Summer Reading Program

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, reviewed by Tammy E.
Excellent book; meticulously readably written history.

The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer, reviewed by June H.
When a Supreme Court clerk accidentally reveals the secret outcome of an up-coming decision his life and the lives of his friends are in danger. A good suspenseful read.

His Name Is Jesus by Yacov Rambsel, reviewed be Jill J.
The mysterious Yeshua Codes the guidance of the Holy Spirit reveals phenomenal hidden Hebrew codes within the Holy Scriptures. Fascinating equidistant-letter sequence adventure reveals hidden secrets in God’s holy words.

The Journey of Luke Skywalker by Stover Galipeau, reviewed by Alan M.

Common Sense Christianity by Edith Schaeffer, reviewed by Michelle F.

Faith Training by Joe White, reviewed by Lewis V.
This book was a great encouragement in the endeavor of parenting and raising a child who loves God. Good encouragement to memorize Scripture.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks, reviewed by Meredith S.
A neurology classic, must read for health care professionals, and anyone interested in the power of the mind and body. I loved it.

Books, books, and more books! Looking for the next best? Our winning reviewers may be able to help. Take a look:

Secrets of the Koran by Don Richardson, reviewed by Alan V. - Very informative expose of what the writings of Mohammed contain and the motivation behind it all. It’s no wonder the world is experiencing so much turmoil.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris, reviewed by Sheryl H. - Fun and frivolous, a somewhat grown-up version of a slightly more modern fairy tale. If you liked Ella Enchanted, give this one a try.

Chocolate Dipped Death by Sammi Carter, reviewed by Sandy J. - Abby in Paradise is having a contest in her candy store. One of the contestants is missing. Abby and dog Max start the search for the contestant.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, reviewed by Megan M. - Sophie Kinsella is a great author! This is the second book of hers and I loved it. What girl doesn’t like to shop, mixed with a little romance and what do you have - a good novel.

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, reviewed by Shannon F. - Ms. Hillenbrand does a good job of giving the reader a vivid picture of not only the likes of Seabiscuit and the people who loved and worked with him, but also the times in which Seabiscuit lived. The reader gets caught up in the bygone era of the 1920s and 1930s. One does not need to be fascinated by horses to be swept up by Seabiscuit.

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton, reviewed by Kathleen Fagan - Great intro to an amateur detective series. Crabby Agatha is a delight. Fun reading.

Secret Sanction by Brian Haig, reviewed by Susan V. - I have read most of this author’s books. I like his humor and fast-paced style. Secret Sanction was a good read even if you are unfamiliar with military lingo.

A popular series of books are making the rounds. Wanna know all the things you should do and see before you die?

Check out this series!

Readers are on a roll! There were 258 reviews written and seven weekly prizes given out to adult readers this week. Here’s what you’re reading:

A Crack in the Edge of the World by Simon Winchester

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

Dana’s Valley by Janette Oke

Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark

Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt by Ann Rice

The Godwins and the Shelleys by William St. Clair

Rosehaven by Catherine Coulter

Summer Reading is in full force! Our adult patrons reviewed 231 books this week!

The winning reviews are as follows:

The Mercy Seller by Brenda Vantrease

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

24-Hour Sewing Projects by Linda Causee

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

Quilter’s Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith

Though Nancy Drew was just revamped for the big screen, you may be looking for some more modern young sleuths to follow.

Much like a kid’s version of the Da Vinci Code, Chasing Vermeer is a mystery surrounding a famous artist. The Wright 3 involves the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

For the slightly more seasoned reader, try Drawing a Blank; or, How I Tried to Solve a Mystery, End a Feud, and Land the Girl of My Dreams by Daniel Ehrenhaft. If the title doesn’t tell you enough, I don’t know what will!

And for those not yet ready to solve the mystery that is reading, try these picture books: The 13th Clue by Ann Jonas, Detective LaRue by Mark Teague, and Jake Gander, Storyville Detective by George McClements.

The Lighthouse by P. D. James.  Scotland Yard Commander Adam Dalgliesh is brought in when a major novelist is found dead on a secluded island off the coast of Cornwall reserved for VIPs.  Was it suicide or murder?  It’s not until another suspicious death that the motive becomes clear in this latest from a British master of suspense.

The Moon Tunnel by Jim Kelly.  Philip Dryden was a top London journalist, but everything changed when he and his wife were in a car crash that left his wife in a coma.  Now she is in a nursing home in the Fens, a flat and marshy area of England, and he has taken a job on the small local newspaper to be nearby.  He still has his nose for news and in this third in the series, investigates the finding of a murdered man at the site of a former WWII POW camp.  Very atmospheric setting and a wonderfully quirky detective.

The Shape of Sand by Marjorie Eccles.  While a country house in England is being renovated for office use just after World War II, a body of a woman is found.  It turns out to be the former lady of the house, who had gone missing in 1910.  Everyone at the time assumed that she had gone off with her lover, but now a murder investigation is launched.  Great characters and an interesting time period add up to a fascinating mystery.

Piece of My Heart by Peter Robinson.  Two murders may be connected: the murder of a young girl at a rock concert in 1969, and the present day murder of a music journalist doing a story about a band who performed at that concert.  This latest in the Inspector Alan Banks series provides an intriguing glimpse of the music scene.

Cypress Grove by James Sallis.  Turner is an ex-cop, ex-con, ex-psychiatrist, and a Vietnam vet.  Wanting to get away from everything, he leaves Memphis and moves to a cabin in the country outside of Cypress Grove, Tennessee, where the local sheriff asks for his help on a murder case.  Incredibly well written, with insights that make you stop and take note, this is a top-notch mystery. If you like it, you’ll want to read the sequel: Cripple Creek.

No Trace by Barry Maitland.  When a little girl names Tracey goes missing, her father, a well-known contemporary artist, uses it as the basis for a conceptual art piece that changes every day, called No Trace. Scotland Yard detectives Brock and Kolla investigate, providing an insider’s look at the London art world. 

Check out what this week’s Summer Reading Program winners have been reading!

Cutwork by Monica Ferris

Sweet Ruin by Cathi Hanauer

Switched, Bothered and Bewildered by Suzanne MacPherson

French Silk by Sandra Brown

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Looking for a good mystery series? Try some of these!

The Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton: This salty old lady is a hoot as she stumbles around solving murders. I suggest at least reading the first of the series before reading the others to better understand the character.

The Southern Sisters series by Anne George: These are laugh-out-loud books. Was I ever sad when I found out the author passed away! I wanted to find out what else the sisters were up to!

The Fremont Jones series by Diane Day: This is a well-written mystery series set in the early 1900’s when women detectives were unheard of. I wish Ms. Day would write more of these!!! Again, starting with the first of the series helps to understand the circumstances of the main character.

The Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson: What can be more intriguing than a midwife who solves mysteries? And the newest in the series was just released!

The Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax, a widow with grown children, was tired of attending her Garden Club meetings, so she joined the CIA. This series continues Gilman’s tradition of well-written, entertaining, and suspenseful novels.