Ashe County Reading Challenge 2025: Books Read in 2025 (1-25)

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I love reading almost anything set in Alaska, so I anticipated liking this book, and i did; however, it has some weird stuff going on. Birdie is a single mom living and working at a remote lodge in Alaska and raising her daughter Emaleen. Birdie becomes involved with Arthur, who turns out to be not at all who she thinks he is, and this is the center of the plot in this novel. There was a section of it that was really hard to read, and I was mad (and still am) at Birdie, but I could not wait to finish it and find out what happened! Like some of Ivey's other books, this one is based on fairy tale/fable set into modern life, so expect some magical realism. Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The latest book in the Joe Pickett series is another page turner. I highly recommend reading the previous books before this one. Many of the situations and characters in this one build on previous books. This particular book includes Joe, but has a greater emphasis on Nate Romanowski and Geronimo Jones. Other characters from previous books play a part along with several new characters. To avoid spoilers, I will just say that readers of the series are sure to enjoy this latest episode. If you have not started the series, give it a try, but start at the beginning! Rating and Review by Judy M.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I thought this one was the weakest of the trilogy, but it was still an enjoyable read. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: In 1800s China, Little Flower is sold into slavery and her master Linjing into marriage. Their lives becomes intertwined, laced with friendship and jealousy but they must work together to maintain their place in society. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I listen to this book which was read in a documentary format by the author. She did a thorough job at providing an overview of GLP-1 drugs and their impact on individuals, businesses and society. Definitely worth read, or should I say a listen, if you're considering the use of these drugs. Rating and Review by Michelle C

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I love Grady Hendrix’s unique Southern Gothic style. Though a work of supernatural fiction, this book highlights the stigma and injustice experienced by pregnant teens in a pre-Roe world in a real and authentic way. An easy yet meaningful read! Rating and Review by Lauren

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: "From her father, Hana Ishikawa inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets. The shop is on a backstreet in Tokyo, but only those who are lost and looking for a place to pawn a life choice/regret can find it.
On her first day, Hana enters the pawnshop to find it ransacked. Her father is missing. Also, one of the shop’s most precious items, a choice, has been stolen.
A stranger enters the shop. He is not like the usual shop’s customers. Instead of asking for help, he wants to help.
The two of them go on a journey through a magical world in search of Hana’s father and the stolen choice." Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Heartwarming and simplistic at the same time. Books with dogs always make me happy and this one did not disappoint. Slow moving at first but a very lovely read. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: When a woman's twin brother dies in a hunting accident, she returns home to collect his work on a grant and finds a lot of interesting things about his adulthood she didn't know about. This was a fast paced mystery with small elements of magical realism and I seriously enjoyed it. Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is an extension of Shorto’s Best-Selling nonfiction book, The Island at the Center of the World, which I read last year and loved. Shorto’s research into the obscure and mostly untranslated (from middle-Dutch) records of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, the Dutch West India Company and its holdings in the Caribbean, the recurrent wars between England and the Netherlands, the earliest years of the African slave trade, and England’s colonies during the English Civil War, indicate exceptional scholarship. His writing is superb, demonstrating his ability to ferret out the personality and character of real historical figures that might otherwise not seem real after so many centuries. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Great read for any fan of the original series or the prequel. Sunrise on the Reaping follows young Haymitch Abernathy as he enters the 50th annual Hunger Games. This tragic story shades in many details of the world of Panem and the provides a glimpse into the dark world Haymitch is forced to live in when the original series starts. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is the third book in the Mrs. Pollifax series and just as delightful as the first two. I believe the books can be read out of order, but I would suggest at least beginning with the first book which establishes how Mrs. Pollifax, a 60ish year old widow, came to work from time to time for the CIA. In this book, Mrs. Pollifax is sent to Bulgaria as a courier to deliver passports to help some members of the underground escape the country. Nothing is ever that straightforward when it comes to Mrs. Pollifax! Soon she is up to her elaborate hat in intrigue! This book is funny, suspenseful, and even touching at times. It was written in 1971, so the political situation has changed in many ways since then. But it is still a great read! Rating and Review by Judy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is a first person account of the knife attack Salman Rushdie experienced when attempting to give an author's talk in New York. The attack was 30 years after a death threat was put out on him by a radical Muslim leader. It was an interesting read. He is likable but also a bit annoying, referencing a who's who of well known literary acquaintances. He was born into a well-educated family in India, and although has faced difficulties in his life, I suspect he is a person of privilege. He quotes a lot of words of wisdom from various authors and is well-read. So that made it interesting for me. The best quote for me of the authors own, is that "art challenges orthodoxy. To reject or vilify art because it does that is to reject its nature. Without art, our ability to think, to see freshly and to renew our world would wither and die." The book reminded me that though we may be brilliant in an area or two, we are often naive and unwise in other areas. The healthcare system he encountered after his terrible attack was foreign to him and humbling. It helped him present as a well-rounded, real character, that was more sympathetic. In this way, he did grow through his adversity. Because humility is an important trait. It is truly a miracle that he survived the attack. And I was glad to see that it was available in the library and to check it out because artistic freedom is so very important.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: "Meredith White is a well known successful actress whose career was cut short by a family tragedy that also alienated her from her family. She became a recluse. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers. Then, one summer day, a massive earthquake strikes Northern California causing devastating destruction. Meredith’s mansion was mostly undamaged. Her neighbors’ houses had more severe damage, and they could not safely returns to their homes until some major repairs were made. There are eight neighbors which include a doctor, his wife and two kids who fear him, a beautiful young woman dating a man who sees her only as a man’s toy, and an aspiring writer caring for a famous blind concert pianist.
During their time living together, their lives become intwined. With the exception of the doctor, they like getting to know each other and support each through both good and bad times. Meredith finds herself gradually venturing back out into the world. " Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I've actually read this book twice now, which is unusual for me. I enjoyed it immensely both times. Great character development. Unexpected twists and turns as well as forshadowing throughout the book, that's easy to overlook until things come together. I think of this type of book as "a mystery written like a novel." I've read a few Liane Moriarty books now, and I've enjoyed each one. Rating and Review by Jeannie

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: Well, this book was not for me. I did like the main character, Bob, who was a retired librarian, but I did not connect with any of the other characters (and there were a good many of them). The pacing of the book was absolutely glacial. One long chunk of the book was the main character reliving a childhood memory, and if this part of the book had not been so far into it, I think I would have just given up on the whole book, but at that point, I was so far along that I just wanted to get finished with it. This was my first book by this author, and I am not very excited about reading others by him based on this reading experience. Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book, by the inimitable travel writer Bill Bryson, is a culmination of multiple visits to Australia. He covers a LOT of ground, considering how big (and difficult to navigate) Australia is, starting with the eastern cities, traveling up to Darwin, over to Alice Springs / Uluru, and finally all the way out to the west to Perth. It is fascinating and humorously written (much like his other books). I do find that although Bryson has great insight into the geography and places he visits, he lacks slightly in intercultural awareness (ironically enough) when interacting with and reporting on people, and that shows through in this book as well. Nonetheless, it's a great, romping read, full of interesting facts, insight, and many belly laughs. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: "Rum Punch" is the first book I've read by the famous author Elmore Leonard. This story takes place before cell phones and instant access communication and is fast paced nonetheless. In southern Florida, Max Cherry, bondsman, becomes involved with a cartel of gun-runners who move guns from Miami to the Bahamas. They convince an airline stewardess to assist them by moving money from the Bahamas back to the U.S. Of course, she gets a cut in this fraudulent scheme. Max Cherry becomes involved when he unknowingly provides bail money for one of the gun-runners. Trouble festers when these criminals and their girl friends distrust one another, some are arrested and others murdered. Max finds himself involved as he falls for the stewardess and unfortunately implicates her in a dangerous plot to catch the gun-runners and keep her from prison. A good read with lots of characters, action and an interesting climax. Rating and Review by Judy T

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I highly, highly recommend the Crescent Moon Mystery series to anyone looking for a funny, interesting and compelling cozy mystery series with a cast of colorful characters further into life. There's magic, female empowerment, a coven, and absolutely delightful basked goods! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Grace Beiler is an elderly Amish woman facing life after the death of her husband. Because of her husband's steadfastness to the Amish Ordnung teachings, her immediate family is no longer nearby. She is still active in her community but feels something missing. During her favorite time of year (Christmas), a secret Sister is dropping little gifts that allow her to reminisce about moments with her family and how lucky she was to have them in her life. It had the sweetest and endearing ending as the identity of the secret sister is revealed and Grace is surrounded by her family at the end of the story... Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Couldn’t put this one down. Not a book that I would normally grab to read, but so glad I did. A great story of love and friendship. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I loved this novel. The elderly (82) and impoverished widower Fred has been evicted from his apartment and must remove his belongings today, but first he takes a walk down by the river to calm himself. At the river he walks past a group of patients and attendants from a nursing home; a few minutes later comes the accidental death of one of the patients, who falls out of a wheelchair into the river, drowns, and is carried by the current swiftly out of sight, with Fred being the only witness. Fred tries to save him and also falls, hitting his head. Because Fred looks surprisingly like the man who fell into the river, everyone assumes Fred is actually Bernard and they take him back to the nursing home. After many attempts to convince others that he is not Bernard, he gives up, realizes he likes having a warm bed and 3 good meals a day, and just lets everyone assume he is Bernard. He makes friends and begins to enjoy life in a way he hasn’t in many years. Then complications arise. Fred’s conscience picks at him. This book starts out quite funny, at the same time as it tugs at one’s heart in looking a how old people are ignored or treated harshly and impatiently, or infantilized by well-meaning caretakers. It is also a very heartwarming book, and I cried the entire time I was reading it, even while laughing too. There is quite a surprise towards the end! Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Really good book set in the Indian Ocean. I've never read anything set in this area and the pirates and countries and cultures are new to me which is great because it gives me a new perspective on history. I love adventure books and this has all adventure and magic. This author has written City of Brass which I think will be one of my next reads. Rating and Review by Robyn

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Some aspects of the book were predictable, however, there were some aspects that kept me guessing until the end. For example, how do the main characters all relate to one another? Who is the murderer? How did the matriarch cause such traumatic damage to her children? Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and one that I would like to read again just so I could make sure I didn’t miss anything. Rating and Review by Thea

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: It's about the December years of life and how to face death. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Laurel's world stops for the decade after her daughter disappeared. Once her remains are found, she slowly begins to move on with her life; however, threads to the mystery of Ellie's disappearance and death slowly begin to untangle. This novel is suspenseful, thrilling, and full of surprising twists. I couldn't put it done. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: How could I resist a novel with such a title? Paris...bookshop...broken hearts! Coco, our heroine, just lost her business, her money, her crooked boyfriend, and her reputation as an independent publisher. She moves from London to Paris with her grumpy 13-year-old daughter; her parents live there, and they are all crowded into one apartment. Coco gets a job at an eccentric bookshop whose owner plays matchmaker and runs the most hilarious book club imaginable. I like Paris; I love bookshops and book clubs. What a fun read, although the romantic ending is a tad contrived, and I wanted to smack the whiny teenager! Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The author received a phone call on Memorial Day 2019 that her husband, age 60 had collapsed and died while on a book tour away from home. The complex tasks involved in facing his sudden death, left her little time to grieve. Three years later, still feeling broken and bereft she booked a flight to a remote island in Tasmania. There she was able to revisit a thirty-five year marriage filled with risk, adventure, humor and love. Memorial Days is a portrait of a larger than life love affair, and a reckoning with the inevitability of loss. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: A really beautiful love story that took centuries for her to find her love while trying to break free from the obsessive and angry god that tricked her into a life forgotten. Rating and Review by Anna

