| Betty C (willitara@gmail.com) |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An outstanding thriller that kept me glued to the story. It follows a popular trend of emphasizing the technical side of forensics and investigating, but has a little romance thrown in to lighten the story.
|
| Dorothy Lazorchik |
| Mortal Evidence by Cyril Wecht |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A very interesting book about murder cases and how the body gives clues to the crime.
|
| Amee |
| Face of an Angel by Denise Chavez |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
It's interesting, but has yet to really pull me in. I hear it's really good, though, so I hope it gets better (I'm about a quarter through).
|
| Lisa Richardson (keizerfire@aol.com) |
| Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I read it in 2 days, unable to put it down, both entranced and repulsed at the same time. The story is one we hear all too often in the news lately, a shooting at a high school, but Ms. Picoult asks a question you will be hard put to answer when you finish the book. Who really has the right to judge someone else?
This book left me crying, and completely convinced that we are all capable of much more than we ever want to believe. This book should challenge the way we think, and hopefully the way we live.
A child you know could be any one of the children in this book --- and they are.
|
| Heather C |
| The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Such a different kind of book. It's confusing at times, but worth the read!
|
| Thomas Hoh |
| Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A suspense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Just a bit too paranormal, though, for my taste.
|
| C Hennes |
| The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A great love story --- part one goes on a tiny bit too long, but part two brings the story back and with a surprise twist. It's very emotional and illustrates the importance of the choices we make and how they can really effect our lives. Sometimes, you just have to with your heart and not your head.
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| Julie Falkenstein |
| Growing an Inch by Stanley Gordon West |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Don't miss this one!
|
| CHennes |
| Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
Hard to get through --- it has its cute moments, but not enough to make it a good read.
|
| Lily Kwan |
| The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A timeless classic and one of my favorite books.
|
| Donna Gooch |
| Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
2nd in the Spellman series. Hilarious.
|
| Carissa Davis |
| Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book is hilarious, just like the rest of Sophie's work.
|
| Sydney Mathis |
| The Eight by Katherine Neville |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a fascinating and compelling book that intermixes various times in history throughout the storytelling. It was hard to put down and is a good read the second and third time around.
|
| Maureen H |
| Bag Of Bones by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I love this book. I love the way Stephen King tells a tale. He has a great wit and he draws you into his story. This is a really exciting book to read.
|
| Amee |
| The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Not yet released --- only ten more days! I have an ARC and I loved it so much! I highly recommend it. I will definitely be checking out Lockhart's other novels now.
|
| Anne |
| The Last Girls by Lee Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
In 1965, twelve college girls sailed down the Mississippi on a raft. Now, thirty-five years later, four of the "girls" reunite to sail again on a steamboat. This is a story of the girls' yesterdays and todays. It's also the story of Baby, whose ashes they bring with them to scatter in the river. A beautiful novel with romance, betrayals, happiness and loss.
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| Ellie Wright (mammajamma182002@yahoo.com) |
| St Patrick's Day Murder by Leslie Meier |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This continuation of the Lucy Stone series is a fun mystery set during St Patrick's Day holiday.
|
| Joyce Blume (joyce2121@comcast.net) |
| My Favorite Midlife Crisis (Yet) by Toby Devens |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This may be Ms Devens's first novel, but she certainly has lived life What a welcome gift to share these three "mature" girls' trials and loves.
|
| Ricki (rickimc@aol.com) |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Very different from the previous novels --- a little darker and for a slightly older audience. I really did not think this could be done.
|
| Irish |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A good book that is interesting and knowledgeable about the early times. Frank Lloyd Wright, family, building and to prove that there is nothing new under the sun, the other woman. All in all, a very interesting read.
|
| Irish |
| The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 2 Stars |
This book should have been edited better. It's about two couples, with one husband hardly mentioned. I found myself not even liking the three other people. I didn't care what happened to them. All were selfish and self serving. This would make a good Harlequin Romance.
|
| Kathy Sholes |
| Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself by Alan Alda |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I love Alan Alda. Some parts of this book were genuinely poignant and others very humorous. But, there were parts that were slow and hard to get through.
|
| Marsha |
| The Ghost by Robert Harris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
If you have any interest in politics, this is the book for you. Britain's charming ex-prime minister is writing his memoirs and needs a ghost writer. As our hero --- the second ghost writer --- sets about his job, he learns that his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances and all is not what it seems in the political arena. It's an entertaining and thoughtful thriller. The twists and turns will keep you fascinated.
|
| Jeane |
| Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Fast reading chick-lit by the author of the Shopaholic series. A fun read. Set in London.
|
| Kim V |
| The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A great read!
