Destroyer Angel by Nevada Barr MYS Bar

You’d think someone whose career keeps her out in the wilderness would prefer a vacation to a pampering resort in the Caribbean, or maybe a visit to her sister and some Broadway plays in New York City. Not U.S. Park Service ranger Anna Pigeon. No, her idea of a restful few days with the girls is camping in the rugged, undeveloped Iron Range area of northern Minnesota.

Anna takes her commitment to the outdoors very seriously. The group of five only pack in what they need for the few days in the wilderness, and that means absolutely no cell phones or any other electronics. Anna’s companions are her very dear friend Heath, a paraplegic, Heath’s 15-year-old daughter Elizabeth, Leah, a brilliant but socially-underdeveloped designer/engineer of outdoor equipment for physically-handicapped individuals, and Leah’s 13-year-old spoiled and immature daughter Katie. The only male on the trip is Heath’s dog Wiley.

On the second night out, Anna slips into her canoe and floats downriver for a few moments of relaxation and solitude. In her absence, the campsite is invaded by four bad-news kidnappers looking for wealthy Leah and an eventual lucrative payoff. But it’s more than money that drives “the dude.”  To complicate matters, he’s stuck with three idiots as his support team, and the campsite the women were supposed use had been devastated by a recent fire, so getting them out of the wilderness was going to be a larger task than the original plan had considered.

A nifty lie on Heath’s part about the absence of the fifth woman gives Anna the opportunity to remain an unknown adversary/protector, and the bulk of the story tells of the trip through the wilderness by the party of eight, trailed at a safe distance by Anna and the dog, who wait for opportunities to improve the odds for the other women.

This latest novel by Nevada Barr is gritty, brutal and often disconcerting. But what Barr does extremely well is open up her characters to the reader for close understanding of what drives each of them to act the way they do. Riveting.

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline FIC Sco

I generally like Lisa Scottoline's novels. This one I almost put down, and I rarely stop reading any book once I've started it. The problem? After the initial conflict was presented, the author took way too much time to move the story forward.
Jake Buckman is a successful financial planner, owner of his own business, married to a judge, and father of a 16-year-old basketball star. But life hasn't been a bed of roses. Jake started his business because he had been laid off and unsuccessful at landing a new job. Years of uncertainty, then hard work and long hours, left his relationship with his wife and son sorely lacking. Trying to be "Fun Dad" Jake gives in to Ryan's pleadings to let him drive  the fancy Audi on a winding back road on the way home from the movies. There's a thump, Ryan stops the car, and Jake gets out to discover a jogger dead by the side of the road. Oh, what to do? Ryan shouldn't have been driving, Jake shouldn't have let him, both are at fault, but Ryan stands to lose a chance to play Division I basketball. Fun Dad will tell the police that he was driving, but just as he get out his cell phone to call in the accident, Ryan pulls out a baggie of marijuana. Change of plans. They agree to keep quiet about the entire incident. End of chapter 2, page 16.
For the next 27 chapters (disclaimer: Scottoline writes pretty short chapters, it's 186 pages) the reader slogs through pages of Ryan whining, Jake trying to cover things up, lies told to the increasingly-suspicious wife/mom, and the complication that the judge is newly being considered for a federal appointment, which means the entire family will be interviewed by the FBI. And then Jake receives a blackmail threat.
The pace of the story picks up, pieces start to connect and the resolution comes along maybe a little too neatly.
There are several elements that I thought stretched credibility. The idea was interesting but the execution was not as good as I expect from this author. I really enjoyed her books about Rosato and Associates. Scottoline is a lawyer and knows that world well. Her more recent ventures outside the legal system seem a little out of touch with how an average person in such a situation would act.

