many of these disorders must be considered carefully. Diversity is necessary for society to thrive and continue to grow. Many creative, inventive and forward-thinking individuals suffered from mental illness --- Georgia O’Keefe, Van Gogh, Churchill --- and their contributions to society are immeasurable. Had such genetic manipulation been available, our society would never have known the beauty of some of the world’s most sought-after art.Antonetta makes a strong and impressive argument that although technological advancements may make it possible to rid ourselves of undesirable traits today, doing so could prove disastrous in the future.
While an important and complex issue, the book often appears unorganized and confusing, making it a very difficult read, even for the most interested reader.
The concepts and thought-provoking, controversial issues brought forth in this book may one day (soon) present themselves and force the public and society to face that which would have been considered purely science fiction a mere decade ago. However, such topics need to be thoroughly fleshed out, utilizing every available means. I found it very difficult to read, as many important facets were left incomplete. This left me feeling more than bit unsatisfied, confused and let down. I would love to see these issues covered again, more thoroughly. This is worth a look, but make sure you have lots of patience, as it is not a fast read. Also, check it out from library!
|
| Alice MacDonald |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Isn't anybody reading this book? It's a wonderful story. Yes, it's about the circus, but it's told in two different voices --- an old man in a nursing home, and his younger self when he was with the traveling circus. Conditions at that time were horrible, but there was still a bit of magic. It's well written and a good book group read.
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| Janet Pruett (jmpruett@alltel.net) |
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful story about a girl who learns to love books. She steals books from Nazi book burnings and anywhere she can find them. THE BOOK THIEF is a great story for anyone who loves to read.
|
| Phyllis |
A Coventry Christmas by Becky Cochrane |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Keele Cannon works in a book store and dislikes Christmas. However, a Christmas trip to Coventry sets in motion changes in her life. A witty book full of quirky characters; it leaves you with a warm, cozy feeling.
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| Jo-Ann Burton (jenni_the_lionhearted@yahoo.com) |
The Lost Constitution by William Martin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Part back-in-time historical and part present-day historical mystery, this story follows Peter Fallon and his girlfriend, Evangeline, as they track the clues that they hope will lead them to an early, annotated copy of the Constitution that was stolen and smuggled out of Philadelphia soon after it was drafted. The back story about how this early constitution was written and lost is interesting, as is the present-day story. This is the third in a series by William Martin, the first of which was BACK BAY, and the second HARVARD YARD. Both previous books featured the same two characters trying to solve the mystery and find the treasure.
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| Linda M. Johnson |
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I don't think this turned out as well as the authors think it did. I did gain some insight into different aspects of philosophy. I do like jokes that make me groan, but many of these don't even reach that level.
|
| Cindi |
Follow the Star by T. D. Jakes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
T. D. Jakes tells Christmas stories that changed his life!
|
| Judy H. |
The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved this author's ability to plot an intricate mystery while fully developing characters. I look forward to more from Simon Beckett.
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The author moved to the U.S. from Iran when she was seven years old in 1972. Her anecdotes elicit emotions ranging from anguish to zaniness. The stories of learning to speak the language had me laughing out loud while stories about the change in perceptions after the American hostages were imprisoned in Iran made me cringe. Perhaps we could all learn something about understanding from this fine writer.
|
| Cindi |
Marley & Me by John Grogan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It is a touching story of a puppy and a man learning to love each other. It is a book about life and love with the world's worst dog!
|
| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is not nearly as good as EMPIRE FALLS. I find myself wondering just where it is going. It's kind of confusing in that the writing goes back and forth from present to past, and sometimes it's difficult to know just where we are.
However, it is a good premise about family life, with many ups and downs; one family with a loving but weak father, the other with a dominant and cruel father and the effect this has on their sons. It's a good book, but not the best.
|
| Wendy C |
The Scent Of God by Beryl Singleton Bissell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A deeply moving tale of a woman torn between her love for God and her love for one of his emissaries.
An amazing true story.
|
| Gale |
Shoot Him If He Runs by Stuart Woods |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another installment in the Stone Barrington>/I> series, SHOOT HIM IF HE RUNS is an enjoyable, quick read. Woods does not develop this story as thoroughly as some of his other works, but he makes up for it by reuniting familiar characters with some not seen in a while, with a return to the island of St. Marks.
|
| Jean V |
Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When? by CharleneBaumbich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This latest in the Dearest Dorothy series is a winner. It is life in small-town America at its best.
|
| Dena |
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved it and couldn't put it down. The worst thing about it was that it was too short! I can't wait for Karen's next book. It can't come soon enough for me.
|
| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was very surprised how emotionally drawn into this book I became. I have never read anything by this author but I had a couple of horses growing up, from which many of my fondest memories and bonds were formed. Anyone who has ever had a horse will be emotionally moved by this book. It's one of those books that makes you read between the lines, and that evokes so many emotions you can relate to. I honestly felt like I was in the story with my feelings. This book was good all the way through, and very beautifully written. I will tell you that I have cried while reading, but during the last chapter of this book, I sat on my bathroom floor, knowing no one could walk in on me. You would have thought something had really happened in real life that provoked these emotions, and I was still thinking about it this morning. Even if you've never had a horse, it is still very moving and emotional because it relates to different aspects of people's lives. This book was definitely a 5.
|
| Mary |
The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
With all the talk about Pandemic Flu, this is a compelling book. It is based on fact, that during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918, some small isolated towns quarantined themselves to try to keep from getting the influenza. The fictional town of Commonwealth is in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, where Charles Worthmore has formed a town based on his own high moral principals. These are good people, but when death sweeps through neighboring towns, they turn inward and panic, fear and suspicion challenge their long-held beliefs about themselves and others. It is a grim story, but moves so quickly and with such vivid characters that it is hard to put down.
|
| Karen |
Ricochet by Sandra Brown |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Great characters and police detective story line. Just when you think you have the "whodunit" figured out, there is another twist to the story and someone else ends up dead.
|
| Christy H. |
Nauti Nights by Lora Leigh |
Rating: 5 Stars |
NAUTI NIGHTS is the 2nd book in the Nauti Boy series and it is just as good, if not better than the first. This is a stand-alone story, even if you haven't read the first book. But, to fully enjoy this series with the history of the three cousins, family, etc., you really should read the first.
