Lovely caper filled with imagination. . . one learns you must be careful for what you wish for, you may have to live with its consequences. This book is charming and completely filled with mouthwatering descriptions of pies, one of my favorite desserts. Did I get lose myself in Nowhere, yes and no. One must admit it is a great name for a city! The characters were fascinating and very memorable, however, its plot was predictable. With its charming Southern setting and Rachel's interactions with Nowhere's quirky residents, it made for fun and easy read.

May I start my saying. . . this was one hard read! Bryn Greenwood's new book has a very controversial nature to its storyline. The subject matter, difficult to comprehend, but one that I understand does exist in this muddied world we live in. Written to disturb and challenge the reader, this novel forces one to look compassionately into the lives of each of its flawed, but memorable characters, Wavy, her little brother, Donal, and Kellen.

Greenwood uniquely uses multiple narrators to tell her story, some in the first person, others in the third person. That usually does not work for this reader, however, it is this writer's gift when it fits so well that the story flows and the reader doesn't really realize how the story is joined.

At eight years old, Wavy, the daughter of a meth dealer and a wacky drug addicted mother, is struggling to raise her little brother and be the "responsible" adult in his life. Then she meets Kellen, an ex-con motorcycle mechanic with a heart of gold, who tries to keep her safe and in school. And as the years pass, their unlikely relationship, surrounded by drug dealers, illicit sex and family turmoil, grows until another family member steps in to charge Kellen with statutory rape. The one constant, stable person in her life is taken and Wavy must decide to fight for herself, her family and her relationship.

This is both an intelligent and honestly written book, I will think about Wavy and her ugly but wonderful world long after having finished Greenwood's emotional roller coaster ride.

To experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure has always been at the top of my "bucket list." So needless to say, when BookBrowse gave me an opportunity to be one of its first readers, I jumped at it. This rugged novel immediately transported me to Sitka where I found myself tossed about by nature's waves, wind and weather. Through the pages of this book, I was also introduced to a cast of characters that one can only meet in Alaska; many of which will remain with me in the coming years. This is a straightforward, old-fashioned coming of age story of nineteen-year old Tara Marconi, who struggles to find respect, love, and her inner peace in Alaska. As she battles to reinvent herself, she proves herself to be very much like I imagined Alaska to be – fresh, sensitive, discovering and unforgettable. Tara's story confirmed the struggles one experiences while submersed in Alaska's unique culture of commercial fishing. Strong-willed and capable, the reader watches her obtain her American dream

Really fun summer read! Based upon historical fact, 1914, Hackensack, New Jersey, a story of the first woman deputy sheriff in this country. What happens to the three Kopp sisters when a motorcar owned by the town's bad boy hits their carriage? Life begins to be not so normal for these sisters. Since it was the time in our country when a women's place was in the home, the Kopp ladies are indeed an anomaly. Constance is a strong-willed, imposing woman who is ready to take on obstacles lesser ladies would not tackle. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this smart adventure and hopefully it is only the beginning of a series by this author. My only negative comment is ... the book is notably missing any romance; I'd love to see what happens in the future.

If you are a "foodie," then you are in for a delightful afternoon of reading this series of cooking vignettes. Each one is shared by one mom and her two daughters who cook up original family stories and recipes. Pam, Maggie, and Sharon – they have a strong relationship, love to drink, eat/entertain and do not go a day without talking to each other. The masterminds behind the most successful blog, "Three Many Cooks," have written a very entertaining collection of stories that illustrate these women's individuality and search for kitchen perfection. This book contains both their highs and lows, kitchen disasters and entertaining triumphs.

Having just read "Safe With Me," I am having very mixed emotions about its content.
I was prepared to read about a mother's devastation on the loss of her daughter and her decision to donate the child's organs. I was not prepared to have the domestic violence – the voice of Olivia as she struggles with her abusive relationship with her affluent dark sided husband.

Having raised two daughters and now enjoying a delightful 16 year old granddaughter to love and cherish, it made the subject matter very real at times and I discovered it was difficult for me to absorb. Several times I put the book down and didn't return to it for several days. I believe the author made a statement on her acknowledgement page that she had tackled this subject once before unsuccessfully and was ready this time to really write it... and she did. I am not sure I liked the ending. Could there have been other options? This novel tugs at your heart way after having read the last page.

