| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
The Closers by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A Harry Bosch mystery delving into a cold, unsolved murder. An interesting use of clues, Well written and full of surprises.
|
| Readingrat |
Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly)... by Toni McGee Causey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Bobbie Faye is back and it's new day in BOBBIE FAYE'S (KINDA, SORTA, NOT EXACTLY) FAMILY JEWELS. Unfortunately this day doesn't show any signs of being any less dangerous than the very, very, very, very bad day she just had. This time, she needs to find her Aunt Marie's missing diamonds, which are worth millions --- each. And the catch is that there are at least three separate groups looking to get their hands on the diamonds, all of whom are willing to hurt members of Bobbie Faye's family if she doesn't deliver the diamonds directly to them. All the old cast members are back and the game is on.
However, I found this book slightly less appealing than the first one. The first book was chock full of action and laugh out loud situations. While this book also had a good helping of Bobbie Faye getting herself into (and out of) ridiculously dangerous situations, more time was spent developing the romance between Bobbie and Trevor and reviving the romance between Bobbie and Cam which made for quite a few slow spots in-between the action.
|
| Jane Squires (jrs362@hotmail.com) |
Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was amazed about this book. It is about a bull rider, an elite fund raiser and how they come together. There lives are so different but as their destiny unwinds, they find each other and learn a lot about their past along the way. They find out things are not always as they seem.
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| Jane Squires (jrs362@hotmail.com) |
One Step Over the Border by Stephen Bly |
Rating: 4 Stars |
When I started this book, I did not expect it to entrap me within the pages. I read it in two days. You won't be able to put this book down. I laughed and was amazed as I traveled its pages while Hap Bowman looked for his Juanita. There are adventures and troubles, but faith wins out in the end.
|
| Sandra H. |
Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Two stories, one in the past and one in the present, about a journalist caught up in the troubles of South Africa and her love for a man in the present. The third book by a great upcoming author!
|
| Readingrat |
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An imaginative re-telling of the Cinderella story.
|
| Peggy Gorman |
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A laugh and a chuckle about life and the journey to dying.
|
| Venessa |
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this book! The majority of people I know who have read it didn't like it. I was drawn to the secret and the impact it had on the family --- the choices that were made and the effects of it. I thought it was an amazing story; sad, but really good.
|
| T. Thomas |
The Wild Trees: a Story of Passion and Daring by Robert Preston |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Although this non-fiction book about climbing and studying the giant redwoods in California is interesting, it is not spellbinding.
|
| Martha E |
Never Fear by Scott Frost |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I listened to this on Audible. I thought it was a great, fast-paced story and was well read. It kept me listening to learn what would happen next and to try to decipher the mystery with all the twists. I thought the characters were real; I liked their sensitivity and I was glad to listen to a "cop/crime" book that wasn't full of foul language. I will read more of this author.
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| Jane Squires (jrs362@hotmail.com) |
Bygones by Kim Vogel Sawyer |
Rating: 4 Stars |
If you haven't ever read about the Amish, you need to. You would learn that they are people just like us with a lot of the same struggles. They have different traditions, but walk through life trying to find their destinies, just as we do. I challenge you to read this book.
|
| Martha E |
The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel centered on a computer hacker, Gillette, brought from prison to help the authorities catch another brilliant, but twisted hacker, Phate. It is all a game for Phate who chooses his victims who think they are protected and secure. Then he stalks his prey on the net, completely infiltrating their lives so that he can walk right up to them before murdering them. Gillette and the authorities are racing as they try to locate Phate, his partner Shawn, and also try to find his next targets before he can get to them. Somehow, Phate always is one step ahead and it is clear that someone is helping him, but who on the team may be a mole?
|
| Amanda |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A wonderful story. Fantastic tale from this first-time author!
|
| Wendy Lower |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Captivating from beginning to end.
|
| Ramona Pierce |
The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I love anything that is fairy tale related. The modern remakes are great. This tale gives us a third daughter with swan skin and the dream to fly. Very enchanting.
|
| Kristen Andrews |
Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This book captures the spirit of the wolves, and Dorothy Hearst tells a story from their point of view 14,000 years ago.
|
| Kristen A. |
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Michael Connnelly finally brings together his two main characters from his different novels, namely Lincoln lawyer Mickey Haller and LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. This was a thrilling read and definitely some of his best work. His fans will not be disappointed.
|
| Ramona Pierce |
Starcross by Philip Reeve |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This sequel to LARKLIGHT is humorous and, mysterious, with crazy foes, time travel, and universe-traversing trains. What more could you ask for?
|
| Martha E |
Unspeakable by Sandra Brown |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Although I usually enjoy Sandra Brown's novels, this one was full of a “Bad” guy (Carl) who just likes to terrify and kill --- it's really violent.
