Updates

"Alternating chapters bring you the story of 2 women trying to make it on their own in NYC: Darby, in the early 1950’s; and Rose, in 2016. There was an element of suspense in this “chick-lit plus” historical novel. I found it to be an easy, light read; good for a plane ride or on a beach. I’d recommend this as a mother/daughter read & share book. It would lend itself to discussions regarding career goals, how to successfully achieve independence, and the ever-changing expectations of how young women should behave." - D. Zelamsky

3/4 stars.

"Estranged sisters Kate, Bindi, and Reeda inherit their grandmother’s inn on Cabarita Beach, Australia. The sisters begin to resolve their issues as they work and live together at the Inn. When Reeda discovers the journals of their grandmother Edie, she learns about Edie’s lover, Charlie Jackson, who was lost in WW 11. Reeda travels to Italy to learn more about Charlie. Discovering the mystery about their grandmother's past will change everything they thought they knew about their family, but that only begins to be disclosed in Book 1.

"Send For Me by Lauren Fox was just ok in my humble opinion. It takes place in Germany on the eve of WWII. The story follows the life of a small Jewish family who are very close knit. At times, I found it a bit difficult to follow the story line because there were many flashbacks. Inherently, its theme is the endearing love and strong bond between family members, specifically mothers and their daughters. I found the way it was written a bit disjointed and slightly confusing. I kept waiting for it to pick up and really draw me in. Unfortunately it didn’t." - E. Castellano

"It is a book about family dynamics, how they develop and how they change over the years and how family stays connected through changes. I could not figure out why she called the book French Braid, but she reveals that near the end of the book. There were some very touching parts to the book. I enjoyed it." - L. Caran

3/4 stars.

"This was a page turner and finished in a day. The characters were complex and the storyline was rich. Another solid book by Hoover." - A. Green

4/4 stars.

"In 1974, Ellison Russell’s life centered on her daughter, Grace, and her art. Henry, her cheating husband and his many country club women are no longer important to her. That is until one of those women, Madeline Harper, is found dead in the country club pool. Henry’s secret life of cruelty, kinky sex, and blackmail resulted in his murder. Ellison is a prime suspect, and she must clear her name by finding the killer before he kills her. As if this isn’t enough, Ellison must deal with country club gossips and her domineering mother. Engaging read with many red herrings." - E. Pasquali

"This picks up after Twisted Twenty-Six. Grandma Mazur is being tracked by her deceased husband’s (Jimmie Rosolli) gangster partners, who believe Jimmie left Grandma keys to a treasure. Grandma’s granddaughter, Stephanie Plum, is hell-bent on finding the keys and protecting Grandma. But Stephanie discovers others are also hunting for the keys. Chief among them is Gabriella Rose, a soldier of fortune and firearms expert. (Evanovich spins Gabriella off into a new series.) Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, it is best read after Twisted-Twenty-Six.

"It is a story of a young ma deeply addicted to crack. The book shares his experience in a six-week rehab center. It was a powerful story. I didn’t want to put it down until I finished the book." - O. Scheine

4/4 stars.

"Very quick read. The author talks about “the Perfection trap.” I didn’t enjoy this book. I felt it didn’t have much substance." - O. Scheine

1/4 stars.

"I loved this book. Tova is a widow who works the night shift as a cleaner at an aquarium. Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus who should never be underestimated. There are mysteries to be solved here. What about the mysterious disappearance of Tova’s son, Eric? Will Cameron find his destiny? Will Tova sell her house? And what about the cat? Everything comes together in the end in a satisfying way." - N. McGill

4/4 stars.

"I found the pace of this book to be awkward. The first half felt slow and the second half to be overly rushed and the 'thrill' factor in one swoop. I would have liked the intrigue to be better streamlined as I found every character to be forgettable." - A. Green

2/4 stars.

"Granny is a seventy-year-old former CIA agent. Granny moved to Cheerville, New England, to be closer to her son and 13-year-old grandson. When Lucien, a member of her book club, suddenly dies during a book club meeting, Granny suspects his heart attack was really poisoning. Grandma sets out to find the murderer. A humorous, fast, and fun read." - E. Pasquali

3/4 stars.

"This is an easy read for the summer. Normal Pennington and her reading club members go about to solve a hidden mystery. A dead hiker is found with a rare copy of a book. This begins the discovery of the secret of Hester, one of the members of the book club before her marriage to Duputy Andrew's."  - C. Daley

3/4 stars.

"I wanted to love this book but it fell flat. The main character was difficult to relate to deeply. There were several heavy topics (self harm/suicide) that were glossed over and not effectively infused into the story line. I read to the end, but as a debut novel, it didn't resonate with me." - A. Green

2/4 stars.

"I really enjoyed this book. The characters were relatable, the plot was light, and the dialoge was witty. There were some areas that felt rushed, but overall a fun and easy summer read." - A. Green

3/4 stars.