Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

My rating: 4.8

Set in Tulsa Oklahoma, this flashes between 17 yo Rowan (modern day) and Will Tillman (100 years ago). During renovations of her family's guest house, Rowan discovers a skeleton on the family property and is determined to find out who it was. Back in 1921, Will Tillman is discovering Jim Crow laws, segregation and who he is. In alternating chapters, this unfolds in both of their lives.

This was masterfully told and had so many layers to it, both in 1921 Tulsa as well as modern day. Very powerful and again, so horrific what man can do to man. This is a little talked about time in American history and something that everyone should be aware of. Definite recommend.

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

My Rating: 4.6

At 38 years old, Anna has early on-set Alzheimer's. She quits her job as a paramedic and goes to live at Rosalind House where single mother Eve is the chef. This goes back and forth in time and helps you to understand both Anna and Eve's journies - both of love and descent into Alzheimer's

It is hard to say that a book about Alzheimer's was 'enjoyable' but this was. It felt light and easy to read and captured so much - good & bad - about the disease. At the core of it, we are all people and that never changes. Definite recommend.

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

My Rating: 4.6

This is the follow-up novel to "You".  When Joe's new relationship ends up taking an unexpected twist, he moves from New York to LA.  Joe is still twisted, cynical and judgment and a totally lovable serial killer (did I really just type that lol!)

This didn't have as much tension as the original novel but I still found it to be extremely enjoyable and I will definitely be waiting for the next one in this series. 

The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 4.8

Picture "Castaway" on Mars.  Mark Watney gets abandoned on Mars. I won't tell you any more than that, other than to say that Mark Watney is a hilarious lovable guy that made we want to continually come back to this book.  So enjoyable!  We will definitely be watching the movie.

You by Caroline Kepnes

My rating: 4.6

Thanks to Guinevere Beck's incessant sharing on Facebook and Twitter, Joe Goldberg has everything he needs to know to move from stalker to boyfriend.  

It is hard to believe that this is Kepnes first book.  Wow.  SO disturbing and creepy and yes, I am twisted enough that I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.  Although different, I found it was reminiscent of The Kind Worth Killing which I also thoroughly enjoyed.  I can't wait for the next book by Kepnes to become available at the library (I think it is a sequel to this one).

Caution: There is explicit language, sex and violence

If Your Not the One by Jemma Forte

My rating: 4.7

Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered if you took 'the road not taken' and married someone else what your life would look like? Jennifer Wright has the opportunity. Jennifer is in an unhappy marriage and when she gets hit by a car and goes into a coma, she has the opportunity to go back and see 'what if'.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and, unlike some others, I also enjoyed the ending. This would make the perfect light beach read but I also think it would make a fabulous book club discussion and it would be fun to talk about our "roads not taken and the what if's". Very fun premise.

Lily and the Octopus

My rating: 4.2

This is about Ted's journey in accepting that his beloved dachshund companion Lily is dying. As someone who has an aging dachshund where I may be getting near making this decision, this sure hit home. I loved parts of it but the reason I am not rating it higher is that the dream sequence could have been condensed to a chapter instead of being 1/3 of the book.  Yes, I do understand why it was so long but it felt way too long. 

I don't think it is a spoiler to say that yes, it has a sad ending and yes, you will cry. This book is for any animal lovers. It will capture your heart. 

I! LOVE! GOING! IN! THE! POOL! (Ozzy talks like Lily)

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

My rating: 4.8

I enjoyed Grissom's first book The Kitchen House  a lot, so when a friend said that she had enjoyed her second book, I eagerly picked it up. 

This book is set in the 1800's and starts off with a black man, Henry, approaching Jamie to help him find his son who is also Jaime's beloved servant Pan. As the story unfolds, it also flashes back in time to explain how Jaime and Henry met when Jamie had to flee his Virginia Plantation home and, as a white man, soon gets employment as a silversmith. 

This is a stand alone novel but, if you have read The Kitchen House, you will realize that Jamie is a continuation of a character from that book.  This was a gripping story with vivid characters. I loved the alternating voices in each chapter. Just like Grissom's first book I found myself looking forward to squirreling away time to be able to find out what had happened to the characters that I had come to know and care about.

Wool by Hugh Howey

My rating:  4.8

I kept hearing about this very short (<50 pages) story.  It is a dystopian sci-fi so I didn't think it would appeal to me.  I was wrong.  This was a fabulous novel.  I can see why Amazon is giving it away for free as they want to hook you to buy the rest of the books!  <grin>   Well, it worked.  I have to find out what happens so, I bought the Omnibus Series which is books 1 to 5 of the 9 book series.  Do not read too much about this book as it is better to just let it unfold.  Very enjoyable little read.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

My rating:  5.0

War-torn Chechnya, 4 families and their intertwined lives and the most gifted author.  Read it.  That is all you need to know.

This book unfolds in the most amazing poetic and beautiful way.  From the very first pages, you will know that you are in the hands of a gifted writer.  This novel is told in flashbacks so PAY ATTENTION TO THE DATES that, on the kindle, are in teeny tiny letters at the beginning of each chapter.