The characters are interesting, however. When Carl escapes from prison, several people are concerned with the revenge and havoc he may cause. There is the retired lawman who put him in prison and who is obsessed with a 20-year- old murder that he could never solve. There is the elderly step-father who couldn’t control Carl and his brother Cecil when they were young. He is trying to maintain his ranch for his son’s young and beautiful, but deaf widow, Anna, and his young grandson. And along comes Jack, a drifting cowboy with a mysterious past, who seeks work on the ranch because he hopes to protect them from the revenge of the twisted Carl.
The book had a pretty good plot but just a tad too much sick violence for me.
|
| Marie Boland |
Cloth Girl by Marilyn Heward Mills |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Clonmel, Co Tipperary, Ireland
Clonmel Library has 4 bookclubs with 55 members. Over 80% loved this book. You can smell African foods, feel the sun. We hated some of the customs, but you will be gripped by the story of 2 friends from completely different worlds.
|
| Jennifer |
Blankets by Craig Thompson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An absolutely brilliant graphic novel. I could completely relate to most of the conflicts the main character went through. I wasn't sure I'd like it since it was a graphic novel, but I really enjoyed it.
|
| Ruth |
East of Eden by John Steinbeck |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Despite being an Oprah pick and getting recommendations from friends, I really didn't care for this book that much.
|
| Joey Danner |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What I have read so far is shaping up to be one of the greatest books I have read in a while. I wish I could give this book 6 stars!
|
| Tanja |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Best novel I've read in years. The author kept my interest throughout the entire book. A+++
|
| Ramona Pierce |
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really enjoyed the first three books of this unusual and older trilogy. It isn't often that you have a really strong main character this young, who is able to keep his momentum as he ages. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have listened to it on audio CD. Fantastic.
|
| Ramona Pierce |
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A great book, I'm just getting into it. You have high society, a young poet's suicide and two young girls, one a servant, caught in the middle. I love historical mystery.
|
| Readingrat |
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was a terrific book about growing up. All four characters are wonderfully well developed and each one spends her summer learning how to tear through the gossamer veils of childhood and face the difficult issues of acceptance, love, death, and disappointment.
|
| Ann |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A fantastic book --- well written and a easy read. I would recommend it to anyone.
|
| Ramona Pierce |
Bleeding Hearts by Susan Wittig Albert |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I don't give 5 stars to everything, but I don't waste my time reading it if it isn't at least worth 4, so... Again, this book is another winner by this author. It's part of a new series. China Bayles is an ex-lawyer herbalist who is also a great female sleuth. I love a good mystery.
|
| Peggy |
Lara by Bertrice Small |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Lara, half-faerie, daughter of John Swiftsword, agrees to be sold to a pleasure house. The madams of the pleasure houses do not want Lara because she is too beautiful. Through her adventures, Lara has a destiny to fulfill. There is explicit sex.
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
Rituals of the Season by Margaret Maron |
Rating: 4 Stars |
#11 of the Deborah Knott series --- I have read 9 installments just this year, mostly because this was a book club book and I made it a point to read all the books that led up to this one.
RITUALS OF THE SEASON was a critical book for the series. Deborah ties the “knot” in this one. I enjoyed her story, and the mystery wasn’t bad either. An ADA is shot while driving in her car and her adopted daughter dies in the crash. Dwight is working the murder and of course, Deborah is involved, as usual. A third mystery is added to the mix because Tracey, the murdered ADA, was looking into a case where the convicted murderer (a female) is currently on death row. The question is, did she really do it?
Two young law students are reviewing the case and Deborah gets involved because, like almost every other character in the series, they are distantly related to her some how. I enjoyed the book. I thought the mystery and the storyline blended well. However, it wasn’t spectacular.
|
| Paula C. |
Plain Secrets: An Outsider among the Amish by Joe Mackall |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The author has lived surrounded by the Amish in Ashland County, Ohio for over sixteen years. He writes of the Swartzentruber Amish, the most traditional and insular of all the Amish sects. Mackall developed a steady relationship with a family knowing that a book would be written about them. These are stories about the family and the Amish way of life.
|
| Readingrat |
Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Laugh-out-loud funny. The story line is a bit different than the movie which kept the book interesting, but I also missed some of the more familiar dialogue from the movie.
