FICTION

The School of Essential Ingredients
By Erica Bauermeister   $24.95
     A remarkable debut novel. Normally I don’t read this
type of book, but that day I was hungry and
I liked the cover.
   I was delighted and
amazed to find this author’s writing was every
bit as tasty as the recipes she concocts.
   Bon appetite!
--Phil

Wednesday Sisters
By Meg Cabot $14
     In the summer of 1968, five very different women meet at a playground in Palo Alto and begin a writing group. This is a nostalgic look back at the events of that time, the women we were, and how much we’ve changed. A good summer read.
--Lynn

The Missing
By Tim Gautreaux $25.95
     A man returns to New Orleans after being overseas during WWI. In a tragic turn, a little girl is kidnapped from the store that he manages and he is compelled to search for her. A very engrossing historical read with vivid characters and scenery.
--Phil
 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows  $22
     Despite having a lackluster cover and a weird title, this is actually a wonderful novel. History, humor, tragedy and romance all rolled together into one great book. One of the best this year!
--Phil, Lynn

The Historian
By Elizabeth Kostova $9.99
     Legends come alive in this chilling novel as a young girl narrates a search for the truth about the vicious Vlad Dracula. The story unfolds a family legacy that refuses to stay buried. Kostova evokes exotic European locales beautifully and enthralls readers with tantalizing historical details. A great book to sink your teeth into!
--Hannah

The Long Walk Home
By Will North  $13.95
     When New Yorker Alec travels to Wales to scatter his ex-wife’s ashes, he meets Fiona who runs a Bed-and-Breakfast. They begin a mid-life love affair complicated by their feelings of loyalty and duty. If Nicholas Sparks wrote a book set in North Wales, it would read like this. Enjoy this story of love, loss and hope in a breath-taking setting.
--Lynn

The Uncommon Reader
By Alan Bennett  $12
     When Elizabeth II accidentally borrows a book from the bookmobile, the results turn out to be astonishing. This is a witty and surprisingly reflective look at reading and the change in perspective it can bring. A fun book!
--Lynn

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage & Survival
By Velma Wallis  $12.95
     Left behind by their tribe in a winter famine, two complaining old women decide they can just die of “die trying.” This award-winning adaptation from an old Alaskan legend is as pertinent today as it has been for generations. A great story of survival and forgiveness
.--Lynn

The Cleaner
By Brett Battles    $6.99
     Welcome to the world of Jonathan Quinn, a professional “cleaner” in the world of espionage. A well-written suspense novel that will have you looking forward to the next one! An excellent choice for a “beach read”.
--Phil

 

The Lottery
By Patricia Wood $14
     The “sleeper of the summer” and a feel good book for your soul. You will soon find yourself in love with Perry and cheering for him, as he learns how to endure and manage his family and friends, now that they’ve discovered he’s a millionaire!
--Kerry

Time Traveler’s Wife
By Audrey Niffenegger  $14.95
     This is a completely unique and beautiful story. Don’t let the time traveling theme turn you off, it is not a sci-fi book. Simply put, it’s a lovely story of a man, Henry, who due to some genetic defect can travel through time, his ever-faithful wife, Claire and the great love they share.
--Jean

A Thousand Splendid Suns
By Khaled Hosseini   $16
     An extremely well written novel about the plight of women in Afghanistan that chronicles several decades of Afghan history. One of the best books that I read in 2007. A guaranteed great read.
-- Phil

Thread of Grace
by Maria Doria Russell     $15
     There are many strong women and men who are heroes in this book set in Italy during WWII; some, like priests and rabbis are called to be heroes every day; some surprisingly, are the enemy. Throughout, women hold their families together despite great odds.
--Marcia

The Preservationist
by David Maine $12.95
     Dive into this imaginative re-telling of the story of Noah’s arc. “Noe” and his family are fascinating characters who take turns telling the story. A well-written, well-loved tale with a fresh perspective.
--Hannah

Dark Angels
By Karleen Koen    $15.95
     Alice Verney at the Court of Charles II is as compelling as “The Other Boleyn Girl” and is also caught in the intrigues and treachery of the times. I was swept up in the lavish and dangerous courts of France and England in this excellent historical novel. --Lynn

Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven
By Fannie Flagg      $13.95
     This is my favorite Fannie Flagg novel! I laughed out loud and have been thinking about heaven ever since. A great feel-good read for the summer. --Lynn  

