Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is still one of the best books I have read. It does say that it is "inspired" by a true story and since I knew a lot of Mr. Mowat's history (him living quite near me), I know that all the information regarding the wolves is true.

The information gathered by him was so important and I think that even today most countries and scientists don't realize how important it actually was/is. Wolves were wiped out by blood thirst in the US and when the government discovered the imbalance it created, they had to import wolves from Canada in order to "save" their environment.

Mr. Mowat took an experiment that he was given back in the 1950's and turned it into a very entertaining story, while teaching us about the nature of wolves. It is a fact that there has never been a human being reported as having been killed by a wolf.

Reading this story again makes me proud that we had people like Mr. Mowat who were willing to sacrifice a lot in order to advance our knowledge of our planet and its inhabitants.




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The Whip by Karen Kondazian

The Whip [Audiobook/audio Cd] [Unabridged] by Karen Kondazian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the best books I have read this year. Everything came together in a wonderful way; that is to say, the writing is wonderful and Ms. Kondazian has joined my favourite author list. The research into the character was tremendous. The audio is wonderful and what a talent Robin Weigert has to make me truly believe that I was listening to men, women and children.

Many modern authors try to trick us by constantly "hinting" at things that may have already happened or be about to happen and also by jumping around in the story. In this case Ms Kondazian started the story at the beginning and followed it through to the end which in my opinion is the better route for a story to take.

In brief, it is the story of Charlotte Parkhurst, a foundling in the early 1800's. Her life was very hard and eventually she took the identity of a man in order to find employment and to support herself. She became a whip or stagecoach driver and was considered one of the best. Men who knew her were very surprised when she died to discover that she was a woman.

It is odd to think that even now, 200 years later, women in the world are still struggling for equality.

A thoroughly enjoyable and educational story and I am so glad that it was recommended to me by a goodreads member.



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Gray Mountain by John Grisham

Gray Mountain by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always love a John Grisham story. In this case, Samantha who is a lawyer in her third year of a big law firm, is laid off due to the recession. Many lawyers are being let go and its quite a catastrophe. She is given a lifeline in a way that will allow her to keep her health benefits but to work pro bono cases at an approved legal clinic. She is accepted in the coal mine country of Virginia. Here Samantha learns how to use the law to help actual "people" who are in problems.

A thoroughly satisfying read.

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Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Karin Slaughter is one of my favourite writers and this book didn't disappoint. Dr. Sarah discovers a woman brutally and gruesomely murdered in the bathroom of a cafe. This woman was blind and also had an identical twin who is a police officer. There is a serial killer in their midst but who is it? Sarah, who is also the coroner and the ex wife of the police chief, has the job of determining the cause of death.

An enjoyable read, especially for mystery/murder fans.



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Deadline by Sandra Brown

Deadline by Sandra Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a "new to me" author and I will be reading more of her books. I loved Deadline, and especially loved the characters.

Amelia has two little boys. She was divorced from their father after which time he was presumed dead.

An intriguing plot and looking forward to the next installment of this series.

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Previously Loved Treasures: The Serendipity Series, Book Two by Bette Lee Crosby

Previously Loved Treasures: The Serendipity Series, Book Two by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A story right from the heart. The story opens with Ida Sweetwater who recently lost her husband, Jim. Thirty years previously her son had a falling out with Jim and had left, never to be heard from again. Ida launches a campaign to find her lost son.

An excellent story full of lovable characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

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The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Harold Fry (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) is walking the length of England to visit his old friend and work mate, Queenie Hennessy, who is in a hospice and gravely ill. His walking takes several weeks and as she waits for him to arrive she begins a letter to him. He was the love of her life although he never knew this and was married. Her letter is like a confession of a wrong that she believes she did to him.

An excellent read and an excellent follow up to the first book in the series.

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Cover Of Snow by Jenny Milchman

Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An enjoyable mystery, especially considering that this is Ms. Milchman's first novel.