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This story is set in China during their revolution and about a man, Lin Kong, who cannot make up his mind how to live his life, and as a result finds himself always waiting for his life to begin. There is happiness and possibility all around him, but he is never able to grasp it. His wife, through an arranged marriage, is a simple, peasant woman who he visits once a year on his annual vacation. His mistress is a well-educated woman with whom he works, but he can never commit himself to her seriously enough to divorce his wife and begin a true life with her. The result is that all three of these people are waiting, always waiting, for his decision, for life to begin. The author primarily explores the feelings, thoughts and emotions of Lin Kong and his mistress and is an interesting dive into the “grass is greener” perspective. Definitely worth a read, in my opinion. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Before she became a French chef, Julia Child acted as a spy for America’s OSS. This is the story of a young girl from California to war time DC, an assignment in Asia and her early romance with Paul Child. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book was difficult to read at the beginning due to the distressing way the main character was treated by her family. It got much better toward the middle and I had a hard time putting it down then. I thought it was so good. It was fascinating. She began to have happiness in her life and I thought it was going to be about a healing journey for her. Then the end was such a complete letdown. The book is about a young South Korean woman who decides to become a vegan after disturbing dreams she has and the trauma that ensues. Rating and Review by Jennifer

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Up to the half way point in this book, the plot felt a bit predictable and the suspense felt a bit force, but at the midway point, the perspective shifted and threw some twists and turns that really surprised me. Quick read and interesting plot, but it takes some time to really build up to the suspense. There is some foul language and violence. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This novel started out as interesting story of a woman who masquerades as a man and fights in the Union Army during the Civil War. The main character is a sharpshooter; fights in major battles and experiences the horror of war. Initially not an unusual tale. However, as the book progressed it got stranger and stranger without my actually realizing it. Then bam! The final four or five chapters were blowing my mind when the last chapter caught me completely off guard and shook up everything I had believed about the main character. A very surprising book. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is the newest collection of Stephen King short stories. Collectively I think it is a great read, the vast majority of stories definitely keep you engaged and in suspense. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Author Julie Colvin walks us through the devastating effects of type 1 diabetes on the patient and their family. She is honest about her feelings and offers possible reasons for this all too common illness striking children that is not caused by a clear DNA connection. The best part of the book for me was learning how Julie Colvin was able to find joy again. Another connection for me is that I have met Julie and have been writing since attending two of her Wellness Writing Retreats in 2015. Rating and Review by Dawn

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is a complicated murder mystery set at a drag bar in London! I kind of wanted there to be more drag culture and elements of performance, but it actually focused far more on the mystery which totally shocked me as it unraveled! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book in the Joe Pickett series is full of surprises. The main story focuses on the murder of Joe's father-in-law and subsequent arrest and trial of his mother-in-law. But there is another story about a plot to kill Nate Romanowski, Joe's estranged friend. Along the way Joe and his wife Marybeth are dealing with sending their oldest daughter to college, and dealing with a rebellious foster daughter and their rapidly maturing youngest daughter. The story also offers a lot of potentially surprising information about wind farms. Rating and Review by Judy M.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Starts out with Grady’s wife disappearing when she discovers a body laying in the road on her way home. The rest of the story takes place on a fictional island in Scotland where Grady goes to try to write and thinks he sees his wife! Rating and Review by Susan

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I couldn’t stop reading and ended up finishing it in a day. WOW! The ending was not what I thought it would be at all. So well written and so mysterious. Loved it! Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Set in China, Lu Fei is Deputy Chief Inspector of Raven Valley. When a brutal murder takes place, his investigation reveals that someone is attacking local sex-trafficking networks preying on North Korean young women. Simultaneously, Lu Fei is drawn into a powerful group of men called the Nangang Benevolent Assoc. who are being targeted by a mysterious person who calls himself the Magistrate. His investigation leads to Northern China's Harbin City, a city of corruption that Lu Fei found himself in previous novels. Lu Fei eventually realizes the connections that point to the same criminals in Raven Valley and Harbin City. This is an exciting, entertaining, sometimes humorous, fast-paced story till the very end.
""The Magistrate"" is the 3rd novel in the Inspector Lu Fei Mystery series. It is best to read them in order as certain themes, characters, cultures and settings are found in each book. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: Lizzy Lasher, now 27 years old, started being able to see ghosts when she was 10. She has encountered both good and bad ghosts. No one believes she can see them so she just stops trying to convince them. Most people actually think she is crazy. She left her small home town, only to return nine years later to help her mother. A guy enters her life, whom she thought he was normal, but finds out that he's not truly what he seems.
The story line is good, but it is not very well written. I could imagine this story written in a longer more well developed narrative. Also, there were several grammatical errors, mostly with homophones. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This is the third book in The Naturals series and has easily been my favorite in the series so far. The first book was solidly meh to me and I am happy I continued the series now. The plot took a lot of turns I wasn't expecting, the characters felt more 3 dimensional, some things I didn't understand from the first two books clicked into place. Really enjoyed it, really glad I already have the fourth and final one checked out from the library so I don't have to wait to read it. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: It was a good book, fairly low in reading level, for middle grade readers, I found the ending unsatisfying and rushed, while the build up and suspense was great and that made me feel rather unfulfilled. Rating and Review by Cameron

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The novel follows one family over three generations from around 1870 to the early 1900s. In the beginning of the story, the Amberson family is a wealthy family that enjoys a place of prominence in a small midwestern town. However, over the course of the story, the town explodes in size in direct proportion to the shrinking in both wealth and prominence of the Amberson family.

The novel is set at a time of great change in America: the beginning of the automobile age, which is one of the themes of the book. The main theme, however, is the danger of spoiled privilege and of the tendency of the spoiled privileged class to fail to embrace change. While there is some problematic racial language, it occurred rarely enough for me to be able to ignore it. I highly recommend this novel. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book surprised me because I didn't expect to like it based on the summary and what others had told me it was generally about. I thought it was going to be dark and sort of science fiction-y, but it was neither. The main character has a chance to take paths she didn't take in life to see how they would have turned out. Of course, there's a life lesson in there, but that would be a spoiler. ;-) Rating and Review by Jeannie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Set in southern Louisiana during the early 20th century, Edna struggles with her shifting emotions as she deals with her maternal duties, her desire for social freedom and her love for another man. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Everyone has heard of this book, but I finally read it, and it was much easier to read than expected. Even all these years later, it's still relevant, and I think everyone should read it. Rating and Review by Olivia

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Rereading this book not only as an adult, but amid social unrest and uncertainty gave me so much new perspective on this series. I highly recommend rereading now! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I had a hard time getting into this book but I did make it to the end. It didn’t go exactly as I thought it would and didn’t have any type of a happy ending that I wished for. It seemed very honestly written and truthful. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I could hardly stop reading this memoir! I really was not familiar with the writer before this, but her childhood memories are unbelievable! However, I looked at some fact check sites and interviews with the author and as far as I can determine, this story is true. The Walls family lived a nomadic lifestyle moving at least 20 times during the author's childhood. For much of her childhood, her family lived in deep poverty--primarily by choice. Her parents refused to take advantage of resources they had. Her parents alternated between being fun and loving and neglectful and even cruel. Despite all of her challenges, the author and most of her siblings were able to get jobs and live the lifestyles they chose. I am impressed that despite the problems, the author continued to stay in contact with her parents and even provide a home for her mother. (Her alcoholic father has died.) I understand the book was made into a movie, but I have not seen it. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: On Tyranny, written by a Yale professor of European history, is a short collection of lessons learned from the study of authoritarian regimes in the twentieth century. It connects today's political environment to Nazi and Soviet regimes in a terrifyingly logical and undeniable manner. The author makes a case for every American to stand up to the erosion of our democracy. At just under 125 pages it is well worth the read no matter what your political beliefs are. Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This historical fiction a very emotional read that pulls at the heartstrings by bringing forth the suffering and evil deeds done to people who had conditions that made them less than normal.
Rosie has a medical condition, synesthesia, in which she sees colors when she hears sounds. Most people that hear about it think she is crazy. Rosie is 17 years old and lives with guardians due to the death of her family in a car crash. Things go okay until she becomes pregnant by her guardian one night when he was drunk. At this point, she thinks she is being sent to a home for unwed wed mothers, but as it turns out, she is sent to the mental hospital because of seeing colors when she hears sounds. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: In attempting to understand his father's life experiences and especially those during World War II, Art interviewed his father and later wrote and illustrated them in this graphic novel. The characters in the novel were depicted as follows: Jews as mice, Nazis as cats, Poles as pigs. The novel told the story of Vladek, the father, a smart and hard working man who fell in love with Anna, a young woman from a very wealthy Polish family. As war became eminent, Vladek enlisted in the Polish army. As conditions worsened, he and his family were forced out of their comfortable home and lives and forced into the ghetto. They were forced into hiding and experienced unimaginable horrors. The story novel ends when Nazi spies turn the Spiegelmans in to the Secret Police and they are sent to Auschwitz, a concentration camp.Throughout the novel, the author takes you back and forth in time from the son interviewing his father in the present to the father who is reflecting on his life from the 1930's and into the 1940's. Realize that Art Spiegelman was not born until after the war ended. When Art learns that his mother has written diaries of this same period, he is eager to read them and get her interpretation of everything his father had verbalized. However, Anna, commits suicide before Art is aware of the diaries. When he asks his father about them, Vladek admits that in a moment of depression he burned them. The book ends with Art's parents arriving in Auschwitz and Art's anger at his father for destroying his mother's diaries. This was an excellently written and illustrated story. A second novel continues where this leaves off. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This gripping book, part of the Chronicles of Narnia, tells the story of two kids who rescue Prince Rilian and return him to Narnia. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Even though this book is not from a genre I typically enjoy, I gave it 5 stars because of the excellent writing. The author also wrote The Passage trilogy, which also surprised me by its excellent writing. This book started a little slowly for me as I tried to understand what was happening. But it soon had my full attention. I don't want to include any spoilers in this review, but even if you don't typically like this type of story, I'd suggest giving it a try. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: "Due to environmental disasters and a declining birth rate, there is a rise of a totalitarian regime known as Gilead. People are placed into rigid societal roles. The few remaining fertile women are enslaved as handmaids that are bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s Commanders. This brings to mind the situation of Jacob, Rachel, and Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid from Genesis in the Bible.
I had difficulty even giving this book a 3. To begin with, I must admit that I do not care for dystopian novels. That said, I feel, the author should have given more background as to the circumstances that led to the main character, her husband, Luke, and their child leaving their present lives. I didn’t follow the situation presented when they were leaving their home. When and how did they get placed in their new lives? Why could they not let their neighbors know they were leaving to the point that Luke killed their beloved cat to keep from leaving it wandering the community thus indicating that they had left? I think, I would have liked it better if more information had been given about their reason for leaving." Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I was beyond fascinated by this book. The ending really had me asking a lot of questions.... and I am not sure I understood all the messaging, but I had a really enjoyable experience reading it. Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This novel tells the shocking story of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, an extremely popular and controversial profit-raising program in America's dominant private prison industry. Think gladiators, but in this setting, conceivably in the near future, where prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. Readers follow the paths of 2 lovers who are the current stars of this live and televised entertainment. Meet their teammates and those from opposing teams whom they will fight. Follow their families, the program's announcer, the vast audiences who applaud the games, and the families, friends and others who protest the violence and mistreatment of the prisoners. Footnotes state past and current prison and prisoner statistics. These statistics woven throughout the novel focus on the the US prison system's systemic racism, unchecked capitalism and mass incarceration. "Chain-Gang All-Stars" is a gripping novel of violence, depression, friendships and love. It also makes you think seriously about our private prison system and its continued growth under our new administration. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: In the future, all of humanity is divided into 5 factions based on different personality characteristics. At 16 each person chooses their faction based on an aptitude test, which may or may not match the family you grew up with. But when your results are inconclusive you are considered divergent, which is a danger to the faction structure. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: While there are parts of this book that are predictable, I was still surprised at each turn. When the reader gets to the end of the book, the point of it all is understood. Slow moving but definitely worth reading. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is about a very unique society where everyone is isolated from pain, color, decisions, feelings and their every "coming of age" milestone is dictated by the council including what their career paths. Everyone is also monitored by a speaker during their every moment. Jonas's path was to be the Receiver of Memories of which there is only one. In his training, his eyes become awakened to the meanings of things such as what it means "to be released." He and the Giver(his trainer) devise a way to awaken everyone. It was a great story. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This fascinating epic is set in Florida before, during, and after climate change causes sea levels to rise to the point that life is completely altered. It's not a book without hope and you'll come away heartened and terrified all at once. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: This book is based on an interesting idea, but it wasn't well executed (says the woman who couldn't write an interesting book if my life depended on it!) The story is about a company that finds a way to study people's brains and group people into categories with others who get along well and think alike. Groups of these people have bonded together and created their own groups with ties stronger than their families. Eventually, the groups start fighting each other over control of political decisions. After lots of general and political tangents the book ends with an uninspired ending. Dystopian fiction is one of my favorites, but this book is just not anything special. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I like a good world building/build up in a book, but it was really slow for the first 60-75% while they did that, which felt like too much. There would be glimmers of excitement, but then back to slow building. I do plan on reading the second one and since we already have a decent grasp on the world in general, I'm hoping the action will start a little sooner. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I really liked this book! It kept my interest the entire time and I'm excited to read the rest of the series. Rating and Review by Ada