Crista is delightful and James "Dawg" will make you want to sit up and beg. Rowdy and Kelly are back along with Natches. (I can't wait to read his story!) This book was excellent and definitely worth the wait!
(This series is loosely connected to the Men of August series and the family background.)
|
| Christy H. |
The Last Noel by Heather Graham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ms. Graham delivers another suspense thriller just in time for the holidays. From the first page, I was hooked and could not put this book down. It was a great read that made me think about how quickly lives can be changed and how important family is. This line from the book is especially meaningful: "...what's valuable in life isn't things, it's what those things mean to people..."
A must read!
|
| dollfriend |
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A boy, who has been bullied throughout his school years, has had enough and spends 19 minutes shooting people at his high school, killing 10 and injuring 19. The book held me captive throughout; I had trouble putting it down!
So many blame themselves...some for not seeing it coming, his parents for not knowing if it were something they had done, and even the policeman, who felt he should have been able to stop it.
The book brings home how easily this could happen anywhere. It's scary, and my heart went out to all involved, including the shooter.
|
| Karen Tinney |
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I am in the process of rereading this for a book group and am enjoying it just as much the second time around.
|
| Judy O. |
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a fascinating true story about 24- year-old Chris McCandless, who walked into the Alaskan wilderness with a rifle and a ten-pound sack of rice. About 100 days later he died of starvation, and his body was found in an old bus by hunters. Much of his time spent in this area was chronicled in the journals that were found after his death. A movie starring Sean Penn has just been made about his experience. The author himself tells about a harrowing experience he had while he was attempting to climb a mountain. Compelling reading.
|
| M. Masterson (golfandbj@hotmail.com) |
Katzenjammer by Jackson Tiptree McCrae |
Rating: 5 Stars |
On the whole, the funniest book I've come across in years. The story is that of a character whose name is Max Perkins. This is not the original Max Perkins of Hemingway-Wolfe-Fitzgerald fame, but a young man in NYC seeking to get his book published. He endures sick bosses, jobs he hates, and crazy roommates. Then there are his attempts to get a publisher and agent. The scenes are at once far-fetched and yet totally believable. McCrae does a good number on the publishing industry and all that follow, and comes out at the end shining. To this day, I have not read a book with such a surprise ending as this. I would recommend this to not only aspiring writers, but to anyone who enjoys a good laugh. Filled with a lot of references to movies, you'll not only have a good time, but become quite educated in the process.
|
| Jeanne S. (catslady5@aol.com) |
The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It is a post-apocalyptic tale describing a journey taken by a father and his young son. I couldn't put this book down. It's a fast read, but one that stays with you. I could picture things happening just like this.
|
| Shelly |
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham |
Rating: 1 Stars |
This was so disappointing, compared to the types of books he is usually writes. Save your money.
|
| Shelly |
The Quickie by James Patterson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was not bad because the ending was good, but it's still not one Patterson's best.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Oh, this has to be one of her best and just in time for Christmas. Runcorn is in the spotlight instead of Monk this time. He goes on a lonely vacation, but soon finds himself in the center of an island murder.
|
| Cynthia Baxter |
The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Upon finishing this book I pulled my grandson onto my lap and rocked him, thankful for all that we have. This book is very dark and though it is dismal (it reminded me of Nevil Shute's ON THE BEACH), the overwhelming love a father has for his son will melt your heart.
|
| Karen Tinney |
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I found this to be very well written, informative and entertaining.
|
| Karen Tinney |
Dark of the Moon by John Sandford |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A very enjoyable suspense story.
|
| Karen Tinney |
Playing For Pizza by John Grisham |
Rating: 2 Stars |
I have liked all of the books he has written that deal with the law. I disliked those in which he has strayed from his area of expertise. I didn't like this one at all.
|
| Linda Scott (scott2@einetwork.net) |
Now and Then by Robert B. Parker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Another in the long line of Spenser novels. This one is good. It's about a bad time in Susan's past, when she ran off with another man and looked forward to a possible marriage. The case is in there that also looks back and forth.
|
| karen tinney |
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a book that every man, woman and child in this country should read. It shows how we can really make a difference by respecting others and listening to what they need, and not telling them what we think they should have.
|
| Connie |
Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was an excellent book full of surprises and longtime friendships. it was amazing what the women endured on this boat trip. I read the recommendation last month on this board and because it sounded interesting, I checked it out from the library. I would definitely recommend it.
|
| Connie |
Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was an excellent book that kept you guessing until the end. I am going to read more of her books as this is the first one I have read.
|
| Holly |
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Copyrighted in 1944. I missed this story on PBS television and know it has been ranked as one of the 100 books to read. The premise is still timely; it's about the effect of war on a family and our personal belief systems. A thought-provoking book.
|
| Myrna |
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
In answer to a member's wish that we read a classic, our book club decided to read A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. Some of us remember reading it as teenagers, while some had never read it. I loved it as much this time as I did about 40 years ago!
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An interesting story of L A and the prostitutes, money, drugs, as well as the law system and the way the criminal is protected.
|
| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
Terri: The Truth by Michael Schiavo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Unbelievable story! Who do you beleive? Michael talks about when he found Terri, the accusations made by his in-laws, and the treatment.
He also talks about his girlfriends, one of whom he eventually married during the time of Terri's hospitalization.
|
| Sandy T |
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
i did not think I would enjoy this book because of the subject matter. I ended up really liking it and couldn't wait to get back to it whenever I had to put it down. It is a story of what happens in the 19 minutes of a shooting. It is told from different viewpoints and different points of time, from leading up to it and after the occurrence.
|
| LouBabe |
Sleeping Beauty by Judith Michael |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Even though it was 630 pages, I wanted there to be more. Not just because I was enjoying it so much, but because the reader was left with a lot of unanswered questions. I expected a sequel to finish the story, but, apparently, there isn't one. The book is much about family, and the one evil member who tries to bring the others down never does "get his", like the reader keeps waiting for. Amazon readers are also hoping for a sequel, finding the ending quite a disappointment. Nevertheless, it's a very enjoyable read.
|
| LouBabe |
Armed and Dangerous by James Crosbie |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Too bad there's not an option for 3 1/2 stars. I was torn between 3 & 4 :) Mr. Crosbie is the man who pulled off Scotland's biggest bank robbery. In the book, he not only tells how he accomplished that but quite a few other robberies as well. It was enlightening to read of his childhood and how he got the "thief bug" into his system. At times, however, the reading was a little slow, and I found myself skipping over pages.
