Top Book Picks

“Running Deep” by Tom Clavin

During WWII, submarine commander Dick O’Kane, led the USS Tang to a record number of enemy craft sinkings.  He was so successful that the Japanese thought an entire squadron of submarines were stalking their fleet.  This book outlines the history of submarine use in the United States, and highlights a number of commanders and men.  It follows the USS TAng through its building, commission, and eventual sinking by its own torpedo.

This was a very interesting and enjoyable read. It was brilliant storytelling with facts woven in.  The story was well paced and entertaining.  Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

“Turns of Fate” by Anne Bishop 

Detective Beth Fahey is assigned to a division that investigates incidents related to the Isle of Wyrd.  The Isle of Wyrd belongs to the paranormal.  On the Isle of Wyrd, you can have your fortune read, escape, or make a bargain.  When Beth is sent to inquire about a ghost gun, she meets Frost, who slowly introduces her to the Arcana.  The biggest lesson, words have power, intentions matter.

I really enjoyed this novel.  It was well written, and very engaging.  The characters were well developed and showed growth throughout.  I can’t wait to read more novels set in this world.  Overall 5 out of 5 stars!

“Deep Water” by Christine Poulson

Patent lawyer Daniel is hired by a biotech firm to investigate the discovery of an obesity drug.  However, the first lawyer hired, his ex-wife, has been killed and an important lab book has disappeared.  Scientist Katie is researching a genetic disorder, the same one that Daniel, and his wife Rachel’s daughter suffers from.  After her mentor dies, Katie relocates to the lab where the obesity drug was discovered.  However, she quickly realizes something is wrong.

This was a fast paced book.  I found myself reading long into the night.  The characters were well developed and interesting.  The book was not bogged down by science or law, and provided just enough details to peak my interest.  Overall, a well written engaging book.  5 out of 5 stars.

“Damocles” by S. G. Redling

After receiving a coded message indicating that aliens had seeded human DNA throughout the universe, the Damocles set’s out to follow the trail. When they come out of deep sleep to find their spaceship in danger, they are forced to land on Didet, a planet with humanoid appearing aliens.  Meg, a linguist, and Loul, an alien, make contact and begin the rudimentary process of communication.  The Didet government is up in arms, expecting the worst.  Slowly the two races begin to understand one another, leading to a complicated relationship between them.

Wow, this was a fascinating book.  I could not put it down.  The storytelling was excellent, the book was well paced, and the characters were highly engaging.  I thought the world building and creation was superb.  I can’t wait to read more from this author!

“The Beauty of the End” by Lauren Stienstra

When Charlie and her twin sister Maggie are eight years old, a genetic marker is found, counting down how many generations each species would remain fertile.  The government begins a genetic program to save eggs, provide babies, and create a new generation of scientists.  Charlie and Maggie both join the program, trading their own fertility for the larger good.  Brilliant Maggie thrives in the program, quickly outpacing her colleagues.  After graduation, they are both placed in far flung parts of the world, where they begin matching eggs and sperm and depositing them in willing couples.

I thought this book and world was extremely interesting and well developed.  Charlie and Maggie were fascinating characters, and I enjoyed the differences among the twins.  The secondary characters were also well developed.  The plot moved at a nice pace.  While there were some loose ends throughout the book, I would love to read more set in this world.  Overall, highly recommended.

“The Harvey Girls” by Juliette Fay

Charlotte and Billie join the Harvey Girls on the same day.  Charlotte, born into a wealthy socialite family, is running from domestic violence.  Billie, the oldest of nine children, is forced to work to help support her family.  The two are thrown together from the start and immediate clash.

This was an intriguing and quick read.  I thought the history of the Harvey Girls was fascinating. I think if I lived during that time I might have been a Harvey Girl myself!  The book touched upon issues of domestic violence, but also showed how the girls banded together to protect their own.  I thought the camaraderie of the women was heartwarming.  Overall, the book was well written and well paced.  5 out of 5 stars

“A Flower Traveled in My Blood” by Haley Cohen Gilliland 

During political upheaval in Argentina, thousands of people were disappeared.  Among these were hundreds of pregnant women.  After giving birth, their children were given to others and the women were never heard from again.  This is the story of their mothers, who protested their disappearance and demanded answers.

What happened in Argentina was utterly heartbreaking.  However, I found hope and resilience in the mothers.  Their acts of protest, and determination to find their missing children and grandchildren showed such courage and dedication.  I also found their pursuit of science to find answers amazing.  DNA testing did not exist when their children and grandchildren disappeared.  Yet they pioneered the new approaches and never gave up.  Overall, a must read!