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: A shocking worst case scenario to 2025. This is a story of survival and finding a personal meaning to God and community. A group of strangers come together against the odds to try and settle a new community after they have lost everything. Themes of religion, rape, and violence are all included in this telling of what happens if we abandon community and one another. Rating and Review by Anna

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Most of this book takes place in the Rockies, in winter, with the landscape covered in snow and ice, an important element of the story. At first I thought this would be the same old tired story of a young woman kidnapped from hiking/running in woods and held captive by a rapist/murderer, but this turned out to be more about her individual family members and members of the community who were impacted by the disappearance of the 18 year old girl. The quality of the writing makes this a literary thriller rather than a potboiler mystery. The book is divided into four parts, and part IV was riveting; some of the most exciting pages I’ve read in a long time—my heart was pounding. The only gripe I have about the book is that it skips around so much in time in a bewildering way that it confused me. I hate this fad in novels. I would rather have a straight-forward narrative. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is the third book in the Joe Pickett series featuring a game warden in Wyoming. In this book, Joe faces danger from several directions with the most dangerous characters of all being government employees with big egos and too much power. The story is bone-chilling, and not just from the winter snowstorms. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Snow is on a long and dangerous journey, seeking vengeance for the tragic loss of her daughter. As a Huxian, Snow has the ability to transform from a fox into a human, allowing her to blend into society and move unnoticed as she navigates her mission. Unbeknownst to her, Detective Bao is hot on her trail, a man with a unique sensitivity for fox spirits. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Fun, quick read and interesting end Rating and Review by LeeAnn

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: In December of 2024, a story about kindness at Christmas was shared on Facebook. It was portrayed as true, but there was some mystery about the story's origin. I did some research and found the published story. I ordered the book and read this wonderful fictional story in rural Utah. All is revealed in the Author's Note at the end of the book. "As I considered how Christmas had become such a worldly, materialistic holiday, I pondered how I could express the true meaning of the day to my children without being preachy. This story was the result." Rating and Review by Dawn

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: In Aurora, Minnesota, a 17 year old white girl goes missing during a blizzard on New Years Eve. There was an extensive search that had to be stopped because of the storm. Her frozen body was found four months later. Solemn Winter Moon, an Indian who was her ex-boyfriend, is accused of murdering the girl. Cork, the ex-sheriff who knows the young man well, believes that despite all the evidence against him that Solemn is innocent.
As with other books by Krueger in the Cork O’Conner series, he are shares lots of the traditions and language of the Ojibwe tribe while also bringing forth prejudices and biases of a small town. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Wishing we could do half stars!! Before reading this book, I read A Midwife's Tale: The Diary of Martha Ballad, the book on which The Frozen River is based. I thought I would enjoy reading them as a pairing; instead, The Frozen River veered so much from the actual tale that I found myself throughout the book thinking about all the differences. One of the glaring differences was the way the relationship between Martha and her husband was portrayed, and this was a huge detraction for me. I KNOW it is historical FICTION, and I didn't expect The Frozen River to be a copy of the original, but I think I expected the depiction of the main characters to not stray so much. The Frozen River is a good story well told, and I am leaving my review at four stars, but really, it's 3 1/2! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This historical fiction takes place during the winter of 1789 in Maine. The body of a local man, who was recently accused of rape, is found frozen in the Kennebec River. Martha Ballard, a midwife, is called in to determine the cause of death. Due to the rope burns on his neck and the poor condition of the body, she concludes he was murdered. Could the murderer be his partner in crime, who is also the local judge, one of her sons who was in an altercation with the dead man earlier that evening or the husband of the woman he is accused of assaulting? I enjoyed this book with its twists and turns. The Kennebec River was frozen that year from October until April 1790 and it was one of the coldest winters on record. Rating and Review by Michele H.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: At times it was difficult to keep track of names and people, but it became easier as the chapters rolled on. A beautiful story of pain and love and courage. I loved every second of it and didn’t imagine the ending as it was. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I mainly picked this book because it took place in the snow and would meet the challenge requirement. I somehow found it rather predictable except for maybe the ending which was a surprise. There were parts of it that were suspenseful and one wondered how things were going to work out and whether Tegan would actually survive her trauma. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This was a good story and kept my attention; however, it didn't quite live up to the hype that the author's previous book, The Silent Patient, caused. I was expecting a bit more after how much I loved his previous book. Still, it was a good story with a surprise twist. If I had read this without such high expectations, it would have been much better. Again, though, not a bad read! Rating and Review by Melissa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book was a challenging read for me. I loved the parts of it that were focused on the lives of the characters and their relationships and activities. However, there was a LOT of information about Russian farming and politics and government, and I found myself getting bogged down in those sections. Anna, the main character, was not at all what I expected, so that gave the book an element of surprise for me. I see that it is an amazing work and deserves to be thought of as a classic. Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Two young girls in Italy grow-up together and remain friends even though they live very separate lives. Lila marries into a violent family and Elena continues her studies widening her horizons. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Enjoyable read (or rather listen in my car), but I couldn't help thinking that Sense and Sensibility is just not as good as Pride and Prejudice. However, I'm still glad I finally read it. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: """The Undertaker's Assistant"" was a much better novel than I had anticipated. The story takes place perhaps 10 years or so after the Civil War. Effie, a former slave who escaped to the north with a doctor who taught her nursing skills and how to embalm, decides to return to the south where there are more people who look like her. Effie is a strong, serious young woman who finds it difficult to work with her southern employer and equally hard to meet and maintain friendships. Problems erupt when she falls in love with a black ambitious politician and makes friends with a beautiful Creole woman who introduces Effie to protests, activism, soirees and social ambitions. This unusual plot kept me interested and its setting in New Orleans following the Civil War was fascinating. I recommend this book." Rating and Review by Judy T

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: "The story takes place during the Depression Era (1931-1932). Occasionally, when a family fell on hard times, the children could be treated as income. In this situation, a photograph was taken of two children sitting beside a sign that states, “Two children for sale.” For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. However, the image leads to his big break that leads to consequences he never imagined.
Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lily Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story. She is drawn into the disturbing situation. Ellis and Lily set out to right a wrong at the risk of everything they value.
This book was inspired by an actual newspaper photo taken on the steps of an apartment building in Chicago in 1948. It shows the mother in the background with the children sitting on the steps beside a sign stating, “4 Children For Sale”." Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I can see how this was pretty revolutionary when it came out and in some ways it definitely still is. However, the idea that femininity is tied to a specific body part just doesn't resonate with me at all, so most of the book just made me uncomfortable because of that. There were sections where it wasn't so linked to that idea, and those parts I definitely enjoyed. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: A wonderful story of a young Dutchman who was called of God to reach out to the countries under communist rule and bring them hope. Praying for them through bringing Bibles in thier language and encouragement. His group grew to 12 and they trained others to go out and minister to these countries, many were under communist belief. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Another great Amish mystery/love story. Very easy to get drawn into this book and not want it to end. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: What if your dreams could change reality or you were given the God-like power of changing all the possible wrongs of this world – would you use it? This book follows two characters who have to make that decision and each chose different paths. I really enjoyed it and plan to read more from this prolific writer. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This novel is set in NYC during prohibition. Vivian works at a dress factory during the day and loves to spend her evenings at the Nightingale, a speakeasy, where she dances the night away. All is fun until she discovers a dead body in the back alley. A few nights later the club is raided and Vivian is arrested. She soon finds herself caught between helping the police and dodging the dark cartel underworld. This was a fun mystery and you will be rooting for Vivian to save the day. Rating and Review by Michele H.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Cyrus Shams is an Iranian-American man who is obsessed with martyrdom, but not with martyrdom in the way we usually think of martyrdom, not jihad and suicide bombs strapped to chests. Cyrus is interested in martyrdom in a broader sense of the word and as a poet, is in the planning stages of writing a book about various martyrs through history, like Joan of Arc and Bobby Sands. Cyrus has spent his life under the shadow of having lost his mother in the USS Vincennes incident in 1988. The government of Iran deems the dead passengers ""martyrs,"" which sets Cyrus on his path of thinking about what makes a martyr.

