Reviews

I became fascinated with Blackwater as I heard so much about the connection between the Administration and this private company’s relationship and lucrative contract with the United States.

Christy Hayes has it all: Olympic medals, a thriving business she built from the ground up, a dashing and successful CEO husband and all that comes with him. It’s more than she ever dreamed of. But it’s all about to come crashing down after her beloved housekeeper passes leaving Christy the guardian of her 11 year old grand-daughter Renata. With Renata come responsibilities that upset the balance of Christy’s life. And she is forced to make choices that neither her Olympic training, nor her business acumen have prepared her for.

If you want to lose weight, achieve health, and live the life of your dreams—have I got a book for you! Many books offer that promise: just follow THIS diet and workout routine and you’ll magically shed pounds.

I picked The Ruins by Scott Smith because of a book review in a magazine and the reviewer was right on target. I was disappointed to learn that Mr. Smith had waited ten years from his last book (A Simple Plan) to write this one because I don’t want to wait that long for another novel from him.

Chaon’s latest novel, Await Your Reply, is a fast moving moody thriller containing three blended stories. In one, Miles Cheshire abandons his job at a magic shop in Cleveland to find his missing twin brother.

Growing up, I enjoyed watching good western movies on Saturday night television. Some of these movies depicted an exciting time period when settlers in covered wagons travelled west to explore, live, and stake claims in new lands. Others depicted Native Americans as ruthless.

So…..I am sitting in my chaise, under my blanket, one cold February evening reading Dean Koontz’ newest novel. My husband is watching TV and, for some unknown reason, talking to me during the commercials. I am totally enthralled with this book and have no time to chat.

This is the story of an unusual friendship that developed between poor, uneducated Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster in early 1800’s England, pre-Darwin. They shared a common passion, fossil hunting and through trials and tribulations maintained a friendship for several decades.

If you’ve ever done genealogical (or historical) research and felt the intrigue and energy of peeling back layers of information to open windows on the past, this is a beautifully written description of the process. Ms. Gerzina embarked on a search to authenticate the story of Lucy Terry. Born a slave in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts, Lucy Terry was reputed to have argued a case before the Supreme Court. How much of this story could be true? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to document it?