BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Mary M. (Dallas, TX)

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
by Cherise Wolas

Unexpected Riches (6/26/2017)

Beautifully written, The Resurrection of Joan Ashby was an unexpected pleasure to read. Ashbey's voyage through marriage, children and betrayal and eventual healing is a thought provoking richness well constructed penetrating language. A book to be savored and read with care in order to take in the full effect.

Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation
by Anne Sebba

Mixed Emotions (7/11/2016)

The first chapters in the book were slow - I dragged my eyes through the chapters but then I was caught up in the stories of the heroic women of Paris and while I sometimes wanted to walk away I felt Les Parisiennes was a book I had to read. A story we all need to read.

If I Forget You
by Thomas Christopher Greene

As Love Goes By (3/31/2016)

Pick an afternoon when the sun is mellow and you have nothing pressing, pour a glass of wine and sit down in a comfortable chair (preferably outside) then enjoy a beautifully written story of two people and how they love.

The Railwayman's Wife
by Ashley Hay

A Beautiful Gift of a Story (2/7/2016)

The Railwayman's Wife is a gift of words beautifully spun together into a story you won't want to put down and at the same time a book you don't want to end.

Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Seesaw (5/24/2015)

I like the the way the characters in "Maybe in Another Life" are developed and the way in which their flaws are viewed as just pieces of their identity but I am not a fan of the concurrent device.

Trust No One: A Thriller
by Paul Cleave

Roller Coaster (5/21/2015)

"Trust No One" WOW - this is the best mystery/thriller I have read in a long time. The plot twists and turns in a roller coaster of a story that is impossible to put down.

The Well
by Catherine Chanter

Tapestry of the Well (2/12/2015)

The Well is the beguiling story of a family's small holding that seems to have magic properties that exclude it from the rest of the world that is rapidly running out of water. Amid the beauty there is murder and betrayal, growth and disintegration woven in a beautifully written tapestry of a story.

The Last Flight of Poxl West
by Daniel Torday

Lost Patina (1/2/2015)

I sat down to read a chapter of "The Last Flight of Poxl West" and found I could not put it down. It is the stunning story of where the patina of what a young man believes is swept away to reveal the stunning truth of a broken hero. Make sure you have a lot of free time before beginning this novel.

A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe

Family Secrets (12/10/2014)

At first "A Fireproof Home for the Bride" seems like a well developed straight forward coming of age story about a young girl growing up a small Michigan farming community until she begins to question the path her mother has chosen for her and in the process uncovers the family's
past. There is something in this book for every reader though I am afraid it will probably be considered "women's lit."

Backyard
by Norman Draper

Not Your Mama's Garden (10/12/2014)

Though some might find all the flower references a little crazy making "The Backyard" is hysterically funny. The characters in this madcap adventure in gardening are people you know and you are soon caught up in the frenzy to win the local garden contest. Witches, zombies, sabotage and more await the reader of "The Garden"

Small Blessings
by Martha Woodroof

a fairy tale (5/6/2014)

Upon reading the first page of Small Blessings, I felt like I had just met a new friend so I settled into a comfy chair to learn more. This book is a well-written insightful fairy tale with its feet firmly planted on the floor.

The Headmaster's Wife
by Thomas Christopher Greene

Headmaster's Dive (1/3/2014)

I tried hard to like The Headmaster's Wife but found it to be a nicely written cliche with not much to pull the reader in but rather a book to put down and forget.

Soy Sauce for Beginners
by Kirstin Chen

Cultural Brew (10/7/2013)

At first "Soy Sauce for Beginners" appears to be yet another book where a young woman finds her place in the world but through the world of Soy Sauce, her family's business we find that cultural differences and values change the game. A nicely written book and a new appreciation for soy sauce - what more could you ask?

Songs of Willow Frost
by Jamie Ford

A Bittersweet Song (7/3/2013)

The author describes Songs of Willow Frost as a "story infused with generations of hope and tribulation" but it is much more. We are given a peek at Seattle's Chinatown in the years following the market crash and depression where poverty and prejudice are the catalyst that drives a mother to leave her child in an orphanage. The story is bittersweet but one you will not want to put down. I recommend Songs of Willow Frost to anyone who loves to read well written novels.

The Sisterhood
by Helen Bryan

The Sisterhood (4/24/2013)

I really wanted to love this book because the portal through which we glimpse the lives of 16th upper class Spanish women whose lives are intertwined with the convent "Las Golondrinas" is fascinating. However the author flips clumsily between the present and the past while weaving a predictable plot so while the book is interesting it is not one that I can recommend without reservations.

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