There is a love story here. I just lingered and lingered over this because the story and writing were both so good. Annie moves back in with her mother, Louise, after both her husband and her father die. So we have two women coping with being widows and the truth emerges about both men, their families, their interests, their beings. Annie moves forward by falling in love with Legree and moving back out of her childhood home. Louise moves forward by finding God. Ultimately, the book is about the fact that nothing is ever as it really seems, forgiveness is key, and everyone has faults and weaknesses. I liked Annie a lot. I could tell she was going to be okay. (A cosmetic thing: I DID NOT like the weight of this book--too bad it wasn't published in an easier to manage book.)

I have been a huge Olivia Goldsmith fan since 'First Wives Club'. This book was well written with strong characters. Jennifer is imprisoned because of a corporate crime that she did participate in. However, she was also set up as the fall gal. Through her time in prison she begins to learn respect for the other prisoners and realizes that conditions need to be improved in the prison. Using her financial savvy and her connections in the outside world she is able to turn the prison around. The prison warden is going through a midlife crisis and by teaming up with Jennifer they make positive change. Also, Goldsmith loves the exacting of revenge so there is a fair share of that, too, on the people(male) who set Jennifer up. There is one helpful, sensitive male--thank goodness--for relief. This book contains many subplots. But what I really liked was how many details I learned about actual prison life. Wow, it is an extremely difficult place to spend time emotionally. (I feel compelled to do something about prison reform myself after reading this book even though it was fiction.) I liked the title's play on words! I had no idea that the book was going to be about prison.

I was mesmerized by the title of this book and I was not disappointed! Amy is amazing. She knows that if we are not assertive about our time and our space, then we get what we deserve! Her stories of how she stands up for herself (and others) are enthralling. It also makes you wonder at people's boorish behavior. I am glad that she chose to end the book with a chapter about being kind and how that reaps all sorts of rewards. Kindness trumps rudeness any time!

Oh, what a sweet poetic love story. This was a joy to read. The dialogue was sparse but the story kept moving. You wanted to know what was going to happen to this Cherokee woman who married this white man at the turn of the last century. They go through several trials and make it through as a couple. Loved it!

Quirky! Sandy has lived a sheltered life with his independently wealthy parents. When they are poisoned/put into comas for their money by his father's brothers, Sandy has to help them back out and uncover the truth about the brothers. Along, the way Sandy falls in love with the nurse, Sunny, who joins the family. The family moves next door to Walnut Manor, a loony bin. While they are recovering there, they teach the patients how to recover, also. Although it is all tongue-in-cheek, it does teach that sheltering oneself does not provide true bliss. I would like to try another book by this author for Young Adults.

Mark Sanders has worked for the FBI Headquarters in Quantico, VA for 12 years. On a recent mission he accidently shot and killed a young man and is transferred to St. Louis, MO for a change of scenery. While in St. Louis he runs into an old flame, Dr. Emily Lawson, a clinical psychologist. He has not seen her for 20 years. Someone is shooting at Mark and Emily in a park. Mark rushes to protect Emily and they resume their love affair. Unfortunately, the killer is still on the loose and has targeted one or both of them. Christian values abound as Mark and Emily passionate don’t go beyond a passionate kiss. The story is suspenseful and it combines mystery and romance into a fast read. You won’t want to put it down.

A new girl, nicknamed Stargirl, comes to Mica High School. She is unconventional in every way. Leo Borlock, a 16-year-old classmate is smitten. Leo is shunned by his fellow classmates for spending time with Stargirl. He tries to convince Stargirl to become “normal” and discovers he needs to decide whose affection he values more; hers or the other students.

Dogs and Goddesses is a collaborative effort by three romance authors: Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Diane Rich.

Abby, Daisy, and Shar meet at a dog obedience class taught by an ancient Mesopotamian goddess in a small Ohio town. If you think that sounds improbable, you might give up on this one when the dogs start talking. This tongue-in-cheek triple romance is more than a little silly, but it’s also a fun read, and the voices of Bailey, a characteristically hyper Jack Russell terrier, Bowser, a laconic Newfie, and Shar’s loyal daschund Wolfie ring true to this dog lover.

The author is a staff writer for Life. Her previous book, The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries was a Borders Original Voices selection, and a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award.