Many of us have wondered what goes through a criminal's mind before and during a robbery, and it was interesting to read that not only was he frightened but often made some stupid mistakes, then had to come up with an instant recovery plan.
|
| Lorie B. from Deerfield, IL |
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak is the best book I've read this year, and is possibly one of the best books I've ever read. I put it up there with my other all-time favorites, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, GONE WITH THE WIND, THE GREAT GATSBY, and THE GODFATHER. It takes a few pages to get into the story, but once you are there, you don't want to leave. It is a story of survival, narrated by Death, about the people of Himmel Street in a small German Town near Munich during the late 1930s and 1940s. It is the fastest 552 pages you will ever read. You will cherish, laugh, cry, and miss Liesel, her family and her friends when you are done. This author deserves to be "Top Shelf." Please read it, you will be happy you did. The, pass it along to others.
|
| Bonnie |
Just One Look by Harlen Coben |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A dependable page-turner of a mystery by a master of the genre.
|
| Bonnie |
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A beautifully written love story, though one might quibble about the inherent sexism (i.e. woman forever looking for her rapist because she enjoyed it so much and wants him again!?)
|
| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
The Bodyguard's Story by Trevor Rees-Jones |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A very interesting book about the crash that took Diana's life from her bodyguard's point of view, including his thoughts on Dodi, his dad and the turmoil he went through. Dodi's dad thought it was a conspiracy to kill Diana from the royal palace.
|
| Patricia in Calgary |
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon |
Rating: 2 Stars |
At 980 pages, this book is much too long. I have read all of the previous books in the Outlander series and have enjoyed them all. This one jumps all over the place with non-related chapters. I had to keep putting it down to read other books in between. It just couldn't hold my interest. I finally finished and don't know if I will read the next one. Maybe I will if it's half the size!
|
| Kristy Barrett (kristybee@bellsouth.net) |
The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle |
Rating: 4 Stars |
4 and a half stars, really. Only half a star is is taken away because of the heart-shattering subject The first 20 pages pull you under, and by the end, you're gasping for breath. I'm also reading WHISTLING IN THE DARK by Lesley Kagen, which was intriguing because the narrator is a little girl. The blurb on the back says it's the funny and wise story of 2 tough and endearing little girls, and a time not so long ago when life was not as innocent as it appeared
|
| Diane Dubay |
Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An engrossing look at growing up in a mixed-race family where the parents are steeped in religion to the point that they cannot see that they are neglecting and abusing their kids in the name of Christianity, both at home and when they pack 2 off to a religious reform school in the Domincian Republic.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Hands down, this has to be the best Christmas book I have read. The characters are so meticulously developed, I had to double-check to see if it really was a work of fiction.
Glen, who is forever getting speeding tickets, had me laughing out loud the most, whereas Bob touched my heart. I couldn't help but share tears of delight right along with Joy. What an absolutely cute, cute, cute book!
|
| Margo |
Body Surfing by Anita Shreve |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The story of Sidney (once divorced,once widowed), and her summer in New Hampshire working as a tutor for Julie (a teenager). Julie's two brothers fall in love with her, but one of them leaves her at the altar. I really liked this Shreve book.
|
| Bonnie |
Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A charming story set in the 1950s. Anyone growing up in the 50s or 60s will identify with the girls in the story as they try to solve a mystery. Lots of humor lightens what might have been a much sadder story.
|
| Cheryl |
Ice Storm by Anne Stuart |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What happens when arch-rivals meet up again after 18 years, and one of them thought that she had killed the other one! One word --- chemistry. If you like action-packed adventure, then you need to check this book out, as well as the other books in her Ice series.
|
| Bob Coghill (bcoghill2@yahoo.com) |
Proust was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful little book (250 pages) tracing how artists (Proust, V. Wolff, Auguste Escoffier, Walt Whitman, G. Eliot, and Cézanne) anticipated, in their art, what neuroscience has proven. It was a delight on two levels. One: taking us back to much loved classics (and food). Two: the latest knowledge in the field of neuroscience and how the scientist got there.
|
| Patricia Ezzell (patriciart@aol.com) |
Mortal Memory by Thomas H. Cook |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A fascinating look at seemingly ordinary men who murder their families, as well as that of a grown surviving son. There was good character development and a can't-put-down plot. Is it hereditary?
|
| Lisa Markelon |
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham |
Rating: 1 Stars |
I miss vintage Grisham --- I am a bit tired with the "sports" themed books. Please return back to the Grisham of old days, reminiscent of THE FIRM and A TIME TO KILL.
|
| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I couldn't wait to read this book as I've read all of the author's previous books. I was not disappointed. This is a family saga, Japanese style, and you are kept enthralled throughout.
|
| Judy O. |
Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I read this for the second time because of the movie adaptation that has recently come out. This is an exciting story about the kidnapping of Amanda McCready, a 4- year-old girl. Private Investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro are hired to try to find the child. There are many sub-plots and many wrong turns for the investigators, which add to the overall suspense. I'm anxious to see the movie. I hope they have taken out some of the graphic violence that is in the book.
|
| Joan B. |
The King of Lies by John Hart |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Jackson Pickens is a lawyer in a small North Carolina town. He worked with his father who suddenly disappeared, and now 18 months later, his body is found and everyone is accusing Jackson. With help from some old and new friends, Jackson sets out to prove his innocence and get his life back. A fast, high drama read.