Year of No Sugar by Eve O. Schaub 613.2 Sch

     

The title says it all.  Schaub's family (husband and two young school-aged daughters) undertook quite a challenge.  It began with a chance viewing of a YouTube video called "Sugar: The Bitter Truth".  All though you would have to be living under a rock not to know about the health crisis in the world caused by our diets, Dr. Lustig's presentation convinced Schaub that they had to try and do something.  The book tells the story of that year.  How they planned it out was interesting.  There are a lot of things to consider. They weren't just going to cut out cokes, desserts and lattes - they were going to try to not eat anything with sugar (and most of the other 'oses' ) in it.  In this day and age that is almost impossible unless you are willing to question chefs, waitress, school officials and your own relatives.  They were each allowed to choose a personal exception.  Eve chose wine, Steve (her husband) chose Diet Dr. Pepper (!) and the girls (with much encouragement from mom) chose jam. Of course to have somewhere to put that jam Eve needed to find a bakery that did not add sugar to the bread or to make it herself.
       This book is a story about the process - don't think it is just a book telling you not to eat sugar!  I found it interesting and it was a quick read.  I am in awe that a family of four pulled it off for a year!!!

Two Sisters by Mary Hogan FIC Hog

      

Usually if there is an odd number of people, someone feels left out.  Growing up, that person was Muriel.  It was always obvious that her older sister Pia was her mom's favorite. Brother Logan was of course her father's favorite.  They are all grown up now but the favoritism hasn't ended.  That's okay. Muriel is doing okay with her life.  She likes her job and her apartment is all right even if she has to walk up four flights to get to it.  Pia is off living in Connecticut with the perfect husband, daughter and house.  The last thing Muriel wants is for Pia to come into the city for a visit.  Talk about stress!  But she can't put her off.  Muriel is shocked to find out that Pia has been keeping a big secret and has come to ask Muriel for a big favor.

During the course of her life Muriel has known lots of family secrets and she always kept them to herself.  As she tries to help Pia there are lots of flashbacks to explain how this dysfunctional family got to that point.  I enjoyed the book. It kept my interest from beginning to end.

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen FIC Qui

     

Anna Quindlen is a great author.  I have loved all of her books.  So even when I see the word 'romance' associated with the book I know it will be so much more - and it was.  Rebecca White made a name (and lots of money) for herself when she was young.  She took photographs of ordinary things (i.e. the title of the book) which spoke to a lot of women.  The royalties from her work allowed her to live in a beautiful apartment in Manhattan.  But the money is drying up - and she thinks she is too.  Since she is helping to support her aging parents she has to do something.  So she sublets her apartment and scours the internet for the perfect place to get inspired.  A secluded cottage that is furnished.  That should be perfect.  Well, it is far from perfect.  Who wants a raccoon living in the attic?  Fortunately there is a roofer who is willing to help out.  I enjoyed the story and the characters.  It's nice to see a woman 'of a certain age' get it together and do what she has to do.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham FIC Gri

      

Another great book by Grisham. (I listened to the audio book and it is very well done.)  This story takes place in Ford County, Texas.  This is the same locale used in a previous book (A Time to Kill).  The main character in that book was lawyer Jake Brigance and he is still trying to make a living in Clanton.  He gets his latest case when a letter arrives at his office.  It was from Seth Hubbard (whom Jake did not know) and he wanted to hire Jake to see that his will and last wishes were carried out.  It is a little complicated because Seth had just hanged himself the day before.  The will he sent to Jacob was hand-written and the majority of his very large estate was left to his black housekeeper, Lettie.  Seth also left behind many relatives who can't wait to inherit the fortune.  It is going to be a tough battle.  Jake wants to see Seth's wishes fulfilled - and some serious income for his family would be very, very helpful at this time.

I always find Grisham's books entertaining and this one was no exception. 

Cell by Robin Cook FIC Coo

    

I listened to the audiobook of Cell (read by my favorite- George Guidall) and enjoyed it. Cook has brought back George Wilson, a radiology resident, who has appeared in previous books.  At last it seems like things are going well for George.  He has fallen in love with Kasey, whom he met when she was volunteering at the pediatric department of George's clinic.  Kasey was busy working on her graduate degree in child psychology.  Ah, but not too busy to fall in love with George!  And now they are engaged.  Tragedy strikes in the middle of the night when Kasey wakes up in a sweat and knows immediately that it is her type 1 diabetes that is out of whack.  She is going to call her new doctor, who was always available, on her way to get some sugar in her system.  But the symptoms worsened so quickly that she didn't have a chance to even wake up George who was next to her in bed.  A few months later he finds out that Kasey was part of a beta test for iDoc - the doctor who was always on call as long as you had your smartphone with you.   When several of his patients die after imaging procedures he becomes very suspicious - because they were also part of that study.  It's a 'normal' Robin Cook book - fast-paced and one that makes you think "that could really happen" as shivers go down your spine. 

