"Where Monsters Dwell" is an solid debut from Norwegian author Jorgen Brekke. Two gruesome murders occur - one in Richmond, VA and the other in Trondheim, Norway. Both of them are linked; although, it does take a while before investigators tumble to that fact.

I really enjoyed the novel. The author does a good job keeping you guessing as to whom the culprit is. What I enjoyed more, however, was the historical information presented pertaining to 15th Century dissections. The author jumps between historical perspectives which makes the story more interesting and enables the reader to gain a clearer perspective of the famous Johannes Book. It did get a bit confusing at times when it jumped back into Felicia's background and then into present which is why I didn't mark the book higher.

All in all, though, this is a book that captures your attention. Once you start reading, it is difficult to stop. You find yourself saying "just one more chapter" as you get closer to finding out who the killer is.

I hope this author continues to write other books as he has an excellent first start.

Daughter of Mars is an exceptional novel. From the moment I received the novel, I just couldn't stop reading it. The story is about two sisters who are nurses from Australia who volunteer to travel to France during World War I and care for injured soldiers. The book opens at home, though, with the illness of their mother. Circumstances surrounding the illness impact the sisters and create an unresolved secret that impacts their closeness throughout most of the book.

Initially, I did not think that I would enjoy the novel. The author does not write it from either Naomi or Sally's perspective but rather from a third person perspective throughout. After a few chapters, however, this no longer bothered me and the author's view enabled me to 'see' the action from all character's view. The descriptions of the war, the injured, the sinking of ships and death of warriors were all so real and vivid. I felt tired when the nurses were tired and discouraged and scared when they were.

Today, we read more books about World War II and tend to forget how long and horrific World War I was. The medicine that was available at that time and the surgical practices at the time....all so primitive compared to what we have today.

The story of Naomi and Sally, though, is equally compelling as the story of War. The story of how they developed a closeness and of the men they meet and love. This was a very poignant story and a heart tugging one.

I believe that this book will appeal to a broad audience - both male and female. The details of World War I are historically accurate and portray the battles as they occurred year after year. The love stories in the midst of the battle lend hope to the incredible circumstances that the doctors and nurses faced in such difficult and challenging conditions. I believe this book should be made into a movie. It is a moving tribute to all those who placed their lives in jeopardy in World War I and a movie should be made to honor these brave men and woman. This was an awesome book and I believe Thomas Keneally has a huge bestseller on his hands.

I would mark this book higher if I could. Yes, this book is a real tear jerker but it has an important message. Cord blood is a new, technological advance that many of us are just becoming aware of. What do you do if someone in your family could be saved by it and yet the intent was to save it for your own immediate family....as a just in case?

The story is about Nicole who contracts leukemia and lymphoma. Her only chance at life is cord blood that was saved from her cousin's child during birth. To share the blood, however, means that should her cousin's family need it in the future, it will not be available. She and her cousin were exceptionally close as children. As they have gotten older, their families have remained close. The cord blood, though, proves to be a crisis. The lawsuit that ensues is a real heartbreaker.

For those readers who love Jodi Picoult, you will love this story. It is relevant, thought provoking and heart rendering. Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting because once you start, you will not want to stop till you get to the bitter end.

Ms Rosenberg has done a great job with character development. You come to know and love and DESPISE (ARI) these characters as if they were living, breathing individuals. I love books that have complex, family situations and this one definitely fits the bill in spades. The book will touch your heart.

I recommend you run...not walk...to the nearest bookstore to purchase this book.

Anne Lamott, author of Imperfect birds, describes the book as " Brilliant, meditative, and full of surprises, wisdom and wonder". I concur and would add poetic, moving and introspective. Initially, I did not like the book as the author does seem to jump from subject to subject. As I relaxed, however, and let the author take me along her journey, I began to enjoy the wandering and felt a connection with the author. I had no idea how influential the author was in helping to create the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument. Living in New England and traveling to this beautiful area, I can tell you I am eternally grateful for the conservation minded individuals who saved this awesome territory. I was so moved, that I purchased the book "Testimony" that Terry mentions in her memoir. It is a place that should be seen by everyone. I also was impressed by the way the author interpreted or tried to interpret the message of her mother's journals. It is clear she loved her mother deeply. I do not think this is a book that will appeal to everyone. For the right reader, though, it is a gem of a book to read quietly and slowly so you can savor each sentence. If I had rated the book midway and stopped, I would rated the book a "2" but the sum of the book moved me. I encourage all women to give this memoir a chance. I believe it has the ability to touch you deeply.