When researching Marilyn discovered that librarians definitely do NOT fit their stereotype. She has met radical bloggers, heroic librarians, those who train students from around the world to get their degrees through computer networks they set up, Radical Reference groups who assist demonstrators, and tattooed children’s librarians. She interviewed virtual librarians in Second Life as well as the John Doe librarians gagged by the FBI and the Patriot Act. She met a dog librarian (of the American Kennel Club library), urban and rural librarians, and viewed astonishing book cart drill teams.

While not stinting on problems (IT department vs librarians, disgusting objects in the book drops, librarians who drag their feet in adapting to new technology, and most importantly, money) she believes that in this world of ever increasing information flow, only the librarian (a human trained to provide accurate reference service) and willing to help others—any others--can help keep things under control. Obviously librarians will be interested, whether they agree with all the points or not; but anyone who wants to know more about the in-depth world of librarians could do with this tour of the library world.

Workaholic lawyer Samantha Sweeting has made a huge mistake which could cost the company millions and nix her upcoming partnership in the firm. Upset and confused, she walks out of the office, boards a train and ends up in a small village, where she stops to ask directions. In a classic case of mistaken identity the owners of the house believe she's come to apply as housekeeper. Since Samantha thinks she will not be staying she makes outrageous claims about her housekeeping and cooking skills. In reality she has never cooked and has no idea how to iron or even sew on a button.

While her friends, pushy mother, and employers try to get her to come back and face the debacle she decides to make the best of her new position and stay. After several narrowly averted domestic disasters, the hunky gardener and his mother help her achieve domestic goddess status and find a measure of peace--at least until her job catches up with her!

Fans of Katie Fforde and other British romance authors should check this one out. Those who like Kinsella's Shopaholic series will also enjoy this romance. The appeal is in the characters and what will happen next.

Opening with the obituary of Elizabeth Adora Holland, it wonders what she would think looking down at her funeral. The story continues as a flashback of the events leading up to the funeral.

Prim and proper Elizabeth, mocked behind her back by her friend Penelope, has a secret lover. Her father recently died, bankrupting the family, so she must marry well to support her stiff and unaffectionate mother and her dreamy younger sister Diana. This means she must give up her lover and marry playboy Henry Schoonmaker. His father has threatened that unless Henry marries the girl chosen for him, he will be disowned and thrown out of the house with no money.

Set in 1899 Manhattan where luxurious mansions, designer gowns and grand balls fill this Young Adult story with period details, it is the first in a series; followed by Rumors, Envy and Splendor.

Thanks, Holly C. for lending me this amazing and wholly different book. What would it be like to be a refugee in England and how would you fit in? Little Bee is a refugee from Nigeria and she knows only one family in England. She met them for a brief few moments under trying and violent circumstances. Now, they are her only hope in her new country of England. So begins a heartbreaking and gripping story about egos, differing cultures, acceptance, growth, and possibilities. Also, just what accounts for stress? If you are a high powered editor of a magazine, how does that stress differ from learning English and its nuances? This is a fascinating, fast paced novel that you will be thinking about long after you have set it down. The ending made me cry for the possibilities that we still have not embraced as human beings. This is a very well written book.

No doubt one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I have to say it is probably the saddest book I have ever read. This is a very important book about World War II. I became familiar with atrocities that I had never even heard of and I think that is essential. Hatred breeds chaos and gives permission for all sorts of unforgivable behavior. There were barbaric acts that were revengeful and those were hard to think/read about, also. Learning about wealthy German refugees was a whole new piece for me. The parallels of what they were encountering with what the people in the concentration camps were suffering were amazing. The reader feels empathy for all the sufferers no matter what the cause and/or what the amount. The author did an excellent job of layering the characters so that their rationales, strengths, and grappling to remain sane and healthy were felt by the reader. As the reader, I felt fear in the pit of my stomach several times while reading this book. Random acts of violence in the book kept me on high alert. The ending was amazing because it showed that a new phase of divisiveness was on its way. You'll be happy to know that there is still a happy ending of sorts!

These stories are simply the sweetest and heart wrenching stories ever. Herriot has such a passion for the people in his village and surroundings. He is able to describe their relationship with their pets so well. He is not afraid to make you laugh and cry and he includes himself as a "victim." Simply charming.

Fabulous book that stands the test of time because it is about humanity and interrelationships. Herriot is such a fine writer--he can make you laugh, he can make you cry. Along with being so good at weaving a story, his descriptions make you feel that you are right there. Excellent! Plus you learn some things about being a vet!