The author spent a year on Chesapeake Bay's Tangier Island, home to a 200 year old crabbing community, and sometimes off-beat tourist destination. The island is home to less than 500 people, who are hard working and tenacious, but global climate change and rising water levels are taking away their island and their way of life bit by bit. Their stories are powerful and personal. (Bob)
A drought in California creates a vast humanitarian crisis as the taps stop flowing. As the remaining sources of water dwindle, desperation drives normally staid citizens to turn against one another as the crisis continues without much help or guidance from officials. Caught up in the struggle to survive is teenager Alyssa Morrow, who assumes that there are certain things that "good" people just won't do, ever. A fascinating exploration of how disaster can tear us apart but also of how it can force us to discover strengths we never suspected we possess. I found this book realistic and it definitely kept me turning the pages! (Kim)
The saga of the Perez family continues, now in the early 1960’s as they have been exiled from Cuba and have settled in Palm Beach, where the high society is not very accepting of the Cuban refugees. This story centers around eldest daughter Beatriz, who is fiercely independent, beautiful, clever, and cunning. Her twin brother was killed by Castro’s men and she will risk her life and her heart to avenge his death. A combination of family drama, romance, espionage, and history. I loved this just as much as the first story. (Sue)
An eight year old girl vanishes on her way home from school and the entire Crimes Against Children team are called into action. This case has struck a nerve with Brandon Eddison, one of the FBI agents, because it's the 25th anniversary of his little sister's disappearance. As the search begins to intensify, a figure from Eddison's past may have information that will blow this case wide open. Dot Hutchinson has created with "The Collector" books a core group of characters who as the series progressed expanded and developed into a non-traditional family that I love. She has cast a spell through her captivating and intriguing writing throughout the series and has delivered the perfect conclusion. Although disturbing and graphic at times, if you haven't read "The Collector" series I highly recommend it. (Lisa)
Once again a fun read! Stephanie and her side kick Lula get to manage a deli and the calamity that follows is hilarious. This series never disappoints. (Ann)
Consuelo Vanderbilt, American heiress, was forced into a loveless marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlboro by her mother Alva Vanderbilt. After producing "An heir and a spare" Consuelo's marriage falls apart. She scandalously separates and forges and path of her own. Her fight for women's suffrage and medical care of children give her meaning in a world she had to make her own. This was a great story and a great character. Her story was very inspiring! (Bonnie)
The 3rd in the 7 Sisters series, Riley once again delivers an incredible combination of family secrets, relationships, and historical fiction. Follow Star as she tries to unravel her past and find out who her real parents and birthplace are. This tale takes you back in time to the early 1900’s in England and then to present day London as Star struggles to come out of her sister’s shadow and find her own identity. All sorts of interesting characters, even Beatrix Potter. On my day off, I read until my eyes bled. Simply could not put this down. (Sue)
An enjoyable story about a young Irish immigrant woman, Clara Kelley, who uses her brains, determination, and a bit of subterfuge to obtain a job in the Carnegie household as the lady's maid. Her family back in Ireland needs any money she can send so she perseveres in the position and develops a taboo relationship with Andrew Carnegie. Set mainly in Pittsburgh during the last half of the 19th Century, the story also tells how the Carnegies came to be one of the richest families in the US. (Sue)
This is a wonderful family story set mainly on an island off Greece in the Aegean Sea. It starts out present day with Anna who is struggling in her marriage and with the recent death of her mother so she decides to travel with her dad back to the Greek island of his birth. It is there that she discovers the true story of her family's history before, during, and after WWII broke out. Family secrets, love, loss, and survival are all wrapped up in this compelling tale and the setting is magical. It makes you question how well do you really know your parents lives before they became your parents. (Sue)
Colter Shaw, a "reward seeker", is on the case looking for a suspected kidnapped young woman. For a expert tracker this simple case soon turns into a deadly real-life hunt in Silicon Valley. The cut-throat world of gaming, gamers and the high cost of living in California feature prominently in the puzzle Shaw must figure out. Learning the fate of the former Moffett Field Naval Base was one of my favorite parts because I was stationed there for aircraft maintenance school at one time. Although I love Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series, I enjoyed this new character and his slightly unorthodox way of life. Being the first in the series we get to see glimpses of the man behind the curtain with the anticipation of the multilayers of Shaw to be revealed in future books. I look forward to the next installment in the Colter Shaw series! (Lisa)
John Douglas, the legendary FBI profiler, shines the light on four of the most disturbing killers he's ever interviewed. From one victim to multiple victims, these predators discuss the how and why of their crimes while John Douglas reveals his profiling methods used to get the murderers to talk. As with other books of his, I found the accounts of these chilling encounters to be riveting but also fascinated with his ability to sit across from them and remain focused on obtaining the information he seeks. Revisiting some of the more famous cases from his FBI history, he compares their depravities and how he was able to continue to peer into the evil darkness of these individuals in the name of justice. *Warning* This book goes into details on the crimes committed-it is not for the faint-hearted! (Lisa)
Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and bestselling author, turns to his dog Lucy for some common sense lessons of how to live a happy life. I found this book to be funny, poignant and full of the joys and sorrows of sharing your life with a dog. I found myself laughing out loud so often while reading this book that my dogs were wondering what was going on. The life lessons are handled with the perfect blend of humor and good old fashioned common sense that you don't have to be a dog lover to understand. After a bad streak of unsatisfying reads this book was a wonderful breath of fresh air! And although this was my first Dave Barry book I am sure it will not be the last. (Lisa)
After the Civil War and her mother's death, Alva Smith and her family were left poor. So what does Alva do, she marries for money to the wealthy Vanderbilts. Alva is determined to bring the once shunned Vanderbilt family into social acceptance. She builds beautiful mansions in New York and Newport and puts on some of the best parties in the city. Alva also asserted her power in her marriage and joined in the women's rights movement. It was a joy to read about this woman and how she played a role in our history of women's rights! (Bonnie)
As a lover of British history and the monarchy,this was a joy to read. This is the story of two women, Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, both embroiders at the infamous Hartnells shop. Both from very different backgrounds, they come together after the war to become best friends and work on the much talked about dress of the century. Fast forward to 2016 to Heather finding embroidered samples her grandmother left for her after she passed away. Heather has no idea what her grandmother's life was before she immigrated to Canada so she decides to go over to England to find out for herself. Great read! (Bonnie)
Elodie Winslow is an archivist, who comes across a beautiful leather satchel with a sketchbook. In the sketch book she finds a picture of a beautiful women and a twin gabled house. The pull she feels from these pictures makes her want to dig more into who this woman is and where is this all to familiar house. Rewind 150 years earlier and you have Edward Radcliffe, an up and coming artist who's just bought his dream house Birchwood Manor. Edward has invited a group with him to spend the summer relaxing and working on their art. But the summer takes a turn for the worst when Edwards fiancé is murdered and his model has mysteriously disappeared. Told from more then one perspective this story is a must read for historical fiction fans! (Bonnie)
The latest from local author Padma Venkatraman is an amazing middle grade novel about two young sisters, Viji & Rukku, who must survive the harsh realities of the city on their own. On their journey they meet two homeless boys & the four of them, along with an unforgettable street dog, form a makeshift family. This is such a moving book about friendship, grief, resilience & joy, that I feel it is a worthy read for anyone ages 8 to infinity. (Kim)