“West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge

At the age of 105, Woody Nickel begins writing about a 12 day road trip that he experienced with giraffes.  The giraffes arrived in the middle of a hurricane.  Miraculously alive, they began a cross-country trip to the San Diego Zoo.  Woody, a homeless orphan, follows along as long as he can, and then volunteers to drive the giraffes.  A young female photographer also decides to follow along, eventually joining the giraffes. 

This was a fun read.  It was rough and tumble, rustic, and an incredible journey. I enjoyed both the story and the characters.  Overall, highly recommended!

“The Memory Collectors” by Dete Meserve 

New technology allows you to visit your past for one hour.  When you return, the past is reset, as if nothing has changed.  Elizabeth jumps into the past to see her deceased son one last time.  Andy is searching for a woman he fell for and spent less than a week together.  Brooke is looking to go back in time before she struck and killed a man with her car.  Logan, paralyzed in an accident, years to climb mountains, and push his body once again.  When the travelers cross paths, the technology glitches, and they do not return as planned.  They discover each other, and find that their lives were connected in the past.

I really enjoyed the concept, storyline, and characters.  Everything was woven together in unexpected ways.  I saw real character growth and development throughout.  I would love to read more from this author!

“Do Not Cry When I Die” by Renee Salt and Kate Thompson 

When the Nazis invaded Poland, 10 year old Renee, her mother Sala, and family  were imprisoned in the ghetto.  Left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they did their best to survive.  When they were deported to Auschwitz, Renee and Sala were left alone, the rest of their family long gone or gassed on arrival.  Sala, a strong determined woman, is determined to keep her last child alive.

The book is a blend of Renee telling her story and Kate, a journalist, filling in the gaps.  The blend of storytelling works really well.  It was done seamlessly.  My heart broke for Renee and her family and had me thinking of the bond I have with my mother.  Overall, this is a powerful tale of survival.

“Realm of Ice and Sky” by Buddy Levy

Arctic exploration entered a new phase with the invention of the airplane and airship.  Walter Wellman, Roald Amundsen, and Umberto Nobile, were three of these early pioneers.  Wellman, an American newsman, made the first attempts at the pole.  Roald Amundsen, the first to the South Pole, picked up where Wellman left off.  Among his crew was Italian Umberto Nobile.  After crossing the North Pole and flying on to Alaska, Amundsen and Nobile had a falling out.  Two years later, Nobile returned to the arctic.  His journey ended in a crash, injury, and international rescue attempts.

This book really brought history to life.  The characters were dynamic, well written, and extremely relatable.  The story was well paced, engaging and hard to put down.  I look forward to reading more from this author.  He is a true storyteller!

“What the Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon

After the death of her grandfather, Anne returns to his homeland in Ireland to scatter his ashes.  On the lake, she is surrounded by fog, and then gunshots erupt.  She is hit, tumbles into the water, and is rescued.  Waking up, she finds herself in 1921 under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith.   Dr. Smith is the guardian of a young boy, her grandfather.  Amazed, and uncertain, everyone claims that Anne is the child’s mother, the mother who disappeared during the Easter uprising.

I did not realize that this was a time traveling novel when I picked up the book.  I generally avoid these types of books however, it really worked.  The storyline was so well written, and well paced.  I fell in love with the characters, and found myself rooting for Anne and Thomas.  Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

“I Am Livia” by Phyllis T. Smith

Livia Drussila, the daughter of a Roman senator, finds herself on the wrong side of history.  Her father is opposed to Julius Caesar, and marries her to a military officer.   She gives birth to a child amidst war, and sieges.  She flees into the countryside, finds herself at the mercy of others, and fights for her life.  A chance meeting with Octavianus, the future Caesar Augustus, leaves them both intrigued.  Can her fortune change?  Can she change allegiance?  This is a novel of her early life.

This book was well written, engaging, and fast paced.  I found myself reading late into the night.  The characters were well developed and flushed out.  I really felt like I knew Livia and the other characters in the novel.  I look forward to reading more from this author!

“Escape from Sobibor” by Richard Rashke

In eastern Poland, the imprisoned Jews in Sobibor revolted, killing SS officers, Ukrainian guards, and escaped into the woods.  While the camp held 600 Jews, 300 made it into the woods, and 50 survived the war.  This novel is the story of their heroic defiance against the Nazi death machine.

This book was absolutely fascinating.  I have read many WWII novels, and new very little about Sobibor.  The heroism was just incredible.  I agree with the author that these stories need to be told, over and over.   Overall, highly recommended.

“The Queen’s Weapons” by Anne Bishop

This is the 11th book set in the Black Jewel’s Universe.  This novel is set in the events after The Queen’s Bargain.  Daemonar has begun to assume the role of warlord prince, protecting his younger sister, and trying to leach his cousin’s adventurous ideas.  When his sister is emotionally hurt from someone she once called friend, Daemonar begins his tutelage under Witch.  Joining his sister and cousin at school, Daemonar slowly becomes aware of a taint in the blood, one developing among the younger witches, those who see witch as merely a myth and legend.

