Monday, August 13, 2012

Adult Summer Reading Club Prize Winners

The Adult Summer Reading Club prize drawing was held on Friday, August 10th. The winners are:

Grand Prize: $25 Target gift card -- Matt Drucker

Runner-up: $10 Target gift card -- Jennifer Hilsenbeck

Runner-up: $10 Target gift card -- Lydia Phillips

     Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's summer reading club.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Chill Factor

Title: Chill Factor.
Author: Sandra Brown.

     Another great suspense thriller from Sandra Brown. A successful magazine editor is trapped in her vacation cabin with a possible serial killer.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Rosalie Capobianco.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of his Trip to Heaven and Back

Title: Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of his Trip to Heaven and Back.
Author: Todd Burpo.

     While undergoing surgery, 3 year old Colton spent three minutes in Heaven. After talking with his father, who is a pastor at their local church, he revealed his adventure. It seemed unreal until similarities in their life proved true. It was an interesting read and leaves you deciding on whether you believe or not.

Non-fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Anonymous

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Threadbare

Title: Threadbare.
Author: Monica Ferris.

     Betsy is at it again. Solving mysteries. If you've been following along with The Needlecraft Mystery series then you'll recall that Betsy's murder solving skills have brought an arrogance to the character, but I was pleasantly surprised this was not as prominent in Threadbare! There were a few too many character introductions and repeated dialogues though. Overall it was an average mystery with a fairly easy to figure out ending.

Fiction; rated 3 out of 5.

Reviewed by Anonymous

Still Missing

Title: Still Missing.
Author: Chevy Stevens.

     A definite page turner. Annie O'Sullivan is abducted by a lunatic during one of her open houses. She tells her story about how she survived more than a year in captivity through visits with her psychiatrist.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Teresa Drucker

Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from my Grandmothers

Title: Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons from my Grandmothers.
Author: Adriana Trigiani.

     A book has not moved me like this in a long time. There is so much wisdom and many lessons to be learned. What impressed me most was the incredible strengths of all the women in this book.

Non-fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Teresa Drucker

Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders

Title: Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders.
Author: Joy Ladin.

     With much honesty and humor, Professor Ladin recounts her struggles as she becomes a transgendered woman . . . all while teaching literature at the Orthodox Jewish campus of Yeshiva University in New York.
     Her poignant memoir takes us from her years as a devoted family man -- through to her transition to a woman. Her deep struggles with her faith are painfully described -- but are balanced out with some humorous struggles as she learns to walk and talk as a woman. A very engrossing read!

Non-fiction; rated 3 out of 5.

Reviewed by Eileen Feynman

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Then Came You: A Novel

Title: Then Came You: A Novel.
Author: Jennifer Weiner.

     This is a story about egg donorship and surrogacy with a variety of fun and interesting characters. I enjoyed this book and will definitely read another of Jennifer Weiner's novels.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Rosalie Capobianco

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel

Title: Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel.
Author: Jeannette Walls.

     Interesting account of one woman's life and thoughts on growing up in the West.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Anonymous.

A Caress of Twilight

Title: A Caress of Twilight.
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton.

     Continuation -- book two of series. Left very open-ended. Want to pick up the next one.

Fiction; rated 3 out of 5.

Reviewed by Anonymous

Sophie: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog

Title: Sophie: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog.
Author: Emma Pearse.

     This was such a wonderful story about a pet dog, named Sophie, who was so loved by her family. She went everywhere with them, even on their boat! They were five miles out in the ocean on their boat when it got rough and the dog fell off the boat. They tried to find her but could not. She swam five miles on her own to an island and lived alone for five months, until she was found by rangers and reunited with her family (my favorite part -- wonderful story!)

Non-fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Kathleen Obrock.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

Title: The Deception of the Emerald Ring.
Author: Lauren Willig.

     Willig has finally hit her stride with the third book in this series. Previously the pace of her books dragged in spaces, she has managed to fix that problem, keeping the reader engrossed with adventures of her newest heroine and hero Letty and Geoff.

Fiction; rated 4 out of 5.

Reviewed by Angelique

Monday, August 6, 2012

The Hot Box: A Novel

Title: The Hot Box: A Novel.
Author: Zane.

     It was a nice love story with a lesson. We judge homeless people because of what they are not necessarily who they were before becoming homeless. As the saying goes "Do not judge a book by its cover". You never know their situation.

Fiction; rated 4 out of 5.

Reviewed by L. Phillips

Magical Cats Mystery Series

Title: Magical Cats mystery series.
Author: Sofie Kelly.

     When librarian Kathy Paulsen moves to a small Minnesota town to make a fresh start, she doesn't anticipate becoming involved with murder. Catch up with her adventures, and those of her most unusual cats, in these three mysteries: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat, Sleight of Paw, and Copycat Killing.

Fiction; rated 4 out of 5.

Reviewed by Anonymous

Friday, August 3, 2012

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Title: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.
Author: Beth Hoffman.

     Heartwarming story of a lost girl who finds herself in the loving care of her housekeeper and great aunt. It is a look from the point of view of a child dealing with a mother's mental illness.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Susan Emery

Defending Jacob: A Novel

Title: Defending Jacob: A Novel.
Author: William Landay.

     Mesmering story of a young boy and his family and the fight to save him from a murder charge. Lots of twists and turns.

Fiction; rated 5 out of 5.

Reviewed by Susan Emery