Updates

Blog Type
Blog Tags
Blog User

Red Delicious Death by Sheila Connelly

"The third in the series, a woman has inherited an apple orchard in Western MA. While trying to understand everything she needs to know about harvest time, she is helping a group of young people try to open a new restaurant. When the sous chef is found dead, she then turns into a detective to solve the murder. It wasn't the most exciting book, but fun for me to read having grown up in the area the book takes place." - C. D'Orazio

2/4 stars.

A Walk Along the Beach by Debbie Macomber

"A novel about two sisters, Willa and Harper, who are inseparable. With the loss of their mother, Willa takes the role to her younger sister who is a cancer survivor. We go through the worry of the return of cancer to Harper. Willa does find a love interest and his struggle to stand by her." - C. Daley

2/4 stars.

Villa in Sicily by Fiona Grace

"Audrey Smart, DVM, is stuck in a rut. In a moment of utter desperation, she quits her job and responds to a cell phone offer: pay one dollar for a lottery ticket. The prize is a fixer-upper house in Sicily. Audrey wins the house, leaves behind her beloved sister, Sabina, and Sabina’s family and moves to Sicily. Looking forward to a more idyllic life, Audrey finds instead a ramshackle house, unfriendly neighbors and a murder for which she is the prime suspect. Another formula mystery but a fast moving and fun read." - E. Pasquali

2/4 stars.

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

"This book was such a great read! At 19 years old, at the strike of midnight on New Years Eve, Oona faints and wakes up as herself but as a 51 year old. As she adjusts to her new reality, she learns that this will happen to her every year at midnight. Each year that she jumps, she attempts to change certain aspects of her life. Along the way she learns many lessons. At the end of the day, the storyline weaves an intricate thread through her life surrounding the ideas of love, family, change, and stability.

Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews

"This is the 4th book in the mystery series about Meg Langslow, a blacksmith. Due to an injury, Meg has taken a break from blacksmithing to answer phones at her brother’s computer game company. When one of the employees is murdered, Meg investigates. What makes this series so enjoyable is the ever expanding cast of characters, many of them Meg’s relatives, and their various pets or animals, including a buzzard named George." - N. McGill

4/4 stars.

Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Garner

"A marriage, once filled with passion and love, under the pressures of time, work, and five children, becomes passionless, routine, and obligatory (i.e. routine and obligatory Sunday night sex.) Claire once found her husband, Jack, sexy, but now views him more like Ward Cleaver than George Clooney, and she suspects him of having an affair. Their relationship and Claire’s life are at a crossroads. Humorous and thought provoking for couples in long-term relationships."- E. Pasquali

3/4 stars.

Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson

"This is part of the 'Gaslight Mystery' series by V. Thompson. Always the same main characters, Sarah, a midwife, and Frank Malloy, a former police sergeant turned private detective when he married. Recently married, they’re trying to adopt a little girl, Catherine. When a murder occurs, it turns out to be Catherine’s legal father, who is ransoming off his daughter illegally to the Malloys, who are the victim. Frank is the suspect. The story takes a lot of unexpected turns." - T. Gustafson

4/4 stars.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

"This is a wonderful story how about a woman who marries a man with a young daughter. Her life turns around completely when she discovers he is not who she thinks is. She shows tremendous fortitude as she upends her whole life to try to discover who he is and why he has left." - L. Gerber

4/4 stars.

Escape for the Summer by Ruth Saberlon

"Practical Andi; her sister, Angela; and Angela’s friend, Gemma, lose their jobs, money, and in Andi’s case, boyfriend. Pushed to the brink of desperation, Andi decides to live for the moment and join her sister and Gemma on a trip to the Rock (a seaside town in Cornwall, England). Angela is looking for a rich husband; Gemma is looking for stardom, and Andi doesn’t know what she is looking for. Their summer at the Rock impacts their lives, but not how they had anticipated.

A Vicarage Reunion by Kate Hewitt

"Esther’s father is the Vicar of Thornwaite, and it’s to the vicarage that Esther returns when she leaves Will, her husband of seven years. For a long time, Esther has been unhappy. She is unable to express her emotions or to even acknowledge them to herself. The death of the dog she and Will had raised since puppyhood precipitates the beginning of Esther’s emotional release. Tentatively, Esther tries to rebuild her life and her marriage." - E. Pasquali

3/4 stars.

 

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

"Another sweet book in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series. The characters become like family. I need to get all the rest of this series!" - C. D'Orazio

4/4 stars.

Newport Harbor House by Cindy Caldwell

"BFFs, Jen, Faith and Carrie, start their annual summer vacation at Jen’s family’s beach house. It has been in the family for three generations. The house has become run-down, and repairs will be costly. Because the beach house has a spectacular ocean view, it is highly valuable property. Jen’s father and brother want to sell it. Can Jen and her friends keep the beach house from being sold? Fast paced story illustrating the value of women’s friendships." - E. Pasquali

3/4 stars.

It’s Better This Way by Debbie Macomber

"Debbie Macomber’s new book is the story of a woman who had great difficulty dealing with divorce. Six years later, she moves to a condominium and meets the man of her dreams. However, they come into great conflict with their respective families due to a surprising revelation." - L. Gerber

4/4 stars.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

"Two 16 year old sisters living in the South run away from home and go on to lead very different lives by the choices they make. It is about race, class, gender and identity. Well written, easy read." - L. Caran

4/4 stars.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

"I must admit that this book gave me much difficulty - it was, to me, a very difficult read as the subject matter was very peculiar. I participate in library book club, usually the 12noon one. But I was trying to branch out a little so I tried this book which was on the evening book club list for this past month. Since I hadn’t finished before the meeting, I decided not to participate as I didn’t want the ending to be disclosed to me. Now, I wish I had attended that book club meeting since I really didn’t understand this book at all.