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 A Game of Thrones, by George RR Martin 
Summary:
Category: Fantasy-Science Fiction
Review: Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.
Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counter plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
Favorite Part: Everything!! This was a fantastic story. Highly recommended.
Least Favorite Part: It was a little confusing at first, the way the chapter jumps from character to character. But, I got used to it once I started to "know" the characters.
Reviewed by: Lisa
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 Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois
Summary:
Category: Factual-Non-Fiction
Review: There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread to fill a kitchen with warmth, eager appetites, and endless praise for the baker who took on such a time-consuming task. Now, you can fill your kitchen with the irresistible aromas of a French bakery every day with just five minutes of active preparation time, and Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day will show you how.
Coauthors Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François prove that bread baking can be easier than a trip to the bakery. Their method is quick and simple, bringing forth scrumptious perfection in each loaf. Delectable creations will emerge straight from your own oven as warm, indulgent masterpieces that you can finally make for yourself. In exchange for a mere five minutes of your time, your breads will rival those of the finest bakers in the world.
With nearly 100 recipes to put this ingenious technique to use, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day will open the eyes of any potential baker who has sworn off homemade bread as simply too much work. Crusty baguettes, mouth-watering pizzas, hearty sandwich loaves, and even buttery pastries can easily become part of your own personal menu, and this innovative book will teach you everything you need to know
Favorite Part: I love the whole idea!
Least Favorite Part: Nothing.
Reviewed by: Lisa
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 Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture, by Peggy Orenstein
Summary:
Category: Factual-Non-Fiction
Review: Cinderella Ate My Daughter looks at the potential dangers of all things "pretty and pink." After visiting beauty pageants for young girls, the American Girl store, a Miley Cyrus concert, and carefully scrutinizing dolls like Barbie and Bratz, Orenstein points to the hidden dangers that all of these may have on a young girl's psyche. We may see buying a little girl a princess dress to pretend in and her own flavored lib balms as harmless, but how will they shape her future? Do we even realize how powerful the pull of media and advertising is on our children? Does it affect how she views herself? Will it 10, 20, or even 30 years from now? Are we turning our daughters into materialistic, self absorbed monsters?
Orenstein doesn't think that we should cast aside all that is pretty and pink, despite some harsh criticisms she has about Disney princesses and American Girls, but she thinks that we should all step in to make sure the daughters of our country are valued not for what they wear, what they have, or how they look, but rather for who they are. By reinforcing values and teaching our daughters to be skeptical about what the world is telling them about beauty and materialism, perhaps we can fight off the media machine and help them see that one of the greatest assets anyone can possess is belief in themselves.
Favorite Part: I loved the authors witty humor throughout the book. While the topic is quite serious, Orenstein finds a way to mix just the right amount of humor into her travels through the girlie-girl world. She can remain informative and credible and still insert some fluff and wit.
Least Favorite Part: I actually find it hard to point out any major flaws in the book. She can, on occasion, have a harsh edge to her words that may turn some readers off a bit. Or she may insult something that parents may buy/do for their children now (like American Girl stuff or maybe they participate in beauty pageants), which I think could easily turn other readers off. But what she is saying in this book, I believe, is so important to hear that readers should try to suspend their beliefs momentarily to consider the tremendous weight of it.
Reviewed by: Elayna
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 Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See
Summary:
Category: Fiction
Review: Dreams of Joy is the sequel to See's Shanghai Girls. It is a completely arresting novel about a mother's journey to recover her daughter after she impulsively decides to help "rebuild China" during the time of Mao. It is also the story of a daughter trying desperately to flee from the guilt she feels about the past and, what she believes, to be the role in her father's death. "Everything always returns to its beginning." And this novel truly embodies that.
Favorite Part: There was so much about this book that I adored. See paint a very realistic image of revolutionary-era China. But what is always best about See's work is her ability to effortlessly capture the emotions and hearts of the characters. There are only a few authors that can so beautifully depict the strength and complexities of love in various relationships (whether it be the love between a mother and daughter, a sister and a sister, etc) in a single novel. Just like in other novels by See, I am drawn to the powerful emotions that this book captures.
Least Favorite Part: While I thought this book was purely excellent, first-time readers of Lisa See should definitely read Shanghai Girls first. So that they may find Dreams of Joy to be appealing. There are many small nuances to this novel that will be missed by a reader who hasn't read the first book.
