Excellent story of a female artist from the 20s trying to make it in a man's world. Also about a woman in the 70s trying to recover from a divorce and making it on her own with her teenage daughter. How the story comes full circle was well done.

This was an excellent time-slip novel going from WWII days to present. The characters are well-drawn and the plot kept me turning the pages. Anika finds an old trunk in her grandmother's attic and is given permission to read them and learn the history of how her family escaped the Nazi's and made it to America. Will she be able to handle reading about the violence and fear her family suffered? I will read more in this new series.

I enjoy Paris's stories because they are well-written, have very little language, and very little steam, if any. Her characters are always vivid and I can see them in my mind. The plots are always intriguing and keep me reading.

A pure delight! I loved this story and it is probably my favorite book I read this year. I loved the premise of thinking you're being hired to be a War Correspondent when in fact, it's actually a typing job for a small, dying women's periodical. I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed this clean, refreshing story about two young best friends, their boyfriends, and their work during the bombings in London during the war years.

I enjoyed this story about Rachel and Sam and how they both need each other and are running for their lives. Twists and turns in the plot keep the pages turning. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? Who is really in control? I would have liked it even more if there hadn't been any language in it, which never adds to a story.

As many others have mentioned, I was looking forward to this book and really wanted to read it. I had seen it advertised everywhere and saw that it was a NY Times bestseller, etc.

But I had major issues with this book.

First of all, I have met many nice people in Iowa and they were open and friendly and would give you the shirt off their back. I know this because when there one summer years ago, strangers loaned my husband and I tools to work on our broken down car. Another couple let my hubby shower in their basement bathroom and fed us Subway sandwiches. Now, the characters in Broken Wheel were friendly to an extent to the tourist Sarah, and they wouldn't let her pay rent to anyone for staying in Amy's house, but I don't see them as scheming as to compete with the neighboring town of Hope.

Second, I didn't like the way Amy and Sarah talked about God as though he could be pushed around and that the Bible needed editing for repeating stories and morals.

Thirdly, I didn't appreciate the author's blatant push to make homosexuality seem perfectly acceptable and encourage it among the characters. Perhaps they forgot the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible, for people seem to forget all about it and that history repeats itself. I wouldn't push that agenda for all the tea in China. It's one thing to not treat others disrespectfully, but I certainly wouldn't encourage the lifestyle.

And then on top of this, she writes about Caroline as not knowing what she wants out of life show more and who cares if she sleeps with a man she doesn't love and would never marry. And that Caroline was supposedly a staunch, boring, rude and judgmental Christian who just throws her principles and morals out the window for a 'good time'. Totally unbelievable.

I could go on, but this is long enough. I kept ready only to see what happened to Sarah, whether she was able to stay in the U.S., or got sent home. show less

I was intrigued by how a character was going to give her life in order to write a novel and the story didn't disappoint. All the characters were well developed and the plot was engaging. I loved the twists and turns in the story and how all the threads were tied up in the end.

Excellent story during WWI.

3.5 Stars

This book was full of typos, more than normal in a book. I looked up the publisher and saw it had gone out of business several years ago.

The author has a very large ego. He invites the mayor and other local dignitaries to his book signings. I'm not sure how many books he actually sells, but they must be sold mostly from his site or his car because his rankings are very low.

All that being said, there is a lot of information that could be helpful to someone just starting out in the writing/publishing field. He does a good job of covering marketing materials for instance, and who to send them to. And has some good suggestions of where/when to advertise inexpensively. I like his writing voice and he was pretty straightforward. It would be a much better book if all the typos were fixed and it was updated.

Betty is a widow and a little lonely. She's not sure she wants to decorate for Christmas or do a lot of prep. But then a stray dog appears and she thinks it's her annoying neighbor's pet. She tries to be nice to her new neighbor, Jack, who runs loud music and tools late at night. What is he doing in the Spencer's old house, anyway? When Betty's granddaughter, Avery, shows up, her life gets even more interesting. When they learn the dog doesn't belong to Jack, they put up posters but nobody claims him. How can Betty take care of a dog, encourage Avery, and make preparations for her friend's 50th anniversary party and love her neighbor?

I enjoyed this story very much. The story line was fast moving and I wanted to see how it all ended. Nikki Wright is concerned about her brother, Bobby, ever since he returned to the U.S. after being abducted in Columbia. What did they do to him and why is he so paranoid and have violent episodes? Who can they trust to help them? The romantic element between Nikki and Kade was engaging as well.

A new to me author and an old series started in the 30s in England. I will continue reading the Miss Silver series as I enjoyed this book very much. Jenny Hill's parents died during the war and she raised by her mother's governess. When she finds out she is the heir to the big house across the road, her life is in danger and she must run away. Who she finds is remarkable and she considers herself safe for the time being. But when a neighbor girl is murdered, could it have been Jenny the murderer wanted to kill instead? From a slower time, this book was still a great read and I enjoyed the thoughts of each character as the plot progressed.

I enjoyed this story in a small village during the beginning of WWII. All the characters were vivid, realistic and fun to read about. There were funny parts, sad parts, melancholy parts, vicious parts, and the story ended on a good note.