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Mary McGreevy by Walter Keady |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I'm really a little too early in this book to give it an honest evaluation. The book takes place in 1950 Ireland and concerns a nun who leaves her convent to visit dying father. After his death, she forsakes her vocation to see after the land her father owned.
|
| Thomas |
| Indigo Slam by Robert Crais |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Elvis Cole is rapidly becoming my favorite detective. In this book, Cole is hired by a 15-year-old girl and her two siblings to find their father. Clark Hewitt was in the Witness Protection Program, but went his own way and is now in serious trouble with the Russian mob. ole and his dependable sidekick, Joe Pike, have their hands full taking care of the kids and tracking down their dad while keeping everyone alive. A great, fast-moving read.
|
| Becky (sweetypieinsc@aol.com) |
| Duma Key by Steven King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
DUMA KEY is a great book. I really found it to be one of his better ones (maybe because it was set in Florida?) I liked the suspense and the little twist at the end.
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Reality Show by Howard Kurtz |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Howard Kurtz is the media reporter for The Washington Post. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the evening news broadcasters --- especially the transitioning from the men who sat in those chairs for such a long time and the younger people who have continued a tradition despite dwindling audiences. I'm really enjoying reading of the concerns and personalities of Brian, Katie and Charlie. If you are a news junkie like me, you will enjoy this book. I believe it to be an even handed portrait, not tabloid journalism and not biased from the author's point of view.
|
| Elaine |
| The Pact by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was the first book of hers I read and I've been hooked ever since. She's a great author and I've hooked over a dozen people to her books!
|
| Linda M. Johnson |
| Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
By the same authors who brought you PLATO AND A PLATYPUS WALK INTO A BAR: Understanding Philosophy through Jokes, this book --- about doublespeak or (politico speak) --- is a bit easier to understand than the previous book. A quick read with some good jokes.
|
| Rachel Robertson (bmagical@cableone.net) |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The book begins in the year 1974 when the never-ending friendship of Kate and Tully, both in the 8th grade, begins. The book takes you through 30 years of their friendship. This book so quickly and thoroughly draws you into the storyline, and their lives, that you feel as if you are going through every joy and sorrow with them. It is one of those books that celebrates the special friendship of two women whose history and future will forever be intertwined.
|
| Ruth |
| Poisoned Nation by Loretta Schwartz-Nobel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
The shocking story of how the drug industry and our government twists the facts in order to keep the scary truth from us.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| On Agate Hill by Lee Smith |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This was a very unique book. It starts off with a letter from a young girl who is writing to a college, asking to be let back into the program she was in. She tells the director of the school that she has a diary and some letters from the Civil War, then the book switches over to the diary and so the story begins. The setting is Agate Hill, North Carolina and it is just after the Civil War ended. The diary is written by Molly Petree, who describes the people who have come to live on Agate Hill after her mother and father and brother have died.
At first, I was not that thrilled about the story. It was difficult for me to follow all the characters and how they were related to Molly. The story was even more difficult to follow because it was told in diary form. But then, when Simon Black comes and takes Mary to the private school in Virginia, I started to take more interest in the story. From that moment on, I began to like it a little better. This is normally not my favorite genre. But since this was a book club book, I felt obligated to give it a try and I am glad I did. It is such an extraordinary work, I don’t think I will forget it.
|
| Ruth |
| The Widow's War by Sally Gunning |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This story really makes one appreciate being a woman today rather than in early America.
|
| Ruth |
| Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Unlike her previous books of humorous tales, this is an eye-opening account of the author's personal experience with an autistic son.
|
| Elizabeth M. |
| Twisted by Andrea Kane |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I haven't read a page turner in a while, so it was with great delight I found that I couldn't put this new thriller by Andrea Kane down.The discovery of a serial murder reconnects two FBI agents with unresolved emotions due to a bitter breakup and they are forced to work together to solve the case. This edgy romantic relationship balances the case of horrific serial murders and both sides of the story leave the reader wondering and puzzling over the outcome. Fraught with tension and suspense, I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was and I found myself suspicious of everyone as I read the gripping tale. I definitely recommend this latest novel by Andrea Kane and I look forward to reading any future novels she writes.
|
| Dee |
| Sins of the Fathers: The Thomas Kane Chronicles by Steve Schmidt, Mel King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A totally different kind of science fiction. A totally different kind of writing. Creative, interesting, and a highly entertaining way of looking at where history comes from.
|
| Chris Swanson |
| The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I liked it very much. It showed a change of heart/prejudice in the main character. It was a good read for Black History Month.
|
| Gwendolyn Bruno |
| The Sister by Poppy Adams |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderfully creepy and compelling story of two sisters who reunite after an estrangement that lasted their entire adult lives. Beautifully written, paced, and plotted. The mood is similar to Shirley Jackson's WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE. Whose view of childhood events is accurate? Who is responsible for their mother's death? Is someone in this story insane or is it just a difference of perspective? I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
|
| Readingrat |
| Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A book full of suspense and action that keeps you guessing 'til the end, and leaves you wondering if what is right is always best.