|
| Margo |
Critical by Robin Cook |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The story of two doctors working in the morgue, and finding many deaths after surgery. They find a flesh-eating bacteria. One of the doctors tries to discourage her husband from having surgery. This was very well written and exciting.
|
| Kristie (kristieburke30@comcast.net) |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I have loved all of the Harry Potter books. I'm just a little slow on getting to them ;) I still am waiting to read the last one! But they are wonderful.
|
| Pat in Mo. |
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mr Russo's latest story is fantastic. He is a true storyteller. I look forward to every evening, sitting down to continue reading this book. It's like sitting down with old friends and playing "Do you remember!"
|
| Janet Kindron |
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I came into this author late. Everyone kept saying she was so funny. I finally picked up the first book and have been hooked ever since. I have not let a day go by where I am not reading a book in this series. She is funny, I laugh out loud at the main character, Stephanie. She is single, in her 30s, and has fallen into the job of bounty hunter, but she is not that good. This is great pick for those who love romantic comedies. I wish they would make this into a TV series with Jennifer Garner!!
|
| Dawnymae (dawnymae5@msn.com) |
Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out by Neta Jackson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the last book in the Yada Yada series. It's bittersweet, as you want to know how things wind up for the characters, but you don't want to have it end. An excellent finish to the series.
|
| Janet Kindron |
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Once again, this is another author I hear everyone talk about. So, I finally borrowed the book and cannot put it down! I was back late from lunch because I became so invested in these charcters. What I like about the style of this book is that each chapter is in the voice of a different character; we do not only hear Anna, the main character's, thoughts. I am laughing, crying, and sympathizing with everyone in this book. I am about halfway through and will see it end!
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Captain Saturday by Bob Inman |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a well-written, funny, witty book about Will, the TV weatherman for a popular TV station in Raleigh. When he loses his job and gets arrested for running a red light, his whole life changes. He takes stock of his life and decides to go about making changes. He doesn’t realize the real mess he is in regarding his personal life, until it’s almost too late. I loved the transformation the author takes this character through. This is a heart-warming story with many lessons to be learned. The humor just adds to the beauty of this story. I will definitely like to read other books by this author.
|
| ck |
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Frazier writes beautifully, but the story is tedious. I heard Robert Morgan speak about his new book, BOONE, and it made me wonder if Frazier was modeling his hero, Will Cooper, on Boone. Of course, Daniel was a devoted family man but Will wanted to be. Will appreciated the value of land, tried to save a few of the Indians who had befriended him, became a Washington politician, made and lost money in grand frontier style. This is good material but it was tiresome to read.
|
| RCalloway |
Wild Fire by Nelson Demille |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A heart stopper! This was an extremely thought-provoking novel about the world in which we live. The mixture of truth and fiction is extremely well done!
|
| Fran |
Lisey's story by Stephen King |
Rating: 1 Stars |
I used to be a Stephen King fan in High School. I'm not sure if his older work is better or if my taste in reading has changed over the years, but I am repeatedly disappointed whenever I read his newer works. I'm not sure why I plugged through this entire book. It was boring and tedious to get through. I kept waiting for it to get better. When I reached "Bool, the end," I was so happy it was finally over.
|
| Becky Cruz (ABamaBecky@aol.com) |
The Kill by Allison Brennan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the third and final book in this series.
Olivia St. Martin is an FBI scientist who, for the past 30 years, has lived with the certainty that her testimony against her sister's murderer helped to have him convicted. When new DNA testing is done and the man she is sure is guilty is found innocent, she breaks every rule in the book to find out the truth.
Driven by the possibility that she put the wrong man behind bars, Olivia discovers that a serial killer has been at large all these years. Believing that this maniac has just struck again in Seattle, Olivia leaves her job and poses as a field agent, sharing her (unofficial) information with the Seattle police.
A very good romantic suspense.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
The Girls by Elaine Kagan |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is about 6 girls grow up together in a small town in Texas. 3 of them move away after high school, while 3 of them stay in the same town. But over the years, the 6 women stay in touch with each other and consider themselves friends. Then one morning, one of the women shoots her husband, Pete. Along with shock and disbelief, there is an exploration of what this dead husband meant to each of the 6 women. The book is written with each woman having a voice to express her opinions and feelings about Pete and also about herself. In my opinion, this was a good read --- very well done.
|
| Ma Titwonky |
The Know-It-All by A. J. Jacobs |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A. J. Jacobs decided to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. This book is a diary of his experiences reading and collecting all those facts, how he feels about retaining so much knowledge, as well as comments on his marriage, his parents, his in-laws, his job, and anything else that comes to him during his time reading. I found this to be an interesting book on a few different levels. I learned things I didn't know before, and I appreciated many of Jacobs' funny comments along the way. This one's a keeper.
|
| Gail Spitzer |
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Interesting story of a couple and the choices they make before and after their marriage.
|
| Ron (rgnnnr@aol.com) |
A Killer's Kiss by William Lashner |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A KILLER'S KISS had a good beginning and ending, but it dragged a little in the middle. The hero is a lawyer who was madly in love in his twenties, but inexplicably lost his love to another man. Now, she's back and in his bed when the police arrive to inform him of the murder of the lady's husband. This author writes with humor and suspense similar to that of Harlan Coben. That's definitely a big plus.
|
| Coral Harrison |
Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Taylor Bradford |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Anya Sedgewick, an art teacher and the owner of a school in Paris, is turning 85, so her newphew plans a birthday party for her. He invites relatives, friends and former students. The main students are 4 women who graduated 7 years before and who all did very well in their work. They were best friends, but had a fight the last week and hadn't spoken since. This about their lives and how it all ends.
|
| Coral Harrison |
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is an entirely different kind of story for Grisham, but a good one. It is about a quarterback who goofs up and is sent to Italy to play football in Parma. He learns to grow up. I liked it.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ridley Jones is living a nice orderly life until one day she happens to see a toddler stray from his mother and walk into the path of an oncoming truck. Without a second thought, Ridley moves quickly and manages to narrowly escape having both the child and herself injured by the vehicle. As a result of this incident, her picture appears in the newspaper and that leads to her being recognized wherever she goes. She is also recognized by someone who says she is his long lost daughter. This forms the basis for the rest of the story which is very well written and superbly plotted. I highly recommend this book, both for the story and also for the way the author has presented Ridley. She's someone I'd definitely like to know better.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
The Mastery Of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Good advice on how to live a more peaceful and productive life by focusing on cleaning up fractured relationships.
