Reviews by Sandra G. (Loveland, CO)

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The Temple House Vanishing
The Temple House Vanishing
by Rachel Donohue
Teenage angst leads to tragedy (4/14/2021)
On page three Victoria commits suicide. The rest of the novel is a slow unraveling of the mystery that led to her action. In the prologue the author wrote, " There are no heroes in the story." How true. This novel is completely devoid of joy; no one is happy. For that …more
The Northern Reach
The Northern Reach
by W.S. Winslow
Lives of Quiet Desperation (11/5/2020)
This book is full of characters whose lives are as grim as the bleak landscape they inhabit. There are a LOT of characters for only 228 pages. I was grateful for the family tree diagrams to keep track of them all. The book reads less like a novel to me than a group of …more
Ellie and the Harpmaker
Ellie and the Harpmaker
by Hazel Prior
Delightfully quirky debut novel (4/4/2019)
Whenever I put this book down, I was anxious to get back to it. To me, this is the hallmark of a wonderful read.

I enjoyed the short chapters alternating between the voices of Dan and Ellie. Dan is a bit of an oddball, a charmingly eccentric harp maker who is also a keen …more
Listen to the Marriage
Listen to the Marriage
by John Jay Osborn
Short but thought-provoking (5/29/2018)
With fewer than 200 pages, this book has only three characters. That is all that is needed to tell the story of a separated couple in counseling sessions trying to determine if divorce is inevitable. Their inability to discuss their feelings honestly has resulted in the …more
As Bright as Heaven
As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner
Unique historical fiction (10/3/2017)
This novel had a very unusual setting: a Philadelphia funeral home where the Bright family lived and worked. The author did an excellent job portraying the citizens' fear and desperation during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

Some readers may be put off by the funeral home …more
The Story of Arthur Truluv
The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel
by Elizabeth Berg
A bittersweet heartwarmer! (5/30/2017)
One hallmark of a good book is that the author makes the reader care about the characters. Elizabeth Berg has accomplished this. Arthur was a sad and lonely widower who enjoyed making up life stories for the people whose graves he passed on his daily cemetery visits. I felt …more
The Typewriter's Tale
The Typewriter's Tale
by Michiel Heyns
Disappointing (12/26/2016)
I typically enjoy 19th century novels, so I thought it was an interesting premise to write a novel in the style of Henry James. However, this book was very slow. My interest was not truly engaged until the last chapter. 19th century vocabulary is often challenging, but I …more
If I Forget You
If I Forget You
by Thomas Christopher Greene
Devoured this book in a day! (4/3/2016)
A reader does not need to love all the characters in order to love a novel. That is true for me with If I Forget You. It grabbed me in the first few pages. What could Henry have done to make Margot behave as she did on page 11? Even when I later learned what Henry had done, …more
Circling the Sun
Circling the Sun: A Novel
by Paula McLain
A Wonderful Book about an Unconventional Woman (5/1/2015)
Beryl Markham was a remarkable woman, A rebel even as a child, Beryl stood up for her convictions. She had no tolerance for the conduct society expected of her. She had the courage and initiative to become a renowned horse trainer and pilot at a time when these aspirations …more
The Spirit Keeper
The Spirit Keeper
by K. B. Laugheed
An Indian Romance (9/4/2013)
A good book is one in which I become so engrossed I can't wait to get back to it. Not this one. The author couldn't make me care about the characters. I found the book slow and repetitive; before the halfway point I was ready for it to end.
I was bothered throughout by the …more
How the Light Gets In
How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, #9
by Louise Penny
Absolutely superb! (7/9/2013)
As I began this book, I felt as if I were sinking into an armchair in Olivier's bistro, anticipating the appearance of familiar characters I loved (Armand, in particular) and those I didn't. (Ruth) My sense of comfort disappeared rather quickly. Of all the mysteries she has …more
The Forgetting Tree
The Forgetting Tree: A Novel
by Tatjana Soli
"Living in a fool's paradise" (8/7/2012)
As this novel unfolded, I expected the main conflict would be between Claire and her daughters over Claire's strong bond with her citrus ranch and their lack of interest in it. When breast cancer intervened and Minna the caregiver arrived, small details evoked a sense of …more
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