the day i ate whatever i wanted and other small acts of liberation by Elizabeth Berg

Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors. I was SO excited when I saw that she had a new book out. The writing in this book is as flawless as always. The only problem is - it isn't a novel! It is a book of short stories. I did read the book and I enjoyed many of the stories. But short stories are not my thing. I don't want a good book to end after 500 pages so you can imagine how excited I am when a good story ends in a handful of pages. If you like short stories I'm sure you will like this. If you are a Berg fan like I am you must read it - that's just the way it is when you are a real fan! I hope she's working on a new novel right now!

The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski

June Parker is leaving a Weight Watchers meeting when she decides to offer a ride to a stranger. Marissa has just received a pin for reaching her goal weight (after losing 100 pounds!) and is walking toward the bus stop on teetering heels. They chat and Marissa tells June about a great soup recipe. She undoes her seatbelt to turn around and grab the recipe from her purse. It was then that a dresser falls off a truck in front of June. In the accident Marissa is killed and June is left with overwhelming guilt. Among the wreckage is a list of Marissa's - "20 things to Do by My 25th Birthday". Eventually June decides to fulfill the wish list in honor of Marissa and in doing so changes her own life. It's a good book. The characters were endearing and the story moves along at a good pace. Maybe we should all have a list. The act of doing so might make us think more deeply about our lives.

No time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

At the age of 14, following a fight with her father, Cynthia wakes up one morning to find her entire family gone - mother, father, and brother - with no note or any clue as to where they have gone. Now it's 25 years later and she is married with a daughter but is still unable to leave her past behind her and new clues are resurfacing. Seen through the eyes of her husband, Terry, we wonder with him if his wife is completely sane. Is she making up the clues? Has she known all along what happened to them? And if she is sane, then what happened to her family all those years ago. Some people might figure out part of the story - but not the whole thing! I went along for the ride - and enjoyed this book tremendously.

The Appeal by John Grisham

This is a typical Grisham novel. It was interesting and I generally learn something new. In a year filled with politics maybe I really don't want to think about what might be going on behind closed doors! Of course this IS a novel - it isn't true....I'm sure this sort of thing doesn't happen......
The book opens with a jury bring back a shocking verdict - they have found a chemical company guilty of causing a cancer cluster and given the plaintiff( a young woman who lost her husband and son within 6 months of each other) a verdict of 41 million dollars. The company immediately starts an appeal to the Supreme Court of Mississippi. They want to be sure those 9 justices are on their side..... thus begins the intrigue. I liked this book a lot and you can't figure out who is going to do what. Good guy? Bad guy? - hard to tell in this political arena.

Roommates Wanted by Lisa Jewell

This is not fine literature! It is, however, an entertaining, quirky book! Here is the storyline: Toby has received a big house as a wedding present from his father, who wants to give him his "inheritance" and be done with him. Of course the house is in terrible shape- as is the marriage. Within a month the bride has fled, leaving Toby alone and lonely. So he decides to advertise for roommates - ones who are also down on their luck. He figures they can live in his house until they get their lives together. Toby even makes them write a letter to explain why they should live there. Fifteen years later Toby is finally going to move on with his life. But how can he get rid of the people he meant to shelter for a short while? He tries to solve the problems that brought them to him in the first place. I enjoyed it.

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Conor has always had his eyes on the sky. Being born in a hot air balloon will do that to you. From an early age, he has wanted to fly and be free. It seems he will have that opportunity to discover how to fly.

Then tragedy strikes--he witnesses a murder. Not just any murder--the murder of his king and his mentor. The murderer then locks him away in prison with no one knowing what happened to him. Conor must find a way to conquer the sky and rescue himself and his family from danger that lurks around every corner.

A fascinating read, staged in Ireland around the time of the discovery of flight. Conor is an energetic and determined teen thrown into some harrowing and frustrating circumstances. This book is action-packed!

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square by Rosina Lippi

Julia fled to Lamb's Corner, Georgia, five years ago following the sudden death of her husband. There she opened a highly successful linen and pajama store. The first time John Dodge sees her, she is wearing pajamas - the "uniform" for all the employees. He has moved to town to revive a store that sells pens and is instantly smitten. Each of them has things they are hiding from which must be resolved before the necessary happy ending. Both the employees of the two stores and other residents of the community figure prominently in the story and give it much of its local flavor.

I like Rosina Lippi's books, whether she's writing as herself (in this case) or as Sara Donati (who writes historical romances). This book was no different - not too much thought involved but characters that were likable and honestly trying to solve their problems.