Martyr! is definitely not a plot-driven book and because of the structure, it jumps around in time and place and among characters a lot. However, I am glad I read it and plan to re-read it because of all of the thought-provoking content. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: There was only one character that I liked, the rest were either flat, stupid, or so self-absorbed that they couldn’t even contribute to the plot in any meaningful way. The book also just changed all the characterizations a full 180 in the 15th chapter. Rating and Review by Cameron

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: What a delightful surprise! Set in the early 1950's, it follows a precocious 11 year old boy who goes on the adventure of a lifetime via the dog bus, otherwise known as Greyhound. The characters, the language, the setting are fast changing and wildly entertaining in an old fashion way. Every one of the 450 pages brought a smile to my face. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Even though I'm not a romance fan (and so much of this was such syrupy sweet romance that I got a toothache), I will give the storyline the 3.5 stars it deserves (and I rounded up to 4 out of guilt for reviewing something that is not in my chosen genre.) It was a very good story with an interesting twist in the plot line that I didn't see coming. I could have done without all the "sweet nothings" though. It got old very quick. (They love each other. Okay. We get it.) Honestly, glad to be moving on the next read because I couldn't take much more love. Groan. Rating and Review by Melissa

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: A memory play, the action is the memories of the narrator, Tom, of his controlling mother and disabled sister, whom Mother is determined to marry off. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: This book was short and easy to read, but almost too short to be really useful. It came across as more of an outline. It lays out a framework for original thinking, but with each point being so short that there is no depth. At the end, there are suggested books to read to expand on each point. I think to fully understand a lot of the concepts it would be necessary to read at least some of those books. So this book is an interesting starting point, but felt very incomplete. The author's also offer seminars and have a website, so this book may be intended to create interest in those pursuits. (This review is based on an uncorrected proof.) Rating and Review by Judy M.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Multiple people have gone missing from the same location over the last few years. They're never investigated by the police and are just assumed to be runaways or missing. And no one would ever suspect that the old couple in the neighborhood, retired from academia, had anything to do with these disappearances. The truth is rather horrifying. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I don't really care for mythology. It's just so confusing and this book disappoints you, it was long and confusing. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Heather Cox Richardson is a professor at Boston College which is my alma mater. She delves into the tumultuous history of American democracy tracing the roots of Donald Trump's "authoritarian experiment" to the earliest days of the republic. Richardson wrangles a chaotic newsfeed into a story that pivots from the Founders to the abolitionists to Nixon to the January 6th Insurrection. It is actually more that a history book. It is a call to action. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This was a really great and well written book that focused on the twelve disciplines that you need to follow in order to grow spiritually. This was written in a way that keeps the reader engaged as well as providing practical examples of how to meet these goals. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Once I started this, I couldn’t put it down. Even though I usually don’t read books of this kind, I was completely in love with it right from the beginning. A story of strength and courage and loss and love and just so many emotions. Great read! Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I liked this a lot more than I was expecting to. It has a long list of trigger warnings in the beginning that made me think "I probably won't be able to get through this," but I was interested in the premise so I gave it a shot. I definitely didn't feel like it was as intense as the list made it seem. It did require a lot of suspension of disbelief because the two main characters absolutely would've been caught by the police by now, but overall enjoyed the read. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I found this book while browsing in the large print section. Not my usual read, but I liked it because it was well written and funny in parts. 29-year-old Charlotte has been widowed for 5 years. She is a social media analyst in Los Angeles with a kooky goth roommate and a dog. She is on #68 of 100 blind dates as a study for an algorithm she is creating. Her husband's ashes show up on her doorstep and chaos begins! Just enough quirks and macabre in the book to keep me interested! Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Donut Fall in Love" by Jackie Lau is a romantic comedy centered around a relationship between Lindsay, a baker known for her innovative donut creations, and Ryan, an actor who has agreed to be a contestant on a baking show. Their relationship gets off to a messy start when Ryan knocks over two dozen speciality donuts at her bakery. Then Ryan hires her to teach him how to bake. During the lessons they become attracted to each other. The story follows their chaotic journey through the evolving dynamics of their relationship. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Each story was fun and intriguing. I see why Stephen King is so popular. And though each story was on the dark side, none were as disturbing as I remember Pet Cemetery to be. Of course I read it when I was a teen, and I am more seasoned now and more comfortable with darkness I guess. Also, his stories may have become more tame as he got older. Short stories are wonderful because I can quit and not get behind on everything around the house. I highly recommend this collection and just checked out another short Stephen King novel. I did notice that most are lengthy. I don't think this will keep me from reading more of his though. I'm afraid I'm a bit hooked on him. Rating and Review by Jennifer

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is a tribute of the life of the author's mother, Lisa Jura, a musical prodigy living in Vienna. Lisa's mother was a skilled pianist, and Lisa' first teacher. Lisa was 14 when Hitler's army invaded. As Jews, one by one, the family saw their rights taken away. Lisa's parents could send only one of their children to safety in London through the Kindertransport program. One daughter was too old; one was only 12. The family chose to send Lisa, whose story continues in England. This Holocaust true story is gripping and well-written. There are tragedies and triumphs within the tale. A book well worth reading -- lest we forget. Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: A rooming house in DC during the McCarthy era is the gathering pace for a group of disparate women. When a mysterious woman moves into the small attic space, she befriends them all. When she is in trouble the Brair Club comes to her rescue. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Followed Eagle the lawyer, several murders, great plots, good ending! Rating and Review by Sue

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The book cover puts this book in this category but it’s a story of an Indigenous family from Nova Scotia that each years goes to Maine to pick blueberries. One year a person makes a decision that changes the course of their life and family. Rating and Review by Karen H.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I've been trying to read more poetry and a lot of the collections I've read I haven't loved, but this one I really liked. Sometimes I feel like poetry uses imagery that only makes sense to the poet (which is fine but can make it difficult to read), but there wasn't really anything in this collection that I felt like I just couldn't really understand after a little thought. The story that was being told (the childhood of the author) was clear, the emotions of the poet came through really well. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: When Robert Stargell became very sick and knew he was dying, he wrote a list of instructions for his care before and after he died. First, he would be allowed to remain at home and die there. He had other instructions about his burial. The most difficult one was his four boys were to come home and build him a casket out of rosewood. Each of them had taken different paths in life and they had not all been together in a very long time.
It is a tale of dark family secrets and Appalachian traditions and legends.
I have lived in the Appalachian mountains all my life. I am familiar with many of the. traditions McCrumb included in her story.
Overall , I really liked the book. However, I would have liked less of the Daniel Boone information. Some information was fine. There was just too much. I just wanted the story to move on. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book was difficult to get into and took me a long time to finish. Even after reading it, I’m unsure if I have a clear understanding of the book, as it is very confusing and a bit over my head. Rating and Review by Megan

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Each chapter informs the reader of a NC heritage food by exploring its history and geography. The month of September I plan on looking for “scuppernogs”. Rating and Review by Karen

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This comprehensive pre-history of Europe is packed with facts and information on the civilizations that peopled Scandinavia south to Persia from 9000BC to 1000AD. Copious maps, illustrations, charts and figures make this a very readable book. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book is intended to provide a logic based approach to weight control. Though it was written 30 years ago, I had never heard of the theory. It struck home as it is a rational, logic based process for addressing self-sabotage. It made so much sense and will drive me to read more about Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy, which works to help you understand your self talk and the impact it has in your emotions. Rating and Review by Michelle C

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: It was very romanticized, the book kept trying to make a connection to love and family when it was acknowledged that the marriage was a business transaction and that Sarah was raised by servants yet the book continued to try and build a connection between Sarah and her dead mother. In addition, when Sarah was arrested due to her husbands crimes, the book described how it wasn’t kidd’s fault and that he loved Sarah- when we not only have no proof of this being true, there is some evidence indicating that it was in fact Kidd’s fault. Rating and Review by Cameron

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Really well written story of Ansel Adam’s life until his death in 1984. He tells all about how he got interested in taking photos especially at Yosemite on his hikes. Rating and Review by Sue

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This nonfiction book, written by National Geographic Explorer Lee Berger, a paleoanthropologist of international renown, and John Hawks, an equally eminent anthropologist, is about the discoveries of hominin remains in the Rising Star Cave System in South Africa. Hawkins and his team are the discoverers of the first remains of “a previously unknown member of the human family tree”: Homo naledi There findings of naledi also encompass “the largest collection of hominin bones” ever found. The Rising Star system of caves is enormous , complex, and extremely dangerous. It was exciting to read about the hazardous, in fact, life-threatening conditions that the explorers endured to discover and excavate these important finds. I learned new information about the origins of humans, excavation techniques, and the controversies surrounding where naledi and several other hominin species fit along the branching path of our ancestry. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This is a deeply interesting graphic novel that uses food to tell the story of an immigrant family's experience. Such a worthwhile read! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I picked up this book on a whim at the library because I loved the color of the cover. That, however, is not the category I chose for this book. I chose the category of "taught you something new" because I learned so many new things. I love the structure of the book. Each short section deals with a different "vanishing" animal. Books like this are often too depressing for me to read, especially in the dead of winter, but this author did a good job of teaching about these animals and even of sharing the bad news in a way that was informative without being emotionally manipulative and completely despairing. Somehow, she was able to inspire more awe than depression. I feel certain I will be re-reading this book. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I know little about Savannah's history and have very briefly visited the city. I had no idea about a luxury steamship called the Pulaski, sinking. It was considered "The Titanic of the South." The author did a great deal of research on the sinking of the ship as well as the aftermath and passengers fighting to survive. I learned something new. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: A fascinating travel memoir by Irish travel writer Dervla Murphy. Murphy takes two bike trips across South Africa: one when Mandela is freed from prison and the other when he is elected president. Murphy does not shy away from tough conversations, and this is a fascinating look at South Africa during a time of great change. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This was my second Scott novel, after Waverley, and a vast improvement. It centers around the time of the Crusades in England, during the reign of Richard I. Some parts of this book are lyrically beautiful, others entertaining, and the rest exceedingly boring. I did learn a lot about this period--of the tensions between Normans and Saxons and Jews--but Scott has a special talent for drawing out all the wrong scenes. Every event that you likely would think of as entertaining to read in depth is summarized, and those you likely wouldn't care for are drawn out for hundreds of pages. I don't regret reading this book, but I'm surprised I got through it at all. Rating and Review by Josie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Again this is a book I read before my Galapagos trip. I never would have picked this up prior to this trip even though, as Biology student, I was fascinated by the Galapagos and the history of evolution. I enjoyed reading the book, It was relatively easy to follow although sometimes I was lost with all the names and dates that the author spoke about. I did find it fascinating to study the "evolution" or development of a scientific theory that was taught to me as absolute fact, even though there is still controversy about evolution. It is basically a history book about scientists and the Galapagos. Understanding the politics and practicalities of how science was studied in the 1800's-1900s was very interesting to me. Rating and Review by JoAnn