|
| RubyD |
Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley |
Rating: 4 Stars |
If you like heroic fantasy, then take a look at WINTERBIRTH, the first book of The Godless World trilogy. Actually, I was surprised at how much I came to like the characters and the writing as I got further into this rather long book. The author Makes his fantasy world and his characters come alive with his writing style. I am looking forward to reading the second installment in the series.
|
| Debbie (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
Vegas Rich by Fern Michaels |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The story starts out in Vegas in 1923, when young Sallie inherits 50 million dollars from her friend Cotton, an old gold miner. Sallie nonetheless is shocked. VEGAS RICH tells of inner-woven families, as well as what Sallie does with the money. Her two sons also enlist during World War II. These keep you reading because you want to know what happens next.
|
| Sandra Lippert (sandyllny@yahoo.com) |
Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This novel gives a poignant look at the life of a young girl, "Icy Gal", who grows up in 1950s rural Kentucky. She is the victim of a yet little-known disease, Tourettes syndrome. The ramifications of this challenge upon her young life are staggering. This is a truly inspiring and insightful story.
|
| Cariola |
The Alchemist's Daughter by Katharine McMahon |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Emily knows nothing about her mother, aside from the fact that she was French and died in childbirth. Her father, Sir John Selden, has raised her as he would a son (something unheard of for a female in the early 18th century), educating her in the natural sciences. When a handsome young man arrives at their country estate, hoping to make a business deal with Selden, Emily's life changes forever. The events of the next few years lead her to a knowledge even more important than alchemy as she begins to understand human nature, both its good and evil sides.
|
| Sandi |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've been immersed in this book, and I'm just about finished. Taking place in the mid 1300s, when the bubonic plague takes place, the characters also must find their way around political and religious intrigue before the plague descends.
|
| Cariola |
The Accidental by Ali Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
When a strange young woman walks into their summer vacation home, the members of the Smart family are changed forever. They know nothing about Amber (except, perhaps, that everything she has told them about herself is a lie), yet she seems to know more about each of them than they themselves do.
Smith's wonderfully styled novel shifts among five narrators, the Smarts and Amber herself. Highly original work.
|
| Margaret Ladue (laduea@frontiernet .net) |
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent story of the circus in the 1930s.
|
| Dorothy Olson |
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a book about a young girl and her family during the turmoil-filled years of coups and tensions in Nigeria. Kambili's father, a rich and powerful man, is fanatically religious and keeps his family in a constant state of fear. A beautifully written book that captures so many feelings for the reader.
|
| Carol |
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great reading with interesting characters and mystery.
|
| Barbara S. |
Liar's Market by Taylor Smith |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A story of intrigue regarding the CIA and foreign embassies. The prologue was terrific and I couldn't wait to get into the story. However, the first half of the book was not at all exciting. The last half was somewhat more suspenseful with a "surprise" ending. The details of the exciting prologue were just briefly mentioned toward the end of the book. It was OK, but a real letdown after the great prologue.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
Mission Al Jazeera by Josh Rushing |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Josh Rushing served with the Marines in Iraq. During his tour of duty he was stationed at CentCom, the center for information distribution to the press, until the CPA was formed and took over those duties. While Rushing was there, a documentary was filmed about the Arab news service Al Jazeera called Control Room, and Rushing has a prominent part in the footage used. Rushing now works for Al Jazeera English, and he has many interesting points to make about what is news and how that news is presented all over the world. I enjoyed this book very much because it presented an alternative to the demonization of what is essentially merely another news source.
|
| Janet Stewart |
No Rest for the Witches by MaryJanice Davidson et. al. |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This anthology is a big disappointment, especially given how eagerly awaited it was. The only one of the stories I considered a decent effort was "Voodoo Moon" by Lori Handeland. I think the pressure to publish is becoming too much for these very famous authors.
|
| Scott Schneider (sws2821@earthlink.net) |
Out Stealing Horses by per pertterson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An excellent book; this Norwegian author has a distinct writing style that pulls you right into the story, holds you until the end and leaves you wanting for more.
|
| Karen |
Color Me Butterfly by L. Y. Marlow |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The best book I've read in a long while. It's the true story of the abuse sustained by 4 generations of black women. Some of the abuse seemed so unbelievable until we spoke with the author and she told us how the women got through it and moved on, how strong they had to be to endure this and keep on going forward, and how --- as the generations passed --- the abuse became less severe but was still there.
|
| Laurie Blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
Through the Children's Gate by Adam Gopnik |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I loved Gopnik's PARIS TO THE MOON and now am pleased to read another fine nonfiction collection of 20 essays, which gives a charming view of life in the Big Apple...filled with wonderful anecdotes and creative imagery.
|
| Myrna |
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo |
Rating: 1 Stars |
Russo has the incredible ability to define small-town life and the people who flesh it out. Although overwritten --- it could have been trimmed by 100 pages or so --- BRIDGE OF SIGHS becomes your community and its inhabitants your friends.
|
| Myrna |
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A fictionalized account of the longtime affair between renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and a married woman, Mameh Cheney. It explores this wonderful, powerful but conflicted relationship with its attendant joys and tragedies.
|
| L. Hann |
The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag |
Rating: 5 Stars |
You'll be into this book from the first word. Find out why Elena Estes's friend was murdered. While trying to figure it, out Elena has to come face to face with her old life, one that she has wanted to forget. Great read.
|
| Karen |
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved the characters in this book, especially Alma Singer and her brother, Bird. There's a lot to think about here, and many different relationships. I will be rereading this book for our group discussion and am looking forward to revisiting it.
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| Deborah Fochler (fochler@erols.com) |
Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
One of those addictive, can't-put-down books. I won't forget it soon.