|
| Sandra F. |
| The Rebels of Babylon by Owen Parry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book, set in the Civil War period in New Orleans, was a great read. I felt as if I had some grasp of the what the Civil War did to the fabric of America. In addition, it was a rousing good read.
|
| Sandra F. |
| At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
I just could not get interested in this book. The characters could not inspire any interest for me and I read only about half of the book.
|
| Readingrat |
| New Moon by Stephenie Meyer |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Just a few pages in, I found that I had high hopes for this sequel. Edward leaves, and Bella is able to pursue a more appropriate relationship with Jacob Black and to try to re-kindle some normal friendships with her schoolmates. However the reprieve from Edward is all too short. From that point on, I found myself disliking Bella and all of her melodrama more and more with each page of this book.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| The Criminals in the Caymans by Connie Lee Berry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
There is plenty of fun and adventure with a bit of mystery and pictures and illustrations highlighting the eleven chapters. The facts are suitable for grade schoolers like, turtle farming is big, and it’s part of the U.K. so it is ruled by Queen Elizabeth II. I recommend this book.
|
| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| Love and Consequences by Margaret B. Jones |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A truly remarkable story about Margaret Jones and her life in South Central Los Angeles. Not only did she get used to the life of the streets, hung around gangs and watched friends die, she had the love of Big Mom. Big Mom's house was all African American, Margaret was Hispanic --- but they treated her like family and loved her.
It's a story about how she got out of that cruel life on the streets and beat the odds. She never forgot her roots and went back to help make changes in her neighborhood.
This is a wonderful story.
|
| Paula C. |
| Cold And Pure And Very Dead by Joanne Dobson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Karen Pelletier, a nontenured English professor at a prestigious college in western Massachusetts helps to solve murder mysteries from a literary perspective. A high- interest mystery mixed with college, research, and academic life make for an interesting read.
|
| Sandra F. |
| The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
THE ROSETTA KEY is a wild ride of a story. Ethan Gage is the Dirk Pitt (from Clive Cussler novels) of the 18th century. This man has more lives than a dozen cats and the main focus in his life is the desire for adventure coupled with his love of science learned from his mentor and fellow American, Ben Franklin. Mr. Dietrich sets this wild tale against Napoleon’s invasion of the Holy Land in 1799 and the story is a continuation of a previous novel. However, this book can be read on its own without any loss of continuity. However, be warned --- you will want to read the previous book!
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| The Reserve by Russell Banks |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
The beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and the era of World War II, the setting of the rich and how they live. The crazy daughter holds her mother prisoner and finally causes her death, and then distorts what happens.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought by L. Ron Hubbard |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
After hearing so much controversy about Scientology, I decided to find a book that would explain its basic principles.
This was a hard book to read due to the language. I really had difficulty comprehending it. I did get the basic thoughts and I really didn't see much difference in what any other person wants out of life, other than the fact you go through an intense training program that helps you prove you are worthy of this type of lifestyle.
If I were going to get more on Scientology, I would have to find an easier book to read.
|
| Joanne |
| Water For Elepahants by Sara Gruen |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I really did enjoy this book. It offered romance and an interesting look into circus life during the Depression years. Some parts may be difficult for avid animal readers, but it is good to remember how far we have come with the humane society. A fabulous read with an ending that does not disappoint!
|
| Julie C |
| The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is one of the best books I've read yet this year and I read a lot. This book is so enthralling that I was dreaming about it every night that I was reading it. The descriptions are so detailed but in a good, meaningful way.
I highly recommend it.
|
| Anne |
| Obedience by Will Lavender |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Find a missing girl named Polly. If you do not find her in six weeks, she will die. A college class assignment to teach logic or is it something more sinister? This is a gripping novel that keeps you guessing and makes you want to grab some of the characters and say "Wake Up"! I thought this was a good book, although some of the characters needed to be more developed.
|
| Anne |
| When the Cat's Away by Gilbert Morris |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Jake Novak and Mary Katherine Forrest are heirs to a fortune but they must share the same house and care for the pets in the house to keep the fortune. The pets are as unique as their caretakers. When one of these pets is kidnapped, Jake and Mary Katherine are aided in their search for the kidnapper by their tomcat, Jacques the Ripper. If you enjoy animals, you will enjoy this mystery.
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| Anne (robkay16@bellsouth.net) |
| Literacy and Longing in L. A. by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a funny, sexy, profound and great read. Dora, is a book junkie, whose life has fallen apart. She tells her story through her obsession with books, as she travels from fantasy to the real world. This is a novel for anyone who loves books and enjoys great characters.
