"Modern Girls" by Jennifer S. Brown (Mother/Daughter Book)

Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown is about some Jewish immigrant families in New York during the great depression.   The story is told from alternating views of Rosa, the mother, Dottie, her daughter who finds herself in a predicament.  Both mother and daughter get pregnant.  Rosa is 42 years old and Dottie isn't married, but has been seeing Abe for three years, waiting for him to save up enough money to rent their own place when they get married.  Abe is a virtuous Jew and Dottie knows the baby is not his, but a handsome, wealthy, playboy journalist named Willie Klein is the father.  Gossip is spreading throughout her neighborhood, her mother had saved up money for her to go to college, and Dottie is desperate to get Abe to think the baby is his.  She really wants to keep the baby, but her mother has made an appointment to have it "taken care of."  Will she be able to have her happily ever after ending with Abe?  Will she get the abortion?  Will she end up marrying Willie?  How will Rosa be able to help her daughter?

This book kept my interest, and I did like Dottie in spite of her big mistake.  I also liked her mother although she had some secrets of her own!   I also enjoyed Dottie's brothers and thought Willie and Abe were interesting characters.  I liked how they were pretty much opposites and yet Dottie liked them both.  I would have liked more of the story as it has an open-ended ending.  I think this would make a good book club read since there's much that could be discussed.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 21:  Abe would work at the store during the day.  Ma would watch the kids for a few hours, and I'd continue at the insurance company.  The picture was dreamy and I smiled before remembering I had botched it all up.

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"Heat" by Mike Lupica

Heat by Mike Lupica is a story about Michael, a little league pitcher who loves baseball, has a very strong arm and a big secret he shares with his older brother, Carlos.  They are from Cuba, just like Michael's favorite Yankee pitcher!  He pitches lights out until a rival team challenges his eligibility because they can't believe he's only 12.  When he signed up to play, they accepted his baptism certificate as proof of age, but now must produce a birth certificate which his dad apparently forgot to bring when they left Cuba.  He can't play until he gets it!  Michael only cares about playing ball until he sees a mystery girl named watching them practice with an arm as strong as his and is immediately attracted to her.  

I enjoyed this baseball book and liked Michael's relationship with his best friend and catcher, Manny.  There is also some humor along with some actual games.  I liked how Michael and Carlos stuck together and went to great lengths to keep their big secret.  Ellie also added some extra bit of interest to the story.  I recommend this to anyone who likes reading about youth baseball.  I was a bit disappointed that it stopped short of the Little League World Series game in Pennsylvania.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 44:  Michael turned around and looked at Manny.  Who was staring at the girl in the distance the way you stare at fireworks the first time you see them in the sky.  "I saw," Manny said.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Love Saves the Day" by Gwen Cooper

Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper takes place in New York and is about Sarah (a DJ and record shop owner), her cat Prudence, daughter Laura (an attorney) and son-in-law, Josh (free-lance writer).  Laura and Sarah's relationship is strained but after Sarah dies, the cat helps Laura remember good things about her mother and carves out a place in Laura's heart.  Laura discovers how much her mother loved her and that family is more important than money.

This story was slow moving but picked up toward the end.  I liked the narration by the cat best because the reader gains insight into what cats like and don't like, but the story is pretty good too.  My favorite part was when the cat jumped on the table during the Seder dinner at Laura's when she had her in-laws over for the first time.  I loved the cover.  I liked Homer's Odyssey by this author better but this one is okay.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Orient" by Christopher Bollen

Orient by Christopher Bollen is about a small town, peaceful and quiet, the way the townspeople like it.  They resent the outsiders who come for the summer.  Suddenly, people who lived in Orient are dying and it is not from old age!  Is there a murderer in their midst?  Who and why people want to know.

This book is over 600 pages and at times, it kind of drags, but do not let that stop you from reading it.  This is a really good story and you will enjoy following the characters.  If you can figure it out, then you are a step ahead of me.  This is a page turner (except for the dragging part).  The ending leaves it open for a sequel, but this book could be a stand alone.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is a story about a young boy who tragically loses his mom at a young age.  To remember her, he takes a picture from an art museum.  This book mostly centers on the boy growing up and his placing with his foster families and then his dad who ran off and came back.  The boy also becomes involved in the criminal world.  Does anyone miss the painting he stole?  

Although this book is long, don't let that deter you.  It is well worth the time.  I enjoyed it. 
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)
 
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Black Fridays" by Michael Sears is a modern Thriller

Black Fridays by Michael Sears is about Jason Stafford, a Wall Street trader who went to prison for two years .  When he gets out, his wife divorces him, but he takes their special needs Autistic son and takes care of him and works on getting his life back together.  He then is hired to follow up on the misdeeds on Wall Street that one man did.

There is pretty good action in this book and I especially liked the parts with him and his son.  This is going to be a series, so I will probably read book two also.  
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)
 
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Midnight" by Kevin Egan (How Long Can You Hide a Death?)

