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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