Marie Benedict writes fantastic historical fiction novels and she's written another one with THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. I haven't read anything by Victoria Christopher Murray, but definitely will after this book. This was a wonderful collaboration about a woman named Belle da Costa Greene who was the librarian and curator for J. P. Morgan's library of rare books and manuscripts. She tells the story of how she gains respect in the auction world, which is male dominated with her knowledge of rare books as well as her business sense. The struggle she has is she's a light skinned African American woman trying to pass for a caucasian woman. She does this because that is the only way she could get a job like this one. She's worried her secret will be discovered and she won't be able to help provide for her family. Her struggle with denying her true identity is very thought provoking throughout the book. I found her story to be very interesting and it kept me wanting to read about her. We need to learn more about amazing women like Belle who was an important part of history, but no one ever knew her story.

I really liked this book! It was very hard to put down as I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Sarah Penner does a wonderful job weaving together the stories of the main characters which both take place in London during the18th century and present day. It's never confusing though and there are interesting twists that keep you guessing. This is a well researched historical novel that would lead to some great book club discussions. I look forward to more books from this author!

As an animal lover, I really enjoyed this book. I think it would appeal to a larger audience though. It's not just an animal story. It also tells the story of what it's like living in Iraq under ISIS control. Louise Callaghan shares the true story of a man named Abu Laith who lives among this devastation and horror. However, he shows us what strength and determination can accomplish even when things seem hopeless.

This is a well written book that also seems to be very well researched. Instead of just giving us a grim story about ISIS' occupation in Iraq (which I'm not sure many would want to read on it's own), Callaghan gives us a very readable tale that shows the humanity of people many of us don't understand.

I think this book would lead to some great discussions for a book club.

This was a great book on a really tough subject. It holds your attention from the first page and is a quick read. The author made me really think about various points of view. I felt for all the characters - the brother who was left to deal with life after the tragedy, the parents who are torn apart and the killer's parents. I had to reflect on my own values while reading this book. The author did a beautiful job capturing the voice of a child. An amazing debut novel that will catch on quickly with book clubs.

The French Girl hooked me right from the start! I wasn't sure the direction it would take the whole time. You kept trying to pick which friend might have committed the crime, but then you weren't sure if it was even one of the 6 friends. The narrator was likable. This was a fast read and lots of fun! I'll definitely pick up the next book from this author.

This was a very inspirational story that was a quick read. It really made the reader feel like you should never doubt yourself and you can overcome adversity. Cara's story makes you realize the strength women have cannot be broken, especially when protecting their family. It was interesting learning about the home building processes well. The strong family bond they have is touching.

This book was very informative, but highly readable. It does a good job explaining why doctors make mistakes. I enjoyed the case studies Groopman uses to illustrate his message.

His book teaches you you how to be a proactive patient. He tells you what to look for in a doctor, how to talk to your doctor and when to look for another doctor. As a new mom, I'm glad I have tools I can use to be my child's advocate. Worth reading!