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Reviews by Maggie P. (Mount Airy, MD)

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Home Sweet Home
by April Smith
Home Sweet Home (1/18/2017)
Leaving NYC, the Kuseks settle in North Dakota where attorney Cal has a service buddy. Adapting to the small town setting, the Kuseks slowly make friends and build their home. Cal has political aspirations which uncover something about his past his neighbors are leery of. This changes everything about how the Kuseks are viewed and treated by the community. While most of the book takes place during the 1950s, there is a lot of parallel with what is happening today when it comes to those who don't believe as we do. A fast read.
Lady Cop Makes Trouble: Girl Waits with Gun #2
by Amy Stewart
Constance Returns (5/26/2016)
Constance Kopp is back in the second installment of Amy Stewart's continuing saga of the Kopp sisters. Once again the reader accompanies Constance as she takes to finding a prisoner who escaped during her watch. Filled with action and adventure, this book is perfect for someone who loves crime novels. Fans of Amy Stewart and Constance Kopp can only hope that this time period in Bergen County afforded Constance lots of opportunities for adventure.
I'll See You in Paris
by Michelle Gable
A Trip in Time (1/27/2016)
This book came at the perfect time. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept me going until the final page. I was embroiled in the mystery of who Mrs. Spencer might actually have been. I was intrigued by who Pru might turn out to be, (I was right!) and how Gus fit into the picture. And then there was Annie's tie to the Grange. I loved the intrigue and the romance. I found this book to be a compulsive page turner and was sad when I had to bid the inhabitants a farewell. I'll See You in Paris was a delightfully enjoyable trip through the 1920s, '30s, and '60s, as well as the present. I've already purchased Michelle Gable's first novel because of how taken I was with this one.
Five
by Ursula Archer
Edge of seat thriller! (10/30/2014)
It all starts with a dead woman's body in a field. Using geocaching as a way to deliver clues, Ursula Archer takes the reader on a journey as the detectives try to prevent more murders. This book is a great read you will have a hard time putting down. If you like Louise Penny you will enjoy this book.
The Deepest Secret
by Carla Buckley
The Deepest Secret (1/22/2014)
We all have secrets. What would happen when yours come out for others to see? That is the premise of this book. The writing reminds me of both Jodi Piccoult and Harlan Coben. Like Piccoult, Buckley deals with a family issue, XP, which affects the entire family. Like Coben, I had a hard time putting the book down; and just when I thought I know where the story was going, it took a turn I didn't see coming. A very interesting read, I would recommend to anyone who likes a compelling read.
Amy Falls Down
by Jincy Willett
Amy Falls Down (7/29/2013)
It all starts with a fall and then maybe a concussion, the problem is, Amy can't remember. As Amy finds new found celebrity, we follow here as she tries to get her writing career back on track. A quick, easy, mindless read.
Her Last Breath: A Kate Burkholder Novel
by Linda Castillo
Just one more chapter (5/20/2013)
This is Linda Castillo's fifth installment in her Kate Burkholder series. "Her Last Breath" does well as a stand-alone read; it does not leave the reader confused about what happened before but it will have the reader wanting to read more about Kate and Tomasetti. As Kate tries to solve the identity of the hit and run driver who killed an Amish father and 2 of his children, Kate must also face ghosts from her past. I had a hard time putting the book down; I would tell myself "just one more chapter" before going to bed. "Her Last Breath" is great for anyone who likes mysteries, particularly those with a surprise ending.
A Murder at Rosamund's Gate: A Lucy Campion Mystery
by Susanna Calkins
Mystery or romance? (4/4/2013)
I'm not sure if you would call this a historical romance with a bit of mystery or a mystery within a historical romance. No matter, after getting off to a slow start, the story kept me turning the pages. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something else would happen. A great summer read.
Live by Night
by Dennis Lehane
A step back in time (8/13/2012)
This book was a real page turner. It grabbed my interest on the first page and did not let it go. Lehane's language painted a picture of the times, gritty when it needed to be and a splash of color and hope when it was important. I would recommend this book to those that like a bit of history thrown into their fiction and to those who love action. Clear your calendars because this is a book you won't want to put down.
The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con
by Amy Reading
Buckle up! (7/2/2012)
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. I found myself laughing at the exploits of Frank Norfleet. While Amy Reading leaves you wondering how much is factual how much is the fanciful wishing of Norfleet, I still found myself having a hard time putting the book down for any length of time.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a history buff or just enjoys a good story. Don't let the fact that it is a work of nonfiction put you off, it reads like no nonfiction I've ever read.
The Red Book: A Novel
by Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Red Book (3/18/2012)
The premise of the book was wonderful. Catch up with four Harvard graduates as they gather for their 20 year class reunion. I imagined reuniting with three of my good friends from college and catching up on the ensuing years. Would four people thrown together in college be able to gather together again? With that in mind, I eagerly started reading the book. As much as I tried, I just couldn’t make myself care for the characters. I found myself forgetting about it once I put it down. It’s just possible it was too close to chick-lit to completely capture my attention. I still believe the premise should work.
The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel
by Adam Johnson
A Different World (11/13/2011)
The Orphan Master's Son grabs you from the start. Transported to the world of North Korea, the reader is intrigued to see what Pak Jun Do encounters next. Both a love story and a thriller, this book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The Kitchen Daughter: A Novel
by Jael McHenry
The Kitchen Daughter (3/28/2011)
A glance through the book had me dying to read it. After quickly finishing what I was currently reading, I picked up McHenry's book. I can't remember the last time I stayed up late (3:30am) to finish a book. I just could not put it down. I like the way Ginny found comfort in food. The relationship between Ginny and her sister was true to form. I was, however, saddened, that the parent's did not really prepare Ginny for life without them. It was gratifying to watch Ginny grow during the book. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It would be a great book for a bookclub as there are questions in the back of the book for readers.
Agent X: A Novel
by Noah Boyd
Agent X (1/3/2011)
Fast paced, this book offers three different storylines so the reader must focus. Not reading the first book with these characters, The Bricklayer, does not put the reader at a disadvantage. The banter between Steve Vail and Kate Bannon is reminiscent of "Moonlighting." Agent X is a good, quick, light read.
Bury Your Dead: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, #6
by Louise Penny
Bury Your Dead (10/14/2010)
"Bury Your Dead" grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me involved until the end. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, as he tries to recover from a previous incident, takes the reader on a tour of Old Quebec. Along the way, the reader learns about the tensions between the French and English residents of Quebec. Multiple story lines keep the reader involved in the story. This was my first book by Louise Penny, but it will not be my last.
The Blind Contessa's New Machine: A Novel
by Carey Wallace
A Haunting Love Story (6/25/2010)
As Carolina prepares to marry Pietro she realizes she is going blind. Finding no solace in Pietro, Carolina turns to someone she has known since childhood, Turri. Through the years, Carolina and Turri grow closer despite the fact they are married to others. Things change when Pietro discovers the affair.

The story flows so well it is easy to read in one sitting. The end left me with a physical ache because of the resolution of the story. I would definitely recommend this book to others and look forward to Carey Wallace’s second book.
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