Touching on the terrorism of the 1980s in Ireland, the heroine of this novel, Bessie, is sought by the an IRA enforcer - The Dentist. Along with her son, Herkie, she flees Belfast to settle in a busy little village where everyone knows each other and each others business. The author's main message...The future can be better than the past, especially if you have the courage to overcome the obstacles in your way. I found that the dialogue/Irish vernacular made it somewhat difficult to read at first - slowed down my reading pace. However, after I finally got the rhythm, I found the book an enjoyable read filled with quirky characters and some amusing moments.

An easy to read, perfectly plotted mystery that twists and turns through picturesque Amish country in Ohio. This fast paced novel with its very charismatic, empathetic, strong-willed main character, Kate Burkholder, brought up Amish, but left the "life" to pursue her career as a police officer, kept this reviewer reading well into the night. The story starts with the tragic death of an Amish father and his two young children, when their horse drawn buggy becomes the victim of a hit and run driver in the early evening on a dark country road. Kate takes this hit and run personally and the story revolves around the mystery of who did it, and was it an accident or murder.

This is the fifth book in the author's Kate Burkholder series, but the first I have read. Consequently, I wasn't aware of story behind the body found in the old grain elevator, or her history with Tomsetti. However, it did add a whole unresolved second thread to the novel. Her Last Breath could be considered a standalone who-done-it, with many links to the past and some unanswered futures. This author does a pretty good job of presenting expository narratives to bring the reader up to date.

What a ride! This psychological thriller deals with the ultimate betrayal. Filled with paranoia and confusion, this plot drags you in and keeps you engaged until the end. What a twisted road, the main character, Geniver, travels – from the lost of her only child at birth to 8 years later when a stranger tells her that her husband has betrayed her. The child is alive and well, but hidden. Who does one trust? Geniver searches for her child without the support of her family or close friends and along the way uncovers some very dark secrets. What she learns horrifies her. . . . what is her husband hiding? As she continues to delve into their past, she finds the answers to her questions...answers that will change her life forever. With a surprise ending one doesn't see coming, this author weaves a breathless thriller that kept this reader reading well into the night.

A dark, incandescent novel that covers the Vincent family's struggle to return to their life together after having experienced the horrific kidnapping of 14 year old Caleb. Seeking sanctuary from the throes of the incident and the media, the family, sans the father, flees to Grandma's Cloud Forest Retreat in Costa Rica. Life in Costa Rica is not as a quiet and unassuming as expected.

Not for the faint of heart, this book contains some pretty explicit pedophile and perverted actions featuring underage children. An emotionally complex story that stays with the reader well after having turned that last page. If you don't mind going to the dark corners of your soul - this book is for you, As for this reviewer, I wish I had not gone there. This heavy duty, sad read was not easy to experience.

This was a good weekend read – chock full of wonderful, flawed characters with some pretty wicked senses of humor. The protagonist, Hildy Good is a 60-year old real estate agent who having survived her Hazelden invention two years earlier needs to prove she is neither an alcoholic nor a witch. She is truly an "original" that is irresistibly likeable but very untrustworthy. As a longtime resident, she pretty much knows everything (good or bad) that happens in the small New England town of Wendover. Having befriended a recent client, Rebecca McAllister, she becomes involved in her torrid affair with the town's resident psychologist. Soon her life goes into a tailspin and the tone darkens with approaching tragedy. This book is funny, poignant and terrifying. I believe that Ann Leary has achieved her goal – to write a legitimately funny novel about alcoholism without getting too preachy.

The “Tree” is a mystifying, complex novel that focuses on two forgiveness-seeking women, Claire, the citrus farm owner, and Marie/Minna, the enigmatic and beautiful Caribbean care keeper. Their relationship is engrossing, two damaged, but powerful women each seeking endurance and survival.

With a slow start, the second part of the book really grabbed me with its complicated and haunting storyline as Minna becomes the common presence in the life vulnerable Claire. This story with its multi-layered themes was very dramatic and somewhat “spooky” and kept me reading well into the night.

After having started this book 3 different times, I finally made it almost to the end and decided enough was enough. Storyline involves a variety con artists and swindlers. Expecting a “Sting-like novel, I found myself getting bogged down with what I though could have been a fascinating subject. I will say, however, that it does contain a great history of the city of Denver. With too much historical information and not enough storyline the flow of the novel stopped for this reader.

