BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
by Katherine Sharp Landdeck

The Women With Silver Wings (1/9/2020)

I was a small child in the early 1940's when World War 2 began. My Dad and two of my uncles enlisted to serve in the war. And so I appreciated having been able to read this book.
The young women, all flyers and the men as well, were eager to help our country despite the dangers that would befall them, and I am forever grateful for them all.

Remembrance
by Rita Woods

Remembrance (10/13/2019)

Leader of Remembrance, Mother Abigail, a truly special woman, built a sanctuary, called Remembrance for the runaway slaves on their flight to Freedom. This is a captivating story of living in freedom until "Slavers" invade their home, and wreak havoc on the their sanctuary, killing and destroying. The author, Rita Woods, has written an extremely good book, but one that was difficult for me to read.

The Kennedy Debutante
by Kerri Maher

The Kennedy Debutant (6/5/2018)

I have been a fan of the Kennedys for a long time, and well remember the day when JFK was elected President of the US! While I knew that Kathleen Kennedy had died in a plane crash many years before, I knew very little about "Kick"until reading this book...I realize that this is a novel, however, it does let us know more about what she was like. It sounds as though she was a. brave, brash person so typical of he Kennedy family! Ms Maher has given us a very good book!

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams

The Summer Wives (5/2/2018)

I was excited to receive an ARC of The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams, and was charmed to realize the book was about a family of Portuguese descent, because I too am of Portuguese heritage. I don't live on the coast of Connecticut, but I was born on the coast of Southeast Massachusetts! I enjoyed reading about Miranda falling in love with a Portuguese fisherman, Joseph Vargas, and of the separation between the "haves" and the "have nots". Much more happens but suffice it to say that the book gets more and more interesting!

Seven Days of Us: A Novel
by Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us (5/8/2017)

This is a charming, funny book that the reader will enjoy. Olivia, the oldest daughter of the Birch family, is a doctor working in Liberia caring for patients who have contracted the "Haag Virus". She is returning home to her family to spend the Christmas holidays, her first time home in a number of years. In so doing, however, she must be quarantined to ensure she hasn't contracted the disease. Of course, this means the whole family and whoever decides to come into the house must also be quarantined.
Each of the members of the family all have issues, and when they get together they all come in to play!
Needless to say, there's a lot of angst, tears, and lots of love! This is truly an enjoyable book.

The Book of Summer
by Michelle Gable

Cliff House (3/8/2017)

My Dad came from Nantucket, and my siblings and I were able to spend a great deal of time on the Island, and for that, we all have an abiding love for that wonderful place and much appreciation for our beloved Nantucket family for giving us the opportunity.

In The Book of Summer we learn about the Codman family who has owned this home on the bluff in 'Sconset for generations. Unfortunately Cliff House, a beautiful old home is teetering on the edge and in imminent danger of falling into the ocean. Cis Codman, matriarch of the family is insistent on saving the house; however, she and her family come to realize that nothing could be done about saving it. A journal called "The Book of "Summer", that had been kept over the generations and their families' stories, helped Cissie to accept the fate of Cliff House.

The Barrowfields
by Phillip Lewis

The Borrowfields (2/6/2017)

Henry Aster was a good man, really. He loved his wife and cherished his children. He was also a failed writer, and perhaps it led to his depression, and what happened after.
His son, Henry, Jr. returns to the family home and finds he is ready to accept his father's death.
Phillip Lewis has written an excellent book, despite of its dark theme. I truly enjoyed reading it.

Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins

Inkwell Manor (10/7/2016)

Cara Bookins has written an inspiring and heartening memoir. Who would ever think a single mother (who left an abusive marriage) along with her four young children, would ever think of building their new home together, all 3000 plus square feet of it! That they succeeded in achieving this goal is simply awesome.

Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson

Karolina's Twins (7/6/2016)

What I liked about this book was the way the author depicted the young Jewish women: having to live their lives in fear of being sent away, of the losses of their homes, and families, as well as being hungry and living in dire circumstances.
I did, however, feel that the ending was bit too pat; otherwise, Karolina's Twins held my attention..."man's inhumanity to man" certainly applies here.

Miss Jane
by Brad Watson

Excellent! (3/23/2016)

Miss Jane, written by Brad Watson, blew me away! It was that good! Jane is a special, wonderful person who was born with a genital deformity, and about how she lives her life coping with a problem that couldn't be "fixed" in the early 20th century.

The characters, from the loving, gentle doctor who delivered her and was a mainstay in her life, the independent, brash sister, Grace, to the solemn man of few words who was her father were wonderful.

I can't say enough about this book...suffice to say, that I consider Miss Jane to be one of the best books I've read.