I definitely should also warn that the takes quite a few dark turns. While See does very well to depict the horrors of Mao's "Great Leap Forward," certain images that she paints can be difficult to stomach and are completely haunting. While this certain makes for dramatic parts, some readers may find it to be unsettling. But considering the sheer emotional power of this book, it is still very much worth the time to read.
Reviewed by: Elayna
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 Escape, by Barbara Delinsky
Summary:
Category: Fiction
Review: New York City Lawyer, Emily Aulenbach, who is married to lawyer, feels disconnected in her job, her marriage and even to her friends. Dissatisfied with her job, she packs her bag, leaves a note to her husband, and takes off for New Hampshire where she re-connects with her best friend and confronts her ex-boyfriend. Though they are hours apart, her confused husband, Tim, supports her and soon Emily realizes what kind of life she wants.
Favorite Part: Emily's husband Tim makes the long trip from New York to New Hampshire to see her.
Least Favorite Part: Emily's irresponsible ex-boyfriend
Reviewed by: Martha
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 Getting To Happy, by Terry McMillian
Summary:
Category: Fiction
Review: This book is the long awaited sequel to Waiting to Exhale. We meet up again with Savannah Jackson, Bernadine Harris-Wheeler, Robin Stokes, and Gloria Matthews-King. All four women seem to be in a much better place than they were before the end of the last book. Their lives are on the right track, and they couldn’t be happier. But then the layers are peeled back, and the reader sees what is really going on. The lives of these four women are falling apart at the hands of the men they thought they loved or the lack of a man. Through self-revelation, the love they have for one another, and sticking together to overcome a tragedy, Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria prosper and once again are able to move on and “Get to Happy”.
Favorite Part: My favorite part was when Robin, who has had difficulty having a healthy, loving relationship since we met her in the first book, finally gives a person from her past a chance. She moves past the superficial and looks for a friendship first instead of a husband. In doing so, she falls in love and is finally happy.
Least Favorite Part: My least favorite part of this book is that each of these women are unhappy because of their relationship or lack thereof with a man. Even Gloria, who was in a very happy marriage, falls head first into despair after losing her husband. I think there are other ways of "Getting To Happy". Although two of the characters eventually move on without a man, that is not always the case for them. Even these two come unglued because of a man.
Reviewed by: Asia
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 I'm In No Mood For Love, by Rachel Gibson
Summary:
Category: Romance
Review: This book is about a romance writer, Clare, who runs into a childhood friend, Sebastian, who places himself in Clare's life and complicates things. Sebastian's dad is Clare's mother's gardener, so Clare and Sebastian are bound to run into each other a lot. When things start to heat up, things started to get serious, whether they wanted it to or not.
Favorite Part: Sebastian sends Clare a birthday present which she receives on her actual birthday. The gift shows Clare that Sebastian pays attention to what she says and proves he put some thought into the gift. That is when Clare realizes there is more to him then meets the eye. Also, the ending was fantastic.
Least Favorite Part: When Clare runs into her ex-boyfriend, Lonny, at the store. I did not like this because it made Clare realize things about herself and made a conflict in the book.
Reviewed by: Kelly
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 My Fair Highlander, by Mary Wine
Summary:
Category: Romance
Review: Jemma Ramsden is annoyed that her brother has given Laird Barras, a Scot, permission to court her. She doesn't want to get married. After all, she's well-known for being shrewish and difficult. But her brother has given her a choice: contribute to the household chores, or entertain suitors. Not one to be bullied into marriage, Jemma starts with chores. During a break, she rides out to the border, only to be accosted by strangers. She's grateful when a mysterious man saves her, until she learns it's Laird Barras, who seizes his chance to take her to his castle. Now the infuriating man won't let her leave.
Favorite Part: I liked how strong-willed Jemma is.
Least Favorite Part: The beginning was a little slow.
Reviewed by: Aimee
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 Now You See Her, by James Patterson
Summary:
Category: Mystery
Review: The perfect life
A successful lawyer and loving mother, Nina Bloom would do anything to protect the life she's built in New York--including lying to everyone, even her daughter, about her past. But when an innocent man is framed for murder, she knows that she can't let him pay for the real killer's crimes.
The perfect lie
Nina's secret life began 18 years ago. She had looks to die for, a handsome police-officer husband, and a carefree life in Key West. When she learned she was pregnant with their first child, her happiness was almost overwhelming. But Nina's world is shattered when she unearths a terrible secret that causes her to run for her life and change her identity.
