Main character Izzy Lane is a very likeable character. The author creates sympathy for her immediately and we can relate to her growing predicament when an innocent idea spins out of control. The relationship with her son is precious as is with her neighbor, Mrs.Feldman. The neighborhood itself is almost a character in the story and author describes great visual scenes that created nostalgia for the street I grew up on also. A good read I would recommend and also would lend itself to a good discussion.

The author has done an excellent job of depicting the struggle and frustration of a young Cuban lady who, against her families' wishes, displays ambition and strives for a better life through education. The contrast between her Cuban community in Miami and the privileged student society of an Eastern college where she managed to get a scholarship is striking. At times the main character, Lizet, exhibited what seemed to be unjustified erratic behavior, but perhaps that strengthened the theme of the story—how difficult it is to make a change in one's life when there is not only a lack of family support but criticism as well. Excellent descriptive writing and dialogue but it took me some time to get used to the lack of quotation marks. I often had to re-read a section to see who was speaking

When a family outing on the slopes turns tragic, ending the life quite unexpectedly, of a strong, healthy husband and father, we experience the many faces grief takes through the people left behind. Told in six first-person viewpoints --his wife, Audrey, his three sons and his best friend, I had the feeling I was in the home myself—perhaps like a doll-house with the outer wall removed as I watched these realistic characters simultaneously struggle with this tragedy in their own way. Although I thankfully have not experienced such a loss, I think it was probably a very realistic portrayal of a family's struggle to continue their lives in spite of their despair. When the best friend, Garrett, comes to the aid of the family, eventually he and Audrey become attracted to each other, but complications arise when a secret pact made between two drunken friends many years ago is discovered. What Audrey and Garrett learn about friendship, love,loyalty, and family, makes for an interesting read.

A Fireproof Home for the Bride is a gentle read, yet it deals with volatile issues such as racism of the 50's, corrupt politics, immigration and religious differences. It is a coming-of-age for Emmeline Nelson whose future seems to be cast in stone by her parents and community, yet she is a rebellious strong character who struggles to succumb to the mundane life they have chosen for her. The author has effectively captured the feelings of a young girl torn between obedience and the lure of independence, as well as the first yearnings of love and sexual awakening. The setting of rural Minnesota is described with such vivid detail that this reader felt the effect the weather has on our feelings and thoughts. The minor characters are very believable with their motivations justifying their actions, often deplorable. If you are a child of the 50's, you'll also enjoy the many references to the music , fashions and trends of the times. I would recommend this book for the above reasons and because Ms. Scheibe has created a heroine in Emmy that we care about. We keep turning the pages to see if she is, indeed, the architect of her young life.

I highly recommend this biography.The Untold Story sub-title says it well. As a devoted fan of Ms. Kennedy for fifty-four years I thought I had read everything written about her. Author Leaming's attention to personal detail and thirty-page bibliography brings to light many facets of Ms. Kennedy's life I believe are unknown to the general public.

At times it is not easy to read because it is not always flattering; therefore, I think it is truthful. The assassination itself is the most graphic account I have read, and perhaps rightly so, in order for us to further understand the severe trauma Ms. Kennedy experienced that day and for years following the tragic event. In 1963, PSTD was not an identified illness, yet when it was first labeled in 1980 following the Vietnam War, it was obvious that Ms. Kennedy had been a victim of this disorder. We see a lady who was credited with holding our nation together as a staunch warrior during JFK's funeral in a different light in the years that followed. One is led to believe that if it were not for her children she would have taken her own life. We are also privy to conversations and correspondence she had with famous names in history both in the United States and abroad.

This book is as much about our political world in the years 1960 until her death in l994 as it is about her life. It is a must read for any student of history or politics or for anyone who is fascinated with the Kennedy legacy. A remarkable biography of a remarkable lady who finally gained control of her sanity and life, sadly with few years remaining to enjoy it.

Told in three viewpoints (husband, wife, teen daughter) the reader is drawn into their heads and hearts as they deal with difficult issues such as spousal-abuse, infidelity, brain injury and the recovery process. Minor characters are also well-developed in the family dynamics including siblings and grandparents. This would make a good discussion book as it explores universal themes of love, forgiveness and accountability. I highly recommend it.

If you like stories about family relationships and how families deal with a crisis, you'll love The House We Grew Up In. Lisa Jewell creates characters that, in spite of their often dysfunctional behavior, are so appealing, so real. I sometimes could not believe their behaviors yet I accepted them because their reasoning and motivations were so well developed. She also does an excellent job of describing the addiction of hoarding, so much so that at times it was hard to read. I just wanted to put the book down and go clean a closet or pantry. The story of the Bird family, Lorelei, Colin and their four children is an excellent read. Based on it, I will seek out other Lisa Jewell books.

