This is a beautifully written memoir by Carol Smith who is heartbroken by the death of her young son Christopher and how she was able to overcome her grief. Six months after losing her son, she returns to the newsroom and works on the Medical desk. Each of the seven stories in her book follows people who have faced devastating losses, and how the support of families, friends, the medical community and many others help them find their way to a different type of life.

She carefully weaves the story of her son's short life through meeting and writing about each of these families and their challenges, finally finding peace. I loved the epilogue with updates and how they are doing now.

Federal Agents Falk and Cooper are anxiously waiting to hear from their undercover source of a company they are investigating. At the same time the members are on an Outward Bound type of retreat in the deep woods. Five women go in but only four come out. What happens is told by alternating points of view, from the agents waiting on the outside....and the women who are confronted with multiple issues as they try to find their way out.
This is a fast paced thriller I couldn't put down.
Will definitely look for other books from this author.

The premise that the Civil War never existed, living in our current world of social media, with huge data systems that render us "on the grid" 24/7.

Nothing is ever as it seems on the surface - you can never be sure of anyone's motivations. It moves with such speed as Victor moves, changing his personality to fit each situation he finds himself in. Who does he trust? How does he fell about what he does? How will he evolve? It is a very edgy book with dark violent undertones, you can never be sure what will happen next.

After only a few pages, I had slipped myself into his skin- and was unable to put the book down. I was convinced that author was black. Aside from being one of the best suspense novels I have read, I came away with a new perspective on race from a black point of view.

The writing was fluid, the story so mysterious that I couldn't put it down. I was captivated by Janie, Noah, and Anderson, their relationships with each other and their journey. It is a mesmerizing read that will stretch your mind with all its possibilities that you may never have dreamed possible. When I wasn't reading it, I was constantly thinking about it- what was to come. So many questions- what did I think, can this be real, always wanting to know more!
Book Clubs will LOVE it! Movie possibilities?

Since I love alpine hiking and wanted to read this story about a young girl and her brother who go for a morning run up the mountains one day. Every time I opened this book, I was immediately swept into a haunting world of dark thick forest high in the Rockies, silent dark nights, and white swirling snow. It was heart pounding to read because I was not sure what would find... but impossible to put down. LOVED IT!!!

At first I did not like the way the two major characters were portrayed- it seemed simplistic with each of them being so self absorbed. I was put off by some of the graphic language- especially on the occasions with the author's use of "retarded." Thankfully that was kept to a minimum. Once the book focused on the aftermath of the accident, I was intrigued but the mystery of how each person was affected as Maddy worked through her recovery and what really happened to her. I wasn't sure if I liked the ending. The author seemed to want to end it both ways so everyone would be pleased.
This belongs in the chick lit section.

This is a wonderful story about 4 brothers with the same father and four mothers. Their father was only in their lives briefly when they were young. Travel with them as they find each other and begin their search for their father in an intriguing journey through Europe, full of mysteries and childhood memories. Who was their father? Where was he? Why did he leave? What happened to him? Will they find him? How do they feel?
I loved it- reminded me of Shadow of the Wind, Cutting for Stone, Stone's Fall. It's themes of identity, broken families, value and influence of work, friends, and loss wrapped up in the framework of a grand mystery is perfect for book club discussions.

I was intrigued to read a story by an Iranian author whose family lived in Iran during the 1983 revolution. She tells a vivid and enduring story how it affected so many lives through the years.

From the harrowing beginning when Azar was being taken to the hospital to have her baby, I completely immersed myself in this book and all its characters. The writing was so descriptive that I felt like I was right there "in the moment." Each woman's story unfolded in time sequences from 1983, 1987- then 2009/2010.

There were so many places where she included phrases that to me perfectly captured the essence of what that character was thinking and feeling.

I LOVED IT!

I really liked this book. I was intrigued about the relationship between Ayane and Hiromi. Once Yukawa got involved in the investigations, the book went to another level.
I was intrigued by the different ways Kusanagi and Yukawa approached the murder. Once Kusanagi interviewed Kunio Sasoak, I couldn't put the book down until I reached the stunning conclusion. I reread the book in my mind once I had a different perspective on what was really going on!
Great for book clubs.
This would appeal to anyone who loves mysteries.