A very eye opening story about Albert's first wife, Mitza Maric. She helped Einstein on his projects and papers yet got little credit thanks to a selfish and conceited Einstein. She put up with him and his selfish ways until she had enough and took their two boys and raised them. Though this book is fiction, it was based on many factual events and was well written.

Too much drinking, cursing, New Age junk, and not nearly as good as a clean, cozy mystery I prefer.

An international banking thriller that was fast paced and a fun read. I will look for more by this author.

I enjoyed this book about most of Michael Landon's life and how he first worked in television and was a wonderful person on screen and off. I was disappointed however, that contributions weren't included from Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson and other actors from "Little House on the Prairie". Maybe they were asked, but didn't have the time or desire to add their own stories. I would have really liked to hear what they said, working with him for so long.

We still watch episodes of LH as we have the whole series on DVD, my children love them. Too bad television has gotten so rotten.

This was a great selection for my summer reading library program for the 'biography or memoir' category.

The character and Brittish lawyer, Amberley, is larger than life and is quite rude, but can turn on the charm and be caring if it suits. Someone shot the butler from a neighboring estate, but why? When Amberley stumbles upon the dead butler, a pretty woman is standing near the car and insisting her innocence. Can Amberley trust her? And how did she know anything about this butler, as she is new to the area and only staying temporarily in a cottage outside the village? Many twists and turns make this an interesting mystery. I enjoyed this old English mystery though it got off to a slow start. I will read more of them when I am in the mood for a slower, quieter mystery.

I was hoping this would give more tips on promoting and selling books, but mostly explained the whole process of getting a book published from finding a publisher or agent, to finding an editor to finding reviews. Would be very useful for someone considering publishing a book or a newer self-published author.

A sad but fascinating tale of real women who worked in a dangerous occupation while being lied to by their bosses and companies in the early years of the 1900s. This was a well written book that read almost like a novel, with all the elements of one; including historical facts, suspense, emotional highs and lows.

Kate Sullivan works as an attorney and has landed a big case against a local Big Pharma medical company who allegedly manufactured a drug that caused brain tumors. When she receives threats and is attacked, Landon James, a former Army Ranger is tasked with the job of protecting her. How far will the medical company go and can Landon keep Kate safe before it's too late? I look forward to reading more in this series that is intriguing, clean and inspiring.

Short chapters, but packed with useful nuggets. The writer's life is full of ups and downs, and takes a sheer amount of mental energy. This books gives writers many tips on how to stay sharp and increase productivity, taking a weekly day of rest, etc. Great advice throughout.

Another wonderful installment in the Maisie Dobbs series. In this one, Maisie is tasked in finding a young man who is working in the war effort as a painting apprentice. But he complains about horrible headaches from the fire retardant paint used in painting air field buildings. When he can't be found, Maisie fears the worst. Many twists and turns in this story, and some foreshadowing for the next installment.

This is the first book in the Hazel Martin Mysteries series that takes place in England in the 20s. Hazel is a mystery writer and is invited to a nearby estate for Myrtle's 80th birthday celebration. Hazel is invited for different reasons than the party though. And she must be careful who she confides in about the mysterious happenings at Myrtle's home. Can Hazel figure out who is behind the strange events before it's too late?

Lynda Barrett meets a young man new to Florida when she tries selling her airplane to him. Unfortunately this plane erupts in an explosion, nearly killing them both. Nobody knows why her plane was targeted and think it's just a random act. Now thrown together, Lynda and Jake are sent to the hospital to recover from their injuries. But more attempts are made on Lynda's life and things become scary for her and the client she is trying to help. Who is behind these malicious sinister acts and can Lynda live along to figure it out? A great clean suspense novel that will keep you turning the pages.

This was a good book to see how the author purposefully gained 75 pounds and then to lose it again. As a personal trainer, he couldn't understand why his clients couldn't make the decision to lose their extra weight. What was the stumbling block? How could they overcome their addictions to processed unhealthy foods? Could he find a way to more personally help them? This is when he decided to start where most of his clients were, feeling depressed, busy, tired and overweight. The things he learned on the journey now make him a more effective trainer having been on the other side. Also includes simple recipes and exercises.

Enjoyed this story very much and looking forward to reading more in this series.

Even though this book is short, I found several things to do to help spread the word about my inspirational novels. Some of it I've heard before, like build a newsletter list, but other things I haven't like setting up your Author Central Page for other countries. This is a short enough book with enough meat not to be overwhelming. I am also going to sign up for her newsletter for more ongoing helpful tips.

The character development in this story is excellent. Betsy loses her Air Force husband, Dan, and then just a few weeks later she gets a call from their daughter's birth mother who says she wants her baby back. Of course, Betsy is completely attached to Emma and can't imagine her life without her. Emma has Downs Syndrome and needs special care. Why would her birth mother want her back now? Betsy goes to extremes to keep Emma. This is a fantastic story of life, love and loss.

One of the better short mysteries by Perry. I enjoyed the story of Runcorn's visit to a small island north of Wales during his holiday vacation. But when a young woman is murdered, Runcorn is asked to help the local police. Runcorn also runs into a woman he loves from afar, but who is now engaged to a local on the island. His heart is aching. But as he and she discuss the case, they find they are drawn to each other and know that there is a real person behind the murder. Will they discover the culprit before it is too late? And can they find peace in their relationship?