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| Phyllis |
Some Nerve by Jane Heller |
Rating: 4 Stars |
When Ann loses her job at Famous because her fear of flying keeps her from interviewing a star, she goes back to her small hometown to regroup. When the celebrity happens to go to a hospital where she lives, she becomes a volunteer in hopes of getting the interview. Undercover, she gets the interview, falls in love and finds a new career.
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| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
The Liar's Club by Mary Karr |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Karr's experiences growing up in a dysfunctional family mainly center on her life as a child. I found it a little difficult to believe that a child of Karr's age at the time would have such total recall of incidents that it seemed to me would have confused a child more than Karr admits. However, there is no doubt that if these events did happen to her, it is to her credit that she grew up to be so capable of capturing herself in book form as a little girl in rather bewildering circumstances that were often unpleasant.
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| Cheryl |
Power Play by Joseph Finder |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The author makes sure everything is so authentic and real that it makes you think that maybe this really could happen to me, and that is why this book is a must read for anyone who likes good suspense thillers.
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| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book has been compared to Jodi Picoult's NINETEEN MINUTES. Having now read both books, my opinion is that Jodi Picoult's book doesn't come close to touching Lionel Shriver's story of what it's like to have a family member so out of step with the rest of the family that every single day is a chore to get through with this child. I would have given this book 10 stars had that been an option. I know I have never read a book in which the author so accurately laid bare emotions and thoughts that most people do not want to acknowledge for themselves much less in someone else about their own child. Not every child who is out of touch with the family into which he or she is born grows up to commit murder at his or her school, so from that standpoint, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN is not the norm in describing childhood behavior. But there are plenty of families out there who know very well the kind of relationships Shriver describes in this book. At times, it was hard to read such raw pain and emotion; it is harder still to live with it.
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| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
There'sA(Slight)Chance I Might Be Going To Hel by Laurie Notaro |
Rating: 3 Stars |
All Maye Roberts wants to do when her husband accepts a job in the state of Washington --- which means they have to move from Phoenix --- is make some friends. She is a very social person, but she has her hands full on her mission to find friendship. There were times I thought the humor in this book was a little forced, but it was a fast and fun read.
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| Phyllis |
Wonderful Tonight by Patti Boyd |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A look at the lifestyle of The Beatles and their friends --- the marriages, the arguments, the drugs and the infidelities.
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| Angie Lindell |
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Childhood friends Bobby and Frankie decide to go sleuthing after a mysterious accident in which a man fell over the side of a cliff and begin to piece together a complicated, suspenseful story. Full of intrigue and surprises, I thought this Christie novel was a lot of fun, and even after all the novels I've read of hers, I still felt the effect of her twists. Recommended!
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| Angie Lindell |
The Secret Country by Pamela Dean |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Being classified as children's fantasy, this wonderfully inventive and complicated novel (the first of a trilogy) is certainly undermined. The depth of the plot and the complete focus it takes to truly understand all the layers she artfully writes give you an extremely satisfying payoff!
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| MarilynD |
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm disappointed in this Sparks novel --- it's unfortunately reminiscent of Danielle Steel's repetition and restatements just to fill up pages.
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| Genei Wheeler (genei_wheeler@yahoo.com) |
White Hot by Sandra Brown |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I absolutely love her books.
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| Tammy Garcia (tamjeang1@msn.com) |
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An incredible memoir filled with hope, humor, and sadness. It portrays the author's life in the U.S. as a child and as she grows into a young woman. She has many obstacles to overcome, most of all, parents who seem to prefer poverty. Many times, she and her family went to bed cold and hungry. It's very heartbreaking to know that there are families out there like that. This book is very powerful and heartbreaking to read. Also, once you start reading, you won't want to stop. I highly recommend this book.
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| Deborah Fochler (fochler@erols.com) |
All We Know Of Love by Katie Schneider |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Fairly interesting.
|
| Gail A. Spitzer |
Heaven is Real by dpn piper |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very motivating and easy to read. It also provides much inspiration for this life.
|
| Josh Allen |
Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved Bradley's FLYBOYS and wanted to read this for a while. In a fortunate twist of fate, I got the "Young Adults" version of the book out of the library and didn't notice until my middle school's reading period. One of my students complained he couldn't find any good "war" books in the English teacher's shelves, so I said, "How does this one look?" So we're reading the same thing now!
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| Susan Bucher (s.bucher@insightbb.com) |
Free Reign by Rosemary Aubert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Aubert is a Canadian author whose first mystery is about a once-respected judge who has been disgraced and is living in a makeshift shelter on a riverbank in Toronto. He has to solve the apparent murder of a man wearing a ring that only the judge and 4 of his fellow law school mates possessed --- and this man is not one of them. The descriptions of the homeless community are especially fascinating and enlightening.
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| S. Rumack |
A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspeare |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Maisie Dobbs is the most unusual Private Investigator I have ever met. Her analytical and unusual methods of solving a case make for the best kind of reading. She is kind, polite and very caring. She brings unusual people together with her warm personality. After reading her first book about Maisie, I was hooked. Her sensitive descriptions of her work as a nurse and the effects of war on returned soldiers and their families are so timely. There are three books in the series with a fourth coming in 2008.
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| Kim Kovacs |
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'd so love to see this series made into movies. It seems like the natural successor to the Harry Potter books.
These are labeled as "Children's books," but they're sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy. There are vivid characters and unique plot elements, and overall, it's just a fun read.
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| Kim Kovacs |
City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This book just couldn't make up its mind what it wanted to be.. Romance? Historical Fiction? Mystery? And, in my opinion, it didn't do well at any of them. Of course, I am biased against books that over-fictionalize real-life characters, and this definitely falls into that category (one of the characters is Anna Anderson, who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia), so you may want to take this review with a grain of salt.
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| Kim Kovacs |
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm not sure why this book is considered young-adult fiction, since it deals with complex and emotional themes. I found it very involving, almost impossible to put down. It's a remarkable book, and definitely worth your time.
