BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Diane M. (Walden, NY)

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

Wonderful book (8/2/2016)

I enjoyed this book so much. It was around the same time I was growing up. The feelings Lucy was going through were familiar because most young girls go through them. I don't want to give away the plot or ending but I highly recommend everyone read this book. You won't want to put it down.

Falling
by Jane Green

Love story (7/1/2016)

This is a story about contemporary love story. Emma leave her fast paced life in new York to find a better life following her dreams in Connecticut. She finds love with Dominic and his son but life gives the story surprising twists. Beautiful story.

Crazy Blood
by T. Jefferson Parker

Give this book a try (1/4/2016)

The story of the Carson family, patriarch Adam and his two grandsons, one of which is illegitimate, revolves around the world of skiing. The murder of the grandsons father by his legal wife causes tensions and a rivalry between these two grandsons. For me the book was slow and I had a hard time getting through it but it was well written and deserves a chance.

The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth

Excellent book (11/18/2015)

This was such a wonderful book. I didn't want it end. Three generations of women, all midwives. The grandmother and granddaughter have secrets which they wonder if they should be revealed and what effect the revealing of these secrets will have. Wonderful book.

Still Life Las Vegas
by James Sie

Still Life Vegas (4/22/2015)

I found this to be a slight strange book. It started off well about a search by a son whose life seems to be consumed by the mother who deserted him at age 5 and dealing with a mentally ill father who seems to have give up on life. Mixed in are comic book-like illustrations. Just couldn't get into this book; I finished it but I wouldn't recommend it.

House of Echoes: A Novel
by Brendan Duffy

haunting tale (2/6/2015)

I really enjoyed this book. It is a mixture between a horror story and a mystery. The atmosphere is almost Gothic, mixing history and current day atmosphere. The book grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go until the final page. Recommended for book clubs and everyone who loves suspense. Wonderful book.

Blue Stars
by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Blue Stars (12/9/2014)

This was such a great book. I really enjoyed it because it was a story about military families left behind and when their fathers and sons return from war. As a wife of a veteran, although I didn't know him when he first came back I dealt with aftereffects such as PTSD. This book will open your eyes to the families go through. It was a wonderful realistic book.

Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley

mating for life (3/17/2014)

A heartwarming story of the a mother and three daughters.Their relationships, dating, infidelities and secrets all intertwine to make this a very touching book that most women will be able to relate to.

Safe with Me
by Amy Hatvany

Safe with me (11/13/2013)

A really enjoyable this is a story of two families united who are bonded together by a tragedy and the gift of life. I enjoyed this book so much that I went and bought other books by Hatvany. Highly recommended.

The Lion in the Lei Shop
by Kaye Starbird

lion in the lei shop (4/24/2013)

Daughter marty is evacuated from Pearl harbor with her mother. In the aftermath she has nightmares of the lion in the lei shop who is supposed to devour happy children. This is the story of how the mother deal with their new life and facing the possibility of their soldier husband and father never coming home. This is a great book and one I'm glad I read it.

Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin

golden boy (1/16/2013)

A story about a family trying to be perfect but holding a secret. Max, the "golden boy" - star athlete, handsome, intelligent - is intersex. A well kept secret until a childhood friend reveals it. What happens to the golden boy and his family afterwards is the basis for this story. I personally didn't like but it was a good story. I haven't read anything else like it. I would recommend only because someone might like it because of the theme.

The Spy Lover
by Kiana Davenport

the spy lover (12/4/2012)

This is such a great book. this book is a graphic story of the horrors of the civil war told from the viewpoint of a Chinese immigrant fighting for the union army and his daughter working as a nurse for the confederate army while spying for the union army.

I would highly recommend because it tells a story of the realities of war and the very human characters.

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