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Reviews by Maggie S. (Durango, CO)

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Castle of Water
Castle of Water: A Novel
by Dane Huckelbridge
Castle of Water (12/7/2016)
Castle Of Water by Dane Hucklebridge is a good "beach" read. There was nothing too deep about it. I know the author was writing a castaway story but in my opinion it was a little too unbelievable. I liked the idea of the book but it went the direction of light romance. The characters could have been more fully formed and there were many parts of the story that I wished the author had dug more deeply into.
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes
by Susan Bishop Crispell
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes (7/28/2016)
A little magic, a little romance, a little pie makes a perfect beach read.
Tuesday Nights in 1980
Tuesday Nights in 1980
by Molly Prentiss
Tuesday Nights in 1980 (1/19/2016)
"But that's the point" his father would've said back, "The imperfections, the time that's past, the hiccups... That's the wear of the world on it. That's the life."

This one line, in my opinion, sums up Molly Prentiss' book "Tuesday Nights in 1980." The scratches and scars and bad decisions we make in our lives are life. With all of that we can still find beauty and love and hope. The novel takes place in New York around the contemporary art scene. It is edgy and at times reading the story is very difficult and heart breaking. The writer really put me in that place and made me know and sympathize with all of the characters and the tracks that their lives were taking them. One novel I will recommend.
Every Anxious Wave
Every Anxious Wave
by Mo Daviau
Every Anxious Wave (10/15/2015)
I liked the premise of the book "Every Anxious Wave" by Mo Daviau, that of time travel and what it means if you do things inadvertently to change the past or see the future. The book was very well written. I got a good sense of place and there was good character development but I was not enamored of any of them or the whole culture of rock bands and rock concerts. The characters being too cool and edgy was an irritation. The book was for a younger audience than me. I guess I am getting old...drat!
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes
by Anna McPartlin
The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes (7/20/2015)
The novel "The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes" by Anna McPartlen is the story of a young woman who is dying. It is a story of a family and how they get through this heart wrenching emotional stage of their lives. Although the book was very difficult to read, through all of my tears, I fell in love with every one of the characters. It was a real family with all of the love and anger and forgiveness and laughter that make a family what it is.
The Wild Girl
The Wild Girl
by Kate Forsyth
The Wild Girl (4/4/2015)
I found that the premise of The Wild Girl" by Kate Forsythe was very interesting. The novel told the story of the brothers Grimm, who they were, how they found the fairy tales, the times they lived, and the story of Dortchen Wild who was the main character. I love historical fiction as I end up doing my own research on the times that I don't know that much about. This book definitely does make me want to learn more about the Napoleonic wars especially with Russia and I want to read the Grimm's fairy tales as well. Having said that, it was a bit of a slog for me and I think it could have been much shorter. The book was just not written very well which was surprising because I enjoyed her first novel "Bitter Greens" which did not take me days to read like "The Wild Girl" did.
Her Name Is Rose
Her Name Is Rose
by Christine Breen
Her Name Is Rose (2/13/2015)
A good story, sympathetic characters, a twist here and there makes for an enjoyable novel. "Her Name Is Rose" by Christine Breen is one such book. For those who enjoy women's fiction I highly recommend it.
The Secrets of Midwives
The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth
The Secrets of Midwives (12/24/2014)
Three generations of midwives with their own individual secrets. That is the premise of the book by Sally Hepworth "The Secrets of Midwives". This book was an easy read. The characters were believable and the author did a great job of giving the reader some insight to the world of midwifery. I thought it was well written and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend the book to those who love women's fiction.
Backyard
Backyard
by Norman Draper
BACKYARD (10/23/2014)
The gardens described in Norman Draper's book "Backyard" sound luscious! I could visualize the sweep of color and the flower combinations and how each garden was different and lovely in their own way. The gardeners on the other hand are way over the top. It took me some time to get into this book as I did not really like any of the characters or the silly situations they got themselves into.
Juliet's Nurse
Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Juliet's Nurse (7/16/2014)
Lois Laveen's novel "Juliet's Nurse" had an intriguing premise. What came before the fateful day Juliet met her Romeo? Unfortunately I had difficult time staying with the story. It seemed to go on and on without anything happening. I did not like Angelica, the nurse, who's story this was really about. That was a disappointment for me. She was a bit too coarse, in my opinion and she had very little depth. I really wished there would have been much more development of all of the characters and plot line, because I thought the idea for this novel was worth it.
The House We Grew Up In
The House We Grew Up In
by Lisa Jewell
The House We Grew Up In (3/25/2014)
A heartbreaking event in Lisa Jewell's book The House We Grew Up In tears a family apart. The story is about how each member of the family reacts and how, in the end, they are able to forgive and accept each other's weaknesses and realize that they need and love one another. It is a dark and thought provoking novel and even though I knew that everything would work out I wanted to know how each of the characters would go forward.

I selected this book because I liked the cover art and the title intrigued me. I didn't even notice who wrote it. The only other book I have read by Lisa Jewell was one that was picked by my book club, The Making Of Us. I was not impressed with that one so when I received the book to review I was not looking forward to reading it. Happily for me this book had much more to offer in regards to character development and story line. I enjoyed it.
The Headmaster's Wife
The Headmaster's Wife
by Thomas Christopher Greene
The Headmasters Wife (12/31/2013)
The Headmasters Wife by Thomas Christopher Greene is a very sad novel and I would use caution when recommending it. I was ready to put it down because I could not sympathize with many of the characters and I didn't like the way the story was unfolding, but the author tricked me with a major plot twist so I did read it to the end. Not one of my favorites.
The Shock of The Fall
The Shock of The Fall: (originally published in hardcover in USA as Where the Moon Isn't)
by Nathan Filer
Where The Moon Isn't (10/28/2013)
Where The moon Isn't by Nathan Filer is beautifully written. It is a sad, funny, hopeful, heart wrenching story of Matthew, the narrator and main character. He absolutely stole my heart. He is difficult and yet so vulnerable that I couldn't help but love him. A book that teaches me about other peoples frailties and differences and leads me to a better understanding of their story is one that stays with me. This is one such book. I absolutely loved it.
Songs of Willow Frost
Songs of Willow Frost
by Jamie Ford
Songs of Willow Frost (8/11/2013)
The Songs of Willow Frost is a poignant story about family, tradition, and what we do for love. A young Chinese American woman and her son must cope with the hardships of the Great Depression, both together and apart. The combination of setting and characters creates a world of believable and sympathetic humanity. I very much enjoyed the author's first novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but this one touched me more. Highly recommended.
The Lion in the Lei Shop
The Lion in the Lei Shop
by Kaye Starbird
The Lion in the Lei Shop by Kaye Starbird (6/2/2013)
The Lion in the Lei Shop by Kaye Starbird is a beautifully written novel that I highly recommend. Originally published in 1970 it has been reprinted for the Book Lust Rediscovery series. Two narrators, a young mother and her daughter, recall the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the subsequent weeks, months, and years that follow. This is a story about memories, childhood fears, and the different ways people cope with the same event. It speaks of women and their friendships, mothers and their children, and how life goes on with humor, tears, and love. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
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