When a judge dies on New Year's Eve, Tom and Carol fear they might lose their jobs so come up with a plan to keep the judge's death quiet.  But for how long?  Soon they find themselves in more trouble than just that!

I liked this book more than I thought I would.  It kept me entertained and the ending part was really good!  You should read it.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Someday, Someday, Maybe" by Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood

Someday, Someday, Maybe is Lauren Graham's first book.   I loved her on the show, "Gilmore Girls" and now on "Parenthood."  She tells the story of a young woman who wants to be an actress on Broadway, sharing the trials and triumphs she goes through, hoping to make her dream come true.  It is very funny, like watching an episode of "Gilmore Girls."  Do yourself a favor and pick it up.  You will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Okay For Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt is about Doug, a 14-yr.-old who is upset about moving to a new town and leaving his friends. The story takes place in 1968 during the Vietnam War that Doug’s oldest brother is fighting in. He also has an older brother, who gets great pleasure from picking on him and an abusive father. Doug’s idol is the Yankee ballplayer, Joe Pepitone and a signed jacket by Joe is Doug’s most prized possession. Doug narrates about his high and low points as he goes through adjusting to the new town and with the help of several caring people, he actually gets to like it. When he sees a beautiful bird book in the library, he is drawn to it and the librarian encourages him to draw the different birds. Art becomes his passion and he likens how he feels to how he thinks some of those birds feel. It’s a well-written book that gives the reader insight into the feelings of a young teenage boy. It’s a good read that I think any teen could relate to and enjoy.
(Karen's review, rating 4)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"I'll Walk Alone" by Mary Higgins Clark

I’ll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark is contemporary fiction dealing with stolen identity, impersonation and the kidnapping of a 3-yr-old boy, Matthew. Zan, a young successful interior decorator is still holding out hope for her son’s return. Even though she is divorced, she agreed to have dinner with her ex-husband on what would be their son’s fifth birthday to reminisce. Things go from bad to worse for Zan when some pictures surface showing her actually kidnapping her own son!

I felt sorry for Zan throughout this story and even though it seems like all is revealed early on, there is still the mystery of who is really behind the kid’s kidnapping. This book held my interest right from the start. The police seemed to be in the dark throughout the book while Zan’s friends work to prove her innocence and find out what’s really going on with Matthew. What a nightmare this poor lady lived through! It’s definitely a book I’d recommend for anyone who likes contemporary fiction with some mystery in it.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Woman Who Wasn't There" by Robin Gaby Fisher

The Woman Who Wasn't There--The True Story of an Incredible Deception by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. tells the story of a woman who lost her husband on 9/11.  He was in one tower, she the other.  She was able to help people out of harms way and befriended them.  She joined and then took charge of the survivors Network, giving of her time and money and was always there for her fellow survivors.  She was admired and gave back to New York by doing many acts of kindness.  Then ending of this book will shock you like no other!  You will ask yourself "why?" and we will never get an answer.  I suggest you read it and be amazed what one person did.  It kept me turning pages quickly!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

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"Double Booked For Murder" by Ali Brandon

Double Booked For Death—a Black Cat Bookshop Mystery by Ali Brandon is about solving the mystery of a popular author’s death when at a book signing in an independent book store owned by Darla.  This is a cozy mystery that Darla and her ex-cop friend, Jake, who also acts as her security guard for the bookstore tries to solve.  This is a fun read because it includes Hamlet, the bookstore cat and some interesting twists along the way as clues are eventually connected.  

I just couldn’t resist reading a mystery about a cat and a bookstore but was a bit disappointed the cat didn't have a bigger role.  Although the cat is on the cover, it really is incidental to the story.  The ending was really fun!  I’m not much on cozy mysteries, but this is the best I’ve read so far.  

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

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"The Associate" by John Grisham

The Associate by John Grisham is definitely a page-turner that kept my interest all through but was a bit of a let down in the end.  Kyle, a first-year associate at a big New York law firm was being blackmailed to steal confidential information from the firm he worked for and struggled to find a way out.  It demonstrates how one's past can come back to haunt them.  I enjoyed this book even though the story line seemed far-fetched to me and there were several loose ends.  I recommend this to anyone who likes some suspense and enjoys reading about lawyers.  Since I work for a law firm, perhaps that's why I could relate to the main character and got into this book.  I found it to be entertaining.
(Karen's review 11/17/10)

A Good Book, BUT!  (20 stars)

This book is Grisham doing what he does best--telling a story about a lawyer who has an incident in his past and unsavory people who try to use that against him to get trade secrets.  The writing is superb and the story moves along very well.  It gets off to a great start and pulled me in right away.  The ending though left me at loose ends.  I didn't like it but when you read it, you can form your own opinion.  Other than the ending, it's very good!

(Gerard's Review 11/10/09)