Feels Like Home by Kelly Elliott

Kelly Elliott has a real knack for small town romance novels. In this one, Anson, a country western singer, returns to his hometown, Comfort, Texas to regroup. He left his first love there six years previously. Kelly makes you feel like you know her characters. You root for them and hope things work out. I love that her books make me smile, laugh, and sometimes cry. I can always see exactly where she is describing in her books. If you haven't read any of Kelly's books, give this one a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom does it again. He captures my attention from the beginning of every story he tells. Frankie Presto is a magical character whose music brings life to this story. Like all Albom's stories, this was one I didn't want to end.

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

A former CIA doctor is doing her best to stay hidden, as they are trying to kill her. When they draw her out to save the world from a terrible virus, she gets involved with another operative who is also on the run. This is an intriguing story. Meyer does a great job of keeping you interested until the very end.

Mightier than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

Mightier than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

There are a number of interwoven stories in this novel. There is love, politics, deceit, plotting, and one man's mission to right a wrong. Archer's novel is part of The Clifton Chronicles. The only problem with a story like this is that it is a cliff hanger. I looked forward to each chapter. I appreciated the historical references, as Harry Clifton, one of the main characters, worked toward trying to have a Russian prisoner released and have his book published. If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy this book!

Doc: The Rape of a Town by Jack Olson

Jack Olsen's Doc The Rape of the Town of Lovell will leave you wondering how such a thing could happen. This is a true account of a small town doctor taking advantage of his submissive female patients. As the doctor of a town for 25 years, he is looked upon as a trusted man. It is hard to believe how he used his position to rape a multitude of women and get away with it. He targeted women who were raised to be submissive and naive. I hated this man and at first found it hard to imagine that many women remained quiet about their molestations and continued to use this doctor for years. As I read and learned more about their upbringings my heart broken for these women.

Not a happy story, but an incredible one.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I love historical fiction. This is a WWII story about a young girl who lives in Paris with her dad. Around the age of five she loses her eyesight. Her dad works as the locksmith at a museum and is a craftsman woodworker. In order for her to get around he carves her out her entire neighborhood for her to study. Then the Nazis start taking over France. The curator of the museum distributes a valuable gem, which he also duplicates, to several employees and they all leave Paris. The story continues with the trials and tribulations afterward.

There is also another interwoven story about a German brother and sister who are orphans. This story tells of the issues that they face, especially after the brother has been selected to serve Germany.

Although WWII stories can be sad, they also allow us to learn about the people who lived during this era. Doerr is a master at weaving the two stories together with the words that build pictures.