Ashes of Fiery Weather
by Kathleen Donohoe

A Fond Memory (3/5/2016)

Several years before 9/11, my husband and I moved to a small town in NJ. We became good friends with a couple originally from Brooklyn who maintained close ties with their old friends, some of whom were from the NYFD. My favorite memory is a New Years Eve party at our friends' house. Promptly at midnight we all gathered outside and marched behind the two firemen with bagpipes playing "Auld Lang Syne"!

Kathleen Donahue has written a wonderful book honoring the bravery and resilience of the NYFD. The only issue that I had was the jumping from one time frame to another...otherwise, I truly enjoyed the book.

The Two-Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Family Secret (10/31/2015)

In The Two-Family House, two wives are married to two brothers-they are as close as any family can be. One family has 4 daughters, and the other 3 sons. While each mother craves a child of the opposite sex, they live intertwined lives. One wintry, snowy night, however, their lives are transformed, creating a secret that wreaks havoc on the women's relationship. Loigman has written a warm but poignant novel.

The Things We Keep
by Sally Hepworth

Bittersweet novel (9/10/2015)

When I was 38 I worried about a lot of things, but never did I ever think of getting "younger" onset Alzheimer's Disease at that time. Today, I am 30 years older, and every time I forget a word or misplace something, it is on my mind...am I getting "it"? But to read about Anna and Luke who were in the prime of their lives is just sad and terrifying. While The Things We Keep is certainly bittersweet, it was written with much compassion and love. This is a great book!

The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs
by Matthew Dicks

Easy read (6/2/2015)

No one is more surprised than Caroline, a quiet unassuming person, when she suddenly blurts out a 4-letter expletive at the PTO President at the local high school. After she realizes what she has done, she decides to make a trip, along with her very smart, too sassy daughter to visit a former best friend and demand an apology from her. The ex-friend had bullied her in high school and Caroline wants her to know how humiliated she was then and how it changed her life. This is an enjoyable and easy read...

Between the Tides
by Susannah Marren

Not a feel good novel (3/30/2015)

It took me until the climax of Between the Tides to really "get into" this novel. I did not care for any of the main characters: Charles, the ambitious and very arrogant husband of Lainie , an artist, who is consumed with her talent, Jess, Lainie's old friend, who is filled with envy of her, and will ultimately betray Lainie, and Jess' husband who is a wife abuser. This is not a "feel good" story, but one that is about arrogance, ambition and betrayal.

The Sweetheart Deal
by Polly Dugan

Enjoyable read (2/2/2015)

The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan, is an interesting book about love, grief, friendship and family. Leo, a firefighter, loses his life in a skiing accident, devastating his wife, Audrey and their children. The family grieve and struggle with the help of Leo's best friend Garrett. Without divulging anything more, this is a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

Blue Stars
by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Gritty and harrowing... (12/6/2014)

Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe is the gritty and harrowing story of two women, Ellen and Lacey, whose son ( legal ward) and husband are both grievously injured in Iraq. The women meet at Walter Reed Army Hospital amidst all the horror of seeing their loved ones suffer. Ellen and Lacey, forge an unlikely friendship that will sustain them through the months of the mens' recoveries. We are given a birds eye view of what our servicemen and families go through when they are injured in battle. It is not a pretty story, but one that I was glad to read.

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

Difficult read, wonderful book (9/19/2014)

Set during the German occupation of France during WWII, The Nightingale, is about two young sisters who put their lives in constant danger dealing with the Nazis.

Isabelle, the younger sister, impetuous and daring, joins the Resistance at the age of 19. In the meantime, Viann, her older sister, remains at home while her husband goes off to war.. How these two brave women go about in their own way to help the "cause" is awe-inspiring.
Hannah's skillful writing, her awesome characterizations make for a great read.

This is a very special book!

That Summer
by Lauren Willig

That Summer (4/11/2014)

I've always harbored a secret dream of inheriting an old house filled with treasures ( not likely!), so I quite enjoyed the fact of Julia having to go through all that was left to her by her aunt...turns out there were discoveries dating back to 1839 , including finding the bones of Julia's probable great great grandfather! There is that story and more but I will leave it to the reader to find out. It is an easy book to read, but also
enjoyable!

Glitter and Glue: A Memoir
by Kelly Corrigan

Glitter and Glue (12/10/2013)

Kelly Corrigan's mother would tell her that "your father is the glitter but I am the glue." This delightful book is a paean to her mother after finally discovering her mother was truly the "glue" in her life. This is Corrigan's 3rd book, and while her first, The Middle Place, remains my favorite, Glitter and Glue is a humorous, touching memoir.

Reviews by Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)

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Reviews by Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)

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