Safe with Me would make a great book group discussion because it deals with ethical and moral issues on many levels—organ donors, spousal abuse, women's friendships, the loss of a child and fragile parent/child relationships.

Similar to a Jodi Picoult novel with difficult subjects at its heart, it grabs you early on and holds onto you. I didn't want to put it down until I knew how these characters would comes to term with their challenges.

Characters are well-developed and their actions are believable. I highly recommend it.

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen is a book that is well written but at times was very difficult to read because Anna and her husband Tobias face so many unbelievable challenges when their baby is born with extreme disabilities. Author Shah doesn't sugarcoat anything, and the result is that we feel we are living with their extreme frustration and conflicting feelings of fear, love, responsibility and rejection concerning their daughter. As if that were not challenge enough the conditions of the mouse-infested home they have purchased in France are deplorable. Of course their relationship is put to the test and one has to continue reading to see how they manage to deal with all the adversity. The minor characters are interesting and well developed. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in evolution of plant life works in the French countryside, but mainly to those who feel life has dealt them a difficult hand. I think by comparison to this family, one will count their blessings.

The fascinating prologue to the story drew me in totally but the rest of the story did not live up to my expectations. I normally like police procedure novels but I found the sub-plots confusing. Told in first person from Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan's point of view, Maeve is a likeable character as she constantly questions her judgment and abilities. She is a character who grows in professional confidence by the end of the case. This book seems to be more about Maeve than the crime as she struggles with her personal relationship with boyfriend Rob, a fellow policeman. She also has issues with her cynical partner DI Derwent. Their constant battering and dialogue however is one of the best features of the book. The other characters, both victims and suspects, seem a little exaggerated and the ending of the book felt somewhat contrived.

Anyone interested in American history, as well as President Lincoln scholars, will appreciate this very detailed account of "the first time they tried to kill Lincoln". Peril tells of Lincoln's thirteen- day voyage from Springfield, Illinois to Washington in the spring of 1861 and explores Alan Pinkerton's belief that there was a conspiracy to kill. I found it to be more of an account of Pinkerton's role in history (founder of the Pinkerton Detective Agency) perhaps than Lincoln, but still very fascinating. The controversy between Pinkerton and Ward Lamon (Lincoln's friend and self-appointed bodyguard) who did not believe there was such a plot, is also quite elaborate. Although we know that Lincoln arrived safely to Washington, the author manages to build tension and suspense, as well as paint vivid scenes of life in that time period. A good read.

Roots of the Olive Tree would make an excellent book club choice. With five generations of women in the Keller family there are characters women of every age can relate to. My favorite is the 112-year old matriach Anna, who strives to be the oldest living person in the world. When a geneticist comes to study Anna , hoping to uncover the genetic DNA secret that runs through this family of healthy women, he sets in motion a story that uncovers lifelong secrets of each of the women. This is a story of love that binds families through their frailties and misfortunes and caused this reader to reflect on that precious link with those women who came before me and those who follow. Set in a family olive grove in central California, foodies will enjoy the setting and references to this delicious ointment.

With only a few characters and in a short time span, author Jamie Saul captures many complex emotions in both fragile and solid relationships. This story deals with friendship at many levels and many types of love--love between siblings, parents and children, spouses and lovers. It is also a story of love lost and found again, but perhaps most importantly it recognizes how painful the grieving process can be. This book will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one and the difficulty of letting go of the past. It is also a novel of redemption, grace and second chances for love in one’s life.

Berlin 1939. Paris 1940. Amidst this pre war-time setting, The Half-Time Swingers, a German-American Jazz band forms. This novel is a story of music and friendship and how both can fill men’s souls, especially the black “swingers” who form a bond that lasts a lifetime. It is also the story of a secret that lies hidden with Sid Griffiths for fifty years until he has to face his past at an unexpected reunion.

The relationship between Sid and his childhood Baltimore friend Chip is the basis of the story and their dialogue (banter), in what one review calls German American slang, is delightful to read, filled with witticisms and wisdom. For example, “Ain’t no man can outrun his fate,” or “when the past comes to collect what you owe.”
Author Edugyan also makes great use of figurative language that is fresh and vivid, such as, “...gents with faces as worn as old dish rags,”and “...his booming voice, when he talked, it overwhelmed the air, shoved it aside like oil in a cup of water.”

