Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Favorites


I am often asked for book recommendations and it's so difficult to suggest a book because it depends on what I have been reading, my interests at the time, etc. I tend to like historical fiction, psychological thrillers, and mystery books.

Authors:
Fredrik Backman - http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926

Elizabeth Berg - http://www.elizabeth-berg.net

Marie Bostwick - http://www.mariebostwick.com

Chris Cleave - http://chriscleave.com/about-2/

Patricia Cornwell - http://www.patriciacornwell.com

Michelle Cox - http://michellecoxauthor.com/about-michelle-cox/

Janet Evanovich - http://www.evanovich.com

Diana Galbadon - http://www.dianagabaldon.com

Sara Gruen - https://www.facebook.com/SaraGruenBooks/

Khaled Hosseini - http://khaledhosseini.com

Catherine Ryan Hyde - http://www.catherineryanhyde.com/blog/

Sue Monk Kidd - http://suemonkkidd.com

Anne Lamott - https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/

Kate Morton - https://katemorton.com

B. A. Paris - http://www.darleyanderson.com/authors/b-a-paris

Anne Perry - http://www.anneperry.co.uk/miscellany/title-list/

Jodi Picoult - http://www.jodipicoult.com

Kris Radish - http://www.krisradish.com

Lisa Scottoline - https://scottoline.com

Lisa See - http://www.lisasee.com


Books:


A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Series:

The Cousins O'Dwyer by Nora Roberts

Outlanders by Diana Gabaldon

Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt

#favoriteauthors #bestbooks




The Break Down


The Break Down by B.A. Paris. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2017. 328 pages. *****

Even though she promised her husband that she wouldn't, Cass takes a shortcut through the woods and sees a car stopped by the side of the road. Should she stop and offer help? Is it a ruse to harm Cass? There is a woman in the car and what if her car won't work? Guiltily, Cass decides to continue on home and not tell anyone what she saw. She is shocked to learn the next morning that a woman was found murdered on that stretch of road. Cass is so distraught and distracted that she begins to be forgetful and frightened when she receives phone calls and the person won't speak. Her husband humors her about her memory loss, but Cass is also haunted by the fact that her mother had dementia. What if the murderer saw her, what if she is losing her mind? The pills prescribed by the doctor make her drowsy and sleepy, to the point that she misses appointments and her friends become concerned for her welfare.

B.A. Paris is a master at building tension and setting the stage. Once started, I didn't want to stop reading. Having read her first book, I knew there was going to be a twist and something unexpected in the plot. While I deduced who the murderer was there were enough surprises that I wasn't disappointed. If you enjoyed Behind Closed Doors and like psychological thrillers, you will enjoy this one.

I received a copy for a review.

B.A. Paris is the internationally bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors. She grew up in England but has spent most of her adult life in France. She has worked both in finance and as a teacher and has five daughters. @BAParisAuthor.

#whocanyoutrust #thebreakdown

The Story of Arthur Truluv



The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. New York: Random House, 2017. 130 pages. *****

Arthur Moses climbs the steps of a bus every day with a packed lunch and a fold up chair to have lunch with his deceased wife, Nola.  Arthur is eighty-five years old and hopes to live to be one hundred. Since he started going to the cemetery, a part of a person's life story reaches Arthur as he passes the tombstone. It doesn't happen for everyone, just a few, but somehow he knows that what he sees is true about the person buried there. It is at the cemetery that Arthur sees Maddy for the first time and wonders why she isn't in school. He's not sure of her age, fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a t-shirt, ripped jeans with spiky black hair, she looks ready to run when she realizes he has noticed her. Maddy often visits the cemetery to take pictures and hang out until school is over for the day. When Maddy inevitably meets Arthur and hears his story, she nicknames him Arthur Truluv because of his love for Nola. Maddy is bullied at school and has no friends so Arthur is happy to take her under his wing. Arthur's next door neighbor, Lucille, is lonely, loves to bake, and invites Arthur to keep her company. All three bond by their loss, love, and need for understanding and friendship.

Elizabeth Berg's books resonate with people of all ages. She often writes abut circumstances that alter one's chosen path and unexpected possibilities that offer something better in life. She has insight that few share and can express. Berg made me laugh, cry, and wish for more. Her unassuming characters form a friendship that when it exists, it's to be treasured and valued. In the Acknowledgements, Berg writes about sending the manuscript to a friend with the hope that she "gets" it. I got it, loved it and will recommend it to friends.

I received an ecopy for review.

Elizabeth Berg is the author of many best novels, including Open House, Talk Before Sleep, and the Year of the Pleasures, as well as the short story collectionThe Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. To learn more visit elizabeth-berg.net or Facebook.com/bergbooks