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| Tim Barnes (btv01@bellsouth.net) |
The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a story about change --- wanting things to the point that you think things are what you want to see them as when, if fact, they are not that way at all, leading you down different paths that lead to other choices. This was an interesting read on how our choices lead to our outcomes.
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| Vicki |
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a great read! An American woman arrives in Dublin only to find that her sister's been murdered. Two powerful and mysterious men seek to control her as she seeks revenge. Magic is involved and the lines between good and evil become blurred.
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| Ann Bowen |
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was the best book that I have read the entire year. I could not put it down, it was so riveting for me. I shared it with my 84-year-old mother who remembers traveling from central Wisconsin down to Baraboo to see the winter quarters when she was young, and she was just as enthralled as I was. No matter what PETA says, there is nothing as enchanting as a circus. My fondest memories of my childhood was riding the Milwaukee Road to Chicago and seeing Ringling Brothers there with Gunther Goebel Williams walking a tiger around a ring to the music of "Walking my Baby Back Home". This book was amazing.
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| Amee |
Go Figure by Jo Edwards |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a young adult novel that is really well written. She really understands how teenagers think and feel. I feel like Jo Edwards could be writing about me. Excellent novel.
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| Linda Pinto |
New Indian Home Cooking by Madhu Gadia |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I know this isn't the usual fiction offering but I just got this cookbook with delicious Indian recipes that are tasty, lower in fat, and easy to make in the typical American kitchen. There is a lot of narrative about Indian cooking, spices, menus and dishes typical of different parts of India. The recipes really turn out well.
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| Shirley Lund (shirlund@comcast.net) |
Double Take by Catherine Coulter |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The number of characters gets a bit confusing at times, but the story gets better the farther along you get.
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| Lee Ann |
Chasing Midnight by Susan Krinard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
In this book, werewolves and vampires have their own societies, and the two are not supposed to come together. So far, it is very interesting. You really have to concentrate on it or you will miss something.
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| Janice G. |
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just cannot get enough of books by this author. I have not been disappointed yet. PLAIN TRUTH is based on an Amish family tragedy, which has some basis in current events, I gained new insight into this religious order.
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| Ellen Christian (scentednights2002@yahoo.com) |
The Islander by John Maddox Roberts |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Not bad, but not as good as his other books.
|
| Nanci |
Ice Storm by Anne Stuart |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is great. It's about Isobel Lambert, the head of a covert mercenary organization whose former life is rapidly catching up to her. This is a great tale of disguises and murder.
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| Mrs. L. A. Ramsen |
Where The Truth Lies by Rupert Holmes |
Rating: 5 Stars |
At last, a worthwhile read! Even after researching the most touted new books, of the dozen or so I read each month, perhaps one stands out as recommendable. This is it! Believably quirky characters, a complicated plot, plus deft, droll writing cinched my vote. Enjoy this one --- they are rare indeed.
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| Carrie W. |
Find Me by Carol O'Connell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mallory is a one-of-a-kind character that will hook your heart. This is the 8th in the series and I can't wait for the next one.
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| Carrie W. |
Restitution by Lee Vance |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The 1st book by this author, RESTITUTION is a murder mystery following a Wall Street big shot as he evolves into a good guy and finds his wife's murderer, and fights the Russian Mafia, a big-time pharmaceutical, and AIDS. Quite a ride!!!
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| Susie Sunshine |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The sequel to PILLARS OF THE EARTH stands alone as a book full of stories. Follett weaves so many stories of interest into one epic without losing the reader. He is remarkable and so is this twelfth-century English novel of life, love, hate, revenge, greed, pride, plague, religion and medicine.
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| Alicia Burnette (saveypiratecat@yahoo.com) |
Good Groom Hunting by Shana Galen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a entertaining read. Lovely Josephine has found half of a treasure map that belonged to her grandfather, who was a pirate. Everyone had said this was a folk tale about the treasure and was not real, but when she discovers that someone else has the other half, their adventure begins. A very entertaining book read.
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| Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com) |
Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm a long time fan of Iris --- her books always pack a kick that keeps pushing the suspense higher and higher. This one deals with the psychic world. Think it would be great to have the ability to see the future or gain certain powers? Read this tale first of a young doctor who finds herself being stalked by a madman because of her powers. It all comes a bit too fast for Megan. There are great characters you will remember long after you finish the book.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
The Long Walk Home by Will North |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not wait to give a review on this book; it was absolutely wonderful, and such a warm and enduring read. I was amazed this was his first novel what a way to start out!! This story was so complete I felt like i knew the characters. I do love Bridges of Madison County but I would love to see this one on the screen. This story left me understanding love and patience. I will definitely look for Mr. North's next book. Hopefully there's one in the works!!
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| Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com) |
Dead Heat by Dick Francis |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love Dick Francis. His books are so comfortable to read, like an old friend, but the pace is still fast. This book is great, partly because it deals with high cuisine rather than horse racing. You still have the track in there, but it is about catering and food poisoning, which turns out to be a bit more suspenseful than you would think. You are treated to the world of cooking and a wonderful mystery all in one.
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| Julie Towson |
The Broker by Robert Grisham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderfully written and very suspenseful. The story takes place in Bologna, Italy. Grisham really immerses the reader into the Italian way of life as he weaves his tail of intrigue.
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| E. Quinn Knight (knight@sxu.edu) |
Away by Amy Bloom |
Rating: 5 Stars |
My uncle started an orphanage in NY in the 1920s, so this was a great novel to read. It is funny, insightful and gripping. Lilian, is a young woman longing to make her life whole in a world that is on the brink of a new horizon.
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| Heather Larson |
Power Play by Joseph Finder |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Although POWER PLAY was a quick read, I didn't feel it was up to the quality of Finder's other books like COMPANY MAN and PARANOIA. There were too many characters to keep straight, and a less-than-satisfying ending disappointed me. I am a true Finder fan and know he can do better. The premise and setting were fresh and unusual, though.
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Barkley: A Dog's Journey by Al Martinez |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Very well-written story about a writer for the L. A. Times who is losing his dog to cancer. This moving book doesn't quite hit the mark of MARLEY & ME, but is quite enjoyable.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Hard Row by Margaret Maron |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A Deborah Knott mystery set in the NC farmlands, complete with the influx of migrant workers and all the problems that follow, and the threat of small-time farmers leaving the fields for good. HARD ROW addresses the problem of a step-son dealing with his mother's death.