After a bout with cancer, romance novelist Eloisa James takes a sabbatical and moves her family to Paris to enjoy a year of nothing but experiencing life in the City of Lights. While there she “Tweets” and updates her “Facebook” followers with the quirks and joys of Paris living ... this book is a collection of those posts. Most of her posts are no more than a few sentences long, consisting of witty, observant updates on food, shopping, her kids, her Italian husband and a plump little dog. However for me, these loosely connected paragraphs, no matter how well written, are not the kind of material I want to experience when I sit down with a book. Perhaps her well-polished posts would make great reading for times when only a few minutes are available such as waiting for an doctor’s appointment, getting your hair done, or experiencing the commute travel to the city.

What does a naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington do when she finds herself king of a small fishing village of 7,000 souls located on Ghana’s central coast? She accepts the challenge of a lifetime and begins her 2-year adventure in beautiful Otuam. King Peggy arrives in Otuam to find its royal castle askew and the former king’s body awaiting a royal funeral. The story of Otuam with its lack of running water, doctors, hospitals, high school or town funding – all unfolds in a way that is stranger than fiction.

In this African society where women are still expected to lower their eyes and obey when addressed by men, feisty King Peggy with her headstrong resolve and spunk determined that the crown revenues were for the benefit of all of her people, not just a few of her shifty town elders.

This is a warm and wonderful read – the world needs more King Peggys!

The Titanic’s 1912 sinking remains a legend steeped in tragedy and mysterious allure. So just in time for its 100-year anniversary along comes Kate Alcott’s, The Dressmaker, a very compelling historical novel about a young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself in the middle of a media driven government hearing. Having met two men while on board ship, a roughly-hewn, but kind young sailor and a rather enigmatic Chicago millionaire, this young aspiring seamstress gets an incredibly lucky break to be hired as a personal maid to the famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon. But is it a lucky break. . . filled with the raw feelings of a national tragedy and the emotions of young love, this book was one terrific read.

This book is a look at the 1980’s in New York’s East Village from the perspective of a close-knit group of teens - a portrait of modern age and the struggles that unite or divide generations. Moving back and forth between Vermont and New York City, Ten Thousand Saints is a story of a frazzled bunch of family members that were brought together by Teddy’s sudden death due to an overdose, then carried along in anticipation of the birth of his child. AIDS, homelessness, gentrification, parenthood, adoption, and drug use are among the many topics covered in the book.

Rather lengthy and repetitive at times, this book took patience on my part to get through it. The hardcore punk rock music venues and the physical violence between some of these musicians got a little tedious. The author could have been pared it down and still sustained the story. The characters in this book have been compared to those in a Wally Lamb book – alive, familiar and all too human. Even though the dialogue was well done, in my opinion these characters were not that likable. I pitied them, but it was hard to really like them. In other words, I probably never will remember their names after the “read” is done like I do that of Scout from “How to Kill a Mockingbird.” Highly publicized by other reviewers as a coming-of-age novel; there are much better choices.

Remember the 1980’s television show, “The Scarecrow and Mrs. King” starring Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner? If so, then this author’s first book will be familiar. Imagine your neighbor is Sally Sin aka Lucy Hamilton living in San Francisco with her handsome husband and 3 year old child. And unbeknown to your husband she has a “past” . . . one filled with escapades involving international situations in foreign countries and an ex-agent bad-guy nemesis that reappears to interrupt her “new” life. This book is fast paced, highly enjoyable and a fun read especially on a weekend of being “snowed-in”. Since the mystery of Sally’s parentage still persists along with how will her husband handled the situation (does he or doesn’t he know), I feel there may be another book in this “sinful” series.

Having read Lippman’s “What the Dead Know, “ I was anxious to read another one of her creations. “The Girl in the Green Raincoat is a “Rear Window” reincarnation. This Alfred Hitchcock mode novel places a very pregnant, bed-confined private investigator, Tess Monaghan, in the center of a conundrum. The story is full of interesting/quirky characters that not only fit the story but also keep it moving, however, the ending was a bit too obvious and very predictable for my purposes. This quick little read is perfect for a lazy afternoon’s entertainment.

I can’t say I loved every minute of Maddie Dawson’s “The Stuff That Never Happened.” At times it made this reviewer step back, much like the author’s middle-aged heroine, Annabelle. I, too, can identify with the longing for yesterday’s romance. This slow moving character drama flits back and forth between the present and the past, answering the questions. ... Will she leave her husband? Will he leave his wife?

I didn’t have an easy time getting into it, until I finished the first 100 or more pages, then I was hooked and needed to know how it would end. Longing for the one that got away is a common theme in literature, but Maddie Dawson writes with a particular honesty that makes her characters very real and convincing.