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: "Lady Tan's Circle of Friends" is historical fiction at its best. The story begins in the mid 1400's in China when eight-year old Tan Yunxian loses her mother and is sent to live with her very wealthy grandparents. Her grandmother is a doctor which in China is rare at this time. Her knowledgeable of herbs and other natural plants guides her in doctoring primarily women and children and when Yunxian shows interest, her grandmother begins teaching Yunxian Chinese medicine. An arranged marriage at 15 sends Yunxian to the home of her husband's family where she experiences loneliness and pressure to have a son. This novel delves deeply into Chinese culture - what was expected of a wealthy woman, the rigors of living with a demanding mother-in-law, multiple family members plus the concubines and their children, and so much more. Yunxian has one close friend from childhood who becomes a midwife and plays an important role in this story. Engrossing from first to last page, from foot binding to Chinese medicine, women's health issues to murder, marriage to politics, I found the book absolutely fascinating. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Sam Hill was born with an inherited condition called ocular albinism, which caused his eyes to appear red in color. His mother, a devote Christian, wanted Sam to attend a Catholic school. His classmates dubbed him the "Devil Boy" and called him Sam Hell. His life was miserable until he met Ernie and Mickie, who became his best friends in school and out. His mother always said Sam was destined to have an extraordinary life and he only needed to have faith for it to be true. I enjoyed this book, but felt sad for Sam because of what his classmates put him through. Rating and Review by Michele H.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I chose this book not so much because I would consider myself a "prepper" ... but after the pandemic, the recent floods, and recent news that France distributed emergency handbooks to each household to prepare its citizens in cases of emergency, this book really caught my eye. I grew up with my mom always filling the pantry In case we couldn't make it out in the winter. This book does give a good overview and references to many other detailed books and websites for us to consider emphasizing now is better than later... Like the author, I hope we never have to resort to the need... but can we ever know what may happen should things such as an EMP event (the lights going out and never coming back on). What we should do? It gave me much food for thought with many action plans that I might not have considered necessary. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Manitou Canyon is the fifteenth book in the Cork O’Conner series written by Kreuger. Issues related to Ojibwe communities, such as Indian gaming casinos, drug culture, and the treatment of missing and murdered Indigenous people, are addressed. Cork O ‘Conner investigates the disappearance of John Harris in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. John vanishes while on a trip with his grandchildren. After the search by local authorities is called off. Cork, a close friend of John, is hired by the grandchildren to continue the search leading them into a dangerous wilderness.
The book explores themes of belief versus truth, protecting a sacred place, and the complexities of family and heritage. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Rarely does one read a book written by a dead person, but after Michael Crichton's death his widow found a half-finished novel and James Patterson complete it! Typical disaster novel that would make a good movie: scientists vs government and local officials, imminent destruction of a Hawaiian island. Fun read, but I struggled with some of the complex scientific passages. A tad far-fetched, but, hey, it's a disaster novel! Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I had heard of Henrietta Lacks and HeLa in passing a few years ago, but had no idea her story was so powerful. This book is framed not only around Henrietta's life and the medical applications that have been made through her immortal cancer cells but also heavily features her surviving family's experiences, grief, anger and confusion. This book is very well-written, heartbreaking at times, and poses many interesting ethical questions surrounding human cells and research. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This book was absolutely wonderful. Just when I was thinking it might be a little too light and sappy for my taste, a surprise twist threw me right for a loop. I highly recommend this powerful story about finding friendship when you least expect it (and when you think you don't deserve it). Powerful stuff. Rating and Review by Melissa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: While out running one morning Quill hears a woman scream but when help arrives no body is found. She discovers many women on her reservation have disappeared with no trace and the authorities don’t seem to care. She decides to investigate on her own at the risk of her family’s safety. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This YA mystery with a romance plotline was a delight to read! Not only was the mystery fun to resolve, but seeing the depiction of magic in an ancestral way was so engaging and beautifully written! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: James or “Jim” tells a reimagining of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from his enslaved point of view. Its intention to be harrowing is delivered in each chapter although despite public reviews of the book I missed understanding the intended “funny”. Rating and Review by Karen H.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The book is historical fiction and covers events during the period 1865 and 1889. Louella Williams has learned one thing in her time being a slave for twenty four years and that is to HATE! She hates the overseer who cruelly lynched her father. She has no room for love. She married Reverend Williams whom she has come to respect and care for. Louella persuades him to leave the plantation with some of those who have been enslaved and finally feels HOPE! After miles of travel they come upon land in the Appalachian Mountains very close to Tuxedo NC and the South Carolina border. They establish the Kingdom of Happy Land and are appointed Kind and Queen. Surrounded by opposition they continue to share a message of joy and goodness and fight for the freedom and dignity for all. It was a refreshing book to read, especially at this time in our country's history. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I originally read this book a few years ago and reread it in February of this year because it was a book club selection. When I originally read it, I remember loving it, recommending it to everyone, buying a copy of it for my mom for Christmas. Re-reading it, though, I found myself really frustrated with the way the main characters were treating her. Ultimately the main character gets overwhelmed with life and decides to take a break and travels across the country to stay with someone she met recently. Instead of offering understanding or grace, most of her friends accuse her of running away and leaving them without support and being selfish for taking the opportunity of a break because they don't have that opportunity. Everyone eventually comes around by the end of the book, but there's not really anything about how shitty that was of them. I originally gave the book a 5 when I read it a few years ago, but I just didn't love it as much this time because that was such a big part of the book. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book is the story of Belle, the personal librarian of JP Morgan, who is a Black woman living her life passing as a white person. Living this way enables her to gain a position that would not have otherwise been available to her, and it afforded her the opportunity to earn a great living and take care of her family. The story was interesting, and I did not know anything about this before I read the book (and I really didn't know much about the JP Morgan library either), so I did enjoy learning about that. It was also an introduction for me to the world of rare manuscripts and art collecting, and I love learning new things, so that was a positive. I did not feel that the writing was very well done; the sentence structure felt repetitive and boring and I think it maybe slowed the pace of the book too much. I also kept thinking that the main character must have had SO MANY challenges to keep her identity hidden, but these challenges were mostly overlooked in the telling of her story, so in that way it didn't feel authentic to me. I'm glad I read it -- it is not something I would ever go back to. Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This is book one in the Cork O’Conner series. Cork O'Connor, is a former sheriff in Aurora, Minnesota, who investigates the murder of a local judge. Eventually, Cork uncovers a web of blackmail, embezzlement, intimidation, and murder. Some Indian tribal leaders are getting rich on gambling concessions. An old Indian tells Cork that a Windigo (a monstrous spirit) is the force behind the murders and advises him as he tries to stop the murders.
I learned lots about Indian traditions. There were times I was surprised by the turn of events. I am looking forward to book two in the series, Boundary Waters. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This book is about a mysterious child with the power to change a family’s history in a country on the verge of revolution. Simonopio, the main character, is found as a baby abandoned under a bridge. He is welcomed by landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales, who adopt him and care for him as if he were their own. The story follows his life and the lives of the Morales family through the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918. The characters are interesting and the writing is gorgeous. The language the author uses paints a vivid picture of the picturesque lands of Linares and Monterrey and the impact of the Mexican Revolution on landowners in Mexico. Definitely worth a read! Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This heart crushing short novel follows Azure as he navigates life in Cape Town. The 13 year old orphan from Johannesburg runs away to Cape Town where he can earn money from sexual favors, mostly from older white Afrikaan men. Part magical realism, this novel explores themes of poverty, race and class stratification, power, and hierarchy. Your heart won't ever be the same again. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Very powerful story of children being kidnapped and forced to be in the army of a crazed holy man. It showed the horrors of evil, cruel, men. This is based on a real story and shows the strength of these young soilders. In the end, love prevails. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: The storyline of this novel alternates between Joe, a Mi'kmaq man who suffers two deep traumas in the first 16 years of his life, and Norma, a woman who has also suffered trauma, the source of whose trauma becomes apparent to the reader fairly early on in the story. I found both characters to be believable and likeable. I especially ended up feeling an affinity for Joe and his self-enforced hermitage. The plot eventually becomes somewhat unrealistic, but this isn't a novel to read for plot. That's not to say it moves slowly or drags, but the plot isn't the main point of the book. Spend a few days with these characters seeing how unresolved trauma reverberates through the decades of their lives. The resilience and love in these families keeps this from being a depressing novel, and there is some redemption in the end. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Amazing, beautiful, and tragic. This story follows two French sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossignol, as Vianne tries to survive German occupation in France and Isabelle works to thwart the Nazis. Full of complicated family dynamics, devastating losses, brilliant moments of triumph, and love for country and each other, this book is quick moving and powerful. Rating and Review by Kirsten

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I selected this book because the story follows 5 siblings from their life on the Mississippi River to their lives after being taken from all that’s familiar. I am also from a family of 5 and was originally drawn to this book to read of others tales of siblings paths. Paths that can be uplifting or devastating. This historical fiction told me about orphans and adoption processes between the 1930-1950 eras. I have so many questions for my grandparents that will never be answered. As the author reminds me “even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.” Rating and Review by Karen

RATING:
REVIEW: This nonfiction book covers the members of the Byron family from the fourth Baron (1669-1736), the poet’s great grandfather, through the 6th Baron, the poet himself, George, Lord Byron (1788-1824). However, the majority of the book focuses on the 5th Lord Byron and his siblings. That generation featured the 5 siblings who reached adulthood, including the 5th Baron, who was known as “The Wicked Baron,” deservedly so, and who was the poet’s great-uncle; John, a famous war hero, and Admiral who was the poet’s grandfather; Richard, a clergyman; George, an impecunious soldier; and the sole sister, Isabella, who was a Bluestocking, married a Count, and after her husband’s death, was fabulously in debt and delighted in shocking the upper-crust world with her flagrant sexual affairs. I greatly enjoyed reading about the exploits of this family, from the wicked to the moral. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The four Delaney siblings, two boys and two girls, grew up surrounded by the game of tennis. Their parents, Stan and Joy, owned a tennis school and all four children played the game. A few months after the school was sold, Joy just disappeared. She had sent each child a garbled text message, left her phone at home and told no one where she was going. The four grown children spent weeks worrying what had happened and their father became the prime suspect in Joy's disappearance, or some thought, death. The story goes back and forth in time. One theme centered on the fact that one person's interpretation of an event, is not the whole reality. This was my second reading of the book, so I knew the ending, and enjoyed the way the family stumbled along until the end. Rating and Review by Michele H

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: "This book follows the four Delaney siblings after the disappearance of their mother, Joy Delaney. Her husband, Stan, is a main suspect. In the process of trying to figure out what happened to her, the four siblings, Troy, Amy, Logan and Brooke, become aware of the truth about their relationships with each other, their significant others, and their parents. Furthermore, there is a strange young woman, Savannah, who showed up at Stan and Joy’s door one night, claiming to have been beaten by her boyfriend. She stayed with them as if she were a member of their family. When Joy goes missing, Savannah is nowhere to be found.
Apples Never Fall is suspenseful and keeps the reader wondering who has done something to Joy. It also has a message about the importance of forgiveness and the freedom one can feel when one forgives." Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book is about two sisters going through challenges in their marriages and other relationships. I found it hard to the affluent, high-achieving characters from New York. The story alternates between the viewpoints of the sisters. I doubt I will read other books by this author. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Cute. Some of them were great. Rating and Review by Mary M

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The author covers her live from the age of 10 until she was about 17. There are some later in life details given in the last chapter, but it's mostly of her teenage years. You become acquainted with her Mother, sister Mary, brother Tony and nephew Johnny. The family is living in California and see her Uncles on TV living in the Galapagos Islands. Johanna becomes fascinated with the islands and more curious about her deceased Father that no one really talks about. There are lots of descriptions of family dynamics and the relationship between the sisters. The family eventually move to Ecuador and spend summers on the Galapagos meeting the rest of her Father's side of the family . There are lots of stories about how they lived on the undeveloped island that I found fascinating. It was just a very interesting read. Rating and Review by JoAnn

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is a re-read for me -- I loved it the first time, and I loved it this time! Kambili and Jaja are a sister and brother who live with their VERY strict Catholic father in Nigeria (he has been converted by missionaries). They try to protect each other from their father's overzealous attempts to instill religious devotion in them, and when they go to visit their aunt in a nearby town, they begin to open up to new ways of seeing the world, worship, and loving God. The book takes place during a time of government upheaval, which affects the family in many ways. It was difficult to read some parts of this, but the devotion of Kambili and Jaja to each other (and to their mother) was lovely. I enjoy reading about different places and cultures -- this book was a great fit for me! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: After the death of her father young Olivia discovers she has a half sister in China. As Kwan Li adjusts to her new home in America, the two sisters grow-up together in spite of their age and cultural differences. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This is an absolutely delightful romance read! Beyond wanting to giggle and kick my feet as the romance progressed, I really enjoyed that the characters represented people with autism and chronic illness as well! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is book 5 (the latest) in the Elena Standish WWII prelude series, set in England in the mid 1930's. Elena is the second generation of her family to work with M16, the British intelligence agency. Both in Europe and in America, pro Hitler fascists are spreading their influence. Elena's sister Margot is about to marry into an elite family that seems to support the fascist causes. I have read all five books and really love this series; it is well written and historically accurate. I did not guess who the villain was! To my disappointment and surprise, when I finished reading this book, I learned that the author died shortly after it was published. There will be no 6th book. If you like good mysteries, interesting characters and the history between the world wars, you might like this series; do start with the first book! Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Very creepy story... not long after twins Sylvie and Cassia lose their mother to an unexpected accident, they manifest a new imaginary friend named Black Mamba who threatens to wreak havoc on their already frail family. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The story of two sisters that are sisters by blood and strangers by choice. Each character stands at a crossroads and are afraid to confront betrayals and heartbreaks of the past. They will be reconciled at last, drawn by tragedy into the darkest of times and must figure out how to face their deepest fears together or lose everything. I love Kristin Hannah so this book was outstanding. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: The story is very sad and difficult to read at times but also there was a lot of hope and examples of courage in the story. Rating and Review by Mary J.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I ultimately am just glad the series is finally over. I felt like it went on a lot longer than was necessary or made sense, as the main conflict keeping all of the characters in Fabletown was resolved many volumes ago. I do think this was a good wrap up, though. They made this weird quarrel between Snow White and Rose Red make sense and there weren't really any major characters that didn't get their storylines wrapped up. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: It’s good! It’s short and clearly toned down for younger readers but it is a fascinating insight to the sisters experience! Rating and Review by Cameron

RATING:★★★
REVIEW: This is an introspective story about an adoptive brother and sister's search for their biological mothers, after a lifetime of insisting this was not something either of them was interested in doing. The AI review I read described this book as ""character-driven fiction that explores the intricacies of the human experience.""

