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Reviews by Barbara B. (Holbrook, NY)

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At the Edge of the Haight
by Katherine Seligman
Wonderful (11/8/2020)
I have never read a book such as this. I also never thought I would say I loved this book, considering the subject. But, be that as it may, I found myself admiring the characters at the same time feeling that their life is so hard. I highly recommend this book.
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
He Started It - Samantha Downing (3/16/2020)
I was in the middle of this book when all of this news about the Coronavirus really began to escalate. This was able to allow me to escape (for a time) the scary news surrounding all of us. Not that this novel didn't have it's share of psycho and twisted events. Never knewmore
You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley
You were there too (8/30/2019)
I cannot say exactly what was so special about this book but it struck a chord in me and made me love it. The premise is most definitely original but the writing is exquisite. Every smell that was described I could smell as well, I could hear the sounds from the garden. Itmore
Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
Never Have I Ever (4/29/2019)
This was the first time I was thankful for not feeling well and having this book to keep me company and my mind off my problems. What a read!! Secrets that are long hidden, twists and turns at every turn of the page. What starts as a game becomes a dark and edgy story ofmore
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin
Fascinating Rivalry (3/4/2019)
Excellent story of the legendary designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and their intense back and forth fight for the top designer in Paris. Such different styles they both have and then enters a young widow who gets ensnared in their escalating war with one another.more
Our House
by Louise Candlish
Our House (6/21/2018)
I enjoyed this book but I did find the texts annoying. This was written by Fi in a crime blog and her husband Bram wrote it in a document style. It did take me awhile to get used to this format but after really getting involved in this mystery I didn’t notice it anymore.more
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
Sometimes I Lie (11/8/2017)
The first two pages of this book had my palms sweating, my heart racing, and I was actually panting. I have never reacted to a book like this before. I have read a ton of suspense and psychological suspense books before. Of course, some of them made me a little jumpy. Or imore
The French Girl
by Lexie Elliott
THE FRENCH GIRL BY LEXIE ELLIOTT (9/24/2017)
At first I thought this was going to be a book reminiscent of Amanda Knox. But a few pages in and that thought went down the drain. Memories it seems are forever with us. The older we get or the uglier the memory, in this case the disappearance of a friend and what happenedmore
Seven Days of Us: A Novel
by Francesca Hornak
Seven Days of Us Francesca Hornak (5/22/2017)
In the entire time I was reading this book, I kept thinking about my own family in a situation such as this and many times i found myself making comparisons. I think anyone who,reads this book will do the same. This was a beautiful book that I feel had it all. It touched memore
The Half Wives
by Stacia Pelletier
The Half Wives by Stacia Pelletier (1/13/2017)
Between tears, as there is much sadness and grief in the story, the writing is so beautiful and the time in our history is described so precisely one feels like you are there. Regardless of the theme of grief and loss, this is a beautiful novel which does have an endingmore
The Comet Seekers
by Helen Sedgwick
the comet seekers (9/12/2016)
I was very excited to get this book to read. And that is what I tried to do. I had a very difficult time with this book and I feel bad about that. I would read a number of pages and then go back to the beginning and start again because it really wasn't resonating with me.more
Miss Jane
by Brad Watson
Miss Jane by Brad watson (4/13/2016)
It took me so long to write this review because I read it as slow as possible to savor it and the writing. It is a beautiful story with sadness but tenderness and bravery as well. I truly loved this book.
The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian
by David Dyer
the midnight watch by David Dyer (2/10/2016)
Wow, what a novel. You know the expression woulda, coulda, shoulda is best applied to this story. I have alway been fascinated by tales of shipwrecks and especially the well known Titanic. This is both an entertaining and shocking story. It is a must read and again I thankmore
The Two-Family House
by Lynda Cohen Loigman
The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Longman (12/2/2015)
This was an excellent read concerning 2 sisters related by marriage who shared a secret and thus created a tight bond. I thought I knew the secret from the beginning but this took nothing away from continuing on. I love reading novels from earlier times, and this was themore
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
by Anna McPartlin
last days of rabbit hayes (6/29/2015)
as soon as I read the first page, I debated with myself for awhile whether to continue or not. I didn't know how I would fare with this type of book. but I made a commitment to read and review this novel, and I am so glad that I did. beautiful, heart-wrenching, funny,more
The Shore: A Novel
by Sara Taylor
the shore- Sara Taylor (6/3/2015)
this is exactly the type of book I like to read. weaving back and forth in time and between characters, then all the loose ends are brought together. you can actually be transported to this island off the coast of Virginia, smell the decay and be there in the moment. Frommore
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
The Well (3/11/2015)
This book is so beautifully written. A mystery, yes, but so much more. It has so many levels to it and just made me keep on wanting for more. I believe this would be a great book for a book club because there are so many layers to discuss and would elicit many opinions.
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
The secrets of midwives (12/6/2014)
Being one of four sisters, none of us a midwife, the family dynamics and relationships between mother and daughter and grandmother were in many ways very familiar. It is hard to describe in so many words about secrets and how they are played out between these females, butmore
The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah
The Nightingale (9/29/2014)
The descriptive words took me to every inch of this story. I could smell the places, feel the peoples' emotions. At first I was afraid this was going to be a boring novel, whose plot had been done so many times before. But the author had me at the first page and I was lost.more
Brutal Youth
by Anthony Breznican
Brutal Youth (5/13/2014)
I found this book to be a difficult read only because it really made me think and stop reading. I don't know if there is a lesson to be learned from it or it is just a good and exciting horror story in a way. This is why I stopped and thought.
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