Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great read. A mystery, sexy novel, crime expose and family story all in one. No kidding, this book is the real deal. Easy to read, complicated at times, characters who have just enough heft to seem real and a story that is interesting and hard to put down.
Lisa Unger knows how to write. She handles the pieces of this story masterfully and seeps just enough clues to keep you interested and mentally begging for more. Its such a comfortable read that I did not want it to end.

Don't miss this book. Put it on your list.

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The Guest List by Lucy Foley
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A book club selection that just never rang my bell. I found the characters uninspiring and flat. They were sort of charicatures of real people who I don't know. I still don't know them. The story was just about flawed people doing odd things to themselves and each other. Its rare for me to dislike a book but this one would have been put down after a chapter or two. Because it was for book club I slogged through it.

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Shakeup by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just what you expect from a Woods novel. Fun, sex crimes and incredible storylines that are often just real life enough to make you wonder. I like these books, they are like reading candy. This one was a little light on story but I'll be there to read the next one.

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The Sentinel by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah yes, another Jack Reacher story. This one is as fresh as the current newspaper. Spys, nazis and corrupt cops. The perfect blend of reacher violence and in your face reality. So little of this book was far fetched that it was a bit scary. Jack seems the only person who ever thinks things through. This is esscapist lit with a realistic flare.

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V2: A Novel of World War II by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. The story was just what I like. A small bit of intrigue and a load of history. Hard to believe that Harris wrote this entirely during the pandemic. The characters seem very real and I could almost ppicture the locations and the setting. It sheds such a bright light on Von Braun but I'm sure he would not have cared. He had no heart or concience and was for sale to the highest bidder. Good story, worth the read. Move it to the top of your pile.

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The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A mystery and little more but surely held my interest. One could as a lot of questions here but let it go as a good story that will hold your interest untio you figure it out and then you will keep reading to answer why? I look forward to my book club's discussion. It certainly will be lively.

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Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trying to get a feel for the Russia of Stalin. This book does an excellent job of painting that portrait of the suffering, drama and dispare that the Russians must have felt living through that experience. The characters are developed beautifully and the seem like remarkably real people. Small people being pushed ans shoved by a giant government that cares little for their feelings or well being. And where does this lead? Do we face the same fate?

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Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great read. Sort of a mash of a lot of spy stories with a little twist and turn. I suspected everyone and as the story unfolded I was often surprised. It was a pleasure to read and enjoy. Its my book club's selection this month and the questions of truth and believing will be fun to discuss.

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Choppy Water by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stuart Woods never fails me. No matter how depressing the world is, e manages to tell me a crime fantasy with beautiful women, excellent food and adventure that doesn't stop to catch a breath. I wish there was a new one every week. Those of you who think these books are from a formula miss the point. Great food comes from a great recipe and great ingredients combined with skill and taste That's Stuart Woods to a "T."
The fact the democratic president elect is a single woman is just a little frosting on the cake. Oh and the antagonists are right wingnuts. Just a fun read.

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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would say a brilliant book. JoJo Moyes is a fantastic writer. The characters are rich and complex yet easy to understand. As in real life, first impressions often change and these characters opened up into interesting, real people.
The men in the story were split into two groups, the scum and the too good to be true. Both sets were totally believable and realistic. Love, a mystery in itself, is explored and dissected throught the story. I loved the book.
Hard to believe that mysoginy is still so widespread. I don't mean the pointing out of gender differences, I mean out and out hatred of women. I'm sick of it. These women were real people with guts and determination, it had nothing to do with gender.

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The Braid by Laetitia Colombani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. Elegantly written and never over the top. Just real stories about real people. The translation is wonderful and the story seems unforced and natural.
The story was ot a revalation but the three women were woven into a lovely story. My book club loved it.

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The Order by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a brillant, exciting and relevant book. Just like every Silva book, I come away knowing something I didn't know before and I feel like I've gotten to know the characters even better than before.
I found the action and pacing to be just perfect and during a time when I'm bored by most things, this picked me up and kept my interest. Can't wait for the next one.

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