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| Lori Barnes (photoquest@bellsouth.net) |
The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I'm giving my review based on the last part of the book. I can honestly tell you there was too much character description and narration, and not enough discussion between the characters in the story. I kept reading, knowing it had to get better if I could just bear with it. The last part of the story really did make up for the earlier lingering, and there was a point in which I was in tears. I felt the love the main character had for her sister, and the bond between the two girls and their summer friend was very enduring and meaningful. It showed of profound love of being young . I would've rated this a 5 if the 1rst part had been different.
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| Carolyn |
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A mother (Mary) joins a knitting group after her young daughter's death. Not sure if she belongs in the group, Mary decides to attend the meetings anyway. She eventually learns to knit with the help of the individuals in the group. Each person discloses the lessons they have learned through their own hardships in life. Mary slowly opens up to the group as her pain begins to heal. This is a wonderful story embracing the strength one can have after experiencing a tragedy.
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| Sandra Smith (ssmith00288@verizon.net) |
The Blue Nowhere by Jeffrey Deaver |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This isn't a new Jeffery Deaver book, but we've already read those, so I went back and found some earlier novels that I hadn't read yet. This is not part of the Lincoln Rhyme series, but it's good. His books are always such great reads.
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| Teri (TLBell61@optonline.net) |
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I found out this week that a dear friend has been given 3 to 6 months to live. I had read TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE years ago but felt like I needed to read it again to help me deal with this devastating news. It was a better read than the first time I read it. I passed it on to my 17-year-old daughter to read.
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| Ivy (ipittman26@yahoo.com) |
Grub by Elise Blackwell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
The well-developed characters in this intricate plot of writers and publishers and writers against writers proved to be an interesting true-to-life account of a world that only a true writer would know. It is engaging, funny and well written.
|
| Gale |
A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Faerie Princess Merry Gentry is back in Los Angeles with her entourage of Sidhe friends and lovers in Hamilton's sixth book in the series. A LICK OF FROST is the best one since 2002's KISS OF SHADOWS introduced us to the world of fey politics, violence, sex and glamour. We get a deeper understanding of Merry's disturbing relationships with her aunt, the Unseelie Queen Andais, and her uncle, the Seelie King Taranis --- both of whom fear and dislike their niece. Merry visibly grows in her determination to be a good queen. The novel is short, but powerful, and the story advances Hamilton offers leave us hungry for next year's installment.
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| Carol H. |
Matrimony by Joshua Henkin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a beautifully written novel about two college friends, their loves and losses.
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| Peggy (cali_lb@msn.com) |
Wheel of Darkness by Lincoln Child & Douglas Preston |
Rating: 5 Stars |
When these two authors come together to write, they're magic. Once again we meet Pendergast, the FBI agent from previous novels. Something has been stolen from a Tibetan monastery that could destroy the world. Finding it could destroy him as well, but nothing stops this rather odd person. With the help of his young ward he will stop for no one in his quest to find the object and return it.
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Anne Stuart, Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I was expecting a typical romance novel and what I got was a surprise! It was a very well-written paranormal story about 3 sisters who are witches. The three individual stories of the sisters kept this book moving with twists and turns. Highly enjoyable.
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| Mary in HB (mljacobsinhb@msn.com) |
Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Very clever debut. I really enjoyed this story about a girl who almost dies and comes back to talk to ghosts. I hope this is the beginning of a series.
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Captain Saturday by Robert Inman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I very much enjoyed the life and times of Will Baggett. Inman did a fabulous job of telling the life of Will/Wilbur from childhood to adulthood, in this interesting story of the challenge of life and what one individual does when he receives sour grapes. The struggle in man to be best, and then switch for what is right.
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| Marsha |
The Art Thief by Noah Charney |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Very disappointing. The premise is delightful and there are some lectures on Art that are worth your time but this book screams for a good editor. There are too many poorly drawn charaters.
|
| Judy |
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A divorcee trying to restart her life buys a house and discovers bones in the yard. Soon following is a flashback to the 1830s and a string of murders by the "West End Reaper." The ending is a little too pat, but the present day/past stories entwine nicely as a whodunit.
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| Kate (melydia@hotmail.com) |
Mistress Masham's Repose by T. H. White |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book has been on my shelf for at least the last fifteen years, but I never got around to reading it until now. It's a clever story of a girl named Maria who discovers Lilliputians on her property. Having never read GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, I can't say how necessary that might be, but I'm familiar enough with the tale to understand most of the references. The supporting characters --- the evil Vicar and Miss Brown, the distracted Professor, the chatty Cook --- are delightfully ridiculous. The description can get a little lengthy at times, but it's easy to skim and does, if you read every word, add to the atmosphere. Though this could be enjoyable for adults, I would most heartily recommend this for older children with a love for fantasy.
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| Michelle Goedert |
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This is not her best, but still entertaining. Her history is suburb.
|
| Alice |
The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The story and characters are compelling, especially for those of us whose grandparents are Eastern European. However, Jenoff's clumsy beginners writing annoyed me. She must have said "my stomach twisted" (do stomach's twist?) about fifty times in the novel. Still worth reading if you like historical love stories.
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| Linda M. Johnson |
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself by Alan Alda |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Alan Alda is not only a fine actor, he's also an excellent writer. I am really enjoying his turn of phrases. This book is a collection of thoughts and speeches he gave at various colleges and occasions when he felt the need to say something profound. I would say he succeeded.
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| Justin Castillo (spacebarshift2003@yahoo.com) |
Celebrity Detox: The Fame Game by Rosie O'Donnell |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I kind of wish she really realized what she was doing when she targeted Kelly Ripa over Clay Aiken. Maybe she and Perez Hilton should work together.
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| Jane (janebeatty92083@hotmail.com) |
Body Movers by Stephanie Bond |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very funny book with plenty of romance and a lot of suspense. This author is highly recommended.
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