|
| Genie |
The Trouble With Witches by Shirley Damsgaard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ophelia and Abby are asked by their newspaper reporter/ friend, Rick, to help find a missing girl (the daughter of a friend) who has moved into a cult-like community. Since this community claims to be investigating psychic abilities, Rick believes the grandmother/granddaughter team can gain the trust of the cult leader and help find the teenager. The first person Ophelia meets is Tink, niece of the cult leader. Both she and Abby recognize Tink's abilities and feel an immediate connection with her. Tink 's friend and confidant is a Native American shaman who, despite his open bitterness against whites, has taken a liking to the girl. A strange encounter near an abandoned cabin in the woods causes Ophelia to question what members of the cult are really involved with. When she finds the body of a local man in the lake, she is once again caught in a murder investigation. Ophelia is convinced that activities in the cult community are somehow linked to both the murder and the missing girl. The question is what is the best plan of action to take to reveal the guilty parties and live to tell the tale?
|
| Fran |
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I originally read this book in high school and absolutely adored rereading it as an adult. I think you pick up on so much more of the cultural subtleties as an adult. The story tracks the life of a Chinese farmer from his wedding day to his elderly years.
|
| Karen |
21: Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing how the MIT students formed "teams" to beat the odds in Vegas. It is now a movie. I really enjoyed the book's history on Vegas and card counting.
|
| Renee |
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller |
Rating: 3 Stars |
An always engaging author who always writes a good, basic novel.
|
| Judy O. (joswood@msn.com) |
Jean Seberg -- Breathless by Garry McGee |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Jean Seberg was an actress from Marshalltown, Iowa who gained national prominence in 1957 when she won the role in Otto Preminger's remake of Saint Joan. This biography recounts her life in France as a film star, and includes the details of her still-unexplained death at age 40. Since I am from Marshalltown and remember her and her family well, I found it very fascinating.
|
| Carol Grubbs (carol.grubbs@gmail.com) |
A Rip in Heaven by Jeanine Cummins |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The true story of three teenaged cousins, one accused of murdering the other two sisters. An eye opening account of the workings of the justice system. The police treated the 19-year-old boy worse than a mangy dog just because they assumed he was guilty.
|
| Marsha |
Dead Connection by Alafair Burke |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This former district attorney and now teacher of criminal law is a good writer --- and the daughter of James Lee Burke, no less. With credentials like this, she is on the track to be a success. This is her first book featuring New York detective Elllie Hatcher, and I am betting it won't be her last.
|
| Liza |
A Buffalo in the House: The True Story of a Man, by R. D. Rosen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A story of an exceptional relationship between a man and a buffalo. A husband and wife adopt a 1-week-old orphaned buffalo as a temporary thing. However, it becomes the household pet. The story is humorous, touching and filled with sobering historical lessons about the 19th-century American West and the slaughter and near-extinction of the bison. An animal lover's delight.
|
| Marion Webb |
Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom |
Rating: 5 Stars |
September, 1940: Spain is battered after years of civil war; and no one knows whether Franco will maintain neutrality or not. Four young English people find themselves in Spain and caught up in politics, espionage, and romance. Their work and passions make this a memorable story, and a hard book to put down once you start reading it!
|
| Dennis Hotetz (djhllc@aol.com) |
The Shack by William P. Young |
Rating: 5 Stars |
While this book is found in the religious section of the store, do not expect it to be about religion. It is more about how each of us can become better people. This book is not only funny and sad at times, it is also a book that made me really think about trying to do and see things from a different perspective. The characters are well known (God, Jesus, and others), but not portrayed in the way most of us envisioned. This was a special book for me and is one I will remember for a long long time. It is not only for religious people, but also for those who are spiritual and/or who would like to be, without being sermoned to. Read and heed this book.
|
| Readingrat |
The Ruins by Scott Smith |
Rating: 3 Stars |
The author did an excellent job showing the different psychological reactions people have to being caught in a deathly trap. Some moments were truly gripping but, overall, this was just an average psychological thriller/horror story.
|
| Debbie (delphimo@yahoo.com) |
Cheating at Solitaire by Jane Haddam |
Rating: 3 Stars |
A Gregor Demarkian mystery set on an island off Massachusetts. with a Hollywood movie set. The characters were developed and the setting was so cold that you felt the nastiness, but something was lacking. I will not read any other books by this author.
|
| Jean J |
Monique and The Mango Rains by Kris Holloway |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great nonfiction. It's about a Peace corp worker and a young midwife in Mali, West Africa.
|
| Sean C. Miller (sean.c.miller@ameritech.net) |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Absolutely amazing.
|
| aliadam |
Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I enjoyed the book, but I guess I was expecting more. I found the trip site descriptions interesting and the family history overwhelming, but still it seemed to me there was something missing to give it heart.
|
| Readingrat |
Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A suspenseful, well-paced story together with a quirky cast of characters (all who just happen to have mysterious backgrounds) makes this a book that will have you hooked from the start.