"Where you Can Find Me' has some interesting moments when the author describes scenery in Costa Rica. The plot, however, is slow going. The book is about a boy who was kidnapped from his parents at age eleven. The story starts at the point when the boy has been returned to the family by the FBI. As is so common in these situations, the dynamics in the family are tense and uncertain. In an effort to shelter the boy from publicity, the mother decides to move the family to Costa Rica. The author could have had a winner in this novel. There are so many perspectives that she could have taken. The character development is weak, however, and you never get a true sense of who any of the characters are. There are also so many unanswered questions throughout the book. I guess I don't have to have everything spelled out but answering a few questions would have been nice. I wasn't thrilled by the ending either. It seemed like the author ran out of steam and just decided to finish. I normally don't have a hard time finishing books but this one was a struggle to finish. On the positive side, I would love to visit Costa Rica now!

As an older reader, it's nice to read about an older character who is still sharp mentally and physically. Brigid Quinn is retired FBI and still haunted by an old case that she handled for many years and was unable to bring to fruition. The book starts very quickly with action being taken to Brigid and then backtracks to help the reader understand Brigid's background.

I thoroughly enjoyed the speed at which the book moved along and read the book in one sitting. The story is involved and you can empathize with both of the female FBI agents.

This would make a great action movie and I can easily see Jodie Foster as Brigid. What an edge of your seat thriller this would make! Buy the book and enjoy!!!!

I liked this book very much. I loved the way the book opened with the youngest daughter, Jane, narrating the chapter. It was soft and appealing and served as a great springboard into the story of Trudy. Trudy's story kept me very interested throughout the entire book. As a reader, you know the author is leading into many secrets but she doesn't disclose them until she is ready. I totally disliked Trudy's husband and wanted to shake her to wake her up so she could 'see' her husband for what he really was.

I found the author's writing superb. You felt like you were in this isolated setting along with Trudy and the author kept the pace moving quite nicely. There was suspense building and when it broke, you were ready for it. All in all, a charming book, a quick read and I think book clubs would enjoy this book as the symbolism is so rich in the story.

As I get older, I find I greatly enjoy & seek out books that focus on complex relationships. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is beautifully written and is not a fast paced novel. Instead, the author writes wonderful prose that enables the reader to savor the journey that is taken by Harold Fry. The book is written is written in such a way that you feel as if you are walking with Harold as you read along page by page. Harold is an ordinary man who is on an extraordinary pilgrimage to see his friend Queenie who he hasn't seen in 20 years. Queenie is in a hospice dying of cancer. Harold may be ordinary but to everyone he meets, he makes an impact and Harold learns that "all people are the same and also unique".

My review is not doing justice to this wonderful novel. It is uplifting, spiritual, emotional and sad. It is a GREAT novel. It will make you think about your own relationships and actions or lack thereof. You will love the characters by the end of the book. Be prepared to start the book in the morning when you know you have all day to read because once you start, you will not want to stop till the bitter end.

There are also surprises in the book which I will not disclose which will move you to tears. Be prepared to have tissues handy.

I read in the author's bio that this is her first book but that she has written more than 20 original plays for the BBC. Her experience in writing plays is self evident in this book ....it would easily translate to film and would make a heartwarming movie.

I cannot write as eloquently as the author but I encourage all readers who love character driven, relationship driven novels to buy this book. You will not be disappointed. I predict it will be a huge seller in 2012 and be remembered as one of the best books in 2012.

Kevin Fox's "Until the Next Time" was a very enjoyable read. It moves along at a fast pace and keeps you interested throughout the entire book.
I enjoyed the introduction of reincarnation into the story. It seemed especially apropos given the setting in Ireland. The aspect that I particularly enjoyed the most was the way the author made me think about parables in the Bible and its' hidden meanings. This is a book with many layers and I'm sure if I read it again, I would find new items to mull over and analyze.
My only small complaint was that I occasionally got lost between the characters and needed to backtrack. It might have helped to have changed the names just a bit more to make them more distinctive and easier to follow. I didn't necessarily like any of the characters either.
Overall, however, I would recommend reading the book. The setting of Ireland was beautiful. The history of Ireland during the "Troubles" was very interesting and the reincarnation theme made this a very solid book to read.