I enjoyed reading this but it isn't a fast-paced page-turner, rather a reflective exploration of the emotions and psychological implications that adoption can have on individuals and on their families. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I enjoyed reading this fast-faced novel told by Rocky, the mother, who faces melancholy, rage, happiness and remembrance during her family's week beach vacation. Her adult children play a prominent role - Willa, a wistful and happy lesbian and Jamie, the older smart and fun-loving son who is facing marriage and perhaps, fatherhood. In that one week, Rocky learns of her parents' hidden secrets, deals with marital issues she and her husband Nick have held from each other for 35 or so years. She also becomes closer to both her children as she divulges personal secrets to them. Told from Rocky's point of view, the author writes an insightful and very honest, believable story of family and feelings. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Lots of twists and turns you don’t see coming. Good read! Rating and Review by Sue

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I think that every single southerner should read this book; it is life changing. Never have I felt that an author understands humanity so well. This book is a lesson in empathy, understanding, and the intricacies of family and southern culture. It puts active real-world issues in a context that is deeply moving, beautifully written, and so simple to understand (in that, it’s not simple, but we all already know that). Rating and Review by Josie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The boys lived on the poor side of the city. Called ‘greasers’ they were constantly fighting with the rich boys ‘Socs’ As time went by they came to know some of the Socs and realized they had a lot in common, but after they had a member of both sides killed. Rating and Review by Elaine

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Really easy read about a younger sister who returns to the family ranch who falls in love with her older brothers best friend has he helps her recover from an injury as a bull rider. Rating and Review by Anna

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Based on the Roman legend of Romulus and Remus, this story is told by the twins’ mother. Rhea, a princess of Alba Longa, is forced to join the Vestal Virgins after her father is overthrown by his brother. She is seduced by the God Mars, bearing the twins and then rescued by the Goddess Cybele who turns her into a wolf. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This book retells the story of Jesus's ministry from the wedding feast of Cana til his resurrection. It is told through the eyes of one the Apostle's sister Tasmin (Thomas's twin) and Jude (Jesus's brother). They both fear for their siblings and try to convince them to return home to no avail. It gives you a different perspective of what was going on in the times and how people would have perceived all that was happening. They did not immediately see that Jesus was the Son of Man. It was a great story and one of a series I intend to continue reading. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: Mythology isn't my bag. I find it very confusing, bloody, strange characters, castles, kings, damsles in distress, spell's and curses. The goal was to find the holy grail which is the chalice that that Jesus drank from at the last supper. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: The title story in this collection is a retelling of the Minotaur myth. Many of the other stories are retelling or reimaginings of traditional literature, while some are completely original. One story, Spinning Silver, was later developed into a novel inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin tale. Some stories were more engaging than others, but altogether the book was an enjoyable read. Rating and Review by Judy M.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker abandons his successful life to pursue his desire to become an artist. Loosely based on the life of the Paul Gauguin this story follows Strickland's single-minded pursuit of art in his sociopathic life. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: A famous Hollywood actress and her entourage go on a safari. They are kidnapped by Russians. Each chapter focuses in on a different character while we learn why the kidnapping takes place. I found myself a bit disappointed by the predictability and one dimensional characters. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This novel swings back and forth between two time periods: the late Depression era (late 1930’s – 1940) and 2015. The main characters in the earlier time period are real-life burgeoning Abstract Expressionist artists, such as Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, and Jackson Pollack, as well as a fictional artist involved with the others, Alizee Benoit who is the central character. In the later time period the main character is the great-niece of Benoit, an artist Danielle Abrams. Alizee Benoit, along with the other artists are working for the WPA painting murals for public spaces when Benoit disappears in 1940, and by 2015 she is a completely unknown artist. Danielle Abrams attempts to discover the truth of Benoit’s disappearance, find and identify any of her works that survived, and restore her great-aunt to her rightful place in the art world. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is a fictional accounts of the painting "Girl with the pearl earring and how it came to be. The girl (Griet) comes to work in the painter's home(Vermeer) in seventeenth century Delft as a maid. Her parents arranged for her to work for the Catholic family since her father is unable to work after being injured. She encounters many firsts as well as an unintentional education in mixing paints and setting up for portraits. She learns that white is not just white but many colors. There is also the expectancy of social standing of the times which plays a major role in the outcome. The author excellently describes the city and the people and you feel like you can see and smell everything. I enjoyed the novel very much. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Shapiro used true story of the largest art theft in history that occurred at the Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990 as a framework for The Art Forger. As of the time she wrote the book, none of the pieces had been recovered.
In the book, The Art Forger, Claire Roth is a talented artist who makes her living producing reproductions of famous paintings. A famous art dealer, Adrian Markel, offers her a large amount of money to reproduce a famous painting by Degas which had been stolen in the Gardner Museum heist. He tells her it is the original Degas that had been stolen in the 1990 art theft. He sells it as if it were the original. Many complications evolve after this.
The book emphasizes that art betters the world, and works of art should not hoarded in private collections, but rather shared with the rest of the world. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I loved this book. It's a love story set in a small town with very relatable characters.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I like Liane Moriarty's sometimes quirky way of telling a story. This book is primarily about an Australian mom of 3 who loses her memory of the previous decade of her life, and her present life isn't anything like she expected it to be when she was 29. It took me a while to figure out how the letters written by other characters fit in. (Hence the quirkiness.) Once that became a little clearer, I enjoyed the author's method of telling parts of the story. Rating and Review by Jeannie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: The setting is a small fictional whaling town in western Australia; a town that has largely depended on the whaling industry throughout its 150 year history. One of the town's residents joins a group of outsiders who have come to the town to protest the whaling industry. This is an interesting reflection on tradition vs progress. The author won the Miles Franklin Award (a prestigious literary award in Australia) for this novel. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Helen Hanff writes a letter to inquire about the possibility of buying hard-to-find books through Marks Co. & Bestsellers. Her letter is answered by Frank Doel. This starts a 20 year romance between the two correspondents. Helen is a cranky Jewish New Yorker who writes TV scripts. Frank is a courteous middle class Englishman who manages the book shop at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. When she requests specific books, he sends them to her and also sends her books he thinks she would prize. As time goes on, they learn more and more about each other and a great fondness develops. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Set in Alaska, The Snow Child is a retelling of a Russian folktale. In this version, a childless couple homesteading in Alaska builds a snow child, and shortly after, they glimpse a child in the snowy woods. The novel follows their interactions with the child as they develop a relationship with her. The book provides details of what life might have been like for homesteading families, and I enjoyed learning about that. Excellent descriptions of the landscape helps me imagine the cold and loneliness of that type of life. I found the characters interesting and well developed. This was a great read for me (and I chose it for this category because it contains letters between one of the main characters and her family back in the eastern US). Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: After a plague that almost eradicates civilization, a man travels the world recording the testimony of men, women, and children who survived their encounters with the undead. The result is this account of the fear, horror, and spirit of resistance that gripped human society through the plague years. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This series is one of my favorite and I was excited to read the novella to get a little more of the story. However, there wasn't anything particularly new or unexpected in it and I don't feel like it added much to the overall story. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Firsthand, eyewitness accounts throughout human history from a plague in Athens in 430 BC to the fall of President Marcos, Philippines, 1986. This book is chock full of excerpts from witnesses to some of the world's most historic moments. It was published in 1987 and I hope there is a later edition, since much has happened in the world since then. I love this book! It is like riding in a time machine! I gave it a rare five stars. (Warning: there are some gruesome accounts of war atrocities, etc.) Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: After reading Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, my expectations for Austen's writing were relatively low; but this book absolutely changed that. Everything that irked me about Austen's previous novels is muted in this book, which consists mostly of the main character, Anne's, interiority and psyche. It is such a beautiful investigation into love and feeling. It's also a quick read, so I would recommend it to everyone! Rating and Review by Josie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: It was very interesting with desperate people getting a chance to try other lives. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: A super quick read with a raw look at a life-altering battle with cancer, touching on the heart breaking challenges to the patient and her family through brain cancer, surgery and recovery. Just too sad for me. Rating and Review by Michelle

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I was honestly surprised that I enjoyed this book. I have watched many vampire movies and read other vampire books but this book is about the original Dracula. It was interesting, a bit scary. I loved the characters and loved how Van Helsing helped them find and destroy Dracula.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book was very good! A bit boring in the beginning but it picked up and turned out the be heartwarming and interesting. Rating and Review by Ada

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This was one of the most introspective memoirs I've ever read. Not only does Bethanny describe her experience of being in a cult through her early adult years, she also explains how she sees those actions now. I could not more highly recommend this. Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: During her long life, Ms Tyson overcame many injustices, not just because of her race but also her femininity. This is her story in her own words. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This is a quick light read about lessons in light. It is written from the perspective and story of Matthew’s life and his philosophy of how to navigate through this journey we all are on.
It is interesting to see as well as a bit surprising how strong his faith shines through in his decisions and choices. Although it is not life changing it does give avenues to venture down in dealing with life .
It is written from the perspective that in life we have red and green lights. Red is for stopping and reflecting while green is when you need to go, take risk or move ahead.
It is a good quick read for a day at the beach, sitting on the deck or just general enlightenment. Rating and Review by Dee

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I'm not usually one for memoirs, but Bob's Burgers is my favorite tv show so I've been wanting to read this one for a while. I listened to the audiobook, which was great because H. Jon Benjamin narrates. Each chapter was it's own story from his life where he failed at something in some way with the underlying message of "this sucked, this did not go my way, but the world didn't end and everything was pretty much fine." As someone who struggles with the idea of failing at things, a book of just back to back moments of failure from someone I, in some ways, admire was pretty comforting. It was also really funny. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I liked it! Kind of went in different directions. The main character Lacey was a piece of work. Very pretty, driven and had many flaws. Didn't mind using people, cutting corners, sleeping around, and was very sexual. I learned a lot about the art world, was very surprised about Steve Martin's talents. Rating and Review by Mary

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Rebecca Wells, a disgraced FBI agent, returns to her family’s childhood cottage to recover and gets involved with a teenagers homicide. Rating and Review by Sue

