| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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 !
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| Dorothy |
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was just a wonderful story about true love. I recommend it to everyone.
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| Dorothy |
The Gift by Richard Paul Evans |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A heartwarming story that brings tears to your eyes. A really good read.
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| 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?
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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 circu |