Nora awakes one morning in her country home and her husband is already out of bed. As she goes on the look for coffee, she discovers her husband, a police officer, hanging from the top floor. She has a great deal of trouble believing that he would have committed suicide as he seemed happy and well adjusted. Also, he had not left a note.

Quite an interesting read, featuring a very nasty mother in law and various characters who are either on her side or against her.



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American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A story about an ordinary girl who became the First Lady. There were many similarities to Laura Bush's story, enough to make it quite real IMO.

The book was enjoyable and interesting up to the point that Alice's husband Charlie's, alcohol addiction had to be faced. After that I felt the story weakened and especially when Charlie became the president. Alice's existence appeared to fade into oblivion.

I usually wouldn't read fiction like this but it was for a book club. I much prefer a true memoir, however, as a fictional story, this was good.





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Hannah, Delivered by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew

Hannah, Delivered by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The journey of a woman who discovers her true calling as a midwife. An enjoyable and inspiring story about the natural process of birth.

I would never have chosen this book but was reading it for a book group and I am glad I did.

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Still Life by Louise Penny

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first in the series featuring Inspector Gamache and his side kick Beauvoir. They are two very lovable characters and I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

In the village of Three Pines Jane is murdered with a bow and arrow. Was it murder or a shooting accident?

An excellent, cosy read.

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Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a very big book telling a very big story. The facts were seamlessly intertwined with story telling. The final installment of the Century Trilogy and probably the best that I have ever read.

The thoroughly engrossing story of the century continues with the civil rights movement in the US and the assassinations of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bob Kennedy. Also the lives of the different families in East and West Berlin and Russia and the building and tearing down of the wall.

Mr. Follett brings these topics to life in a way that we can all understand and relate to. It definitely brought me to tears many times, and most especially the ending (which I will not give away here).

Personally I learned so much from this trilogy, things that have been happening right during my lifetime and the struggles, while I have been just living in peace. Its a very important message for everyone and highly recommended. To have the right flow of the story, you will read the books in order; Fall of Giants, Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity.



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The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The mystery of a painting belonging to Olivia Halston but challenged by the remaining family of the artist. Somehow I could not get close to the characters in this book and the story didn't make me curious about the origins of the painting. The characters especially were shallow, with the exception of the time in France just before and during WWI.

I guess I thought that a "picture" was nothing compared to the suffering of human beings during the wars. I also found it frustrating that they kept mentioning nazi's since they didn't exist in WWI. That crossover just didn't work for me.

I have loved every book by Jojo Moyes so far, but this was was not up to the mark for me.



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Skin by Mo Hayder

Skin by Mo Hayder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book in this series with the characters Jack Caffrey and Flea Marly is like a comfortable visit with very good friends. I look forward to the next installment each time I finish one.

Jack is in Bristol and working as a DI, but not really a very good team player. In this novel he is still very worried about a previous murder that he doesn't feel ended with the actual killer being brought to justice. Meanwhile Flea discovers just how much of a wimp her younger brother is and is refusing to own up to his responsibilities.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

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Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall

Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful story about friendship and healing. A woman, Carol, with serious health issues decides that she should create a better looking garden view for her neighbours. They have neglected their yard for many years and she has noticed that others in the area have lovely gardens.

She asks her neighbour if she would share her gardener and this is a turning point for her. Her gardener, Mr. Owita, becomes her greatest friend.

A lesson to us all.

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Wake by Anna Hope

Wake: A Novel by Anna Hope
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a terrific book. Very few authors have the ability to really get into my heart and touch me like this.

It is two years since the end of the WWI. Families are trying to carry on without their husbands, fathers, brothers and fiances'. It is extremely difficult to put the war behind you, especially after suffering such terrible losses.

The story follows the choosing and interment of the unknown soldier, placed in Westminister on November 11, 1920 at 11am.

This story brought the war to life for me and I thought about my grandfather, who served in WWI, to my thoughts and a realization of what he actually did and his generation did, for all of us.



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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great read. A man named Ove pronounced ooova, is widowed. Six months after his wife died, he was made redundant at his job and he decided that life was not worth living without his wife and his job.