Jazz lovers will like the touch of Louis Armstrong in the story and history buffs will appreciate yet another perspective of Nazi Germany where jazz has been banned as degenerate music and blacks face their own brand of discrimination. A great title for a good read which I can recommend.

Chris Lowndes, in my opinion, is as charming a protagonist you will meet in literature. In Before the Poison he is a grieving widower who retires to his native Yorkshire from California. The opening scenes are shades of Rebecca, with a foreboding mansion and the ghost of a sensational murder that took place sixty years prior. Told in first person narrative, his voice is sensitive and captivating as his expertise in several areas is woven beautifully throughout the story. A former writer of musical scores for Hollywood, specific composers’ works are constantly playing in the background and by the end of the book I had a year’s worth of classical movies to add to my Netflix list. It is a sensuous book in many respects—with food, wine, descriptive English scenery...and love. Chris, although still grieving, falls in love again both with living Heather and with dead Grace, who was hung for the poisoning of her physician husband in the very room he unknowing chose as his bedroom. Grace, however, becomes very alive to the reader as her journals of a WWII nurse are engrossing with descriptions of war horrors from a female viewpoint. As Chris becomes consumed with the crime and tries to prove Grace’s innocence, this becomes a true page-turner, unable to put down book I devoured in a bittersweet fashion—couldn’t stop reading, yet I didn’t want my time with Chris to end. Story-telling at its best.

In an interview with author Ellen Feldman, she says she likes to write about monumental events of history but in human terms. She explores how individuals influence history but also how history shapes personal lives. In Next to Love she accomplishes this so beautifully, spanning two decades in America starting with WW II. Through three woman who send their men off to war. we see the impact the war has on a small community--not only during wartime, but for years to come. We follow their lives through the women's Some of the story is told through letters which show the anguish of separation and the longings and hopes of that generation. Just when you think you've read all there is to know about WWII comes another story that touches your heart and shows yet another perspective. The writing is eloquent. I highly recommend the book.

A Lesson is Secrets, Jacqueline Winspear’s eighth novel featuring psychologist-investigator Maise Dobbs will not disappoint her fans who have come to expect a story that is rich in historical details (England, 1932), as well as a study of human nature as seen through Maise’s astute observations of peoples’ actions and behaviors. What appeals to me in the Maise Dobbs’ series is not only how she solves crimes but how she struggles with aspects of everyday life and the people she loves—her employees, her aging father, her romantic interest, James. My favorite quote from this book is “Secrets and lies always go together” and as the title implies, there are many secrets to explore. I also like that the Maise series moves forward in time and she too changes with the times and events in her life. If you are new to the series, you can still appreciate this story on its own. I can almost guarantee, however, you’ll want to read books one through seven while waiting for number nine.

Solomon's Oak can be appreciated on many levels. If one is an animal lover, especially of dogs, it will touch your heart,somewhat reminiscent of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. If you are a nature lover, you will appreciate the folklore of trees and flowers woven throughout. What I valued most, however, was the skillful handling of three very different and believable characters who are dealing with loss in their lives. How their interactions with one another help them through the healing process results in a good story line amidst a rich tapestry of setting and description. I highly recommend it not only for individuals but to book groups as there would be many facets to discuss.

Based on a true story, taking place at the turn of the 20th Century in New Zealand and San Francisco, this book was difficult for me to put down because of the compelling characters and descriptive writing style, as well as an unbelievable series of horrific events which occur to a loving family. It proves that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. For example, what would you do if the wife and children of the man you married showed up on the doorstep, years after all thought they were dead? How this situation plays out keeps the reader turning the pages and the result is a testimonial to the power of love and to the compassion of two extraordinary women. I recommend it highly.

“A road trip in book form” is how the editors of State by State describe their book. They believe that in spite of America becoming more homogeneous each year, it still retains an essential deep-grained variety. The search for each state’s differences in landscape, topography, political outlook, social ideals and cultural preference resulted in a unique composite of America that can be enjoyed at many levels.

It will appeal to those who like facts, as each state’s selection is preceded by twenty-two statistics from motto to geographic center to median age. It will appeal even more to readers who want to experience a state through the eyes of a variety of writers. Some writers were chosen who were native to the state, others who had never been there and presented a fresh eye approach, but each writer was told to tell a story, a personal experience, that captured the essence of the state. It can be read cover to cover in alphabetical order or one can first hop-scotch to the states lived in to see if this writer’s experience is similar to theirs. It’s a fascinating read which includes ten pages of images, (photos, paintings) also selected by each writer for their state, which they felt captured the “visual” essence. I recommend it as a great resource for both historical and literary value.