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| Chris Brunson |
| Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
By the author of EAT, PRAY, LOVE, this is an earlier novel that echoes THE SHIPPING NEWS as a meaty, funny, bizarre characterization read - lobters, "feet on you", women swept away as they knit on a sea rock . . . a very sharp wonderful book.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| Grace After Midnight by Felicia "Snoop" Pearson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A true memoir of Snoop's life growing up on the streets in LA. Like everyone else, her life consisted of seeing family and friends killed by gangs, and drugs gone wrong. The one constant in her life was Mama Pearson --- an elderly grandmother who cared for her like she was her own.
During her time in prison for shooting someone, Snoop realizes that she is a lesbian and has an affair with the corrections officer.
After she finally gets out of prison, she tries the life of being straight --- no drugs, no selling, and only family and God in her life. It worked for awhile until employers learned she was in prison.
Finally, life became better for her when she started acting in "The Wire," a reality show about people on the streets. It helped her gain confidence, stop all drug use and sales and lead a good life. It took a long time for it to happen, but it did.
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| Carol Hoyer from VA (pageant4u@hotmail.com) |
| They Cage the Animals At Night by Jennings Michael Burch |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This was one of the most unbelievable books I have read in quite a while. It is a true story about Jennings Burch and his life in the foster care system. I cannot believe that Social Services would let children be placed in homes where they are neglected, abused and unloved.
Jennings was in and out of foster homes all his life due to his mother's inability to care for him. Some of the rules he learned were "never get close to anyone," "always learn the rules," and "never, never talk." However, at the Home for Angels, he did make a friend, Mark. Mark was a lifer, meaning he was an orphan. He had a heart condition that was left untreated and died.
Jennings's one true friend throughout his life was a stuffed dog he named "Doggie." He got it at the Home for Angels. Doggie was his friend, support and family.
This book made me angry, sad and sometimes happy when good families were in place. A must read.
|
| Ed Nemmers |
| On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
The nuance and subtleties of one couple's wedding night, is hauntingly told.
|
| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| Treasure in Tahiti by Connie Lee Berry |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the second book of the Incredible Journey series for ages 7 to 9.
|
| Min K |
| Song Yet Sung by James McBride |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Beautifully written.
|
| Jane Squires |
| Sincerely Mayla by Virginia Smith |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book will make you laugh. It will let you see people in all phases and all beliefs, etc. in a new light. I had to laugh when I started it due to the comments of snow as I had just made the same comments myself the day before I received it. Virginia Smith's books are difficult to put down.
There is a teenage girl who gets pregnant and considers abortion, a gay person, grandmother who lost her son and is afraid of losing her daughter too, her granddaughter, etc. So many areas are recovered. You cannot help but feel lifted up reading this book.
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| Virginia Murr (mvir9@mchsi.com) |
| The Fencing Master by Arturo Perez-Reverte |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This work of historical fiction is quite good --- tough to put down, even. The characters are intriguing, as is the story line. My only complaint is that it is a bit melancholy for a protagonist-centered book.
|
| Mo (maestraw@msn.com) |
| Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Any time Picoult has a new book, I am sure to have it read in no time. She has done it again. Picoult takes a controversial topic, the death penalty, and weaves it into a human interest story. She threw in some twists that I did not anticipate. Definitely worth reading!
|
| Marsha |
| Silence by Thomas Perry |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a relentless thriller pitting a P. I. and a witness he is hell-bent on protecting against hired killers. It's a masterful plot that keeps on turning.
|
| Amee |
| Wake by Lisa McMann |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm not finished yet, but it is truly awesome. I highly recommend it.
|
| Amee |
| Rebel Angels by Libba Bray |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Awesome sequel. Maybe even better than the first book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. It's so hard to compare, though.
|
| Marion |
| The Book of Evidence by John Banville |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a dark tale but I love Banville's writing style.
|
| Michelle |
| The Marriage Game by Fern Michaels |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was fun and friendly, but definitely an eye-opener to those thinking about marriage. Fern Michaels is always great.
|
| Rachel |
| A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An example of how the human heart survives.
|
| John Pratt |
| The Street Lawyer by John Grisham |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a story about a lawyer making lots of money who rediscovers a conscience he lost a long time ago. He leaves the life of luxury and starts living a homeless life to help other homeless people. It is an awesome story with many twists and turns. You can't turn the pages fast enough to find out how it ends.
|
| Rachel |
| The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
…“You do not need to be a knitter to read this book…but if you are like me you will wish you could!”
