Reviews by Karen L. (Wilton, IA)

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The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Excellent Historical Fiction. Loved it! (3/6/2021)
History comes alive in this book. I have read Marie Benedict before. She is very good at bringing historical women to life. I am not familiar with her co author but the book is excellent. The book is excellent for book clubs and people interested in African American and …more
The Fortunate Ones
The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington
The haves and the have nots (11/5/2020)
I really enjoyed this book. I think it would be great for book clubs. The politics reminded me of political families like the Kennedys. In some ways it shows you that riches and power don't make a person fortunate. The haves were not happier then the have nots. I think it …more
The Woman Before Wallis
The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull
Disappointed with Ending (8/6/2020)
The book was good historical fiction but I was disappointed with the ending. I was torn between giving it a 3 or a 4. I wish 3 1/2 was a option. The book made me realize that money does not buy happiness. I don't think any of the characters were truly happy. It made me sad …more
And They Called It Camelot
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Excellent Historical Fiction. Loved it! (1/11/2020)
I have always loved reading about JFK and about Jackie. This book is excellent for fans of either JFK or Jackie. You feel like you are living Jackie life with her through her eyes. Her experiences were thrilling and heart breaking. This book brings history to life. I loved …more
The Kinship of Secrets
The Kinship of Secrets
by Eugenia Kim
Couldn't put it down (10/5/2018)
I read the book in two days. I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. This book would appeal to many different groups: Korean-Americans, people who enjoy historical fiction, young people, older people who lived through the Korean …more
The Family Tabor
The Family Tabor
by Cherise Wolas
Disappointed in ending (5/19/2018)
I agree with others that this author is talented with words but I couldn't get into her first book enough to finish it. I took a long time to finish this book. I didn't really get into it until Harry disappeared. I wanted to find out how it ended after that. The ending felt …more
Stay with Me
Stay with Me
by Ayobami Adebayo
Couldn't put it down (8/29/2017)
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. I couldn't put it down. I had to know what would happen next. The characters were very well developed. I cared what happened to them. It was a mystery too. I didn't figure out the reason for their infertility until the character …more
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
by Kathleen Rooney
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk (9/21/2016)
I enjoyed it. It is a blend of my two favorite genres-historical fiction and memoir. I also enjoyed reading about New York City. I am a small town person. I have never been to New York City. I have always been fascinated by it but also scared of it. I thought Lillian was …more
North of Crazy
North of Crazy: A Memoir
by Neltje
North of Crazy (6/27/2016)
This was a very well written autobiography. Her life was more interesting and I read it quicker after she started her life in Wyoming. That said, you needed the first part of her life to understand the life she made for herself. She is the ultimate survivor. I thought she …more
Fallen Land
Fallen Land
by Taylor Brown
Great book! (11/25/2015)
A great historical novel about 2 young people and a very loyal horse in the closing days of the civil war. I learned about the horrors of war and a very sad time in our history. I also felt like I was along for the ride with Callum, Ava, and Reivers, their loyal brave horse. …more
Frank & Ava
Frank & Ava: In Love and War
by John Brady
A fascinating look at old Hollywood (8/14/2015)
I couldn't put it down. It was a quick read for me. I enjoyed learning more about 2 stars I didn't know much about. I also got a glimpse of other stars lives like Bogart and Bacall. I thought it was sad that Frank loved Ava so much but they couldn't make it work. I think …more
Maybe in Another Life
Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Couldn't put it down! (5/31/2015)
I loved this book! I want to read the rest of this authors books! It reminded me of another book I read Time of my Life by Allison Winn Scotch Which I also liked. This one was even better. This book would be good for book clubs and for anyone who ever thought about the …more
A Passion for Paris
A Passion for Paris: Romanticism and Romance in the City of Light
by David Downie
Happy to be done! (4/28/2015)
I love Paris and I have always wanted to travel to France. I also enjoy history.I thought I would like this book but I found it difficult to finish. It was boring to me and made me sleepy. I only liked small parts of the book. The parts that were more about Paris and less …more
The Sweetheart Deal
The Sweetheart Deal
by Polly Dugan
The Sweetheart Deal (3/6/2015)
I enjoyed the book. I liked the story being told from multiple points of view. I think the book would be good for book clubs or people who have lost a loved one. I would have liked more at the end about Audrey and Garrett. I also thought it did a good job capturing male …more
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe
Slow start to story (1/4/2015)
It was very difficult to get interested in this book. It didn't get really interesting until the last 100 pages. If the first two thirds of the book had been as good as the last third of the book I would have given it 4 stars. It captures the time 1950s and place mid west …more
Song of the Spirits
Song of the Spirits: In the Land of the Long White Cloud saga
by Sarah Lark
Couldn't put it down (8/13/2013)
I thought it would take me a long time to read such a long book but it only took 3 days! I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know what would happen next. I worried about some characters, was angry at some characters, rooted for some of them etc. I liked Elaine while also …more
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
by Saira Shah
The Mouse-Proof Kitchen (6/11/2013)
The book starts off slow but after I was almost half way through the book, I couldn't put it down. The characters are flawed but very human, very real and none of them are all good or all bad which is very true to life. This book would be good for book clubs because I think …more
The Imposter Bride
The Imposter Bride
by Nancy Richler
Enjoyed the book. (12/8/2012)
The mystery of Lily/Yanna caught me in the first chapter and held my interest. It reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier in that the main focus of the book is a character who isn't there most of the time. It also reminded me of The forgotten Garden because of the …more
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