On the surface he is a very grumpy old man, but when a new family moves in next door with two young girls, a lack luster husband and a pregnant wife, things gradually begin to change.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, highly recommended.

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Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I will be honest and say that I did not like the book. The way it was written is my first complaint and secondly, writers seem to have a "new way" of writing. They will start at the end, move to the beginning, go somewhere in the middle and keep hinting at things. That can be ok for awhile, but when it continues throughout the book, it becomes a chore to read.

The reason I read books (generally) is that I become attached to the characters. I couldn't find any redeeming features in any character in this book.

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Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well my goodness, this will be a hard review to write. I had not heard of this writer previously, although I did have his book, Little Man, What Now? on my tbr list and not sure why.

The story itself is so real. It is hard to find the proper words to describe this day to day life in Berlin before and during WWII. A simple couple whose only son, a soldier, was killed, feel so helpless to do anything about the problem in Germany that the only thing they can think of is to write propaganda post cards and let them drop where others would find them.

The story takes us deep into the German people's everyday lives and what they were suffering.

The book is written from start to finish. What I mean by that is that there are no author "tricks" in making you think that you missed something, and books starting in the middle, going to the end and back to the beginning and hinting at things all the time. It is written in an honest and straightforward manner, which in most opinions, is the best way to write a story.

This is not a story though, its a true account with documents to prove it.

An excellent read and also something to open the mind and heart.

The author himself lost his own struggle before the book was published.

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Hell by Jeffrey Archer (Prison Diary #1)

Hell by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderful diary of Mr. Archer's first few weeks in Belmarsh Prison in England. He has learned so much, much more than you can learn from your armchair and he has become very sympathetic to his fellow inmates. He was put in the "lifers" section with the belief that life prisoners just want a quiet life and will protect the more vulnerable.

I am looking forward to reading the second Prison Diary "Purgatory".

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No Safe House by Linwood Barclay

No Safe House by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grace, a 14 year old girl is dating a waste of space named Stuart who comes from a crime family. One night he wanted to impress her he convinced her to break into a house of wealthy people in order to take a joy ride in the home owner's expensive car.

While they are sneaking around, Stuart handed Grace a gun and asks her to hold it for a minute while he does something. Just then a person rushes past and a gun goes off, apparently hitting Stuart.

Grace leaves as quickly as she can and calls a trusted friend before calling her father to help. This juvenile act sets off a series of events that even your wildest imagination would have problems coming up with.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.


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In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a true account of a multiple murder in the late 1950's and the consequences. It was the first Capote book that I have read and I thought it was wonderfully done. Mr. Capote's research was thorough and it was quite a ride being able to get into the criminals' minds.

A good read.

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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderfully written book. The surface story is about a group of parents of first year kindergarten children and how their lives intertwine. The underlying story of domestic violence is so well researched and written that it hits the nail on the head.

As a survivor of domestic abuse myself, I love how this book is the truth, but without preaching and making people believe they are wrong or that they should make moves that they are not ready to make. Its a lesson, and a story that needed to be told as well as an entertaining who done it.

Top marks for this book.

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Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden

Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I liked the setting of the book and the people, but have to admit that the drug scene, and the violence, are just not my cup of tea.

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Still Foolin' 'Em by Billy Crystal

Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys by Billy Crystal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this in audio and loved it. It was Billy himself doing the book similar to a stand up comic routine and his honesty about his life was wonderful.

Highly recommend this uplifting book.

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Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti

Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A husband who travels for work, suddenly goes missing one day and for two years nobody knows what happened to him. His wife and children try to move on.



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The Dream by Harry Bernstein

The Dream: A Memoir by Harry Bernstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful account of life in the twenties and during the depression. Mr. Bernstein's first hand account is a huge eye opener and a wonderfully warm story from a very warm gentleman.

The dream was to come to America from England where religious prejudice was still very high. Unfortunately, the streets were not paved with gold as everyone believed in those days and life was very hard once the depression years kicked in.