A beautiful book about friendship. You will laugh and you will cry with the characters. It's a wonderful selection for book discussion groups!
|
| Marion |
| War And Peace by Leo Tolstoy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This 2007 translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky includes a list of characters, which is very helpful. This is a great novel!
|
| Marion |
| Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Like reading someone's journal of getting through crises. The books is very intelligent and has a beautiful conclusion.
|
| Marion |
| The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Beautifully told tale of a young man, orphaned and on his own.
|
| Marion |
| Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A fantastic book for lovers of words. Fun, clever, thoroughly engaging!
|
| M. Quinn (onq_moura@mac.com) |
| Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
If you read Patricia Biggs, Kelly Armstrong or were a fan of early Laurell K. Hamilton, you will want to pick up a copy of Ilona Andrews's works. Her novels are fresh and edgy with compelling characters in a world we haven’t seen before. Her second novel, MAGIC BURNS, comes out April 1st.
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.
Come to a place where technology is fighting to survive in a world that literally flairs with magic. Shape shifters of all flavors roam here and they are ruled by the very intense Beast Lord. You no longer donate your body to science but to the vampires, who you can find in their casino. Strange Harpy hanging out in your yard, call the Order, a Knight always shows up, but be prepared for what will be asked of you in return. One last bit of advice, burn your bandages if you're wounded and don’t visit the Unicorn district after dark. Welcome to the new Atlanta.
|
| Sandra |
| The Owl and Moon Cafe by Jo-Ann Mapson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A story of 4 generations of women and their cafe. Loved it!! You won't find out till the very end why it is named Owl and Moon.
|
| Len |
| The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a wonderful, very long book that takes place in the 12th century --- it is a saga worth spending the long hours needed to read over 900 pages. The characters are interesting and memorable, and it is a very interesting insight into history.
|
| Anne |
| Mum's the Word by Kate Collins |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Abby Knight is the owner of of a flower shop in her hometown. A law school dropout, she is trying to get her flower business off to a flying start, but someone is killing her profits and may be attempting to kill her as well. A cute, well-written mystery.
|
| Anne |
| Honeymoon with Murder by Carolyn G. Hart |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance and detective Max Darling are getting married, despite the help of Max's over-helpful mother. The wedding is barely over when a woman disappears, leaving behind a dead body. This is a humorous, quirky mystery full of wonderful characters.
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| Michelle |
| The Choice by Nicholas Sparks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is definitely a 5-star hanky book. You will bawl your eyes out, and you can't put it down either. I read it all in one sitting, and then had a good cry.
|
| LisaMM (lisamunley@ca.rr.com) |
| The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
What a book! Our book club found so much to talk about. The writing style is original, so different from anything else I've ever read. Part sci-fi, part love story, this is a fascinating read, one I would highly recommend to other book clubs.
|
| Christy H. |
| Sexy Beast IV by Kate Dougals, Deanna Lee and Dawn Thompson |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
Exciting. Hot. Entertaining. These are words that I would use to describe these three well-written paranormal erotic romances.
I have read every book in Ms. Douglas Wolf Tales/Sexy Beast series. For anyone new to the Chanku series, I would not recommend starting here. You really need to read the other books first so that you can get to know the characters.
|
| Christy H. |
| Harmony's Way by Lora Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I absolutely adore Lora Leigh's Breed Series and HRMONY'S WAY is definitely a must read! This eleventh book in the series --- the second released by Berkley Sensation --- is fast paced, suspenseful, exciting and full of intrigue. New and returning characters and the fascinating world of the Breeds have me consuming every book and eagerly anticipating each new addition.
|
| Sally |
| Run by Ann Patchett |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
RUN, by the wonderful author of BEL CANTO, is one of the best books that I've read this year. It is hard to write a synopsis that even begins to describe this fantastic book, so I won't try. But, it does make you think of children and what comprises a family. A great book for a book club discussion. Don't miss this one!
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| Sally |
| The Road by Cormac McCarthy |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
My husband had finished reading this book, and I picked it up to just read a chapter, as I have not read any of McCarthy's other works. I could not put it down. Described as a post-apocalyptic tale, this book is about a man and his small son who are attempting to head south along "the road," after the destruction of the world as we know it. The story is bleak, full of despair, and often horrifying. However, ultimately it is also about love and faith. Not a word is wasted in this book, and there is a thread of suspense that literally grips the reader. One of the best books I've read.
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| Sally |
| Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This very slim "between the numbers" novel is not as good as her other books. It has the usual gags about Lula, Grandma Mazur, and her cohorts. There are the requisite exploding cars, fires, and other mayhem. I did laugh at the parts concerning Doug, the race horse. It's a quick read if you can borrow it from a friend or from the library.
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| Carol B. |
| Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair is a fun, fast-paced, entertaining, can't-put- down, page turner!
Anyone who likes science fiction, paranormal and romance all in one will love this book.
Highly recommended!
