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Reviews by Cindy C. (Withee, WI)

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Follow the Stars Home
by Diane C. McPhail

Lots of potential but a disappointing read (5/18/2024)

I wanted to read this book because I had recently read a non-fiction book where Benjamin Latrobe was mentioned and the narrator of this book is his daughter. The book taking place during the New Madrid earthquake was interesting and had potential to be more so. I also found …more

The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton

Full of twists and turns all the way to the end (12/30/2023)

The story grabbed me almost from the start and held my attention to the end. I liked the female characters and the story they had to tell. The dual timeline was easy to switch between. It is interesting that the house is almost the most prominent character in the book. I …more

All You Have to Do Is Call
by Kerri Maher

Interesting story of how a few individuals can make a difference (7/15/2023)

I found the book interesting and the characters likable. It is based on a real organization that existed in the early 1970s and I found it particularly interesting how they were able to put together this entire "underground" network to perform abortions. Unlike many readers …more

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

Tanner & Louise (10/29/2022)

This book was okay, but in my opinion could have been better. I did like the characters from the somewhat lost Tanner to the somewhat eccentric Louise to Jules, the daughter that tries to run her mother's life. I felt the pace of the book was slow at times, although if you …more

River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer

Worthwhile read (9/6/2022)

I thought the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, but it is a story that tears at your heart. It takes place as slavery is ending in the Caribbean, and slaves are being moved into an apprenticeship system. The main character, Rachel, runs from her plantation, and …more

Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey
by Florence Williams

A journey through divorce and beyond (12/26/2021)

As someone who has been through a divorce, I found the book interesting and could relate to some of what the author said. On the other hand, I expected it to talk more generally about the health issues and scientific research related to all forms of heartbreak and grief. I …more

How to Find Your Way Home
by Katy Regan

A family finding it's way back to each other (10/13/2021)

This is a story about a brother and sister, one who is homeless, the other who appears to have everything. The story is told in pieces, as we learn about Emily, about Stephen, and about their past. The ending was appropriate in my opinion. I did feel the story was a little …more

The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull

Interesting piece of history (8/21/2020)

This book made me want to read more about the people that it contained. We all know the story about Edward and Wallis Simpson. And I knew a little bit about the fight for the Vanderbilt heiress. But I had never heard of Thelma Morgan before, so it was interesting to learn …more

Vox
by Christina Dalcher

Could this be our future? (5/30/2018)

I found the book interesting and couldn't wait to see how it would end. The story felt very real and believable to me as there have always been those in our country that others have wanted to silence, especially given the current climate in our nation. I also liked Jean as …more

Anatomy of a Miracle
by Jonathan Miles

Anatomy of a Miracle (3/3/2018)

I felt the book read like a report about an incident from a variety of angles. It kept me interested and wanting to know what happened. But for me the most interesting part is the relationships between characters, the protectiveness of Cameron's sister, but also the …more

Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham

Great book, even more so because it actually happened (7/15/2017)

It seems strange to say you loved a book that shares such painful memories, but I did. The book goes beyond the author's story as she was also able to share the stories of other parents who had children in the same hospital ward where her daughter was. I think that adds to …more

The Garden of Small Beginnings
by Abbi Waxman

You have to start somewhere (6/4/2017)

I loved this book. It makes you laugh and it makes you cry. The characters are very real. You find yourself cheering on the characters as they make good decisions and bad decisions. And although I think the book is about Lili's journey back to fully living life after the …more

Edgar and Lucy
by Victor Lodato

Edgar and Lucy (1/8/2017)

This book was very hard for me to get into. There were times in the first half of the book that I found it very confusing and was not sure what was actually going on. It seemed almost as if two stories were being told in parallel universes where the results weren't the same. …more

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

Cruel Beautiful World (9/10/2016)

I found this book enjoyable and hard to put down. At the time this story took place, I would have been just a little younger than Lucy and Charlotte, so I remember some of this stuff. And the story of a young girl running off with her teacher is something that could have …more

Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson

Karolina's Twins--Fiction from History (7/17/2016)

Engrossing is the proper word to describe this book. I found the story of Lena and Karolina to be interesting, read it in just a weekend. I liked the fact that Lena told the story in the first person--her story, her words. I did figure out Lena's dark secret before it was …more

The Life of the World to Come
by Dan Cluchey

Not really my cup of tea (5/22/2016)

I found this book to be a bit too philosophical for my taste. I had difficulty keeping track of whether I was in reading about an event in the past or something that was current. I also found the fact that the author used big words a lot annoying. I read a lot and have a …more

All Is Not Forgotten
by Wendy Walker

Interesting Journey-Interesting Ending (11/9/2015)

I read the book in a weekend. It was not quite a "I can't put it down" read, but I definitely wanted to see how it would end. One of the great things about the book was that every time I thought I knew where the author was going with the plot, she changed direction and took …more

The Well
by Catherine Chanter

The Well (4/9/2015)

On the bad side, I thought the pace of the book was too slow. It didn't really pull me in and want me to finish it in a single sitting. On the good side, there are many twists in the plot. Every time you think you have things figured out, there is a new twist in the story. …more

Descent
by Tim Johnston

Great read! (12/4/2014)

I read this book in one day because I just needed to know how it ended. And I believe there could be a sequel in there too.

The book tells the story of the members of the Courtland family and what happens when their 18 year old daughter disappears. We not only get to learn …more

Before the Poison
by Peter Robinson

Before the Posion (11/27/2011)

I read the book in two days and would recommend it to others. The story definitely draws you in and you want to know how it ends and the ending is definitely unexpected. I have never read this author before and in same ways liked his attention to detail but sometimes felt …more

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Reviews by Cindy C. (Withee, WI)

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