The perfect way to die
Now, years later, Nina risks everything she's earned to return to Florida and confront the murderous evil she fled. In a story of wrenching suspense, James Patterson gives us his most head-spinning, action-filled story yet--a Hitchcock-like blend of unquenchable drama and pleasure.
Favorite Part: Everything! It was sooo suspenseful that I was nervous at parts.
Least Favorite Part: Nothing.
Reviewed by: Lisa
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 The Best Laid Plans, by Lynn Schnurnberger
Summary:
Category: Fiction
Review: Tru Newman is one of the Upper East Side “M&Ms”—the wealthy stay-at-home moms who are into personal Maintenance and Mothering. Having been raised by a beauty queen mother who constantly picked on her, Tru loves looking after her investment banker husband, Peter, and their twin teen daughters. But her perfect world spins off its axis the night Tru throws a charity benefit and discovers that Peter’s been out of work for three months. Even worse, the family’s been living on a house of cards—specifically, Visa and Amex—that’s about to collapse.
Suze Orman tells Tru to “Get a job!” But doing what? When Tru’s best friend, Sienna Post, loses her position as an anchor on the local nightly news, the two hatch a profitable if illegal plan: They’ll open an escort service with “working girls” all over the age of forty. Modeling themselves on Carla Bruni (“after she married the president of France, not before, when she was dating Mick Jagger”), their smart, sexy, seasoned escorts become a big hit with a roster of thirty-year-old clients.
If only Tru’s legit life could fall so easily into place: Her husband’s new job has him working...
Favorite Part: I didn't have one.
Least Favorite Part: The whole thing.
Reviewed by: Lisa
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 The Cookbook Collector, by Allegra Goodman
Summary:
Category: Fiction
Review: The books follows the evolution of relationships between siblings, parents and friends. The main parties, Jess and Emily, are sisters like night and day: one the picture of responsibility, the other haphazard and without direction. Their mother died while they were young, leaving them only letters to be opened on each birthday. One wears the loss like a garment, the other barely thinks about it over time. They come to realize that life isn't alwasy what it seems and that their roles in life continue to evolve over time. Through love and loss they discover that they are more alike than they thought and that while life can be complicated and messy, it can also be fulfilling, exhilirating and wonderful.
Favorite Part: When Jess realizes who really owns her heart.
Least Favorite Part: When Jonathan takes Emily's confidence and then breaks her trust, which she doesn't come to realize until its too late for her to confront him about it.
Reviewed by: Maria
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Witches of East End, by Melissa de la Cruz
Category: Romance
Review: Freya Beauchamp, a 19-year-old bartender engaged to a Hamptons society beau but in love with his brother; her sister, Ingrid, a single librarian; and their mother, Joanna Beauchamp, are all witches living together in relative harmony, as they have for several centuries. They have significant powers—raising the dead, flying—all of which they have been forbidden to use by the White Council after a debacle in 17th-century Massachusetts. As compensation they have gained immortality, but as the story opens, the restrictions placed on them have begun to fray, and they are all "leaking" magic, prompting them to rebel and live true to their natures. The citizens of East End find themselves cured of writer's block, infertility, and skin infections, and generally profiting from the benevolent attentions of the Beauchamps. Then small disturbances become large ones, otherworldly creatures show up, and humans disappear.
Favorite Part: I like reading paranormal books.
Least Favorite Part: I couldn't really get into this one. It didn't really catch my interest.
Reviewed by: Lisa |
With No Remorse, by Cindy Gerard
Category: Romance
Review: This book is the newest on in the Black Ops, Inc. series. The main Black Ops member in this book is Luke, aka Doc, who was a former Navy Seal. He went on vacation to get away from all the horror in his life since he was badly injured. However, on his vacation, he runs into a damsel in distress, Valentina, who he feels he needs to help. The situation turns really bad, and they have to lean on each other to get out of the mess.
Favorite Part: Luke is the most down to earth member of the Black Ops team and likes to make jokes. So parts of the book where he was trying to lighten the mood for the stressed out and frighten Valentina were funny.
Least Favorite Part: One member of the Black Ops team, Joe Green, finds a photo in a part of the book, and it sets him off. And from then to the ending, Joe was extremely angry, but the author never explained why. I didn't like that it kept you hanging, but the next and final book in the series will explain why.
Reviewed by: Kelly |
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