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| Tarah (fireball351c@yahoo.com) |
| High Noon by Nora Roberts |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This book kept you guessing "whodoneit" and therefore made it a page turner.
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| Juanita |
| The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Very interesting --- I feel like I am on the asteroid with them! This is a book for our book discussion and I know this will be a great one. With topics like love/religion/future, we may be there all night.
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| Ali |
| The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was outstanding. It was a great mystery bouncing back and forth from present to past and linking people together. I loved the medical history and practical lesson...Wash your hands!
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| Violet M |
| The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
It is a funny, wise, and --- at times --- sad story that most importantly gives off a sense of realism. Highly recommend it to everyone!
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| Christy H. |
| Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This latest installment to the Breeds series continues the story with the return of many of the characters from previous book, and the addition of new and interesting characters. Tanner's and Scheme's story was an emotional roller-coaster ride filled with plenty of suspense, twists and turns, and hot, steamy romance. After I read each of Ms. Leigh's books, I am left eagerly awaiting the next book --- I want a story for each of the characters that she introduces. A great stand-alone novel, but you really should (and will want to) read all of the earlier books to get the whole story.
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| Asha Smith |
| A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossein |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Two women --- an older first wife and a much younger second wife, are living under one roof. Jealousy is replaced by trust, friendship, and that uncommon bond shared by only women. Women of all ages, married, divorced or single, should read this book.
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| Asha Smith |
| The Note by Angela Hunt |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Anyone dealing with a broken relationship should read this. Sometimes what we believe isn't always the truth. It takes strength and courage to make the right move.
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| Susan Stewart (srsasu83@hotmail.com) |
| The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
A fascinating story about the real Dracula which, unfortunately, drags in spots. But, the story is so original and compelling that any slow spots are worth slogging through.
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| JaneAnn Railey |
| DEADLY GAMBLE and DEADLY DECEPTIONS by Linda Lael Miller |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
These books are very entertaining, and Miller's new character Mojo is a riot. I do hope we will hear more about her and her seeing dead people. The two books go together, although they can also stand alone; but when I finished first one, I sure was glad I had the second to open right away. Now I'm waiting for #3.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
| Stone Cold by David Baldacci |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
STONE COLD is the third in the Camel Club series, and boy, what a series it is. If you’ve read the previous books, Oliver Stone’s past has remained a bit of a mystery. Oh sure, we knew some, but in this one we’ll find out all the little details. And for those of you who have been feeling a bit tepid about the first two books, this one will rock your socks off. That said, you’ll need to read (or for audio buffs, listen to) the first two books in order to be emotionally invested for this third book. Baldacci has an ending that will leave you absolutely stunned. For me, this book was the best of the three.
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| Susie Schachte |
| Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This story centers on 2 girls who begin their lifelong friendship in middle school. While each takes a different path, they still gravitate to each other. It is a story of learning about unconditional love.
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| Judy O. |
| Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Chase Walker was always looking for his roots, since he had been a foster child all his life. When he comes into contact with a ten- year-old boy with the same history, he helps him. This is a richly drawn book about the power of loss and love. It takes place in a small town in Georgia near the ocean. A great Read!
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| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
| A Widow for a Year by John Irving |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
When I think about a book written by John Irving, the picture that comes to mind is a vine --- a vine that weaves within itself and spreads thick in its own mass. This is the 3rd Irving book I have read. Irving uses some of the same themes in his many novels. Boarding schools, younger men with older women are some that immediately come to mind.
This particular book is about a family who lives in the Hamptons. The father, Ted, is an author of children’s books, as is his wife, Marion, though she does not begin her career as a writer until later on in life. The family is ripped apart when a car accident kills their 2 sons. They have a daughter, Ruth, after the accident in an attempt to bring their family back together. When Ruth is 4, Ted hires a student, Eddie, to help him with his writing for the summer. At least, that is what he says. The book is split into 3 parts and covers almost 40 years. Irving takes these 4 characters and begins weaving his plot in such articulate detail, it hovers on the line of genius. After reading these books, I always feel like I missed the true meaning of the story and feel obligated to read it again. I enjoyed this novel; however, I felt overwhelmed on occasion in parts that dragged. I lost patience at times. This still does not take away from my respect for this writer, who I think is one of the best in the business.
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| Debi |
| By the Light of the Moon by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Wow! There were so many times I had to stop to catch my breath while reading this book! A mad scientist tests his latest discovery by injecting three unsuspecting victims. Their brains are enhanced, which gives them elevated powers. And the chase is on!
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| Debi |
| Double Cross by James Patterson |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Cross is challenged by two killers, which doubles the action and doubles the enjoyment!!
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| Nicole B. (nickiheart16@aim.com) |
| Geek High by Piper Banks |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A fantastically written book, Piper Banks's GEEK HIGH is an engaging novel that grabs the reader from page one. With believable characters and a fantastic plot line, this is a must read for everybody --- geek or not.
