The tale of Agatha Christie's 11 day disappearance is one I have read about before and have even seen a movie about. Marie Benedict brings the story to life from a whole new perspective, or at least new to me.

The story is told from several points of view. The courtship of Archie and Agatha, Agatha life leading up to the disappearance and that of Archie left behind to fend for or defend himself.

It is said that Agatha never spoke of the disappearance during her lifetime, but there are certain clues, if you will, that seem to appear in all accounts. Marie Benedict uses these known fact to tell her story.

As in other historical fiction books such as The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin and the Paris Wife by Paula McLain, the husband's reputation doesn't fair well by the book's end. Archie Christie is depicted as having had designs on Agatha when she was young, winning her over and then discarding her when he was ready to move on. Upon Agatha's realization this had been the course of her life, she puts a positive spin on the fact that she would not be who she is and achieved all she had if she hadn't had to go down this path.

I recommend this to all who enjoy historical fiction.

I titled this review "A Tidy Tale" because at tale's end all the loose ends were nice tied up . The story was told in two time periods which alternated between chapters. At first I was confused about the characters and who they were in relation to time and to each other, but eventually it didn't matter because with each chapter came another "clue", if you will, and eventually you knew everything to needed to know to get the big picture.

It was an enjoyable and believable story and I would definitely recommend it to someone that enjoys a good historical mystery but doesn't want a lot of irrelevant facts in the story.

I have read both of Amy Stewart's Kopp sisters books and found both of them to be very entertaining, well written and interestingly creative having been written from true life characters. I do think though that the suspense level of Girl Waits with Gun was much more acute than Lady Cop Make Trouble. Having said that the Baron was indeed and menacing villain and there was quite a bit more investigating in Lady Cop Makes Trouble... an aptly title.

I do hope Amy digs up more information and brings us another Kopp sister tale.

I loved Girl Waiting with Gun. I was captivated from the very start and on the edge of my proverbial seat for the entire book. The story was humorous, suspenseful and totally engrossing. As I got near to the end, I began to read more slowly because I didn't want it to end.

I was very surprised when I read in the acknowledgement s that the story was based on true events. I was thrilled when I read that it would be a series.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes a rollicking good read!

I wanted to like The Art of Baking Blind, but between the language barrier of British cooking terms and even some of the terms of everyday life, I lost interest as it became confusing for me and almost like it's own reality show Desperate Cooks of Britain. Except for all of the above, I think fans of Debbie Macomber will really enjoy this book.

I chose to review A Fireproof Home for the Bride because I grew up in Colorado and Wyoming so I felt I had a feel for the area, I like the1950's and knew a little of its history, plus I liked the title. Well this book shared none of these preconceived notions.

While reading A Fireproof Home for the Bride my eyes were opened to the discrimination of immigrants, race, religions and of women in that region and at that time. I bounced from revulsion to disgust with only a slight feeling of happiness peeking in on occasion.

I think the book was well written and worth reading, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for an uplifting read.

I am truly sad this book ended. I pine for the characters and for Island Books.

This story of loss, love and the love of books was touching without being overly sentimental. The characters, thrown together by chance, are so endearing and such real people that I am so disappointed that I can not continue to be a part of their lives. Island Books is a living breathing character all itself. The ending, let's just say "Happy" there seems to be a hopeful future for books shops and booksellers everywhere once people read this book! Hug your bookseller today as they are an important part of your "collection".

When I started this book I expected a story about the pitfalls of a divorced women growing old alone with a help of her interfering children. As Mimi Malloy's story unfolded I found that there was so much more.

With the help of Mimi's family and friends Mimi's memories come forth and not necessarily in a beautiful and graceful way but actually in an unvarnished and startling way. Many of the details had been long forgotten by Mimi herself or misremembered by others. The story bring forth the highs and lows of her life and the eventual coming to terms with the past and a mystery long forgotten. With this coming to terms comes a better relationship with those present in her present life.

This book is a little bit Tree Grows in Brooklyn and a touch of Angela's Ashes with bits of the Golden Girls thrown in for a bit of levity . This book will long stay with me. Mimi will be part of me always.