I enjoyed this novel immensely.  It was extremely gratifying to read about the younger characters as they slowly came into their own.  Admittedly, some of their choices were heartbreaking.  Overall, highly recommended.

Black Jewels Trilogy (Book 1-3) by Anne Bishop

This review spans the first three books in the Black Jewels Series - Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadow, and Queen of the Darkness.

Saeten SaDiablo, Daemon SaDiablo, and Lucivar Yaslana have spent a lifetime waiting for the living myth, dreams made flesh - a queen that they could be proud to serve.  The book opens with a Black Widow witch prophesying the Queen’s arrival.  700 years later, Jaenelle Angelline enters their lives.   Jaenelle’s birth family are blind to who she is, believing that she is an emotionally damaged and eccentric child.  The consequences of her family’s choices are devastating, and long reaching.

I read these books when they first came out in the late 90’s.  I was captivated then, just as I am now.  The male characters are some of the most dark and erotic I have ever read.  The feral energy and strain to contain it adds a dimension of tension to the plot.  Anne Bishop is an amazing world builder and storyteller.   I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series 

“The Great Escape” by Saket Soni

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the gulf coast, enterprising companies brought over Indians to work as welders, pipe fitters, and to  rebuild the fleets.  Brought here under the promise of a visa, these men paid thousands of dollars believing they would have a future in America.  Trapped in unlivable camps, they were forced to endure bad food, unsanitary conditions, and cramped living quarters.  Unable to leave due to the debts owed, one of the men reached out to Saket Soni, a labor organizer.  

This was quite a story.  It is hard to imagine that attorneys and companies thought they could get away with modern day human slavery - and they almost did.  I think Mr. Soni and the Indian workers are heroes for fighting back against corruption and oppression.  This book was extremely well written, keeping me on the edge of my  seat.  Overall, highly recommended.

“The Ballerina of Auschwitz” by Edith Eva Eger

On the brink of adulthood, Edie, a talented dancer, falls in love.  When they are separated by the Nazi’s, Eric tells her “I’ll never forget your eyes.”  When she is sent to Auschwitz, his words give her hope and keep her dreaming of the future.  Together with her sister Magda, the pair do everything they can to survive Auschwitz, death marches, and the final days of WWII.

This was a well written and engaging book.  The epilogue was particularly moving and powerful.  The story itself was emotional and heartbreaking.  Overall, 5 out of 5 stars!

“The Island by Victoria Hislop

In the modern day, Alexis plans a trip to her mother’s home island in Greece.  While there, she befriends her mother’s neighbor Fotini, who gradually unveils the story of both the island and Alexis’ family.  The story she tells is of Eleni, Alexi’s great-grandmother, and the matriarch of the family.  Leprosy, ostracization, war, and love are intertwined throughout this story.

I do not want to give anything away about the story.  The book itself was very well written and well paced.  I enjoyed each generation of characters and modern day Alexis.  Overall, highly recommended.

“Mother of Rome” by Lauren J. A.Bear 

When Rhea’s uncle seizes the throne, he sends Rhea to the vestal virgins.  Determined to live her life, she has an affair with Mars, breaking all of her vows.  When she falls pregnant, she is sentenced to die.  On death’s door, she makes a deal with the gods, one that changes her into a wolf.  As a wolf, she looks over her twins, Romulus and Remus, until they can grow and survive.

This was a fascinating book.  I enjoyed reading about the birth of Rome and the people involved in its lore.  Rhea was extremely well developed and well rounded.   The book was nicely paced, and did a great job weaving in the Roman Gods with everyday life.  I look forward to reading more from this author!

“The Lotus Shoes” by Jane Yang

After the death of Little Flower’s father, her mother sells her as a maid to the Fong family. Here she serves Linjing, a spoiled daughter. When the family decides that Linjing will not bind her feet, they force Little Flower to unbind hers.  Leaving her with deformed feet Little Flower must make the best of a bad situation.  Her skill at embroidery quickly shines.  Jealous, Linjing does everything she can to make Little Flower’s life miserable.  On the cusp of marriage, a secret comes out about Linjing’s parentage, causing her to be disowned.  Linjing and Little Flower are taken to a celibate sisterhood, where they are expected to perform manual labor.

This book was just heartbreaking.  Little Flower was such a well-developed character, I felt her pain and she did her best to overcome it.  Linjing was definitely the protagonist, and it was hard to understand the relationship between the two women.  I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and writing skills of the author.  Overall, highly recommended.