An excellent read.

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One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absolutely not put downable book. Right from the first page you are completely drawn in. A single mom with two eccentric children, one a ten year old girl math prodigy and the other a goth boy teenager, plus a big drooling dog named Norman. She struggles with everyday life until one of her cleaning clients closes the door in her face.

A completely delightful read.

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Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To continue the Clifton series, now young Sebastian has been drawn into some serious smuggling unwittingly. An excellent read with a very surprise ending making it very necessary to continue with the fourth book in the series.

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The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Continuing the Cormoran Strike series, Robin, his secretary is interested in becoming a detective and Cormoran is not sure about that. In this story there is another murder to solve involving writers and one in particular who was murdered in a very grizzly way.

At times there were long stretches and unfinished sentences. The mystery was solved in the very last pages but I thought that the reader should have been included in the plot and it left the reader feeling very left out, like standing on a corner and watching families at play and you have nobody. It left you cold.

You become very attached to the characters and I will miss them, but I don't intend on reading any more of this series.

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The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A continuation of the story of Harry Clifton. What a rocky ride his life has been so far. No verdict as yet though so we must continue on with the next installment of the story. Can't wait to start it.

I would have given it five stars if not for one thing in the story that really plagued me throughout; an unopened letter!!!!



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Farewell To Dreams by C.J. Lyons

FAREWELL TO DREAMS: A Novel of Fatal Insomnia by C.J. Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a ride this book was! From the start to finish it was only a 24 hour period, but so much happened during that time. There were tunnels under a neighbourhood of the city and terrible crimes were taking place there. When Dr. Rossi, who worked in ER and was also part of an advocacy group, became aware that bad things were happening to children and young people, but also that she was developing a condition that turned out to be very serious, she decided to help the police.

It almost played out like a game of chess with each player being taken out in one way or another by the bigger players.

This was my first medical mystery and I must say that it was very good. Fatal Insomnia is a very rare condition and knowing that actually gave the book a degree of truth.

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A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher

A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very nice uplifting Christian story about a woman whose husband is an alcoholic and leaves her to continue his drinking. As she moves to a cabin that is left to her by her great aunt, she learns about her aunt's life through her journals and how it compared to her's.

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The Last Letter from Your Lover b Jojo Moyes

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When a forty year old love letter surfaces in the dusty library of a newspaper, it sends a young journalist on the search for the writer. The story she discovers is a lot more than she bargained for.

This story keeps you turning pages and wanting to know what happens next. A thoroughly enjoyable read and one that will stay with your for quite awhile.

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Three Letters by Josephine Cox

Three Letters by Josephine Cox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always love a good book by Josephine Cox and this one didn't disappoint. The story opens with a family in turmoil. Mother is married to a man, Tom, and its a loveless marriage. They have one son, Casey, who is a lovely boy but the mother confesses that Tom is not the father. She fights and carries on and is extremely abusive to both Tom and Casey.

Tom made a decision based on a secret that he carried.

A very good and satisfying read.

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The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Inspired by true sisters Sarah and Nina Grimske, considered to be the first women abolitionists and the first to speak out for women's rights.

They were born into a wealthy family in Charleston, parents were slave owners. Sarah was presented with her very own slave at the age of 11 and that event started her on the road to anti slavery.

A wonderful read. If you feel that the girls could have been braver, more forceful and stronger during the first parts of the book, remember that women didn't rights, nor were they entitled to a voice. These all had to be fought for.

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The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was a truly lovely story. This writer really knows how to put her point across and in the most believable way. I was drawn in completely in the beginning chapter when how music was first written was described and it just kept me going straight on through.

I discovered that this is the eighth book with the same characters and I am very interested in reading others. Inspector Gamache is a real gem and now I want to know if or when his assistant tells him that he loves his daughter.

I will definitely be reading more of Louise Penny's books.

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The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Truly Plaice's mother dies in childbirth. Truly is a huge baby, but even so, her mother had a breast tumor and would have died quite soon regardless. Truly has a pituitary disorder causing her to be larger than average.