|
| Karen |
Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the best book I've read in a while. It's fast paced and difficult to set down. I finished it in one weekend. It's written about the relationship that develops between two women --- one old and one young --- as they share their secrets, hopes and thoughts. Well written and highly recommended.
|
| DD |
Duma Key by Stephen King |
Rating: 4 Stars |
King finally returns to the style that won me over years ago. Great characters and a compelling plot make this his best in years.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
The Lazarus Child by Robert Mawson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
What happens to the core of a person when the body enters a coma state that indicates flat brain waves? Can that person be reached and pulled back from whatever place the mind has gone during this comatose lapse? That's the question this novel tries to answer with a point of view that causes all kinds of moral and ethical problems for the characters involved in the story. What makes this issue even more difficult is that the person in the coma is a child. No family member is ready to let her go, but at what cost and to what result can they possibly get her back? This is a thought-provoking read about a subject that, when it surfaces, can dominate the news.
|
| Sandy Ely |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Growing up as a tomboy, I related to Jessica James's character, Andrea. Yet, I enjoyed her other hero, Hunter, as well. James captured my attention throughout her well-written book, making me believe I was there, in their lives during the Civil War. What a delightful mix of an emotional story that covers every reading level anyone can enjoy!
|
| Laura Ann Adams (Laura.Adams@ky.gov) |
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Great book. Loved it almost as much as A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini. He is an amazing author.
|
| Tim |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
An awesome, well-written, entertaining and emotional book.
|
| Karen R |
Tell No One by Harlan Corben |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A married couple is torn apart by murder. The story is told from the view point of the husband, Dr. Beck. I just loved this character from beginning to end. This was my first time reading this author and I'm hooked.
|
| Shirley Smith (ssmith@msde.state.md.us) |
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
Rating: 5 Stars |
What a beautiful book. With its description of China and the heartache of women, the writing is pure poetry. It's magical!
This author is a pleasure to read. Her command of the language and the ability to put it on paper and draw you to a different time and place is incredible.
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron |
Rating: 3 Stars |
There were slightly amusing essays but I expected more from this author. And, yes, I am "of an age" to appreciate what she's writing about.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
Present Value by Sabin Willett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It's hard to choose just one topic this book is about. It's about a family that is falling apart as each member begins to go his or her separate way. But it's also about economics, politics, Wall Street, lawyers, CEOs --- many things that we'd never pinpoint as being the core to our problems but all of which have a way of contributing toward making life a little harder these days. There's a lot of humor in this book, but there's also some very good food for thought.
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
Murder in the Hearse Degree by Tim Cockey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really like this mystery series and have been spending time with them lately. They're fun, enjoyable reads.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
Dreamland by Kevin Baker |
Rating: 5 Stars |
For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly about New York City, this book is a wonderful find. It's about Coney Island and the amusement parks that existed there in the past. It's also about New York's politics, and the role of women in that time period. Baker has written two other novels about New York City that make up a trilogy, with DREAMLAND being the first book in the series. I am fascinated with his subject and appreciate the research he's done to make his novel's accuracy genuine.
|
| Michele Van Epps (michele.vanepps@gmail.com) |
Closing the Food Gap by Mark Winne |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A very personal account of America's food crisis, and ways to solve some of the problems. The author writes in a conversational and engaging style, and many of the chapters have the feel of conversations with a friend. An inspirational read.
|
| Michele Van Epps |
The Things We Keep by Eliazbeth Berg |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Elizabeth Berg is a wonderful writer --- her characters are people that you know, or wish you did. She writes about ordinary lives, and extraordinary responses. I am trying to catch up on all of her books that I missed out on!
|
| Christy H. |
Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Reichs has written another suspenseful mystery. Vivid details and descriptions and her forensic crime solving keep me coming back for more. This is the 7th book in the Tempe Brennan series and I can't wait to get started on the next book.
|
| Ivy |
That Mean Old Yesterday by Stacey Patton |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A devastating memoir about a little girl's life in the foster care system and the abuse she endured by her adoptive parents. Her resilience and fortitude is both amazing and inspiring.
|
| Ali |
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Excellent story of the life of a geisha. Who knew there was so much to know about being one?
|
| Dorothy Horan |
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I can't wait to read both THE HOST and BREAKING DAWN!
|
| Dorothy Horan |
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It will be a pleasure to read the newest volume.
|
| Dorothy Horan |
Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I just met Carolyn Hart and I love Annie and Max.
