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Reviews by Madeline (Florida)

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The Things That Keep Us Here: A Novel
by Carla Buckley

Well-written, page-turner (11/3/2009)

This well-written, page-turner is a terrifying reminder of how horror isn't always sudden and in-your-face, how it can also be slow and subtle, and how it can creep into our lives in many different ways, at any moment.

The Lieutenant
by Kate Grenville

A Novel of Discovery (9/23/2009)

Author Kate Grenville has a new fan! Her simple and straightforward style belies a depth and complexity of both story and characters. This is not only a novel of science and exploration, but also of discovery - discovery of place and peoples and language, discovery of self and purpose.

Valeria's Last Stand
by Marc Fitten

A Fun Romp! (2/25/2009)

This novel is a fun, rough-and-tumble romp! It's a feisty love story of a different sort, showing that there is no expiration date on love and lust. The people in the village of Zivatar lay it all out there - love, sex, luck, business, politics, and art - and none more so than Valeria, who is destined to become a favorite curmudgeon.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

A Love Affair... (7/27/2008)

This whole novel is a love affair of books and reading, of letters and friendship, set against the background of war and its aftermath. It is also a reminder of how perspectives change when friends and enemies are forced together by circumstance. A heartwarming, enjoyable read!

Talk of the Town
by Lisa Wingate

A Nice Story (12/3/2007)

This is an old-fashioned, wholesome type story with the modern twist of reality TV. It's a light and predictable read, but it's sweet, without being sappy, and its characters are fun and feisty. The scene with Imagene and the roller coaster is a hoot!

The View from Mount Joy: A Novel
by Lorna Landvik

A Nice Read (9/20/2007)

I enjoyed this novel overall. It felt a little long, and it didn't grip me as much as I'd hoped it would, but it was a nice read about how a "quiet" life can also be a full one.

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