Truly's sister, Serena Jane, is a beauty and they are raised by their father until his death. Serena Jane is adopted by a couple who adore her and Truly is sent to live on a farm with a couple and their daughter.

A very good family saga.



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A Wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm

A Wrongful Death by Kate Wilhelm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A good story, but, I would recommend reading all her other ten books first. There were basically hardly any clues, if any, to let you know who the characters were. Most books that are a series, can also be stand alone as the author will either give you the information you require, or, not refer to people that you don't know.

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The Rook by Steven James

The Rook by Steven James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

FBI agent Patrick Bowers is brought in to consult on a serial arsonist. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Since he thought it would be a quick trip, he decided to bring his step daughter along with him for the break.

They witness the suicide of a homeless man and this sets off a chain of events that keep you on the edge of your chair for the whole book.

A thoroughly satisfying read. I love that there is no profanity, sex, or extreme violence in Steven James books.

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Just One Look by Harlan Coben

Just One Look by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A picture turned up in an envelope from the photo mat and Grace noticed it when she got home. When her husband saw the picture he acted a bit odd, made a phone call and went out of the house around 10pm. When he didn't return, Grace becomes worried and starts to try to discover where he went.

An excellent mystery.

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Frog Music by Emma Donoghue

Frog Music by Emma Donoghue




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Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Night Film by Marisha Pessl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is so intricately woven that you are just completely drawn into it. The Cordova family has just suffered another loss, this time the daughter, Ashley.

Scott McGrath, an investigator, has a bit of history with the family and feels that this might be just one too many coincidences. With a pair of strangers, Nora and Hopper, he sets out to find the truth. Not an easy task because Stanislav Cordova is a reclusive, ex movie maker who is very hard to track down.

There were a few stretches that went on a bit too long, but all in all a very good read.

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Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful story about children who need help and a childless woman who finds her calling in caring for them.

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Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kambili and Jaja, sister and brother in Nigeria, are in a privileged family. All is not as it seems as they have a father who is a religious fanatic and does not stop at extreme punishment for them and their mother.

Luckily they have their auntie to go to and who is very kind to them. She has her own problems with being a widow and raising three children of her own.

A story about the political turmoil in Nigeria. Very sad with very little brightness in the story.

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Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very entertaining. The first in a four book series about Harry Clifton. The story opens with his mother, Maisie, having a quiet, afternoon affair with someone other than her fiance'. This little afternoon has far reaching implications.

Harry is a very intelligent boy, the outcome of the this affair.

Looking forward to the next installment of this series, The Sins of the Father.

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Stella Bain by Anita Shreve

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Stella Bain is found in a hospital in France where she has lost her memory. After her body has healed somewhat, she works as a nurses' aide and ambulance driver. When she has earned leave, she makes her way to London where she believes she will be able to recall her past. Stella is not what she seems.

An interesting story regarding WWI and introduces the concept of shellshock or PTSD in troops and people witnessing war.



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Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau

Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nicely written story about a twelve year old girl, living with her grandparents in the south. Her grandfather is a preacher and she is very happy living with them. She has been told that her mother died when she was young.

Her father, who has been out of the picture since she was a baby, has come to take her for the summer, and he and his new wife take her to Florida where things start to go very wrong for her.

Georgia Tate is wise for her years.

A satisfying read.

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The Escape Artist by Diane Chamberlain

The Escape Artist by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A woman, Susanna, whose husband has remarried is fighting to keep her baby son. The new wife can't have children and a lawsuit to prove Susanna as an unfit mother has been launched.

When Susanna loses her case, mostly because both her husband and new wife are lawyers, she decides to take the baby and go on the run.

An intriguing story with just enough twists to make it an excellent read.

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Ritual by Mo Hayder

Ritual: A Jack Caffery Thriller by Mo Hayder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another winning episode with Jack Caffery and Flea Marley. It opens with a pair of hands being found in the river and leads to rituals and superstitions originating somewhere in Africa.

A very gruesome story.

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