Small Great Thing by Jodi Picoult

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I could not stop reading this gut wrenching book but Jodi Picoult's suspenseful plot kept me turning the pages, cringing, yet daring to be hopeful for Ruth and Edison. I really liked how Kennedy confronts her own racism and how it changes her relationship with Ruth. I loved Kennedy's husband, Michah; what a great guy, understated yet right on point. He was a huge supporter of Kennedy who was able to make her see things in a different way than Ruth made her see things. The white supremacists- Brit and Turk and Brit's father, were totally scary in their original approach to racism beating up gays, blacks, whoever they deemed a target for their wilding. But what was even more heinous was their underground movement through the internet; it really makes one think and be really, really, scared! I loved the courtroom drama, the hospital turning on Ruth, and Ruth's family. Picoult's book is thought provoking and a must read!

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28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book but did not love the way two wonderful people who should have been happy with each other their whole lives only had 1 Labor Day weekend each year. Yes Mallory and Jake agree to this but I felt it did a big big disservice to both of them, compromising their happiness, forcing lies and secrets! I did not like Mallory's supposed best friend, Leland. She was awful and when she becomes involved with another woman, her nasty character shines through. Also, I found it tedious that Jake stayed with Ursula for all the wrong reasons which he went over again and again. Yes Jake is honest with Ursula and tells her as an adult she is not a nice person, self-absorbed, cranky BUT he stays with her! Mallory never marries because she truly loves Jake and Jake truly loves Mallory so I was upset time and time again when Ursula was in the story, mucking things up. I cried at the end for Jake and Mallory but I was hopeful when Mallory's son meets Jake's daughter, I am rooting for those two to do something their parents did not! I loved the time Mallory and Jake spent together each Labor Day, the food, games and rituals they celebrated; I just wish they had a lifetime of each other, not just 28 Summers!

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The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this mystery romance involving a wedding on Nantucket between Benji and Celeste; fun thing though as the wedding gets closer, Celeste is stuttering, falling for Shooter, the best man and she finds her maid of honor, Merritt, face down in the ocean on the morning of their wedding. You will turn the pages as the many guests are interviewed, many couples once seemingly perfect are now so not perfect, and as the reader goes back and forth in time and the present, a delightful, drama-filled scene, lives of characters cracked open and secrets spilled; they will be hanging on til the last page. Highly recommended!

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Marathon (Jonathan Stride #8) by Brian Freeman

Marathon by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Number 8 in this series kept me reading with the thrilling plot, old beloved characters and new good/bad characters! Stride is now married to Serena, YAY!!! Maggie has a boyfriend YAY!!! Cat enters a new time in her life all the while the Duluth Marathon is destroyed by a bomber; according to Dawn Basch #noexceptions, who whips the masses into believing a terrorist is responsible and then when Michael M tweets out the wrong bomber's picture, OMG, hold on for a gripping, sad, sometime hateful plot that kept the detectives chasing leads and forming their own hypothesis; I could not put this book down! Highly recommended!

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Goodbye to the Dead (Jonathan Stride #7) by Brian Freeman

Goodbye to the Dead by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Boy these Jonathan Stride detective mysteries just keep getting better! I think this may be my favorite because Cindy and Serena both appear, so past and present converge. I really liked getting to know Cindy and saw why Jonathan fell in love and never fell out of love with her (his devastating loss when she dies) and her pursuit of that forest camo guy who shoots trees...and his threat to her when she spots him and pursues him. The mystery in the book was also rooted in the past and the present and the plot with all the delicious suspense kept me turning those pages! I have the next book in the series on my kindle already, but I amgoing to hate when there are no more Jonathan, Maggie and Serena murder mysteries!

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The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group –Ballantine and Ballantine Books for the ARC, The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman. This psychological mystery was intriguing due to the main character, Grace Blades, and her life story she shares only with the reader. Grace has above average intellect, poise, detachment, and inner thoughtfulness. As a young child she becomes an orphan when her parents turn on each other and death ensues. In alternating chapters, Grace tells her story of foster care and her life as it unfolds into adulthood. I didn’t really like Grace Blades but I admired her tenacity, sharp mind, and keen intellect. It is not surprising that she becomes a very successful psychologist; so nurturing to her patients but remaining aloof and detached in her own life. I enjoyed being right there with her as Grace uses all her knowledge and savvy to solve mysteries and I look forward to reading other Grace Blades books!

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Girl On a Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the voices of Rachel, Megan and Anna in this thriller whodunit. Not only did this train mean something to every narrator; I felt like I was hurtling along trying to figure out what really happened in this mystery. A great beach read, this book does not disappoint!

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The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my sister-in-law, Donna, for recommending this wonderful, compelling, thought provoking read. There are so many threads and themes in this can’t put it down read (I couldn’t sleep and turned the light on at 4 am and read until I finished at 6am!!!) I loved, loved Tom Sherbourne, the tortured soldier and light house keeper who finds peace and love in life with Isabel Greysmark. As the lighthouse keeper of Janus Rock, Tom knows how important the strict adherence to rules is and it is this honor that is crushed when a dinghy washes ashore with a dead man and a baby. Isabel has suffered 3 miscarriages and persuades her husband they must take care of this little infant. As their life with baby, Lucy provides love, contentment and happiness beyond their wildest dreams, Tom is tortured by his decision not to report this incident. The repercussions are felt later and oh how devastating they are. This is a must read, I loved the author’s words, her characters, and the wild and natural settings in Australia of this tug of war. What happens to these three compelling characters? What would you do? You have to read this book and I assure you, you will not be disappointed. There are so many good discussions to be found in this story of fierce and tragic story of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness; a great book club title to be sure.

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The City by Dean Koontz

The City by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell for the ARC, The City by Dean Koontz, a mesmerizing read about lies, murder, magic, and the power of family and friends. Told by Jonah Kirk (age 9), at the urging of his best friend, Malcolm, the reader is catapulted into Jonah’s city, during the tumultuous 1960s, his family’s love of music, and the effect of his relationship with Miss Pearl, a supernatural being who is described as the soul of the City, which is both beautiful and evil and part of the grand plan of life. Jonah is much older, looking back telling the story of his life at the urging of Malcolm. And oh what a life it was. Miss Pearl visits Jonah just a few times when he is young and imparts important events (in his dreams) that scare him and cause him much distress. He withholds this information from his mother and grandfather, but confides in a Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yoshioka. What begins as a friendship between Jonah and this tailor will also involve murder, bombs, and evil characters (one of whom is his father). But the outcome of Jonah’s friendship with Mr. Yoshioka will involve a network of heroes, friends, and family who save Jonah when he most needs it. I loved Koontz’s characters and his descriptions (from the nine year old Jonah point of view as well as the fifty seven year old Jonah) were so melodic, terrifying, sentimental, and laugh out loud funny. I recommend this book to many audiences- those who love Koontz (naturally), young adults, and adults. There will be much discussion after reading this real, heart pounding, sizzling book with well-drawn characters and a plot that does not disappoint!

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