The opening box simile lets one immediately know this is not your usual narrative. Factoids throughout were fascinating and fun. The engaging chapter headings were a delight. The clever weaving of characters' stories quickly ensnared me. I soon cared about the fates of the apartment dwellers a la The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I loved how the author commented on and played with time throughout the novel. The glimpses of life stories years ahead (and behind) for certain ones were succinct and satisfying.

I hesitated to read (goldfish falling by apartment windows? Jonathan Livingston Goldfish taking a plunge?) this book, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I'm eager to share it with my circle of friends. Once I started reading I kept coming back to it. "Now, what was I doing?"

Wow! Rearrange your schedule before you pick this book up because it will not be contained in a gentle read each evening. It demands your attention.

It's a tale within a tale: 1995 -an old, dying woman finally returning to Paris; 1940's – two sisters (Viann and Isabelle) reacting to occupied France in different ways. Which sister is the one journeying home? In heart rendering detail we learn of France's fate during World War II, true friendship, parental love and sacrifice, and the potential for strength of character that lies within each of us.

In these days of beheadings and innocents caught up in war zones, this is an essential book to read. Kristen Hannah's Nightingale transcends the pages of historical fiction and poses the question, "When evil is everywhere around you, what would you do?" Like the strips of fabric tied to the tree in the garden reminding Viann of loss, this book will float in my subconscious forever. Bravo, Kristen Hannah!

I liked this book much more than I thought I would. Three half sisters with distinct personalities and different relationship problems? A make-love-not-war kind of mom? Come on! Yet somehow Marissa Stapley takes this contrived plot and turns it into a refreshing and thoughtful read. Each chapter begins with an animal and an explanation of that animal's mating rites and parenting skills. How that particular animal surfaces and what it may symbolize is a clever device that holds up well throughout the book. The role of the father; mother's love, love itself...or obligations are all scrutinized. Not only did I become drawn into each character, I also found pages and phrases that gave me pause for their insight into our human condition. Here's to the lessons on life skills, especially rewinding!

Marci Jefferson's historical fiction centers on beautiful Francis Stuart, known as "La Belle," and her remarkable love life, which impacted 2 kings and influenced the course of history. This book offers something for everyone. History buffs will appreciate the close examination of the Restoration and King Charles II and his political decisions and problems with Parliament, while dealing with major religious zealots, the plague, the great fire of London, destruction of the Navy, and a smallpox epidemic. Romance seekers will have enough pages to enthrall (and occasionally cause a blush). As the story unfolds, one is swept from France to England, castle-to-castle, and confronted with various intrigues and alliances.. Who to trust? What does Frances really want? Is she a pawn or her own person?
I greatly appreciated the Dramatis Personae listing at the beginning of the book, and the helpful chapter headings and quotes as I plunged back in time. All in all, a most satisfying read!

So much more than a dog story! Different narrators, short overlapping chapters, heart-rendering events, characters with depth - all weave together to make an outstanding novel. Susan Wilson knows dogs…and humans…and storytelling. This is NOT a book to read when you have company (as I did) because you will keep excusing yourself to read "just a bit more." I wondered how the story could ever have a satisfactory resolution. Under Wilson's masterful hands it does. Not only is this a good book; it would make a great movie.

I think this book is misnamed. The ratty – yes, as in rats – kitchen is, of course a symbol of Anna's (the narrator) life gone drastically wrong, but the title itself is too flip for the depths of this book.
There is much to experience: The birth and care of a severely disabled child. A fascinating debacle of an old estate set in the lush and wild French countryside. Vivid, bizarre, engaging characters offering their advice and moral compasses to a young mother/chef finding her way in a harsh, new world. Mother/daughter relationships are carefully examined, as is the roller coaster of marriage. World War I and II exploits play a part in the plot, as does the nurturing of a garden and family and friends. Anna notes, "…human beings are sometimes so resilient, sometimes so easily overturned." The ending is a bit too tidy and convenient for the tumultuous story, but all is well written. This is a book one endures, rather than enjoys.

This is the perfect beach book! Have you ever succumbed to cooking shows on t.v. and bought exotic ingredients for an impossible recipe? Have you ever fantasized over living in a dream house and entered a sweepstakes to do so? If so, this is the book for you!

The premise is delightful: Janine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa, wins the Dream House Sweepstakes and relocates to Maine for a new start in life. Problem? There are two Janine Browns: shy-beyond-words "Janey" and in-your-face "Nean," both laying claim to the house. Throw in wonderful Aunt Midge and enjoy as the plot is cleverly organized into mix, simmer and serve sections. The narration bounces between Janey and Nean, with each chapter headed by the perfect cooking quote for the contents.

Many books promise laugh out loud moments; this book delivers. Interspersed throughout the story are hilarious pop culture references and unforgettable scenes. I chuckled, howled, and yes, cried, at the appropriate moments. I'd love to meet the author. Anyone who could write this book is my kind of friend. I have been babbling about this book since I first picked it up. My girlfriends are waiting in line to read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first 7/8 of this well-researched novel. Susanna Calkins paints a vivid picture of London, circa 1665 on. Right from page one we are pulled into the world of Lucy, the Hardgrave's' chambermaid. Murders ensue, as does religious conflict (Quakers, papists, Anglicans, in the aftermath of Cromwell's Puritans), questionable judicial practices, the plague, the great London fire, and yes, an unsuitable romance. Social classes are defined – but not always as you would expect (i.e. the help dines with the family on nights without company.) Plot aside, the trivial details – the newly enacted garbage law with the raker and Fumifugium, shackled roosters, the origins of the London Bridge song, a new cookbook recipe, the 17th century murder broadsides and ballads, marriage shops for folks too poor to afford a church wedding, etc. – make this book a fascinating read.
My criticism is that the last section of the book slid into a gothic tale with an all too-pat resolution. However, all in all, it's a very worthy read and one I know my friends will enjoy.

The Hour of Peril is a well-researched, continuously documented account of President Elect Abrahams Lincoln's days leading up to his inauguration. It encompasses far more an hour of danger; one gets a thorough understanding of the strife and distress in America as states begin to secede, transportation quandaries, and the power journalists had. As the author states, "Lincoln's election had thrown the country into crisis," and later quotes Horace Greeley's comment, "There was forty times the reason for shooting him in 1860 than there was in '65." Against such a backdrop, Stashower paints a vivid and endearing picture of Lincoln's thoughts, wit, and actions. Pinkerton emerges as a fascinating and steadfast schemer. I particularly enjoyed the small illustrations throughout the book, the quotes at each chapter's beginning, and meeting Kate Warne, Pinkerton's first female detective. At times I felt bogged down with too much information, but the effort was well worth it. This is an excellent book for those who like history, biographies, and tales of intrigue.