BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Cheryl M. (Marco Island, FL)

Manderley Forever
by Tatiana de Rosnay

A "Novel" Biography (12/21/2016)

Biographies can be a dry retelling of names, dates and events. Not so with Tatiana De Rosnay's insightful biography of Daphne Du Maurier. Revelations of her complicated relationships with women, the places and emotions that drove her writing are expertly woven through the …more

The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
by Susan Bishop Crispell

When wishing makes it so (7/10/2016)

Wishes and secrets. Don't we all have both! In this romance both play an important part. Wishes, if heard come true, and secrets can be kept baked in a pie.
This bit of magic and how it impacts the characters is a 'novel' idea! The story line is predictable, but it was a …more

Miss Jane
by Brad Watson

Time, place and strength (3/31/2016)

The story of an amazing woman, a complicated family and the beauty to be found in even the most difficult of circumstances.

Brad Watson"s mesmerizing prose drew me in immediately. I was immersed in the time and place, in the strength Jane showed as she lived her life on her …more

Fear of Dying
by Erica Jong

Fear of dying or not having enough sex? (5/2/2015)

First I must say 'sex' ruined the book for me!
What could have been a poignant and realistic look at death and aging appeared to be less important than the protagonist's sexual needs. This tainted whatever serious point Jong is trying to make. Take away the persistent sex …more

The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell
by William Klaber

Rebellion or journey? (12/8/2014)

An interesting book that can be read on several levels. Klaber does a good job of describing the social, cultural and physical world of 19th century America. A lot of changes were taking place when Lucy began her 'rebellion (journey)'. She was brave, defiant at pushing the …more

Ruth's Journey: The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind
by Donald McCaig

The Intrigue of the 'back story' (9/12/2014)

Back stories fascinate me! The classic novel, Gone with the Wind, had several interesting characters that need a back story. When I pick up a novel to read, I often ask myself, "Who were these people before they showed up in this novel? Where did they come from? Why are …more

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Book Jacket — Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

Praised by *Parade* and *The New York Times Book Review*, this debut features a 1960s scientist turned TV cooking star.

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