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Sitting on front porches, drinking sweet iced tea, and gossiping are the favorite pastimes of the good folks of Park Place, South Carolina. The story revolves around the town's Presbyterian Church and its minister, Reverend Rock Clark, whose meddling ways quite often get him into trouble. The preacher is too busy tending to his flock and putting out fires to recognize a brewing romance. Reverend Rock works to help stop a realtor from purchasing all the locals’ land in an area where an amusement park is to be built nearby. The realtor plans to sell the properties to big land developers. Rock’s efforts to help the local land owners angers the realtor who then sets out to get even with him. The book is a delightful read that includes mystery and intrigue, and God's grace. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: "CONTAINS SPOILERS:
This novel is the story of a librarian who becomes deeply attached (and falls in love with) one of her patrons, who is a child when she meets him. I was really uncomfortable with the whole premise even though nothing happens between them until he has reached adult age. The librarian, who is lonely and socially isolated, insinuates herself into the boy's life and family, becoming a caretaker for him. The ending of this book was also so weird and seemed out of place and not in a good way. I did think the writing was well done, but overall I did not enjoy this one!" Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Small town politics play a big role in this book, the sixth in the Joe Pickett series. The prominent Scarlett family are the historic owners of a large ranch near Saddlestring. Opal Scarlett, the feisty matriarch of the family, keeps her three sons tied to her apron strings and constantly completing and battling with each other. When she disappears, old resentments come to a fever pitch with the citizens of the small community being forced to choose sides. Joe is also endangered by someone connected to his past. To fully follow this story, it is important to read the previous books, ideally in order. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This was an interesting sapphic romance. Full honesty, I enjoyed the author's first book better, but if you love wineries and small towns, this might be for you! Rating and Review by Hannah

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I was really excited for this book because I've been interested in Mothman for a long time and even went there as really a first date with my current partner. This book was definitely a product of it's time, though (1975), so there were some parts that were hard to read because of how non-white people were being described. It also was a lot more far-fetched than I thought, which is wild considering I thought it was going to be a journalist's account of a cryptid. There was a lot more alien stuff than I was expecting and most of it felt very made up to me. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: Minding Frankie is about a child who is born as her mother dies. Her mother has arranged for Frankie to go to her father, Noel. The story follows the community around Noel and Frankie who support them as they grow. The book had far too many characters which were hard to keep track of as they could not all be developed at any meaningful level. The writing changed abruptly between characters as if the author was attempting to dump every scenario and character she had dreamed of but not yet used into one story. It was written at a very elementary level and all-in-all I would not recommend it to anyone. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This is a novel about an African-American former university police officer, now a Private Investigator, who is still grieving the loss of her daughter, Vandy’s only child. Vandy was a single mom. Following her daughter’s death, she quits the police force, moves back to her small home town in New Jersey, and starts her own PI business. The main character’s race is relevant because there is much in the book about race relations in this small town, and Vandy is stymied in her investigations by white officers in the local police department and by the powerful white mayor of the town. I found the main character believable, and the book is well-written. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: In a small village, everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business. So when a much hated vicar is found dead in the vicarage, no one other than Miss Marple seems to care. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: "When Women Were Dragons" is a most unusual story. It begins with a Dragoning where women and girls from across the nation turn into dragons and fly away, leaving their families and friends wondering how, where and why such a thing could have happened, and would the dragons ever return? No word of this event is ever spoken of again. The plot then moves from the 1950's to early 1960's and 2 loving sisters who each have daughters - 10 year old Alexandra and baby Beatrice. Beatrice's mother Marla leaves her baby in the care of her sister and flies off during the Drangoning. Soon after, Alex's mother dies and due to a very sorry and uncaring father, Alex is left to care for herself and Beatrice. The story continues as the girls, both smart and independent, grow up. A smart and caring librarian plays a prominent role in the girls' lives. Dragons and Dragoning are interwoven throughout this novel leading to surprising developments and conclusion. Barnhill's novel is about misogyny, feminist rage, the era's pervasive silence regarding all female issues, and is quite prescient. Rating and Review by Judy T.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This was the heartwrenching story of the opioid crisis and how it impacted so many in America. Triggered by the approval of oxycontin many people got addicted and moved onto heroin. Very sad and disturbing truth about problems that many ignore. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: The title and the initial setting and storyline were very interesting. But at some point the book turned into a monotonous trudge through a meaningless life and a lonely death Rating and Review by Michelle

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: I had high hopes for this book because I liked the cover photo and because I have had friends confined to wheelchairs. But . . . . after a while, I found the book to be repetitious and dry. The author expounds and drones sometimes like a boring college lecturer. Rating and Review by Sandy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Expected more from this author. Rating and Review by LeeAnn

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: The best thing about this novel is the title, which I absolutely adore. This book won the 2019 Lambda Literary Award for Romantic Fiction, so I thought it would be as clever and excellent as the title, but it turned out to be a big yawn. The dialogue started out snappy and enjoyable, then grew tedious. It seemed like the author was in love with her own attempts to be cute and clever. Rating and Review by Nanci

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but this is the most maddeningly dense book I've ever read. I was really excited about the premise, being interested in the Jacobite movement in the Scottish Highlands--and I was excited about the author, Scott, knowing how influential he is to the historical novel. There were some really beautiful lines, and I think Scott is especially great at descriptions of scenery. The relationships of the characters and the character Waverley on a whole, though, were not quite convincing enough to keep me engaged. I think there is a lot to learn from this book, but this is likely not something I would recommend. Rating and Review by Josie

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: It is the author's first novel. Cyrus, the main character is struggling with an inheritance of violence and loss: a mother whose plane was shot down over the Persian Gulf as a senseless accident and an alcoholic. Cyrus is a drunk and an addict and poet who has an obsession with martyrs which leads him into the mysteries of his past and towards an uncle who rode through Iranian battlefields dressed as the angel of death to comfort the dying. He discovers a painting in a Brooklyn Art Gallery by his mother. The painting suggests that she might not have been who he thought she was. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This was good enough that I want to read the sequels, but not so good that I'd necessarily recommend it to anyone. I was only moderately interested in what was going on until 60-65% of the way into the book, which is when I felt like it finally picked up. I didn't really like any of the characters, the love triangle felt totally unnatural and just forced in because it's a YA book so it's expected. The writing was also very repetitive. Major details that it would be unrealistic to expect a reader to forget were repeated over and over again and it became frustrating. Rating and Review by Hannah E.

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: This is a hard to follow story of several unconnected characters who end up on a small island. Their backstories do not fully explain their connection other than to protect the island from development. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★
REVIEW: This book had encouraging reviews and I thought it would be a fun read. I was very disappointed. I felt like the story was very convoluted. The story takes place during the filming of a British television comedy. One of the lead actors stumbles upon a dead body. The police quickly dismiss the death as an accident. There is practically no official investigation. The local police officer is friendly but incompetent. The inspector sent to investigate is rude, does an extremely cursory investigation, and ignores obvious indicators of possible foul play. The actor who discovered the body and his costar investigate themselves and find some pretty compelling indicators that the official conclusions don't stand up. Of course no one listens. The whole story was pretty unbelievable. When the murderer is finally determined, the motivation is pretty weak. The pacing was rambling and I had trouble actually finishing the book. Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★
REVIEW: I thought it was awful from start to finish. Dinah Kaufman soap opera writer was off the wall. Rating and Review by Mary M.

RATING: ★★
REVIEW: I am a big fan of Julia Child and have read books by/about her, so I was looking forward to this one, which I had heard a lot about, and I had built it up in my head to be something I was sure to love. I did not. I found it hard to follow -- too many people and place names and war strategies made it hard to keep up. I didn't think the writing was very good, and I really struggled to even finish it. Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Laurie has come back to her hometown to take care of her great aunts estate. Dot has been all over the world and her collectibles are on every open space in her home. When Laurie comes upon a wooden duck under some blankets in a wooden chest, she starts to wonder about its significance to her great aunt. She has hired Matt to help determine what is valuable and what to donate. Matt gives her a phony estimate and tells her he will take the duck off her hands for $50. Then Laurie discovers that the duck may have been created by a famous artist in the area and schemes to get the duck back. Rating and Review by Michele

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Really interesting legends, some true, some made up, but all passed down through the years from generations to generations. Rating and Review by Sue

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: In the summer of 1914 PI Issac Bell foils an attempt on President Wilson in an attempt to stop the newly found Federal Reserve. This fast moving, action-packed adventure follows Bell around the country as he tries to stop the theft of the country’s newly minted currency. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Two jewel thieves, Peter Salerno and Dominick Latella, hit the East Coast mansions of the wealthy enclaves of Westchester and Palm Beach. They were named the Dinner Set Gang because they found dinner time was the best time to break in without being detected as everyone was busy eating or serving. They never carried guns or hurt anyone.
This is the kind of true crime book I can manage. I sometimes found myself hoping they would be successful. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book -- I had no idea I would be able to use it for the heist category, so that was a bonus surprise. The novel is the story of a young woman who is in prison, the older woman who leads a book club at the prison, and an older man who works part time in a bookstore. Their lives becomes intertwined, and the book tells of their relationships with each other and with other people. I enjoyed the characters and found that I could not wait to get back to this book to find out what happened next! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is part of a series where an innkeeper in Amish Country finds herself involved in solving mysteries with the support of her friends (the Material Girls). It reminded me much of a Hallmark movie, but in a good way. It started with mixed up luggage with someone the innkeeper (Liz Eckardt) met on the plane home. Then one of her friends mentions her beloved pink jeep is stolen and her guests at the inn are celebrating their anniversary but have just had a robbery of some priceless pieces. It was a very entertaining read and I enjoyed how they came together to solve the mysteries. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This book is about a traditional family torn apart by the arrival of an angry, violent, destructive child, Ben. As parents Harriet and David struggle to hold together both the family and their own personal values, we read as their children, extended family, neighbors and community turn against them due to Ben’s unpredictable and violent nature. It was a thought provoking read though I didn’t care for what seemed like an abrupt ending. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The true story of Stephane Breitwisle. the most proficient art thief of all time, and how he pulled off more than 200 heists, all over Europe. Often these heists were done in broad daylight in crowded museums. His collection was estimated to be in the billions. The book is a true crime narrative of our times and is a riveting story of art, theft, love and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost. It was amazing to me how he could pull these heists off without being caught for years. It was also interesting to note that he stole because he loved art and having it around him, not to profit by selling it. he also was obsessed with the high of stealing and getting away with it. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This book was so well written. The author relayed the story with compassion and insight and each main character was well rounded. It was well-written from beginning to end. Afterward, I watched the recent movie about the author titled Capote. After the movie, I wasn't as in awe of the writer. He was a very rounded character as well, and not entirely likable in the movie. He did seem at times to lack empathy for the victims and well-being of the general public. Also, he had a lot of help from Harper Lee in writing this book but didn't give her credit. The family of the victims were upset because they felt he portrayed the murderers with too much compassion and in too positive a light. I can understand how they felt this way, from the perspective of grieving traumatized family members. But, his close study of the murderers helps the public to remember that even murderers are worthy of compassion and understanding. And highlights the systemic problems and trauma that lead to cruel, cold-blooded crimes. I guess the outcry of the victim's family is the reason we don't have books like this published today about mass shooters. This was the first book published in American literature in the genre of true crime. Rating and Review by Jennifer

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: We know there are good guys and bad guys when we hear talks of Palestine. The book follows 3 generations as they scatter across the globe. The chapters are written from each of the family members and is easy to follow their individual dislocation being passed between each other. Their lives are build in a structure made of salt, a tidal wave comes and sweeps them away. This is also a timely written book and helps filter the real world around us. Rating and Review by Karen H

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I found this book to be a reminder of what some immigrants go through who are wrongly accused of being in the United States and being criminals. This is the story of numerous Indian workers who are rigorously recruited from small villages in India and promised good paying jobs and visas which will lead to getting a green card and citizenship. They will be working on dangerous oil rigs in Mississippi and Texas. They also are forced to pay an exorbitant fee up front in order to come to the US. Upon arrival the fifty men are placed in "man camps" surrounded by barbed wire, watched by guards and crammed into unheated trailers. They are forced to eat moldy bread and are kept on a starvation diet. The book traces the worker's extraordinary escape and their march on foot to protest in Washington DC and their 23 day hunger strike. This was 21st century forced labor. It is the gripping story of one of the largest human trafficking cases in modern American history and the worker's heroic journey for justice. I highly recommend it. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I've read several novels by Helen Hoang and she often incorporates asian cultures with characters who are neuro divergent. The stories are sweet and enlightening for me who hasn't had much contact with autism, aspergers, etc. Rating and Review by Robyn