|
| F Tessa Bartels |
The Hearse Case Scenario by Tim Cockey |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A fine, whimsical mystery starring Hitchcock Sewell.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
It has been reported in the news that one of the problems the CIA encountered in fighting terrorism in Middle Eastern countries is the problems they have infiltrating terrorist cells. The CIA has always been able to plant agents inside whatever groups from which they hope to gather intelligence. They have not been successful when it comes to getting inside terrorism. This is the subject of Alex Berenson's book. His fictional account concerns a CIA agent who does penetrate a terrorist Cell and works his way up the ladder of responsibility to where he believes he is trusted by his cohorts. Unfortunately, this means severing himself from contract with the CIA, and they are not very happy about this when they begin to get the impression that their agent has switched sides. This is a very timely topic that I hope begins a trend into what used to be the spy genre encompassing Russia and the Cold War. Berenson has written a sequel to THE FAITHFUL SPY, and I am looking forward to reading that one too.
|
| DD |
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was an incredible read. The characters were surprising and intriguing, the plot intricately woven between past and present.
|
| Doris Culligan |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Compelling reading --- I couldn't put the book down! The author did much research and her imagination is used to the fullest.
|
| Joan |
The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
This is the story of two women, set 400 years apart. Julia Lovat is given a gift of a 17th-century embroidery pattern book, but at second glance, she can see someone has written their diary on the pages. Catherine Tegenna was stolen from her church in 1625 by Muslim pirates and taken to Morocco to be auctioned off as a slave. The two lives of the women are interwoven in a story of adventure, mystery and love.
|
| DD |
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I was looking for something different, and I found it. A story about family, ghosts, and secrets that I highly recommend.
|
| Ma Titwonky (matitwonky@gmail.com) |
No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Llewelyn Moss finds a fortune in cash at the scene of what appears to be a drug deal gone bad. He decides to keep the money, knowing that he will be hunted down to get the cash back. Sheriff Bell is the law enforcement officer in the town where Moss lives, and Bell has no illusions about what goes on the dessert around his town, nor does he have any doubt about what kinds of people are involved in the high stakes drug trade. This is the classic battle between good and evil with kind of a twist. Whoever thought that evil would have principles? This is an interesting story, but at times, it's rambling and vague; however, it is worth the read.
|
| Kathy |
Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Entertaining sci-fi / hard-boiled detective story set in the future. It keeps pulling you along into the story.
|
| Phyllis B |
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Knitting Clubs are cathartic. Women get together one night weekly to work on their latest knitting/crochet projects. Some, however, are overwhelmed by negativity in their lives. Becoming friends, they encourage each other and share their own intimacy, frustrations, heartbreaks and miracles in the making. Friendships are made and are unbreakable. You do not have to necessarily be a creative crafty person to join a knitting group. In the end, you have made a beautiful project!!!
|
| Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net) |
Duma Key by Stephen King |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I could not put this book down. The story just compels you to keep reading. This is definitely King at his best!
|
| Michelle Miller (miller4plusmore@bellsouth.net) |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ken Follett does it again! This second book surrounding the Kingsbridge Cathedral town (the first being THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH --- one of the best books I've ever read) is another success. The characters make you care about them and the story is one that keeps you reading. Excellent!
|
| Kellie (acountkel@bellsouth.net) |
High Country Fall by Margaret Maron |
Rating: 4 Stars |
#10 of the Deborah Knott series. Maron’s style is consistent from book to book. You can count on a subject that depicts a specific aspect of North Carolina life, the continuing saga of Deborah Knott’s life as a District Court Judge and her family, and finally, a murder mystery to give it just enough suspense and mystery to keep you up until you finish the book. Sometimes, the mystery is a little weak, as it is in this one. But, the Knott story keeps the reader satisfied enough to keep wanting more. HIGH COUNTRY FALL takes place in the North Carolina mountains. I believe this is the first book in the series set there. Maron educates us on the development of the mountains and the mix of native mountain folks with the Floridians that have found the mountains as their summer home. She then continues the Knott story with Deborah trying to adjust to the thought of the engagement ring on her finger. And finally, the murder of a prominent doctor and local real estate agent makes the novel complete. This is not my favorite of the series, but it is definitely satisfying.
|
| Amy Wantz |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I really liked this book. The great descriptions of characters and scenery drew me right into the story.
|
| Crystal Blackburn |
Obedience: A Novel by Will Lavender |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Although in the end, I did enjoy this book, I found it a difficult read. The story was very convoluted and hard to follow, but I hate not to know how a story ends, so I plodded on. The end did tie it all together, but I'm not sure if the book measures up to the good reviews quoted on its cover.
|
| Dodalodle from Beautiful British Columbia |
Perfect Family by Pam Lewis |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An amazing, suspenseful story that begins with the youngest daughter of a well-to-do family being pulled out of a lake. As the story evolves, we are revealed layer by layer the family secrets and cover ups. Once you start this book, it is very hard to put down.
|
| Cheryl |
The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A moving story about a magician's assistant who is also his wife. When the magician dies, she is left alone to find out about his secret past, and a life and family she knew nothing about. If you have read Ann Patchett's other novels, you will also enjoy this one.
|
| Jackie Callanan (jlcallanan@charter.net) |
Dead Time by Stephen White |
Rating: 5 Stars |
White's books are psychological thrillers, always with a moral story for we readers to ponder. This one is no different --- this time, the story is about surrogacy. But, this book also took on another look in that it felt like a family story with a continuing storyline that was so sensitive, necessary to each reader, and --- nearly personal! Easily five stars!