The title Bellman and Black, A Ghost Store lead me to anticipate...a ghost. Anticipate I did! The writing in this book was beautiful and I was able to breeze along and connect with the characters and waited for the the ending to expose the ghost. Perhaps I missed something. The end confused me and left me thinking, well maybe Black is the ghost of the raven or maybe the ghost of the memories that Bellman seemed able to get past and get on with his life. I just don't know. I still loved the writing though and perhaps with a second read or a good book club discussion would shed some light on it for me.

It seems I have been waiting a very long time for Jamie Ford's next novel and it is finally here! I knew that it was going to be tough to follow up the wonder that was his debut novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. In my opinion he has met this challenge with success.

Songs of Willow Frost is haunting. The story of young Liu Song and William is one I won't soon forget. It proves that the bond between mother and son is indeed unbreakable. The extreme lengths in which Liu Song goes to in order to insure her survival and that of her son is heartbreaking and a true testament to this.

Jamie has once again brought to life the historical background of Seattle and the Chinatown culture. Again I am transported to an earlier Seattle. I could truly feel the struggle and desperation during this period prior to and during the great depression. There is a mix of old and new traditions colliding. The theaters and actors of this time period are brought to life just as the jazz culture was in "Hotel". The historical background and the changing from theater to movies and of piano and song to radio is deftly captured.

In addition to Liu Song and William, the other characters, including the inhabits of the Sacred Heart orphanage, really come alive. You feel the true evil of Uncle Leo and the true sorrow and desperation of the orphans. The characters of Sister Briganti's, head of the the orphanage, evolves as the cruelties of life and the times exposed themselves and old thoughts and ways are questioned. I will long remember these characters and this setting. I guess you can say they'll be haunting me.

I read this book in nearly one sitting. I admit though, that it took me awhile to get into it and I had to go back and figure out who was narrating in the first part. At the end of the book it was very clear.

The story was a real snapshot into that era. Trudy's defiance in marrying who she wanted and ultimate resolve in living with that decision was inspiring.

Once the action started rolling in regards to the "mermaid", that is when the wow factor really kicked in. The fact that all the characters were living in such close quarters and yet there were so many secrets was just spine tingling. The end was almost like just rewards or just punishment.

I would definitely recommend this book to other readers & book clubs. There would be a lot to discuss. I am going to go back and re read "Drowning Ruth" again. I remember being "wowed" by that too.

This month I stepped away from my usual historical fiction books and read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, a contemporary novel by debut author Robin Sloan. I was of course drawn in by the title. Upon finishing Mr. Penumbra's 24 - Hour Bookstore, I immediately turn to the front and started it again. I not only didn't want it to end, I wanted to relive the experience.

The book features Clay Jannon an unemployed art student/web designer and science fiction reader. Clay stumbles across a help wanted sign in the window of an out of the way San Francisco bookstore. Clay begins working the night shift, 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. The bookstore is not all that it seems, but what exactly it is, is what is to be discovered.

One thing about the store is that there are very few customers. The store has used books for sell in the front but in the back are books that Clay refers to as the Waybacklist. These books inhabit bookshelves that are over 30 feet tall and accessed by tall rolling ladders. These books are not sold, but borrowed by “members” that come in and request books at all times of the night and day. There is a logbook, which records the coming and goings of the members. The logbooks go back over 100 years.

In addition to the mysterious nearly medieval characters that are the members, there is quite a cast of characters with whom Clay lives with and interacts. Some are the best and brightest of from the techno world of Google and the Internet. Others are mysterious characters that make up the secret society of the Bound and Unbound. The locations range from Penumbra’s dusty vertical bookshelves, to a secret underground bookroom in New York City. Clay also visits an ultra dry storage facility in Nevada where forgotten museum relics are housed. The super techno campus of the Goggle headquarters in San Francisco is also visited.

This book is a great mix of shadowy old world and shiny new world, old knowledge vs. new knowledge, E readers vs. the printed word. I may read it again!

One of the perks, as if we needed another, of owning a book shop is receiving advance reading copies. I was thrilled when I requested a copy of Kate Morton's new book, The Secret Keeper, which comes out in October and received one!

From the beginning of the novel you are immediately privy to secret number one. As the book continues, you realize there is a whole lot more to come.

As Laurel probes the memory of her childhood and what she saw her mother do she learns that what she witnessed was the culmination of things that had previously happened in her mother's life.

