Adult Summer Reading Reviews

Here are some reviews from a few of our Adult Summer Reading participants this week.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

"Awesome book! :) I really enjoyed the author's style of writing. Very human...easy to read and stay interested. Can't wait to read more books by Jenny Han!"

~Reviewed by Amy H.

The Wedding Shawl by Sally Goldenbaum

"Very good character and locale development makes me want to pick up a pair of knitting needles and move to their little town."

~Reviewed by Nancy F.

Child of Mine

By David and Beverly Lewis

Jack Livingston, a successful pilot, has been raising his niece Natalie, since a tragic accident took her adoptive parents. Laura Mast, their Amish nanny, tenderly cares for Natalie as her own.
Natalie wants a mother more than anything in the world. She loves Laura and is actively campaigning for her to become her new mommy. The fact that Laura is Amish and Jack isn’t, doesn’t make much difference to Natalie.

Kelly Maines lost her infant daughter to a kidnapping years ago and has searched for her ever since. Thanks to some friends who are able to help with expenses, she has followed leads for over eight years. It has taken its toll on her health and her relationships.

Now a tip from Kelly’s investigator shows a possible match that points to Natalie. Could this be her long-lost daughter?

~ Dixie

Field of Prey

By John Sandford
Audiobook format read by Richard Ferrone

This is Number 24 in the Prey series featuring Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Lucas Davenport. The story begins with two teenagers who are having romantic relations on an abandoned farm when they discover a mysterious and very foul smell. The local police discover a cistern filled with more than a dozen discarded women's bodies. This is when Davenport and his team are called out to find the "Black Hole" killer.

As the reader, Sandford makes us believe that we are all-knowing - we know from the beginning who the killers are. However, we are helpless as we watch Davenport and his team hunt for Horn and R.A. who have been stalking and killing beautiful young blondes for over a decade.

Because this is Sandford, he throws in major surprises and plot twists to keep us on the edge our seats. We have grown to like Davenport and the other returning characters. They are well-developed and funny, with the same shortcomings that many of us share.

A few pet peeves of mine: John's adopted daughter, Letty, is 17 and reads all of the gory case notes, studies the photos, and attends meetings and interviews with Davenport. No way. Lucas' wife and other children hardly appear in this book. AND, there is a second completely unrelated plot line running that confuses the main story and is an unnecessary distraction.

Overlook these flaws and grab this book!

~ Paula

Walking on Water

By Richard Paul Evans, read by the author
Audiobook format


This work is the fifth in the series, but unfortunately for me it is the first book that I listened to in this series. Regardless (that I am listening to them out of order), I fully enjoyed this book; I plan on listening to “The Walk” which is the first book in the series, followed by the remainder of the series.

After multiple tragedies in Alan Christoffersen’s life he feels that what he needs is to embark on a trek across America, from Seattle to Key West, walking the entire three thousand four hundred plus miles. “Walking on Water” is the final segment of his journey. Along the way he meets interesting characters, experiences another tragedy and finds closure.

The series includes: “The Walk”, “Miles to Go”, “The Road to Grace”, “A Step of Faith” and “Walking on Water”. I think you will enjoy this series by Richard Paul Evans.

~ Beckie H.

Decorate Fearlessly: Using whimsy,confidence, and a dash of surprise to create deeply personal spaces

By Susanna Salk

As a huge consumer of all things related to decorating, I am always excited to see a new book on this topic hit our shelves. The title "Decorating Fearlessly" describes my style - I paint everything that is not nailed down!

Having said this, I was very disappointed by this book. Although there are hundreds of full-color photos, there is very little text and no "how to's" for those of us who enjoy doing it ourselves. There were 3 or 4 designs that I found interesting, but I usually devour decorating books. (I do like the entry hall design on page 120 and the dining room on page 142.)

If you enjoy leafing through decorating books and enjoy a more bizarre style in your home than I do, this book may be for you!

~ Paula

Adult Summer Reading Reviews

Here are some reviews from a few of our Adult Summer Reading participants this week.

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond

"Good read for Janet Evanovich fans....I'm hooked!"

~Reviewed by Alex S.

Irish Country Wedding by Patrick Taylor

"This Irish Country series allows the reader to fall into the story as if you are a member of the village that it takes place in! This "wedding" book is a nice tale of love and sense of community. At times this book gave me goosebumps, which makes it a winner!"

~Reviewed by Jody G.




John Wayne, My Father by Aissa Wayne with Steve Delsohn


"A personal story about America's most enduring legend. After reading this book, John Wayne is pretty much like the characters he plays."

~Reviewed by Sandra D.

The Big-Flavor Grill: no-marinade, no-hassle recipes

By Chris Schlesinger & John Willoughby

It's summer, it's warm out, and you don't have to fight your way through the snowdrift to get to the grill! But what frequently happens to me is the lack of planning time when it comes to having to marinate meat before grilling. Often my excitement of the spur of the moment idea that we can grill is dampened by the realization that we will have to marinate the meat for at least a half hour or it will taste boring. This book eliminates the marinade and provides recipes that have you do 3 steps: prep, grill, & toss. The prep stage is mixing a bunch of common ingredients together while the grill heats up, the grilling is just that (grilling the meat with maybe some pepper), and last is the toss stage where you simply mix the cooked meat with the ingredients you combined in the prep. Plus, not all the recipes are for meat, there are potatoes, corn, asparagus, and a neat section of mixed drinks. There were some very tasty recipes in here!


~ Becky

Bears of the Last Frontier:The adventure of a lifetime among Alaska’s black, grizzly, and polar bears

By: Chris Morgan

This is a beautiful book with awesome photos of grizzlies, black, brown and polar bears in Alaska. I read every word from beginning to end and found it informative and interesting.  If you think bears are fascinating like I do, check this book out and enjoy!

This is the companion book to the PBS Nature film special Bears of the Last Frontier.

~ Dixie