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| Miranda (lailonniel22@yahoo.com) |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a charming, enchanting story that is impossible to put down. The characters are realistic and captivating, and the storyline is engaging and makes me feel like I am actually there. I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone.
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| Genie |
Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Ophelia has been fighting against her psychic powers that were inherited through the generations in her family. A series of events will force her into a dangerous situation where Ophelia will realize that her life depends on her acceptance of her natural abilities.
A handsome stranger shows up at the library posing as a chemical salesman.
Ophelia suspects he is not what he claims to be when he spends hours researching town archives. She soon discovers that he is an investigative reporter for a newspaper, researching a series of thefts of anhydrous from surrounding farms. The question is who are the thieves and what kind of scam are they involved in. The plot thickens when Ophelia stumbles upon the body of a dead man while walking through the woods. When, shortly thereafter, the local newspaper office is trashed and she begins to receive threatening messages, she is forced to participate in the investigation.
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| ME |
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King |
Rating: 2 Stars |
This was definitely not one of his better books, and I was very disappointed with it. I like "far out there" books, but this one was just too much. It seemed like something quickly thrown together to get a book out fast. I will still read his books because in spite of this one, I really enjoy his writing.
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| Corinna |
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I finally had time to sit down and finish this book. A part of me did not want to --- it was so good and well written that I did not want it to end. I highly recommend this book to others!
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| Susan C |
Bound by Sally Gunning |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Another historical fiction novel by Gunning --- the story of an indentured servant (an 11 year old coming to America from Ireland). This book tells of her life in different households. This was an excellent book.
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| Deborah |
Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A cute middle-grade novel, but I think adults would probably enjoy this one more than kids.
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| Susan C |
The Widow's War by Sally Gunning |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Historical fiction at its best! This novel takes place on Cape Cod in MA during the 1800's. The story revolves around women of the time who, when they lose their husbands, lose all but 1/3 of everything they owned --- the rest goes to the nearest male relative, in this case an abusive son-in-law. This provided great insight into women's rights (or non rights) !
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
Breakwater by Carla Neggers |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The main character is Quinn Harlowe, a former employee with the Justice Department. Outside DC, she owns a cabin on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. A neighboring estate has been turned into a security compound to train recruits for security consultants. But is it what it seems? Quinn uses her investigative resources to find out.
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| Rita |
Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Started this with high hopes, but they were dashed. Her style seemed trite and often, preachy. The subject of hatred and intolerance seemed overdone and the relationships between the people were weak.
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| Tara |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the most romantic, epic love stories I've ever read.
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| Tim |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A breathtaking and compelling novel that keeps you turning the pages long past your bedtime!
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| Meghan Little |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm am avid reader and I've never gotten so emotionally attached to characters such as these. The story line is strong, well written, and enthralling. Jessica James grabs your emotions and keeps you entertained from the first paragraph all the way to page 524. You need to read this book! It's amazing.
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| Ohiogirl |
Uncommon Heroes Series by Dee Henderson |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I can't pick a favorite of the series. There are 4 books and they are all different. Some are about Navy Seals and others are about FBI agents. They are all really good.
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| Deborah |
Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Less mystery and more philosophy than past books in the series, but a real pleasure to read.
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| Rhoda MacMaster (Tiggi47@aol.com) |
Savannah: Or A Gift For Mr. Lincoln by John Jakes |
Rating: 4 Stars |
The story of a widow, Sarah, and her daughter during the Civil War. A good book but probably better for older teens.
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| Hugh Jorgen |
Shades of Grey by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Loved it. The battles scenes were so real.
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| Rkenneth |
Shades of Gray by Jessica James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
One of the best stories every told about relationships and the Civil War.
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| Marsha |
Charley's Web by Joy Fielding |
Rating: 3 Stars |
Charlotte (Charley) Webb is a newspaper columnist who is asked by a woman on death row to write her story. As their relationship becomes more involved, Charley realizes that her children's lives may be in jeopardy.
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| Sandra |
Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio |
Rating: 4 Stars |
An Oprah's Book Club selection, ICY SPARKS is about the life of a young girl struggling to live with Tourette's Syndrome. This story depicts the jerking, croaking, and cursing of this condition, which forces Icy to live in fear and shame. A wonderful read.