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| Sandy |
| The Bug in the Martini Olive by Patricia Hold |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a biography of Hal Lipset. He was chief investigator on the Watergate Committee, private detective to Jim Jones of the People's Temple, defense investigator for clients such as Angela Davis, the Soledad Brothers, and United Farm Workers. He started a new kind of detective agency in 1947. It was very interesting seeing how the business developed as technology developed and the changes in privacy laws and secret surveillance rights and devices.
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| Debbie (deble_2000@yahoo.com) |
| Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
50-year-old movie star Carol Barber is a new widow. On a trip to Paris, she is severely injured in a terrorist attack and experiences memory loss. Through it all, an old flame rekindled. This was a good read, and is typical Danielle Steel.
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| Cyndi L (clove6577@fuse.net) |
| Meg by Steve Alten |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the best I have ever read.
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| Barbara D. |
| The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This captivating story provides fabulous photographs and eye-opening commentary on the homeless population.
|
| ck |
| The Spanish Box by Andromeda Romano-Lax |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Feliu Delargo, is a musical prodigy whose future as a cellist begins with his dead father’s final gift: a cello bow. Feliu goes to Barcelona, then to the court in Madrid and eventually travels through Spain and Europe, giving the reader a marvelous world history lesson as well as a really fine story about a cellist, a violinist and a piano player. Along the way, we encounter Queen Anna of Spain, Pablo Picasso, Bertolt Brecht, Franco, Hitler, and other 20th Century people of power and influence.
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| Marion Miller (lamamil@aol.com) |
| Away by Amy Bloom |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An original and intriguing novel.
I loved traveling with the heroine and sharing in the updates of her character.
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| D. Lohrding |
| The Secret Blend by Stan Toler |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
An easy, fast, and very enjoyable read. A parable about friendship in today's success-driven world.
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| Julie |
| Angels and Demons by Dan Brown |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I loved the book and it kept me enthralled to the last page. The only negative is that you really have to suspend your disbelief and go where the author takes you, even though some of the events that Robert Langdon survives are completely unrealistic.
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| Ally |
| One Mississippi by Mark Childress |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Engrossing story with interesting characters and themes. It's full of twists and turns and has a shocking ending not to be missed!
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| Brian (BRIANMC1212@VERIZON.NET) |
| The Invisible by Andrew Britton |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A very well-crafted story that moves quickly. The characters are well defined and the book keeps you guessing the entire way.
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| Frances Drukten |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Fascinating. As soon as I finished this fictionalized account of Frank Lloyd Wright's affair with Maymuh Borthwick, I began to research which parts were indeed true. A tragic love story about real people.
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| Bonnie |
| Turning Tables by Heather & Rose MacDowell |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
If you're looking for a light, froth of a novel about the New York upscale restaurant scene, this is the book for you. The authors obviously know the ins and outs of what goes on in the kitchens of these famous places and the characters who populate the gourmet scene. Good chick lit book for the beach or a plane trip.
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| Ann Kunkel (mountainmist40@yahoo.com) |
| Beneath the Shadows by Lee Ann Newton and James A. Benson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is historical fiction with an intriguing twist. The granddaughter of a Civil War couple, Mattie, is part of an ancient prophecy and begins to travel back in time to gain wisdom and foresight from the days of the Civil War. She is an unwilling subject, and this is a nonstop read after the first couple of chapters, which set the stage for this four-book series. It may just keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning! I can't wait for the second book due out sometime this year.
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| Kathy V. |
| Meow Is For Murder by Linda O. Johnston |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the 4th book in the Kenra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mysteries. In this series, Kendra is both a lawyer and a pet sitter. This is a fun series that keeps you guessing till the end as to who did it. It's a great way to spend the evening, curled up a reading these books.
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| Betty Burrier (bettyburrier@yahoo.com) |
| The Frist Pateint by Michael Palmer |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
If you like medical thrillers, this is for you. It starts a little slowly, but soon the intrigue and mystery take over. I really enjoyed this book.
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| Jeanie |
| Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
True story of a homeless man and the couple who volunteered at the shelter and became his friends. Tragedy and triumph are intertwined.
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| Jeanie |
| Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
A fun Chick Lit book about a local TV chef trying to find her way to a National TV show.
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| Jeanie |
| The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
This is a memoir written by a 93-year-old man about his childhood, growing up in England on a street with Christian families on one side of the street and Jewish families on the other. He tells of the poverty of the times and of the differences between the two cultures.
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| Janice Wright |
| The Rainmaker by John Grisham |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
I've got to thank my boyfriend for introducing me to John Grisham's novels. They move quickly and I love the characters. THE RAINMAKER is excellent.