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin FIC Zev

A wonderful quirky book.  A. J. fell in love with Nic when they were in grad school.  Instead of finishing their degrees they moved to Nic's hometown of Alice Island - because it didn't have a bookstore and they thought it should!  Life was sweet and they were expecting their first baby until the car accident.  Now A. J. seems intent on drinking himself to death and his bookstore is in serious trouble.  When Amelia, a book rep for a book publisher, arrives at the Island for her first visit she is not impressed.  A.J. liked Amelia's predecessor, Harvey, who really understood what A.J. was willing to put in his store.  This woman is a rookie.  He gets rid of her as quickly as possible and goes back to his miserable existence. On one particularly drunk night he takes out a rare edition of an Edgar Allan Poe - he can sell it and retire.  Instead he passes out and when he wakes up the book is gone.  After that he decided he might as well leave the doors unlocked...... which is why someone was able to come in one night and leave a surprise for him that will turn his world upside-down.  And of course we haven't seen the last of Amelia!

It's funny and sad but most of all it is entertaining.  There is the greatest quote at the end of the book:
We read to know we're not alone.  We read because we are alone.  We read and we are not alone. 

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner FIC Mei

 

I loved this book.  It alternates between two catastrophic events in New York City - 9/ll and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in 1911.  Clara Wood was a survivor of the Fire - but the man she felt she was destined to love perished when he jumped out of a window.  She was responsible for him being in harm's way that day.  Her grief and guilt has about destroyed her.  To hide from her emotions she goes to Ellis Island to work as a nurse.

Taryn Michaels works in a specialty fabric store. She lives above the store with her ten-year-old daughter.  Although she thinks she has herself together 10 years after the Towers fell, it is apparent that she doesn't.  A photographer finds some long-lost pictures of that day and suddenly Taryn's picture is on the front page of a magazine. Her husband died that day because he was waiting for her - and she was late.

What do these two women have in common?  A beautiful scarf with a design of marigolds.  This is a great read!

You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz FIC Kor

     

If you are a professional at something you probably have confidence that you know what you are talking about.  Marriage counselor Grace Sachs certainly did.  If you are writing a book based upon what you have learned in  your professional life you are probably very confident in the content of that book.  Grace Sachs certainly was.  After years of listening to her patients she is convinced that all the signs of an unhappy relationship were there.  Maybe the signs were subtle but they were definitely there.  These people should have know what their significant other would end up being.  Grace is lucky.  She is crazy about her pediatric oncologist husband and her young son, Henry, is bright and talented.  Her book about paying attention to one's intuition and one's first impressions is about to be published.  So besides her busy home life and her thriving practice she is caught up in interviews about the forthcoming book.

And then the mother of a child (who attends Henry expensive private school) is murdered.  And she doesn't seem to be able to reach her husband at his conference.  Maybe she missed a few signs all of those years ago........    A great read! 

The Highest Number in the World by Roy MacGregor JJ Mac

Gabe (don’t call her Gabriella) was thrilled to be chosen for the town’s best hockey team. And she was younger by a year than anyone else on team – she was that good. But her excitement soon turned to disappointment when the coach handed out the jerseys. Gabe’s lucky number was 22, the same as her hockey hero Hayley Wickenheiser, a legend in women’s hockey in Canada. But the team’s jersey numbers only went up to #20; Gabe ended up with #9.

When she got home that afternoon, Gabe went straight to her bedroom, stuffed her #9 jersey at the bottom of her closet, and decided she was not playing hockey that year. Her mother didn’t understand – “It’s just a number,” she said.  But later that night, when Gabe was supposed to be sleeping, her grandmother Gabriella (don’t call her Gabe) poked her head in the room.

What follows is a touching lesson about – well, so many things that it is hard to enumerate them.  I can tell you that this is the most touching, heart-warming picture book I have read in a long time, and I read a lot of them. Whether hockey is your game or not, life’s lessons can be learned in any arena. Pick this one up to share with children of all ages. It’s a winner.