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| Judy O. |
Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
Rating: 4 Stars |
If you like non-stop suspense, this book is for you. It was pretty intense, and I was glad to reach the end. National Park Ranger, Ann Pigeon, is in Isle Royal National Park in Michigan. She is helping a crew of scientists with their annual 6-week wolf study. Dangerous things are happening and people are dying. Will Anna save the day?
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| Peggy |
Island of the World by Michael D. O'Brien |
Rating: 5 Stars |
O'Brien paints pictures with his words. This book is the story of Josip Lasta, born the son of a school teacher in a remote village in the Balkans during World War II. I am at the point where Josip is in college, and am reading slowly to digest this wonderful book. It is full of love, loss and survival in a world gone mad.
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| Phyllis B |
We Plan, God Laughs by Sherri Hirsch |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Firstly, the title is from an old Yiddish Proverb.....we make plans in every stage of our lives and they do not always turn out the way we would like. In this book there are 10 steps to follow to your divine path, even though life throws us curves.
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| Christy H. |
Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Anna Pigeon is back! The last time she was at Isle Royale was during the summer --- this time it's a CHILLER read as she fights for her life during a winter study of the wolves in this remote and isolated location. Full of twists and turns, good and evil, and enough mystery and suspense to give you goosebumps.
I've read every one of the previous thirteen books in this series and they just keep getting better. I can't wait for Anna's next assignment.
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| Christine |
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Women from different backgrounds get together not just to knit, but to share their lives in a comfortable and safe environment.
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| D. Lohrding |
Beautiful Boy by David Sheff |
Rating: 3 Stars |
This father (the author) seems to be writing from a position of guilt. Hopefully his son's book, TWEAK, will abolish his need to identify "where he went wrong." In the book, the Father's actions are that of a respectful, kind, fun and loving man.
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| Phyllis |
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A magical book; it's a tale of secrets, friendship, love and especially change. THE SUGAR QUEEN is full of warmth and wit.
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| P. Subity |
The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Someone is killing terminally ill patients across Canada. And when it happens in the small community of Port Dundas, Ontario, it is up to Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef to marshal her meager resources to keep the killer from completing his gruesome task. Hazel is 61, has a bad back, flirting with an addiction to pills and booze, and trying to cope with having to move back in with her mother after a recent divorce.
There is another mystery to the book. The author, Inger Ash Wolfe is a pseudonym for, to quote the book jacket, "a well-known North American author."
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| Mildred |
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a story of two children left in a forest in Poland to prevent the Nazis from capturing them. Taken in by an old woman (the witch) who lives in the forest, they survive the last years of the war. This is really a story of the Holocaust told in a different way.
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| Donna |
Franklin and Lucy by Joseph E. Persico |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Wonderfully told history of FDR and his affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, and the other women who surrounded him during his lifetime. The book reads like a novel with the yearning to turn the page for more details. Persico includes FDR's determination to hide his disability from the public and why. He reveals the icy confrontation between Eleanor and Franklin when she discovers the love letters from Lucy. This book will engage and delight everyone. I highly recommend it.
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| Donna |
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Well done! What a fantastic view of the life of a family in Kabul, Afghanistan as they live. Seierstad, a journalist, convinces Sultan Kahn to let her live with his family and write about their daily lives. This is not a journal or diary as you may expect --- the author crafts this book to read like a novel and you are there as a member of this family.
Surprisingly, she does not seem to hold back in her portrayal of the male role in the family, especially Sultan's (father) and his eldest son's (Mansur). I highly recommend this for anyone looking to experience, as the author did, "life behind the burka."
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| Linda H. (linda604b@yahoo.com) |
Winter Study by Nevada Barr |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I've been waiting for the newest novel about Anna Pigeon and I was not disappointed. This time, she is involved with the study of wolves in Isle Royale National Park. It is wintertime with extreme cold, the park is closed, and someone seems to be stalking the rangers and scientists involved in the study. Suspenseful up to the end!
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| Donna |
The Ruins by Scott Smith |
Rating: 5 Stars |
A triller that will make you a nail biter for sure!
Scott Smith's book convinced me to go back to reading more of this genre. What a masterpiece of the macabre, that is most definitely not for weak stomachs. I had no advance warning about the plot, but I loved this book. Read it this summer!! Take the risk, and your heart will be beating with the book.
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| Valerie |
World Without End by Ken Follett |
Rating: 4 Stars |
While not quite as good as his earlier work, THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, this sequel is amazingly interesting. It has a little less religion and a lot more sex than the previous book, which I liked. There were parts that seemed repetitious, and there were many characters to keep track of throughout the 1014 pages, but I never once got bored or wanted to put the book down, which cannot be said for many other books, let alone one of that length.