As her mother, Dorothy, lay dying the story unfolds through sequences of the past, snippets from her mother and what Laurel uncovers in her research. Laurel finds out exactly what her mother means by "I made some bad choices." At one time I found myself totally in awe of what one of these choices were. I waited breathlessly to find out the end result.

Kate Morton is a pro a story telling and building suspense. She has another great novel on her hands.

The Woman at the Light had a great mix of US history and mystery. I was absorbed into the book from the prologue. I love stories that are told from present to past. House at Riverton and Water For Elephants come to mind. It gives the story immediately a certian mystic right off the bat.

I had great admiration for Emily as she moved from situation to situation with ease and grace. In Key West she found herself in abhorrent situation and yet she hung in there till things improved. When her life again changed, she made the best of the situation. She did she time after time throughout her interesting life.

This book is a great read for anyone that enjoys history, mystery and an outstanding heroine!

I thought Until The Next Time was a good read. The book a lot of characters in several time periods that but the way that it was written it was fairly easy to follow once ou got the jist of it. I did get a little confused near the end, but the author brought it all together nicely.

I also thought the author did a good job of presenting the political & relgious struggle that Ireland has been going through for years.

Readers of history, fantasy & romance would really enjoy this book.

I have to start by saying that I think this book is going to remain as one of my favorites. From the first page to the last our heroine, Siri, was totally swept up, as I was in the world around her.

With her life seemly out of her control Siri deftly adapted & excelled at all situations that confronted her. She was able baffle & impress all those around her from the humblest peasant to highest ranking officials.

Part spy novel, part mystery, and all history, author, Maria Duenas, has used actual events, places and people to takes you inside pre World War II Europe and how all countries and their citizens were trying to position themselves to their best advantage. From Madrid to Morocco. You will enjoy this journey from start to finish .

I just finished The Peach Keeper & loved it. Each time I finish one of Sarah Allen Addison's books I say "That was my favorite".

This book is about a small town with more than a few secrets. Mostly it is about friendship though. I think what really connected me with the characters is that like most people you know in high school you never know the real people that are inside the ones that we can see. As the saying goes "walk a mile in someone else's shoes".

I wasn't sure I liked this book in the beginning because of the amount of religion information shared. It seemed as though the author was preaching. In the middle I began to care about all the characters after they returned from Italy. Then I was lost again at the end. I titled this review "What Happened" cause the ending was so abrupt and weird that I really couldn't tell.

I chose this book to review because I am a lover of time travel. This book, I discovered, was not about time travel, but about a man, an Immortal man, who has lived through time.

I enjoyed this book to a point. The story of Max and Shelley meeting was entertaining. I loved the bravery of the characters that signed up for Max's adventurous tour. What I didn't really enjoy about the book was the way it jumps into different time periods constantly. It was forever piling more & more characters and locations to the point that when I put the book down for a time, I would continuously have to regroup and figure out where I left off. This perhaps is not the fault of the book but of my own.

I applaud the author for what I think is a very original story. I believe that fantasy & romance readers will enjoy this book.

This debut novel, The Weird Sisters, by Eleanor Brown captured my attention from page one and has stayed with me long after it's end.

The story tells of three sisters, Rosalind, Bianca, and Cordelia or Rose, Bean and Cordie, as they are known. Bean and Cordie return home after finding out their mother has cancer and that Rose is to be married. Although Rose was living nearby, she also returns home.
Each sister has additional reasons for coming home.

The parents are eccentric and loveable. Their father is a professor of Shakespeare, hence the girl's names, and their mother a lifelong homemaker. They are thrilled to have their girls back home. The whole family is avid readers and quoters of the bard. This makes for some entertaining family conversation.

The sisters fall back into old familiar sibling rivalry, which you need not be a sister to enjoy. The narrative is so unique. It is told in the third person, which is really the sisterhood itself. It is as if the sisterhood itself is a character. You will also fall in love with the town of Barnwell and it's residents.

In the face of adversity, each girl learns a little something about themselves, their sisters, their parents and even their hometown.

I consider this book to be like a modern day Little Women. I highly recommend it as a good read!

This is Eleanor Brown's first novel. She is a resident of Denver, CO, my hometown. I have contacted Eleanor and she is a very gracious author.