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| Louise |
| Mary, Mary by James Patterson |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
This may be my favorite of the Alex Cross series. As usual, Alex is trying to make quality time with family, but as they vacation at Disney Land, some prominent Hollywood women (mothers, to be more exact) are murdered. Of course, Alex is asked (rather, commanded) to join the investigation. There are also some poignant moments concerning Little Alex.
This one can be enjoyed and understood even without reading any others in the series.
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| LouBabe |
| Hour of the Hunter by J. A. Jance |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
First, let me say that my book has 407 pages (small print). I have sort of a self-imposed rule that if I can't get into a book, I will force myself to read the first 100 pages, and then, if I still am not enjoying myself, I allow myself to quit. Boy, I could hardly wait to get to p 100 in this one! I actually wanted to stop at p 16.
Wouldn't you just know that by the time I reached p 96, I was starting to get a little interested. By p 214 I almost gave up again. I didn't get to the point where I HAD to keep reading until p 345. At that point, I decided I really liked the book! :)
There's a lot of Papago Indian legends, names, vocabulary, etc, which makes for slow reading. If you're interested in Native American heritage (which I thought I was), it can be quite educational, but I found it to slow me down considerably.
In case you want to hear what the story's about (sorry), a newly released prison convict is trying to get revenge on someone who helped put him there. The parts that relate to that are interesting, but there's a lot thrown in that don't seem to have all that much to do with the story, and at times, it's hard to follow.
If you have a lot of patience and enjoy suspense stories, I think you'll like it. I'm normally a fan of J. A. Jance.
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| Judy S |
| Duma Key by Stephen King |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Edgar Freemantle's second life begins when he rents "Big Pink" on a remote Florida key. His old life lies in ruins as his head is bashed and he loses his arm in a crane accident. He also loses his rational brain, and his memory is tenuous. But, on Duma Key, he finds he has uncontrolled urges to paint and the paintings are magnificent. Of course, things are not as serene as they seem and life takes on a new meaning as Edgar befriends his octogenarian landlord who is sadly losing her grip on her own mind and her caretaker, Wireman, who is on his own second life.
King paints a rich picture of the keys, the main characters, and, as only he can, the something "other".
I believe a visit to the Florida Keys isn't in my immediate future and I'm still leery of Maine!
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| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
| On Agate Hill by Lee Smith |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
ON AGATE HILL chronicles Molly Petree's life from youth during the Civil War to her death in the 1920s. It's the story of the mountain people and the plantation people and the journey taken by Molly with these two sets of people.
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| D Rice |
| Toxic Feedback by Joni B. Cole |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
Subtitled 'Helping Writers Survive and Thrive', this book is an entertaining guide to dealing with feedback. I wish I had read this years ago when I was teaching the writing process to my intermediate students. Joni B. Cole has been on both ends: giving and receiving feedback. Parts make me laugh, parts slap me upside the head. This is a book I'll share with fellow writers and teachers, but will hound them unceasingly to return it to me when they finish reading.
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| Jennie |
| The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold |
| Rating: 3 Stars |
This novel by Ms. Sebold does not come close to THE LOVELY BONES, but is a good read all the same. It's bout a woman teetering on the edge of mental illness who kills her mother.
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| laurie blum (laurieblum@hotmail.com) |
| The Soul Thief by Charles Baxter |
| Rating: 4 Stars |
Charles Baxter, one of my favorite authors, does it again with his new novel, THE SOUL THIEF, which is set in Buffalo, NY and addresses the issue of "identity theft" --- presented so uniquely with graduate students!
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| Coral Harrison |
| The Divide by Nicholas Evans |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A tremendous story of a family from New York who vacation in Montana for 4 summers. By going there, the whole family changes. It shows how what we do affects everyone in the family. It ends with peace for all.
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| Gail S. |
| The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
An interesting story of the parallels between the lives of two women --- one, an older wife of a senator and the other, a newly married younger lady.
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| Gail S. |
| The Lavender Hour by Anne LeClaire |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
While volunteering as a hospice worker after losing her job, a woman falls in love with a dying patient. Very good read.
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| Myrna Lippman (mlipdec21@aol.com) |
| Loving Frank by Nancy Horan |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful historical fiction novel about Frank Lloyd Wright's scandalous affair with feminist Mamah Cheney during the first decade of the 1900s.
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| Vanessa E. |
| Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz |
| Rating: 5 Stars |
I loved every minute of ODD THOMAS and was very sad to see it end. Odd's witty perspectives were a joy to read through Koontz's flawless writing style, all wrapped up in stomach-clenching action with a heart-breaking ending. Thankfully, the story doesn't end there, and I'm now onto the sequel, titled FOREVER ODD.
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| Lisa Garrett |
| C |