Little Black Dress is a solid, entertaining book. I always love multi-generational books that have their ups and downs but ultimately resolve the issues. The author did a very good job developing the characters so that you felt you knew them well. The "magic" did not work as well for me but I did enjoy the book and its' characters. A good read and one I would recommend to friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It had a bit of everything in it - redemption, magic, suspense and mystery. What I enjoyed most was the quality of the author's writing. When I start to read a book, I like to have the first chapter grab me. Then I like to have the story pull me in and keep me going so that I forget how many hours I have spent reading. This author did that for me. The story flowed smoothly and effectively. I loved the author's development of her characters as well as her story line.

This was a very quick read and I was sad when the book ended. I loved the Cherokee roses that the author introduced into the novel. I thought that the addition of this made the novel very special. I sincerely hope that Anna Michaels writes more books as I will be waiting in line to purchase & read them.

What a lovely and moving book! Dr Trout does an excellent job describing his life growing up in England surrounded by dogs. Anyone who has ever grown up with animals will empathize with his experiences. The story is so much more, however. The dynamics between his father and him are written beautifully. His father is written with such tenderness and love and understanding.

I believe this book will appeal to both people who love animals but also to those people who enjoy memoirs. I loved the book and found it funny, touching and compassionate. I would highly recommend this book to all my friends.

What a well written novel! From the start of the first page to the end, the book grabs your attention and never lets you down. I very much enjoy books that explore non-conventional families. Each person that comes into Wrecker's life at the farm has issues of their own and yet shows compassion and understanding for Wrecker's life situation. I like the way the author draws these issues out. She takes her time in discussing each and every character instead of rushing to tell you the details of each person's life immediately. You get to know these people and feel sympathy for both them and Wrecker. You end up truly caring what happens to these characters. Any reader interested in reading about complex relationships and interesting characters will truly enjoy this book. Summer Woods wrote a best seller as far as I am concerned.

I found this book to be interesting and informative. I enjoyed the way the author skipped between the technical aspects of waves to surfing. Not something I expected. This book would appeal to someone who was new to the topic of waves and unfamiliar to the subject matter. Since I knew nothing about either surfing or the mechanics of waves, this was an excellent beginning. The author did a solid job covering a a large number of avenues: shipwrecks, wave symposiums, weather experts, insurance specialists, etc. as well as top surfers. For those people who have more detailed background, however, I think this book would be a bit too summarized. Any one of the topics covered could become an in-depth book by itself. For a person who knew very little such as myself, though, this was an excellent way for me to learn something new!

I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me wondering what was going to happen till the very end. I liked the way the author told the story from the different character's viewpoints. I thought the ending could have been a bit more definitive. What happened to Tracy? Off scot free? Did Annie's surgery work? The book was well written and engaging but I felt the author should have answered a few more questions at the end. A good summer read!

Every now and then you run into a book that inspires you and affirms that there are wonderful people in the world. Jeff Guidry is one of those people. What he and the other volunteers do at Sarvey is truly moving. His own story is told simply and it is clear that his deep connection with Freedom & his wife enabled him to survive. I loved the book. Simple, concise and emotional without being overly dramatic. I would strongly encourage anyone who loves animals to read this book.

A compelling and heartfelt novel about Pearl Buck and her life in China. Be prepared to stay up all night till you have finished this novel as it will capture your attention from page one. This is a story told from the perspective of Pearl's best friend, Willow Yee. The reader sees Pearl and Willow growing up together as friends and living through many of China's historic moments. But it is not a story of history so much as a story of enduring friendship. Have tissues close at hand. An excellent novel that you will remember long after you have finished it.

I loved this book. The characters are interesting and the author does a great job telling you a little about them in the beginning and then eventually tying all the threads together. I like the way the author builds the story chapter by chapter. This left me so very anxious to see what happened that I actually read the entire book in one day. I particularly enjoyed the ending in which Tessa and Natalie engage in a pilgrimage. I also greatly enjoyed the recipes! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books about relationships. Thank you VERY much Bantam for allowing me the opportunity to preview this book.