The Spellman Files
by Lisa Lutz $7.99
     This light and funny novel is a wonderful summer read. Izzy Spellman is trying to leave the family business which happens to be a private investigation firm. But Izzy has one last job to do before she can get out. Not that she knows what to do once she leaves. Unfortunately for her it's the only job she's ever had. Literally, she started when she was just 14 years old. The whole family is a hoot, especially Izzy’s sister Rae.
--Jean

Dream When You’re Feeling Blue
By Elizabeth Berg    $14
     The three Heaney girls are growing up during WWII. A compelling story, rich in detail, the girls exchange letters with the men that they love serving overseas. A vivid and nostalgic picture of the time. --Lynn

The Madonnas of Leningrad
By Debra Dean    $13.95
     As Marina slips away from the present, she carries us to the “Hermitage” in Leningrad as the priceless art collection is removed for safe-keeping. Her story unfolds as she survives the brutal siege by recreating the art in her mind. A haunting story with an unforgettable conclusion.. --Lynn

Miss Julia Strikes Back
by Ann B. Ross      $14
     Miss Julia takes off for Florida on the trail of thieves whom she suspects have stolen her most precious possession! A delightful caper!
--Jane H.

The God Of Animals
by Aryn Kyle   $14
     The powerful story of the coming of age of a young girl on a horse ranch in Colorado amid a passing way of life. Despite this being a debut novel, the author gracefully portrays this young woman and how she is left to bear the brunt of her family’s struggles.
--Jane & Nancy

The Undomestic Goddess
by Sophie Kinsella $14
   This is a delightful, humor filled romp through an uppercrust English countryside centered around a case of mistaken identity! Great fun!
--Jane
 

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives
by Sarah Strohmeyer   $14
     The one word to describe this book would be fun! Desperate Housewives in northeast Ohio – I loved it. It’s the kind of book you’ll stay up late reading, saying to yourself “just one more chapter…”
--Jean
 

Two Days After the Wedding
by Joan Medlicott      $13
     This is a wonderful new book about “the ladies of Covington” – how they confront the joys and sad events of daily living and wisely come to terms with the men in their lives. --Jane

An Assembly Such As This
by Pamela Aidan  $14
     For any one who loved the classic Pride and Prejudice and/or the A&E miniseries starring Colin Firth as Fitzwilliam Darcy will love this  novel. This time the story is told from Darcy’s point of view and it’s  fantastic! This is the first of three books in the series. --Jean, Lynn

A Can Of Peas
by Traci DePree    $12.99
     Visit Lake Emily, a small farming community in Minnesota and you may want to stay on permanently. A wonderful book with warm, caring friends and neighbors coping with the joys and problems of everyday life.
--Jane

The Turtle Warrior
by Mary Relindes Ellis   $14
     Set in rural northern Wisconsin, this is a story of survival, redemption and love. A boy begins a coming-of-age journey and confronts the best and worst of family issues along the way. A very beautiful novel!--Sandy

Ahab’s Wife
by Sena Jeter Naslund    $15.95
     This compelling adventure, set in mid 19th c. New England, is both suspenseful and romantic.  A deep knowledge of both the sea and the heart, strong characterization and original writing make this an unforgettable treat.
--Sandy

La Cucina
by Lily Prior    $13.95
A wild, wonderful Sicilian tale both original and provocative! You will feel warmly satisfied with its hearty offering of laughter, sensuality, and delicious foods.
--Sandy

My Sister’s Keeper
by Jodi Picoult  $15
     Anna was born with one purpose – to be a donor for her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with terminal leukemia at age 2. Now, at 13, Anna sues her parents for the rights to her own body – at the risk of losing her sister. The ensuing battle, both within the family and within the courtroom leaves the reader wondering exactly what will be the outcome? A great read!
--Nida and Jean

The Queen’s Fool
by Philippa Gregory    $16
      I loved this second book in the series as much, if not more than The Other Boleyn Girl. Our narrator is a   young girl caught between Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth. Told with great period detail, a story we   all know is told so masterfully that it is filled drama, intrigue and suspense.  This is a great trilogy! --Lynn

Other Boleyn Girl
by Philippa Gregory  $16
     A fascinating account of love, sex, ambition and intrigue in the court of Henry VIII.  The story revolves around two sisters competing to be the Queen of England. A guaranteed page-turner!
--Jane, Lynn

More Than You Know
by Beth Gutcheon-$13.95
   This is a ghost story that takes place in a small town on the coast of Maine, bridging two centuries and two intense love stories. Beautifully and peacefully written, showing how love and hatred shape lives and families.-Jane H.