BURNT MOUNTAIN

From Marie K. Schulken author: SIDDONS, ANNE RIVERS BURNT MOUNTAIN In the past, I have always enjoyed this author’s books, however, this book was an exception.  It started out with a multi generational Southern family, and it followed a typical Anne Rivers Siddons’ story line.  However, at some point, our heroine marries an Irish professor [...]

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Maine

From Marie K. Schulken author: Sullivan, J. Courtney Maine  This is the first book I have read by J. Courtney Sullivan and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The story evolves around multiple generations of an Irish family who summered at their cottage in Maine.  A definite cast of characters beginning with the Matriarch, Alice, who rules [...]

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Sea Swept: The Chesapeake Bay Saga #1

From Hannah Columbo author: Roberts,Nora Sea Swept: The Chesapeake Bay Saga #1 Sea Swept tells the tale of three brothers adopted by Raymond Quinn and his wife, Stella. They are as different as can be, but they are bound by their love and respect for their adoptive father, who has recently passed away. On his [...]

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The Poisonwood Bible

From Caryn Eve Murray author: Kingsolver, Barbara The Poisonwood Bible This tragic epic of a minister’s family, following the family patriarch somewhat reluctantly as he does God’s work in the Congo, is a gripping study of faith and folly. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book, beyond its rich, dramatic narrative, is the strength of [...]

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The Good Wife

From Elaine Pasquali author: Buchan, Elizabeth The Good Wife The title of this book caught my eye because of its similarity to the title of the popular TV program, The Good Wife.  The similarities continues with the main characters: a career politician and straying husband (Will) and a wife (Fanny) who sacrifices her own passions [...]

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A season of gifts

From Teen Blogger Sarah author: Peck, Richard A season of gifts In the book A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck, twelve year old Bob moves next door to Mrs. Dowdel who is not your normal neighbor! As Bob deals with bullies, the holiday seasons, and helping his Dad (the new local Minister), somehow Mrs. [...]

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September Sisters

From Alex, Teen Book Reviewer author: Cantor, Jillian September Sisters For the Teen Review Blog, I read the book September Sisters written by Jillian Cantor. In this wonderful book, Abigail and her younger sister Becky are always fighting and bickering. Their mother always pretends they’re friends but they aren’t. Then one day Becky disappears at  night. [...]

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Song of the Exile

From Susan Hirschmann author: Davenport, Kiana Song of the Exile This novel of compelling stories of members of a Hawaiian family takes place through the turbulent years of WWII up until statehood in 1959, and sweeps across Europe, Asia and the Pacific.  Kiana is a native Hawaiian author who has thoroughly researched the geography and [...]

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How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

From Dana Panzarino author: Alvarez, Julia How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents This is a great novel about the American dream and the struggles of a family assimilating into American culture from Dominican culture.  It is an interesting perspective into different gender roles since the novel is written from the different perspectives of the [...]

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Not My Boy! a Father, a Son, and One Family’s Journey with Autism

From Lola Ferris author: Peete, Rodney Not My Boy! a Father, a Son, and One Family’s Journey with Autism Imagine being an NFL star quarterback and discovering that your son, at three, has developed autism. When R.J. was born, Rodney Peete had dreams of tossing a football with his son. Instead, the anger, denial and [...]

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