false 8 753 747 true 5716167 read 0 true 1429039 currently-reading 6 true 1429038 to-read 25 false 5345677 favorites 7 false 5152912 skimmed http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77160686 to: Bed of Roses (Bride Quartet, #2) by Nora Roberts
A romantic novel in a series featuring four friends who run a wedding planning business called Vows. The second installment focusses on Emma, the floral designer, who finds love in an old "family" friend. Good for readers who want detailed backdrops (LOTS of descriptions of flowers and arrangements) but also quick, witty dialog and steamy romantic scenes. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76400320 to: This Is Where I Leave You (Hardcover) by Jonathan Tropper
Tropper's style isn't for everyone but I find his wordiness and wry descriptions very entertaining. A family who doesn't communicate very well sitting shiva for seven days is bound to be funny. Contains a lot of profanity. Good guy lit. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76399737 to: The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family (Hardcover) by Mike Leonard
Parts of this autobiography/memoir are hilarious. Mike Leonard's parents are polar opposites who raised a loving and funny family. Leonard's gift is in finding the lesson and/or symbolism in small, seemingly insignificant events. But even a gift can be overused to the point of being tiresome. The Today Show snippets of this "journey" were much more entertaining than the book. Still, I'm glad I got to know Jack and Marge even if Leonard's writing style is a bit repetitive. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76399129 to: Sworn to Silence (Hardcover) by Linda Castillo
Suspenseful plot, interesting main character, fast-paced read. A formerly-Amish police chief faces the return of a serial killer or a copycat. The case threatens to reveal a secret from her past.

Contains very graphic violence and some profanity. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76395823 to: The Other Queen (Audio CD) by Philippa Gregory
The story covers the period during which Queen Elizabeth imprisons Mary Queen of Scots. The story is told from Mary's perspective as well as that of George Talbot (her "keeper") who is captivated by her, and his wife Bess, a calculating, self-preserving woman. The voice of Mary captures her royal nature and her anger at being so wronged by QE as well as her subtle insecurities. Mary expects everyone to adhere to traditional rules regarding treatment of a sanctified queen but does not hold herself to any rules of conduct precisely because she is a sanctified queen. Bess is also a formidable but sneaky woman whose machinations end up saving her husband's life at the expense of his love. The abridgement sacrifices historical fact and period detail but still conveys a good sense of the tense, treacherous atmosphere of life at court created by Queen Elizabeth's advisor as well as the emotions motivating each character.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74969534 to: The Last Bridge: A Novel (Hardcover) by Teri Coyne
bookshelves: favorites
"Two days after my father had a massive stroke my mother shot herself in the head." Thus begins Teri Coyne's tense, desperate, and fast-paced family drama. Alexandra "Cat" Rucker has been trying to bury the past with liquor and frequent changes of "home" but she's called back to Wilton, Ohio, when her mother leaves a suicide note addressed to her. "He isn't who you think he is." As Teri Coyne unravels Cat's troubling story, the note takes on different meanings. Cat is so used to running that she can barely cope with the reality of her mother's death much less dredging up the past. Cat's family history contains abuse, jealousy, denial and despair but Coyne also works in a tone of redemption without losing any of the force behind this honest account of an American family. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74968349 to: The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 3) by Derek Landy
Even though Skulduggery Pleasant has been kicked out of the Sanctuary, he can't trust his replacement to do the job right when teleporters are being targeted and murdered. Skulduggery and his fourteen-year-old trainee, Valkyrie, take the case unofficially. The stakes are huge. Someone is trying to bring back The Faceless Ones, whose return will be disastrous for humans and magical folk alike. With their trademark sense of humor and penchant for running into dangerous situations head first, the duo join old friends and make unusual alliances to prevent the end of the world. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74180210 Lakeshore Christmas (The Lakeshore Chronicles, #6) by Susan Wiggs
bookshelves: skimmed, to-read
Stopped reading. The main character (a public librarian) was too much of a caricature. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74179520 to: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (Hardcover) by Katherine Howe
I was not in the right frame of mind to read this book. Howe does an excellent job of setting two scenes - one in 1991 and the other in the late 1600s. I just got tired of all the detail. When the plot kicked into gear, I was hooked.

The 17th century Boston accent written phonetically is a little hard to read at times. I also found two plot points confusing but that may have been because I was skimming and didn't catch vital information.

Interesting subject matter - the witch paranoia of Salem - and good writing style if you like detailed description. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73565217 to: The Help (Audio CD) by Kathryn Stockett
The narrators in the audio version absolutely bring this extraordinarily well-written novel to life. They capture the "proper" Southern white ladies in all their phoniness, hypocrisy, insecurity and ignorance and the brave and hard-working "Nigra" maids who are tired of swallowing their fear and anger and disgust. This story will make you laugh out loud, cry on your way to work, and fear for the characters whom you will come to love. The maids have a lot to say, and though it takes the awkward but determined Miss Skeeter time to win their trust, the relief of finally being able to speak the truth overrides their very real fear of retribution.

A fascinating insider's view of the life of women in the South during the Civil Rights Era. ]]>