I believe this is the best book I have ever read.  Yes, ever. I will reread it again to be sure it is as amazing as I think it is....maybe I will have to reread it two or three time just to be absolutely sure.  Anthony Marra I want to know, when is your next book coming out? No pressure but, I eagerly anticipate it and will be waiting with baited breath.

Here are the characters in their households/groupings
Akhmed -a failed physician
Ula - his bed-ridden wife

Dokka - Father of Havaa.  Finger-less arborist.
Havaa - Eight year old daughter

Khassan - Father, writer.
Ramzan - Informant son

Sonja - Doctor and sister of Natasha
Natasha - Sister to Sonja
Deshi - Nurse and sister to Maali
Maali - Nurse and sister to Deshi

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

My rating:  5.0

This is about how the choices we make echo through many generations.  Each section switched voices and it took me a while to place how the new character(s) intersected with the previous character(s).  I also missed the voice from each section until I got wrapped up in the new voice, only to have it happen again and again - the sign of a great storyteller.  This beautiful book held so much and I am still reflecting on it.  I want to reread it again, this time keeping track of the characters.  IMO, this is his best book yet.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

My rating:  4.6

This is the fascinating story of the survivors of the Titanic.  There are rumors swirling and a media frenzy about the questionable behaviors of some of the survivors and the trial that unfolds,  This wonderful story is all brought together through the eyes of Tess Collins, a determined girl who is hired prior to the crossing as a maid/seamstress by Lady Duff Gordon.

I found myself the people and googling events mentioned to find out which were fact and which were fiction - and I was amazed not only at how much was fact but, at the authors incredible research and ability to tie the story and tell it in a way that was completely new.  It is hard to believe that this is Alcott's debut novel but, I for one hope it isn't her last.  I really enjoyed the audio version

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

My rating: 5.0


Louisa Clark has lived all her life in the same small town, she lives at home and has worked in the Butter Bun for many years but, when she finds herself redundant, she takes a job as a caregiver to a quadriplegic man.  This honest, real, funny novel captured me from the beginning (ok, the prologue felt like a fluffy romance novel but, from the beginning of Chapter 1) and I couldn't put it down the whole weekend until I had finished it.  I loved every page and was so sad when it ended.  This is on my Best Of List for 2013 and if I had free copies, I would be handing them out to every stranger who was remotely interested in reading.

Don't read too much about this book - just pick it up and read it.  You won't be sorry.  I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this book and think you will as well.

The Island by Victoria Hislop

My rating:  4.5

This is the wonderful story of the Petrakis family history.  It also was fascinating to read about life on the Greek Island Spinalonga when it was used as a leper colony and how their life was not the horrific lives associated with lepers but rather, a fairly regular life.

This is also about people, love, loss, choices as well as WWII.  It is all that and more, brought together in such a wonderfully woven story.  I will definitely be reading more by this fabulous author.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 4.8

This second book in the series didn't disappoint.  The characters continued to develop, the story line kept me intrigued and had me on the edge of me seat till the end.  The only complaint I have is, why isn't the 3rd book published yet???!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

My rating:  4.8

Wonderfully developed characters and writing and a story line to match.  This book is told by two women ....two women who are the best of friends.  One woman is a secret agent and the other is a pilot.  It all takes place in war time Nazi-occupied France.  The secret agent is captured and interrogated.  Her written confessions weave the history of a beautiful friendship between herself and her pilot Maddie.

This beautiful piece of historical fiction captures war-time from women's perspective  but, so much more.  It is about friendship and an incredible believable story that unfolds so beautifully and magically.

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings

My Rating: 4.45 

The descendants are The King family and are of Hawaiian royalty and one of the state’s largest landowners. Matthew King and his wife and daughters—Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a seventeen-year-old recovering drug addict—are out of control. This is a touching story of family and connections. This journey leads to unforeseen humor, growth, and profound revelations and is one worth taking.  A very enjoyable read and one of the many reasons I am grateful for my bookclub.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

My rating:  4.8

Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory and is welcomed to "The Glade" by a group of boys. Every morning the stone walls surround The Glade open to the Maze which, overnight has changed it's pattern

I wasn't surprised to discover that this is going to be made in to a movie.  I am so glad that I am late to the party  so I don't have to wait to start reading the next book in this series.  This is  written, wonderful characters and fabulously imaginative and suspenseful story.  Highly recommend!

Unwind by Neil Shusterman

My rating: 5.0 

Absolutely brilliant! This is the kind of book that makes you want to recommend it to everyone....including complete strangers.    In this dystopian novel,between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, is a ward of the state without enough to warrant being kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. This is about their intertwined fates.

Shusterman is a master at having the story unfold, wrap around you and pull you in.  So many controversial issues that impact you and yet, the story feels light and you can't wait to turn the next page.  I am so glad that I am late to the game in discovering him as I won't have to wait for the sequel. The only question I have is, why is this book only getting 5 stars?  I want to give it 10!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating:  4.8

Picture Harry Potter with Greek mythology. Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. This book was a fun easy read and Percy is a likable character.  Perfect book for young teens.