Tag: reviews

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team and continues to generously share book reviews with us during her retirement.  Thank you, Deena!

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles available.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page.

The Witness by Sandra Brown  DB40616

Kendall is put in a witness protection program after witnessing a terrible crime. There is a bad storm on the way back to South Carolina and an accident happens involving the car in which Kendall is riding. One officer is dead and another, John suffers from amnesia.  At the hospital, rather than tell the doctor the truth, Kendall claims John is her husband.  Kendall plans to escape the hospital and go on the run.  John catches up to her and goes with her.  Kendall and John live together as husband and wife (John still has no memory) and a romance begins. Kendall keeps in touch with a friend back home and finds out the perpetrators of the crime, have escaped jail and are looking for her.  She has to leave John and go on the run.

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss  DB91901

Sadie is seventeen and pregnant, living in the hills of North Carolina.  She marries the father of her baby who is abusive. A new teacher, Kate Shaw, has come to hills, she finds the area backward and full of quirky characters such as Birdie Rocas, who has a crow for a pet. Then there is Prudence Perkins, sister to Rev. Eli Perkins, who brought Kate to the area.  Prudence is unhappy that her brother is so welcoming to Kate Shaw.  She is so much against her brother’s happiness with the schoolteacher that she steals one of Kate’s letters from the post office. She hopes to get the dirt on Miss Shaw. Join these characters as each tells the story of the Appalachian town of Baines Creek from their point of view.

The President’s Daughter by James Patterson  DB103817

President Matt Keating orders Navy SEALS to kill Asim Al-Sheed and collect evidence against him. A building explodes while the SEALS are on the mission and Asim Al-Sheed’s wife and children are killed. Asim avenges this act by kidnapping Matt Keating’s daughter. Matt Keating is no longer president, so he and several others set out to rescue his daughter.  This is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of action.

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena!  Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page. 

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline  DB100662
1840: Evangeline becomes a governess in England.  She is seduced by the lady of the house’s stepson and is then accused by the maid, Agnes, of stealing a ruby ring.  However; the ring was given to her by the stepson. Agnes continues to harass and threaten Evangeline and she becomes angry and pushes Agnes down the stairs. Evangeline is charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 14 years and transport to Australia. Evangeline has a daughter aboard ship and other prisoners help to take care of the baby.  The life in Australia is hard and prisoners are punished and treated harshly for infractions such as talking to each other.   If they are lucky, they get to work for the new settlers in the nearby town. If you are interested in life in Australia or this time period you might enjoy this book.  Today, nearly 5 million people in Australia are descended from prisoners transported from England to that area.

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom  BR20357, DB77804
The people of Coldwater, Michigan are receiving phone calls from those who have passed on.  Sully Harding, who lost his own wife in a terrible accident, is out to prove that this an elaborate hoax.

The Shadows We Hide by Allen Eskens DB93580
Joe Talbert is now a reporter for the Associated Press.  He learns a man with his same name has died in a small town in Minnesota.  Joe, knowing he was named after a father he never knew, goes to investigate.  Once there he learns his possible father was murdered and many town’s people are not sorry to see he is gone.  As Joe gets to know the people of this area a tangled tale is revealed, and if this is indeed his father, could stand to become a very wealthy landowner.
This is the sequel to The Life We Bury (BR21515, DB79908),but could be read as a standalone.  I highly recommend both books.

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page. 

Look Me in the Eye: my life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison  DB64970
John Elder Robison tells the story of his life as a person with  Asperger’s and how he felt socially inept and did not fit in, thus the title “Look me in the eye”.
He came from a dysfunctional family.  His father was an alcoholic and beat him and his brother and his mother was mentally ill.  John found his niche in electronics and worked building circuits and special effects for the band KISS, among others. After several years of that he decided he needed a “real job” and used his electronic abilities to get another job. He married his high school sweetheart and became a father. It wasn’t until in his forties, when he learned he had Asperger’s that felt he fit into the world. Recommended for KISS fans, and anyone wishing to know more about people with Asperger’s and their reactions and how they think.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson BR18651, DB69104
Lia’s best friend, Cassie just has died as a result of Bulimia.  Lia is Anorexic and continually sets goals to lose five more pounds.  Cassie comes back to haunt Lia and urge her to join her.

Alibi Man by Tami Hoag   BR16909, DB63498
Elena Estes, a former cop, now works at a horse stable.  She goes for a walk and discovers a groom, Irina that she works with dead in a canal.  Elena investigates Irina’s death and helps the police.  Irina was Russian and the Russian mob appears to be involved.  This was a page turner with an unexpected ending.

The Loop by Nicholas Evans  LT5749, DB46713
I really did not think I would like this as much as I did. This takes place in Montana where wolves were reintroduced to the area.  Helen Ross works to put radio collars on the wolves to track and protect them.  The ranchers in the area are against the wolves because they have killed cattle.  Luke, the son of the leader of the ranchers, assists Helen with the wolves, much to the embarrassment of his father.  It all comes to head when Luke is caught trying to save some wolf pups. Recommended for animal lovers and environmentalists.

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page. 

An Ocean in Iowa by Peter Hedges DB47261
Scotty Ocean turns seven.  His mother leaves him and his two older sisters. Scotty tries various ways to get his mother to return to the family.  Some are funny and some are embarrassing. If you are interested in a humorous book about a young boy growing up in Iowa, I would suggest The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (DB63131).  This is a laugh out loud read that takes place in Des Moines.  The one thing I did like about An Ocean in Iowa is that a lot of the places mentioned in the story are very close to my home.

Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf  DB79095
Ellen Moore has been a social worker in Iowa, working with abused or neglected children for many years.  One day when she is running late for work the unthinkable happens.  Ellen is investigated and arrested.
Meanwhile, Ellen’s mother. Maudene while working at a restaurant runs across a young girl all alone.  Jenny gets sick at the restaurant.  Maudene later sees Jenny walking alone.  She asks if she can take her somewhere and ends up taking Jenny to her grandmother’s house, she finds out the grandmother has died.  Maudene, tells her daughter about Jenny and Ellen urges her to call a social worker. This book handles some tough subjects with sensitivity.