You might think that a book about a veterinarian would have a limited audience. That's not the case with "Ever By My Side" It not only deals with how one man is affected by the animals in his life but how it lead him to choose his career. I t also explores his relationship with his father who had a different life plan for Dr. Nick. It shares the impact of animals on Nick's children.

The writer's style is conversational and makes you want to listen to all he has to say. Some of his stories are funny and remind you of the animals in your own life. I couldn't put this book down, I loved it.

I'm not usually a fan of mystery stories and requested this book because it is set in the period following WW1 in England. It was interesting to see how difficult it was to solve a case without modern investigative procedures-no DNA evidence,computers,or other diagnostic devices. The characters were engaging and faced many of the problems we face today such as social inequality, post traumatic stress disorder and bullying.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries.

I really didn't like this book. Perhaps my age and biases have something to do with it. It made me feel like a best friend that is privy to information that makes me uncomfortable. The characters were well developed. Having each character tell the story from his point of view helped to show motivation for behavior. As in life in these circumstances , the outcome was sad and disappointing.

This is one of the most engaging books that I have read in a long time. It weaves together two stories. One is from the past and one is in the present. The first tells of a country girl that leaves home to make her life in London. We follow her through love, motherhood and death. The other thread starts at the birth of a child and tells of the trials of parenthood. As you read there are clues that hint at the relationship between the two stories and the conclusion ties the tales together. I am going to recommend this book to my book club.

This book wasn't a satisfying read. There is a good story here but too many bells and whistles.The main characters, Tessa and Vince, are well developed but many of the minor characters are one dimensional. There are mysteries, dog stories, hippies, communes, accidental deaths, murders, spousal abuse, hot sex and suicide. Add to the list recipes. There are "secrets" but mostly "everything". The conclusion was trite and tried too hard to tie up all the loose ends.

I enjoyed this book and even with a busy Christmas schedule I couldn't put it down.The problems faced by the Snow family are universal.We all contend with aging parents and the change in our relationship with them.As parents we have to balance the needs of our children. Does the talented child monopolize the attention and resources of the family to the detriment of the siblings? Hopefully we won't have to end the life of a brain dead child but the author shows us the many stages in the decision and the way a family finally comes to decide.Even the pitfalls of being a good Samaritan is brought out.

As I was reading this book I kept thinking how it would keep my book club discussing for hours.

Every five years or so there is renewed interest in returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece. This book has two threads. It tells of Lord Elgin's obsession with procuring the Marbles for England, and simultaneously the building of the Parthenon in Ancient Greece.

I found the story interesting and informative. The reader gets a good idea of life in the Napoleonic era with the friction between England and France. It also gives a taste of every day life in Ancient Greece. Lord Elgin's wife, Mary, and Aspasia, Pericles's mistress, faced the same hurdles that women with no legal rights faced in the not too distant past. Historical Fiction fans will love this book.

"Broken Colors"left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it was visually exciting. The author's background as an artist was evident. It was a good story with important insights about the lasting effect of war on individuals but probably deserved a longer more fleshed out book. I was disappointed in the way certain parts were hurried and it almost seemed as if the author was anxious to get on to the next episode. It read more like an outline than a novel. That said I would recommend the book.

As a Lorna Landvik fan I looked forward to reading her new book. I wasn't disappointed. Once again she deals with ordinary people from the heartland. The plot is well developed and character driven. It takes a promising man's life down an unexpected path from high school to middle age. Along the way you get to know his family, friends, their hopes, dreams, and disappointments. I would recommend this book to any reader regardless of age.