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Reviews by Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)

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Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein

A Nest of Thieves!! (11/29/2024)

When I first started this book I almost sent BookBrowse a "Just not my forte" note - but I decided to read on and now must say I absolutely loved this book!! It was a depiction of early to mid- nineteenth century London at its best and its worst.. It enveloped sadness, …more

The Last One at the Wedding: A Novel
by Jason Rekulak

Disappointed (10/12/2024)

I was totally disappointed in this book - I thought it was a horrible plot - totally distasteful.......not at all what I expected - I read a lot of different thrillers and authors but this one I will not read again.

Girl Falling: A Novel
by Hayley Scrivenor

Friendship to the end.... (8/27/2024)

Another amazing Australian author!! This is a powerful novel about friendship, all its nuances and its power to destroy another. A co-dependent relationship existed for many years between Daphne and Finn, developing and morphing into something else - "like a vine that …more

The Mystery Writer: A Novel
by Sulari Gentill

Frighteningly Good! (12/15/2023)

I could not put this book down...it was so compellingly good!! Yet I was left with some questions regarding the chat room. I loved the main characters in this great mystery novel yet at times I was so frustrated with the naivety of the central character, Theo. I felt there …more

Devil Makes Three: A Novel
by Ben Fountain

Haiti - at the end of the day what matters.... (8/17/2023)

This was an extremely heavy and political novel - and as in all politics - nothing ever really gets resolved in this tragically beautiful country. The "summary" makes it seem as if Matt Amaker and his diving for treasure are the main theme of this novel but that is not true. …more

The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel
by Phaedra Patrick

Comfort Zones (3/31/2023)

I had reservations about this novel and almost did not finish it after I read the first few chapters, (I am not a "chick-lit" fan) but the further I read the more I warmed up to this novel and the wonderful characters in this story - each so different from the other. Each …more

The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity

Loved the story! (2/22/2023)

I really loved this story - the author had done well with character development - the reader really got to know each character and who they were. There were a few things in the story that made one pause and question what had just transpired (in order to not spoil the story, …more

Once We Were Home
by Jennifer Rosner

Saving the children..... (11/3/2022)

This is a beautifully written novel enlightening many of us about a time in WWII history that most of us never knew about - a time "swept under the rug" that was not taught in our history classes. This is not just a story about what happened to so many children of the war, …more

Two Storm Wood: A Novel
by Philip Gray

The Horrors of War.... (12/1/2021)

This was exceptional writing of a very difficult and horrific time in our history - World War I at its very worst - the aftermath which left all of its horrors, betrayals, and rawness out in the open for those soldiers who literally were left to pick up the pieces and find …more

The Fields: A Novel
by Erin Young

Oh Wow!! (10/7/2021)

This thriller went above and beyond any expectations I held when I began this novel. For some reason English authors have a special way with writing thrillers that make them incredibly good!! And Erin Young has outdone herself with this novel. What an impeccably put …more

Lady Sunshine
by Amy Mason Doan

Mixed Feelings.... (5/4/2021)

I liked this book and did not like this book. I felt there was a flaw in the relationship between Jackie and Paul - I found it odd that she shared nothing with him about her past and relationship to the property she inherited - nor any information about the property she …more

Palace of the Drowned
by Christine Mangan

A disjointed read! (2/28/2021)

I was disappointed in this novel and certainly did not find it to be anywhere near "a juicy thriller". I just could not get a good read on this novel - literally or figureatively....too many things left undone, unsaid, the plot tending to be unatainable. I could never get a …more

The Paris Hours: A Novel
by Alex George

Fate or coincidence.... (2/2/2020)

It is amazing how intricately woven many lives are - sometimes revealed and many more times sadly, never discovered. This is such a beautiful story of lives lost, lives found.....loves woven together by fate - or was it coincidence? Their stories of their losses, their pain, …more

The Kennedy Debutante
by Kerri Maher

A sumptuous read! (5/29/2018)

This novel was a wonderful historical insight into the Kennedy family during the 1930's and 40's. It seems during that time, life was simpler without all the electronic devices and social media clogging it up. What you got was real...
I found myself several times Googling …more

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams

A Summer read not to miss! (4/14/2018)

I love Beatriz Williams and her amazing novels. I could not put The Summer Wives down! It was a wonderful story that took me back to a different era and to the scenic New England coast. The characters and scenery were all so real that I felt a part of this wonderful story …more

The Days When Birds Come Back
by Deborah Reed

A tale of grief and life... (10/30/2017)

We all handle grief differently and we all get beyond it differently - although some of us may take longer or may never get beyond our grief. Thus Emily Dickinson's opening epigraph in this lovely new book by Deborah Reed: These are the days when birds come back, A very few, …more

Lola
by Melissa Scrivner Love

Millenial read! (3/8/2017)

I had a hard time getting through this book - I kept putting it down and going back hoping it would get better but I felt the storyline kept bogging down. This is a book for the new millennial generation...not my cup of tea. I read mostly thrillers however this book simply …more

The Barrowfields
by Phillip Lewis

I was beginning to understand.... (1/31/2017)

This book was so frustrating – the author made me so angry with his awkward characters and rambling plot that suddenly went into great detail for several pages, then skipped over major issues as we do in life to avoid reality and unpleasantness. I could not understand the …more

A Piece of the World: A Novel
by Christina Baker Kline

Swept away in Christina's World (11/28/2016)

I opened this book and was immediately swept away into the lush, coastal farm Maine landscape and the amazing characters inhabiting this landscape from 1900 through 1948. This small piece of the world was Christina'a world, a misshapen, crippled young girl, growing into …more

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
by Kathleen Rooney

A New Years Eve stroll of reflection......1984 (9/11/2016)

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book but ended up loving this story of Lillian Boxfish and her amazing walk through New York City on New Year's Eve, 1984. It caused me to reflect on my own life of 72 years and surprised me that the author, Kathleen Rooney, was so …more

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