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| Janice Hoaglin (jhoaglin@sbcglobal.net) |
Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I listened to an audio recording of this book, and really loved the story, as well as the great voice of the narrator.
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| Kathy (kboucher@cableone.net) |
Mortal Friends by James Carroll |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is old (1978) but still one of my all-time favorites! I LOVE anything Carroll writes!This is about the lives of Irish immigrants coming to Boston, and their trials, loves and triumphs through about 40 years.
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| Thomas |
Duma Key by Stephen King |
Rating: 3 Stars |
I am currently reading King's latest novel. Edgar Freemantle is recovering from a terrible accident on Duma Key, a beatiful place in Florida. He discovers a great talent for sketching and painting, in which everything he puts on canvas turns out to be true, even if he didn't know it was beforehand. It is somewhat like the King of old, but is lacking something. The suspense is just not there, though it is an enjoyable story. The ever-present obscenities are still there (middle age to older people talking like street punks, which has always seemed phony to me). It's worth a look if you have nothing better to do.
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| Rebecca |
Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman |
Rating: 4 Stars |
I have wanted to read Laura Lippman for a while and I've finally gotten around to starting her Tess Monaghan series. I am not disappointed. I am really enjoying the characters, especially Tess, as well as the story.
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| Tamara (sewradical@gmail.com) |
The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander Mc Call Smith |
Rating: 4 Stars |
A little novel about a thoughtful woman philosopher and the people she knows in Edinburgh,Scotland. It feels like you are there with her, sleuthing out the behaviors of her friends and lovers. Very atmospheric.
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| Julie (lsiemek@yahoo.com) |
The Innocent Man by John Grisham |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Injustice in small town Ada, Oklahoma, puts a mentally disturbed man on death row.
This book will leave you wondering about our justice system and the judges who do the ruling.
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| Robin Coker (hillcoker@yahoo.com) |
Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
Rating: 5 Stars |
Mary Higgins Clark does it again. This had my attention from start to finish. You really want to know how this book ends, but then you're sad when it does. I thought I had it figured out but was pretty surprised that I had it wrong. It's about a sister who begins a search for her brother who disappeared 10 years ago, and only calls his mother on Mother's Day. Several girls disappear, with one calling home on Mother's Day. An excellent read!
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| Rachael |
Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This new author is beyond awesome! Her books are everything urban fantasy readers could ask for. They are SO addicting and you will thank me for recommending her.
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| Amee |
Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot |
Rating: 4 Stars |
Another great novel by the fabulous Meg Cabot.
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| Monica Garcia (rocko@elp.rr.com) |
The Undead Kama Sutra by Mario Acevedo |
Rating: 5 Stars |
I'm loving this book so far. It is book 3 in the Felix Gomez series. Felix is out to find out who killed his alien friend and learn the secret to unlocking the erotic powers of the Kama Sutra for the Undead.
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| Shonte' Johnson (fwine20052004@yahoo.com) |
Going for the Record by Julie A. Swanson |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This book was hard for me to put down. I love how Leah is strong no matter how hard it is for her to deal with her father dying. She is also determined at first because she loves soccer but she puts her dreams on hold for her family. I think this book is very interesting and I almost cried because I can feel her pain. It's also very descriptive because I can visualize how he looked before his death. Can't wait to read another one of her strong, emotional books.
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| Michelle (ufc609@aol.com) |
Escape by Rye James |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This was another enjoyable book from James. ESCAPE is a very good mystery/suspense/thriller that has some nice turns in it. I love his writing style.
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| Readingrat |
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is a very poignant, well-written story that not only will touch your heart but will really get you thinking about the tragedy of childhood illness, the hard choices these parents have to make, and how both these things powerfully affect the whole family.
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| J. Kaye Oldner (jkayeoldner@yahoo.com) |
Captive of My Desires by Johanna Lindsey |
Rating: 3 Stars |
All in all, it’s not a bad read, just not her best. Her best can take my breath away.
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| Linda M. Johnson (tcheer4life@yahoo.com) |
Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark |
Rating: 2 Stars |
Mind candy. I've been reading Mary Higgins lark for 25 years and she doesn't change. But, I still get in line to read the newest one.
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| Reva Wamsley (prwamsley@roadrunner.com) |
No One To Trust by Iris Johansen |
Rating: 4 Stars |
After reading several of her books, I'm finding that a lot of them are similar in plot, but they are so riveting that you don't care. Why fix it if it's not broken? In this book, Elena is trying to keep her son's father, who is a drug lord, from taking him and killing her.
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| Rachael |
Magic Lessons by Justine Larbalestier |
Rating: 5 Stars |
This is the second book in the Mag |
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