Nemesis
by Philip Roth

May 31, 2015 

4 of 5 stars

 

Read in May, 2015

This is a frightening story about a polio epidemic that spreads throughout the Jewish community of Newark during the excruciating hot summer of 1944, and the struggles of 23 year old Bucky Cantor who's 4-F military status keeps him from joining his buddies in the war.

Bucky, a physical education teacher, is an extremely conscientious and kind-hearted young man who sincerely cares for the children in his care and is well-liked and admired for his athletic ability and easy-going ways in return, but as his "kids" become infected, he continually questions his decisions, and fights a guilt-ridden battle within himself and his beliefs.

Review:

The reason I chose to read this book is because it takes place in the neighborhood I grew up in until I was thirteen years old. All the streets and places,in the book, brought back good memories of my childhood.The Yiddush words were always spoken by my parents and grandparents so they brought back memories for me as well. The author is from the area as well.

It is also considered a historical fiction novel. The characters' names are fiction but the events are very real. The book opened my eyes to the Polio Epidemic that was happening in the 1940s. I remember getting the Polio Vaccine when I was a kid. I was definitely able to relate to this book.

Fax Me a Bagel
by Sharon Kahn

May 18, 2015  

3 of 5 stars

Read in May, 2015

This first title in the new Agatha Award-acclaimed series features Ruby, the widow of the rabbi in Eternal, Texas. When a patron drops dead in The Hot Bagel, Ruby's friend the baker faces interrogation--and Ruby starts wondering about a connection to her husband's still-unsolved hit-and-run death.

My Review:

I picked up this book to read because I liked the title. It has a lot of humor even though it involved a murder. It wasn't a very deep murder though as in not a lot of twists at all. It was a fast read. I liked the main character, Ruby but didn't care for Essie Sue or the new Rabbi. I connected with this book because of the Yiddish words in the book. They were words that my parents and grandparents always spoke. There were also settings that I was familiar with which made the book more personable I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

The Stranger
by Harlan Coben

May 01,20 15 

5 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2015

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

Review:::

Harlan Coben writes crime thrillers that keeps the reader guessing until the end of the book. This book was no different. There were twists and turns which I love in a book.I found some of them shocking and surprising and some were predictable. Even though some of the characters had secrets about their growing up years, it was selfish of them to ruin the lives of other people to compensate for those secrets. The book was engrossing and I didn't go to bed until I finished it. It was a page turner for me. I felt like a detective trying to solve the crimes. I had mixed feelings about the ending. Some events were upsetting while others were the way I wanted them to be. Coben finished the book with a cliffhanger which he basically did with all his chapters in the book. He is one of my favorite crime thriller author and i always look forward to reading his books.

What Alice Forgot
by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)

Apr 24,20 15

4 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2015

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child.

So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes.

Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

My Review;

I enjoyed this book. As I was reading it , I put myself into Alice's shoes and wondered how I would feel if I didn't remember the last 10 years of my life. What a scary feeling. I like how the story unraveled and how Alice found out about all the events in her life that occured before the accident. She was in for a shock. All in all, I like how the book ended.

This was a new author to me book. I plan on contuing to read books by her.

The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins (Goodreads Author)

Apr 03, 2015  

5 of 5 stars

 

Read in April, 2015

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.

My Review::

I absolutely loved this book. It was very hard to put it down. I was so engrossed with trying to solve the crime. Any character could have committed it. I was definitely surprised with the ending!!

One Wish (Thunder Point, #7)
by Robyn Carr (Goodreads Author)

Mar 30, 2015

4 of 5 stars

Read in March, 2015

Grace Dillon was a champion figure skater until she moved to Thunder Point to escape the ruthless world of fame and competition. And though she's proud of the quiet, self-sufficient life she's created running a successful flower shop, she knows something is missing. Her life could use a little excitement.

In a community where there are few eligible singles, high school teacher Troy Headly appoints himself Grace's fun coach. When he suggests a little companionship with no strings attached, Grace is eager to take him up on his offer, and the two enjoy…getting to know each other.

But things get complicated when Grace's past catches up with her, and she knows that's not what Troy signed up for. Faced with losing her, Troy realizes Grace is more than just a friend with benefits. He's determined to help her fight for the life she always wished for but never believed she could have—and maybe they can find real love along the way.

My Review:

I liked this 7th book of the Thunder Point Series. Previous characters' lives, from the series, continue into this book with the introduction of new characters. As I learn more about the characters, I feel like we are friends since the reader learns so much about them.

What I personally find unrealistic is when two people meet one another and immediately fall in love and the sex begins. They don't even get to know one another first. I find this happens too often in the romance/chick lit books I read and it gets old after awhile.

I liked how Grace and Troy were good for each other. Even though there was a little hurdle that they had to get over at the end, I am glad it worked out for them. I am also glad that Grace's relationship with her mother changes for the good. Unfortunately it was under sad circumstances. Since their story was left as a cliffhanger, I am looking forward to see what life has in store for them. There were other cliff hangers in the book as well. So I am also looking forward to the continuations in the Thunder Point characters' lives as well.

Trial by Fury (J.P. Beaumont #3)
by J.A. Jance (Goodreads Author)

Mar 24, 2015  · 

5 of 5 stars

Read in March, 2015

The dead body discovered in a Seattle dumpster was shocking enough--but equally disturbing was the manner of death. The victim, a high school coach, had been lynched, leaving behind a very pregnant wife to grieve over his passing, and to wonder what dark and disturbing secrets he took to his grave. A homicide detective with twenty years on the job, J.P. Beaumont knows this case is a powder keg and he fears where this investigation will lead him. Because the answers lie on the extreme lethal edge of passion and hate, where the wrong kind of love can breed the most terrible brand of justice.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I am starting to realize that I really like reading suspense books. They hold my attention and are page turners for me. I like to put all the clues together and figure out the outcome of the story. This book was no exception. I like J.A. Jance's style of writing. This is the third book I read by her. She will be added to my list of suspense writers. This particular book is part of her J.P. Beaumont series. Eventually, I plan on continuing with the rest of the series.