Trespass by Valerie Martin
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I didn’t want to put this book down. Although the story has broader themes, I especially enjoyed the drama of family relationships. Chloe is a book illustrator & her husband Brendan is a historian. Trespass begins with Chloe meeting her college-age son Toby and his new girlfriend for lunch. Chloe’s world is upset by the girlfriend Salome, a sensual, sometimes confrontational, Croatian immigrant. Another interloper (and story line) in Chloe’s life is presented when a hunter, and “foreigner”, begins poaching on their land. Is he as innocent as he seems? Toby becomes increasingly serious about Salome, and his more easygoing father Brendan encourages him. Another layer of the story involves Salome’s father and brothers, who previously fled their Balkans homeland during the ethnic cleansing. Where is Salome’s mother, and did she die in their country’s conflict? Chloe warns Toby that Salome might trap him into marriage as a way to gain material advantages. Eventually Toby learns that an exchange of vows with Salome will radically change life for him and his family. Valerie Martin is and Orange Prize-winning author (for Property), and I highly recommend this book for its fine writing and well-developed characters.
Jennifer L - York ISBN 9780385515450
Ali Reynolds is a former journalist and tv reporter who lost her job and her husband on the same day. Devastated by the betrayal of her husband and her boss, she started a blog about her experiences and found a lot of kindred spirits along the way. This book, the third in the series, focuses less on the blog than the other two books but it’s still part of the plot. Through a series of events, Ali gets involved with two cases of child molestation, one current and one fifty years in the past. She is able to help but winds up putting herself in danger at the same time. Ali is a strong and forceful character who always manages to be able to survive. Exactly the characteristics you need in the heroine of a suspense novel.
When an author writes a long running series, often the later books become stale, as if there is nothing new for the character to do or nothing new for the author to say. This is not the case with Sue Grafton. In my opinion, Sue Grafton is getting better and better. The latest in the series, number 20 if I’ve counted correctly, is all about Kinsey and her landlord Henry and their neighbor Gus. Kinsey doesn’t usually spend much time with her neighbors, but this time, with her caseload light, she turns her attention to Gus, the crankiest guy in the neighborhood. Gus has fallen and needs help when he gets out of the hospital. His only relative is across the country and hires a companion for him, who tries to empty his bank account and sell his belongings, until Kinsey finds a way to stop her. It’s an exciting book that gives you a lot to think about. Fraud, elder abuse, and who will take of you when you’re old and feeble.
After finishing To Kill a Mockingbird in 1961, Harper Lee never published another book. What happened to her? This book tries to answer that question but without the help of the Harper Lee it’s a little hard to find the answer. And really, Harper Lee herself may not know the answer to that question. The book follows Miss Lee from childhood through the present. The most interesting part of the book are the sections on her helping Truman Capote with the interviews for In Cold Blood and the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird. Mr. Shields has written a book about about a nice oridinary woman who is the author of one of the best loved books of all time.
Nicholas Sparks has done it again…created another wonderful love story. He creates not only stories that are believeable ,but characters that are real and likeable. Travis Parker, the main character, has everything a man could want; a good job, loyal friends and even a waterfront home in North Carolina. Everything but a serious relationship. But he is fine with that because he thinks it may cramp his style. But he meets his new neighbor and then he realizes he needs more from life to make him happy. The story covers the events of his falling in love, marriage & family but also true life choices we hope we never have to make. One of my favorites from Nicholas Sparks yet! 
A small southern town, two sisters and a magic apple tree make for a fascinating read in this book by a first time author. Claire has lived in Bascom, NC since she arrived at her grandmother’s house at the age of six. Enjoying a sense of security for the first time in her young life, she continues to stay close to home, learning to use herbs and flowers in her recipes to affect the eater. Her younger sister Sydney leaves home as soon as she turns 18, trying to escape the town and her family’s reputation. Ten years go by and the sisters, who have never been close, have had no contact with each other at all. Sydney returns with her daughter Bay to find the safety and security she thought she didn’t need but wants for her daughter. The two sisters compliment each other in ways they had never known and with each others help, become better people. And the magic apple tree? you’ll just have to read the book! 
Ever wonder what Polysorbate 60 is? Did you know some food ingredients start out as rocks? Steve Ettlinger takes all of the mystification out of the ingredient list on the Twinkie package. When his daughter asked him what Polysorbate 60 was and he didn’t know he decided to find out. He explains all the processes to make ingredients for the Twinkie in very straight forward (and humorous) way we all can understand. I really thought I would never be able to eat again before beginning this book, but actually although names are very chemically sounding (mono and diglycerides) what they are really makes sense, after all what is cooking but science. 
On their daily walk the Queen’s corgis wander into the Bookmobile parked at the back of Windsor Castle. The queen of course feels obligated to borrow a book. Having never really read before she asks a kitchen worker on board the vehicle to make a recommendation.
This is a book by Austin Grossman for comic book lovers or those interested in superheoes and villans. The hero is named Fatale, a female hero who had an accident that has transformed her into a cybernetic superhero that has joined the team of superheroes called the New Champions. This team must put aside their differences to work on stopping Doctor Impossible, an evil genius who gained the powers of inhuman strength and hard skin in a lab accident. Just like every other villan in comic books his only problem is that he tells his evil plans before doing them and has had them stopped by members of the New Champions. The story is told from both sides and has lots of funny moments. You are also taken back into Doctor Impossible childhood years and explained how he became the man he is. Through Fatale you get to meet some of the superheroes that make up the New Champions. Heroes like Mister Mystic, a magician, Blackwolf, a former gymnast that uses his riches for good like Batman, Lily a woman from an alternate future that was once evil, but is now good, and others that are just like the heroes we see in comics. We also get a little insight on how they got their powers. The story contains a lot of humorous conversations between the characters and the story moves along pretty well, but gets a little slow somewhere in the middle. Its a good read for experiencing heroes with a little humor involved. So now Up, Up, and Away.
Philomena Wellesley Clegg loves to speak her mind on two topics men and bonnets. On the former she has yet to meet a man she is willing to marry, until Indigo comes along. He causes her to question her very strong opionions on men and bonnets. Is he the man that will finally get her to marry? This laugh out loud funny book is a cross between Bridget Jone’s Diary and Pride and Prejudice and will have you contemplating your own fashion issues.
