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Reviews by Rosemary T. (San Antonio, TX)

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The Necklace
by Claire McMillan
The Necklace by Claire McMillan (6/6/2017)
Although the storyline is fairly predictable, there are enough twists to hold the readers interest. The author successfully switches back and forth between the extravagant lifestyle of the 1920's to the present day relatives having to deal with a deteriorating estate. Thismore
The Half Wives
by Stacia Pelletier
The Half Wives (1/18/2017)
It was a struggle for me to finish The Half Wives by Stacia Pelletier as I found the storyline to be very depressing. It is hard to relate to anyone who would wallow in grief and guilt for 14 years. However, the husband and wife seemed to embrace their misery and let itmore
Shelter
by Jung Yun
Shelter (12/22/2015)
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be haunting. A story of a family caught between cultures, it is both informative and heartbreaking. The storyline illustrates so profoundly that money and success is meaningless without love. Only through an act ofmore
The War Reporter
by Martin Fletcher
The War Reporter (8/27/2015)
A gripping tale depicting the life of an American TV journalist working in war-torn Sarajevo. Although the main character, Tom Layne, will do most anything to get a scoop, the story also reveals his very human side as well as several of those he comes in contact with. Somore
Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Maybe in Another Life (6/11/2015)
Maybe in Another Life really caught my interest with the concept of how our choices can affect our lives. Perhaps I was expecting too much as I found the book disappointing. Instead of two story lines there seemed to be four---Hannah's and Gabby's. While one choice was wellmore
The Paris Winter
by Imogen Robertson
The Paris Winter (7/17/2014)
Set in Paris at the end of 1909 and the beginning of 1910, the story draws the reader in almost from the beginning. Three young women from very different backgrounds are brought together through the art school, Academie Afon. Through a series of events, they find themselvesmore
Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed
by John F. Ross
Enduring Courage by John Ross (4/14/2014)
A great glimpse into the character of men who helped build the auto and aviation industry into what it is today. Eddie Rickenbacker and this contemporaries pushed beyond the limit whether in racing or flying. John Ross did an incredible job of relating historical factsmore
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair (1/15/2014)
Although Stenhauser might be billed as the master of spy novels, I found The Cairo Affair disappointing. It took me over half the novel to connect all the names and piece together a storyline. The premise that an American could so easily betray their country and loved onemore
Through the Evil Days: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Through the Evil Days (9/10/2013)
I would have rated this book higher if it had not been for all the other storylines going on with most of the main characters. This seemed to bog down the pace at times. The book did keep my interest, though I was very disappointed with the ending which left many unansweredmore
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
by Daniel Stashower
The Hour of Peril (12/31/2012)
At first I did not think I was going to like this book when so much was devoted to Pinkerton's background. However, once the story progressed to the second part I was totally engrossed. It is surprising to me that throughout high school and college I never heard that anmore
The Woman at the Light: A Novel
by Joanna Brady
The Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady (7/11/2012)
The author presents an interesting view into the life and hardships of a women lighthouse keeper during the 1800's. Add a missing husband, an escaped slave, an illicit love affair, and a hurricane and you have a plot that keeps the reader turning pages. An added bonus ismore
A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns
A Simple Murder (4/18/2012)
An unusual "who done it" which occurs in an unlikely setting. Although the storyline did hold my interest, I had some trouble keeping all the characters straight and felt that some of the key players could have been developed better. The ending left me wondering if themore
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak (1/17/2012)
Although I enjoyed the book, I was disappointed that the author made Catherine's confidante, Varvara, the main character. The book cover claims that it is a novel of Catherine the Great, however we really never get to know her, only what is presented through Varvara.
The Borgia Betrayal: A Poisoner Mystery Novel
by Sara Poole
The Borgia Betrayal by Sara Poole (6/27/2011)
As a lover of historical mysteries, I found this book disappointing. The usage of phrases that seemed more appropriate for the 20th century than the 15th, poor character development, and unbelievable "feats" by the main character Francesca all contributed to mymore
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
Outlander (3/21/2011)
Although the story held my interest most of the time, I found there were parts where I bogged down with too much detail. Often I thought the story was ending but would realize there were still 200 or more pages to go. If I had any criticism, it would be that Claire andmore
The Paris Wife: A Novel
by Paula McLain
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (12/9/2010)
I highly recommend reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain for anyone who has ever read any of Ernest Hemingway's work. It is an absorbing and compelling novel describing the early years of Hemingway's life as a struggling writer written through the voice of his first wifemore

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Death Echo (6/23/2010)
Death Echo is an entertaining read if you are a lover of international espionage. For the most part the plot moves at a fast pace with well developed main characters. Unfortunately, I can't say that for most of the other characters. Often I felt I was missing a crucialmore
The Scent of Rain and Lightning: A Novel
by Nancy Pickard
The Scent of Rain and Lightning (2/12/2010)
Starting a little slow, the story line quickly escalates keeping the reader guessing until the end. The author successfully captures the emotions of a small town whose livelihood depends on the success of the largest ranch in the area. Both look out for the other with amore
Serena: A Novel
by Ron Rash
Serena (9/16/2009)
Serena is a riveting, albeit very dark, novel about one couple's goal to rule the lumber industry at any cost. Set during the depression the reader gets a glimpse of the degree men were willing to go to have a job. Even though the novel centers around Serena, she is the onemore
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
The Secret Keeper (3/13/2009)
Even though this novel can sometimes be confusing bouncing back and forth between a four year time frame, it is full of information about a country we often only receive snippets about in our national news. For the most part, the story moves at a brisk pace but does seem tomore
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