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: In this book, a young family is forced to leave their home in Austria as Hitler's regime is gaining power. They immigrate to America, and after spending some time in New York City and California, end up on a farm in rural Vermont. The book (written by the woman in the family) details their struggles as they learn to manage life on a farm where the temperatures get down way below zero and snow measured in feet falls throughout the winter. There is a battle with rats (!), charming descriptions of local small towns, stories of life with a party line telephone where everyone could listen in on the calls of their neighbors, etc. I enjoyed this book, although sometimes, it got a little detailed for me, and I would find myself having to go back and reread some sections. I think if you are interested in life in rural America as it was in the 1940s and 50s, you would enjoy this book! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: After escaping Nazi Germany and fleeing to the US, Freddy tries to enlisted but is rejected as an enemy alien. However, he is accepted by the OSS, returns to Europe masquerading as a Nazi officer. After many successful missions he is captured and tortured. A true story. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book was extremely difficult to read. It is about a thirteen year old girl named Lakshmi. Her step father sells her into the sex trade to raise money to cover gambling debts. Lakshmi believe she is going to work as a housemaid and resists her captors. What follows is horrific. The author met with some of the victims of human trafficking in Nepal & India and wrote this story based on candid interviews she did with some of the sex workers in some of the brothels. I highly recommend this book to everyone as it will open your eyes to the plight of many women worldwide, even here in the United States. Rating and Review by Michelle C

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: The novel follows Eleanor Bennet’s life journey, including her initial experiences as an immigrant, her relationships with her children, and the secrets she carries from the Caribbean. Black Cake, a rich, rum-soaked fruitcake, symbolizes love, unity, and the blending of families. It also represents the resilience and cultural heritage of the Caribbean people, drawing upon influences from various traditions. Eleanor brings the recipe for Black Cake as she comes to the United States and continues the traditions associated with it. When she dies, she left a Black Cake in the freezer for her children to eat together. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: The incredible story of Maddie (aka Maame) who is born in London to Ghanaian immigrants. We join Maddie as she navigates love, work, and friendship as a woman of color who is torn between cultures. This book is un-put-downable. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This is a fictionalized account of Amish immigrants and their voyage on the ""Charming Nancy."" This ship is known to have transported many Amish and Mennonites to the New World (to Penn's Woods in Philadelphia) in their search for religious freedom. Anna was urged by her grandparents to join the group as an Englisher translator. The author includes many true accounts of the overcrowded ships, sickness/death and scoundrels embezzling money from these immigrants who were unsuspecting of fraud. These people put their lives in the hands of strangers to be delivered to a new life/new world of promise. This was a very interesting read with a bit of intrigue at the end. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This historical fiction book is inspired by a true story of two teens kidnapped by an African warlord. Despite the constant hardships and threat to their lives, they put the well being of others ahead of their own. While working to help others, they meet, fall in love, and work together to free others from bondage. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is a short and easy read that tells the story of an American who rents a home in a tiny village in the south of France for a year. While there, he decides that he wants to have a garden, and to make this happen he has to depend on the kindness of his neighbors in the village. They help him find a plot of land, loan him tools, and of course, give him lots of advice! The garden enables him to meet more people and develop relationships with them and the success and challenges of the garden are dependent on the kindness of the village. I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it for anyone who enjoys (or is frustrated by) growing things! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Phoebe's has recently been through a divorce and her cat has died. She decides she no longer has any reason to go on. She chooses a fancy hotel, The Cornwall Inn, where she plans to spend her last night. When she arrives, she finds that every room is filled with wedding guests and she is the only outsider. She runs into the bride and explains the reason she is there, and the bride is furious that Phoebe will ruin her big event. Phoebe ends up staying the week and partakes in all of the wedding festivities. She learns that she needs to kind to herself and not take the blame for the actions of others. I thought this book was a little repetitive and I was able to skip whole paragraphs without losing the gist of the story. Rating and Review by Michele H.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book is part of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The lead character Mma Precious Ramotswe is kindness personified. These books are not action-packed detective stories. The pace is slower and more meandering with a lot of emphasis on the culture of Botswana. In this book many different stories are intertwined, and the focus is more on the feelings and relationships of the characters. The title refers to an abandoned baby elephant found by Charlie, a young man who works part time for the agency. In another situation, Precious is approached by a distant cousin who needs money for an operation for another distant relation. Precious must decide whether or not to help. Precious also has a new neighbor who is in need of her patient kindness. Her partner Mma Grace Makutsi, who is not always as kind as Precious, finds her heart drawn to a young woman in need. Other characters also give and receive kindness. The books in this series can stand alone, but I think reading them in order is idea. Rating and Review by Judy M.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Well-written, engaging, and easy-to-read, this novel explores how the random connections we make can sometimes save our lives. It is also a commentary on our society's obsession with weddings as events and how that obsession too often overshadows what a wedding is about at its core and how we often lose sight of our true feelings amidst the fanfare of the production of the wedding.
I did enjoy this book, however, much like the titular wedding, it was too long. Had some of the week's wedding activities been left out, it would have been a much better book to me. Still, this is a book I would recommend to just about any reader of contemporary fiction. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Wendell Berry never disappoints. This book is a series of short stories about Ptolomey Proud foot and his wife. They are loving and kind and deeply human. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Even though Sam had been treated so badly by students and parents, he was such a kind person. Rating and Review by Mary

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This is the first book written by Dick Francis and is a winner! The book is set in the world of horse racing. When jockey Alan York meets the lovely Kate Ellery-Penn, it's love at first sight for him, but not immediately so for Kate. While he is racing, his friend Dane asks her out. Both men find Kate's guardians less than warm toward the idea of her dating either of them. Meanwhile, Alan becomes more and more convinced that the death of his best friend and fellow jockey was not the accident everyone thinks. As he investigates, he is soon embroiled in danger with twists and turns throughout. This book is a real page-turner! Rating and Review by Judy M

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: The book was good. I love this author because she always adds humor to her stories which can make me laugh out loud. Its racy, so fair warning. Rating and Review by Robyn

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This book follows Henry Skrimmer's baseball career from just finishing high school through his junior year in college. Interwoven with Henry's story of wild success and equally wild failure, are the stories of the other players and their partners. Though I am the furthest thing from a baseball fan, I enjoyed the book because the author built mostly believable characters of great depth. Definitely worth a read. Rating and Review by Michelle

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: Two imprisoned women gladiators fight for their freedom in the penal system known as Cape, Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, controlled by private industry. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Such a fun and quick read! I don’t normally read romance, but this was a good choice for me—light hearted and with characters I was interested in. Recommend! Rating and Review by Joanie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Clara and Tory have had a secret love for each other for years, but neither of them have acknowledged it. They deal with this by pretending they hate each other. Then, things take a turn. Tory’s grades are poor enough that he will not be able to continue playing on the school’s hockey team if he does not pull them up. However, Clara is a very good student who can use some extra money as her father tends to waste his earnings by gambling. Tory’s parents hire her to tutor Tory. During these sessions their feelings for each other surface. To add to their dilemma, each of them have dark secrets that could destroy their relationship.
The first third of the book is the usual teen stuff, but after that the story is filled with tension, banter, and complex characters. Rating and Review by Bendy

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Sports romances were not my favorite things to read at the start of this book. I chose a book about Olympic sports which I followed since a young age--gymnastics. The author described the needed determination, persistence and excellence needed for the competition. She also described how some of the athletes were somewhat abused by people they trusted (physicians and coaches).
She also had two of the characters from a non-profit to support these athletes in their overall training. It was a very uplifting book that of course had a twist of romance that was equally supporting. I would recommend this book as a great read. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This nonfiction is a fascinating look at the tourism industry. We can learn valuable and interesting lessons about how to travel ethically. Rating and Review by Chrissie

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: In July 1965 at the 5th Newport Festival Bob Dylan picked up an electric guitar to the dismay of his fans. Much of this book details the history of folk music, the development of the Newport Festival and the birth of the rock generation. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: During the Covid lockdown we all had opportunities to stay home and be reclusive. The author stumbles upon a baby hare and chooses to care for it without domesticating. They remain separated yet share a common space as they both learn from each other. I couldn’t put the book down until I had finished it. I cared for a turtle at about the same age as the author and wished I had been given a “Covid” opportunity. My younger self through trial and error tried to grow with the turtle. I too made mistakes and learned. I loved every part of this book. Thank you Lee for sharing. Rating and Review by Karen H.

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: This novel, inspired by the true story of Martha Ballard, a late 18th century Maine midwife who delivered over 1,000 babies and never lost a mother, was a compelling, well-written book. The ending was a bit gory for me, but I’m a little squeamish. I found the descriptions of the early American “justice” system disturbing, but honestly I don’t know why any of that surprised me, given that women were considered property at that time, and given how, unfortunately, very little has changed about the way we treat people who are raped today. I found the sections about the Ballards’ sex life prurient, distracting, unrealistic, and a little distasteful, given the rest of the book’s plot and theme. Rating and Review by Amy

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: It gives a glimpse back in time of Queen Isabella, Spain, religions and life in the 1400’s. Rating and Review by Debra

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: I enjoyed it overall, though I did find the ending to be a bit rushed and anticlimactic. I did appreciate the juxtaposition of western vs eastern draconian lore held in balance, and the overall story seemed very original and is a nice addition to the fantasy genre. Rating and Review by Andrew

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: Ms Obama gives us her insights and encouragement for dealing with uncertainty in these troubling times. Rating and Review by Beth

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: Episcopal Bishop Budde teaches us how to respond with clarity and grace when we are at the toughest times in our life and when there are decisive moments where we are called to push past all fears and act with strength. Whether it be making a decision to go, a decision to stay, a decision to start, the decision to accept that which we did not choose, or to step up to the plate, her personal experiences, scripture, history and pop culture underscores both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive. Rating and Review by Mary Lee

RATING: ★★★
REVIEW: The book is about Roberta Jewett who lives her difficult life with gusto, drawing on an inner strength that is admirable. As a divorced woman before women's lib she is looked upon as an outcast by her neighbors when she returns to her hometown to raise her children. She does it her way. I admired her values and her ability to stick to those values in spite of the many obstacles she faced. Rating and Review by Michelle C.

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: This book really drew me into it. It covered many of the details of the Romanov family (how they lived, their personas). You wanted to hear of a happy ending for at least one of them. It was a story worth recommending as a mysterious historical fiction. Rating and Review by Shirley F.

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: In this final book of the divergent series Tris and Four must determine whether they are going to side with Evelyn in order to wipe out the Factions, or if they will side with the group of Allegiant who wish to leave the city and start a new community. Rating and Review by Teresa

RATING: ★★★★★
REVIEW: I actually have read everything assigned to me in school. This is a book most kids read in school but my section was not assigned this play to read. It was quite a challenge to read but at the advice of a friend I found a way to "listen" to the words and it made it much easier to comprehend. William Shakespeare has a very heavy dialect that can sometimes confuse you if you are not accustomed to it. This is not a complaint for it added to the whole experience of reading it and I think it added to the story. I also learned nuance's to the story-line which I never realized. Rating and Review by Shirley

RATING: ★★★★
REVIEW: This classic historical novel is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. Dr. Manette is just released from a French prison and goes to live in London with his estranged daughter. Two suitors are attracted to Lucie and both end up in Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror. A large cast of characters, two locales, different political and societal settings make this an interesting read. Rating and Review by Beth