One Week

One Week (DVD)

Ben Tyler discovers he has stage four cancer 3 months before his wedding. He impulsively buys a vintage motorcycle and travels from Toronto to Vancouver. In his search for the meaning of life, he impacts the lives of others.

This movie is a lovely homage to Canada. The beautiful landscape & the fantastic music make this movie memorable. I found "One Week" a nice surprise. I highly recommend this hidden gem.

-Holly

An Amish Christmas

An Amish Christmas
by Cynthia Keller

Follow Meg Hobart and her family as they go from being rich and successful in Charlotte, North Carolina to being penniless and homeless, brought on by her husband's bad decisions and lies.

Forced to go live with Meg's parents, they head north with only the shirts on their backs, when a frightening twist of fate forces the Hobarts to take refuge with a kind Amish family in Pennsylvania.

I highly recommend this holiday story, where forgiveness, hard work, and the power of love overcome a desperate situation.

- Ann

The Secret Life of Your Cat

The Secret Life of Your Cat
by Vicky Halls

I love the photo on the cover of this book and honestly that's why I took it out. (I admit it - sometimes I just look at the pictures!) I read this book from cover to cover and learned some things about my two cats. If you are a cat lover check this book out. And if you just look at the pictures I won't tell.

- Dixie

Maybe This Time

Maybe This Time
by Jennifer Crusie

This is the first time I've tried a Jennifer Crusie novel and have to say it was very entertaining. This one is a romance-y, ghost-y story. Andie Miller is asked by her ex-husband to venture down to southern Ohio to take care of his two orphaned wards in a rambling, falling-down house in the middle of nowhere. And the house has . . . ghosts! Are they real? Is the housekeeper really sinister?

Do Andie and North end up falling back in love? Of course. And yes, they come to love the children. But the seance scene rivals any of the best screwball comedies of the 1930s. It is laugh-out-loud funny. Predictable? Yes. Fun? Definitely.

- Linda

An Irish Country Courtship

An Irish Country Courtship
by Patrick Taylor

Here we are again at 1, Main Street, Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland visiting with Doctors Fingal O’Reilly and Barry Laverty and their faithful housekeeper, Kinky Kincaid. In this sequel, Cupid decides to pay a visit to both doctors. Dr. O’Reilly finds himself becoming interested in his college sweetheart, Kitty O’ Hallorhan; and, Dr. Laverty is in love with Patricia Spence. In the meantime, a rift develops between Kinky and Kitty, and Dr. O’Reilly needs to solve this problem.

Even though the doctors have their own personal problems, they never turn their backs on anyone from the village seeking their assistance or advice. This time it is a race horse scam and Dr. O’Reilly is determined to get to the bottom of it and involves Dr. Laverty. But Dr. Laverty has his own problems. He likes the villagers and feels at home in Ballybucklebo but is seriously contemplating going into a specialized field.

Will there be changes at 1, Main Street and for the village of Ballybucklebo?

Other great reads by Patrick Taylor: An Irish Country Doctor; An Irish Country Village; An Irish Country Christmas; and An Irish Country Girl.

- Rose

Broken

Broken
by Karin Slaughter

Broken is a crime novel featuring Dr. Sara Linton, widow of Grant County Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver. Sara, now living in Atlanta four years after her husband's death, comes home for the Thanksgiving holiday and is swept into a murder investigation. A local college coed was murdered and a local teen with developmental disabilities is charged with the murder. The Grant County police department has gone downhill since Jeffrey's death. Sara, who blames Det. Lena Adams for her husband's death and is convinced the police are hiding something, calls in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to take over. Special Agent Will Trent and Sara start to form a bond during the course of the investigation. The characters are well-developed and nuanced and the story moves along nicely.

- Linda

The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book

The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book
General Editor - Chuck Williams

This year, my pick for an excellent holiday dessert cookbook is The Williams-Sonoma Baking Book. There are recipes listed from cookies to tortes and each recipe has a photo of the finished product. Besides baking tips and techniques, the book has a section on pies and tarts, making yeast breads, and frosting cakes with step-by-step photos. In the back of the book, there are charts for substitutions, measuring liquids, frosting amounts, and other helpful facts.

Not only does this cookbook contain new ideas for desserts; but, classic recipes with a new twist. There is Plum Buckle, Ruby Jewel Cookies, easy-to-make Neapolitan Cookies, and delicious Peanut Butter Cookies with a touch of chocolate frosting. Or, try some of the basic recipes such as Coffee Meringue Buttercream, Candied Flowers, or Maple Whipped Cream as an added touch to your own creation.

- Rose

The Last Time I Saw You

The Last Time I Saw You
by Elizabeth Berg

Another reunion story. This book verges on trite, and then Ms. Berg surfaces with a truly touching viewpoint. Written from a multiple character point of view, it was difficult to really hate the bad guys or really love the good guys.

- Sally

Stephen Fry in America

Stephen Fry in America

DVD

Stephen Fry is the quintessential Brit who travels across the US in his little black British taxicab in this BBC documentary. Starting in Maine & ending in Hawaii, he discusses many things American.

It is interesting from beginning to end. I love Stephen Fry and found his observations about us very enlightening. He is an intelligent observer. I could listen to him all day.

-Holly

The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook: More Than 100 Healthy Recipes for Everyday Snacking

The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook: More Than 100 Healthy Recipes for Everyday Snacking
by Laura Trice

This time of year, the zucchini and squash blossoms are in abundance so I am always searching for new ways to use them. This cookbook contains some tantalizing recipes: the Squash Blossom Quesadillas, Zucchini Pancakes, or the Zucchini Parmesan Squares. Since it has been unusually warm, you may want to try one of the smoothies or freezer pops for dessert along with a nice cool glass of citrus essence spa water.

What really makes this book unique is not only for the easy recipes, but the author’s suggestions on achieving a better diet and using better ingredients. Just follow the guidelines, “Fantastic Fourteen,” for a list of high-quality ingredients to have in your pantry.

- Rose

The Quickening

The Quickening
by Michelle Hoover

This story tells of the lives of two women living on adjacent farms somewhere in the midwest from 1913 to 1950. Mary and Edinina are neighbors with very different personalities, The Quickening focuses on the reluctant relationship they must form together. Their lives become entwined, often with tragic results.

These memorable characters live a life we today can hardly imagine. They began with very little and worked hard to make a life of some degree of comfort and security. Their setbacks, heartbreak and their rare moments of joy make this book memorable. I finished this book a week ago and I am still thinking about it: this one leaves an impression on you.

- Kathy

One Amazing Thing

One Amazing Thing
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

When an earthquake devastates the Indian visa and passport office, an unlikely group of companions are stuck together in the collapsed building. To pass the time until rescue, each tells a story from their life; a story of one amazing thing they had each experienced. The fear of death allows them to open up and share personal memories, stories of the twists and turns that life takes, stories of love and suffering and mistakes – demonstrating that deep down, they have more commonalities than differences. As the stories progress it becomes obvious that rescue will be neither swift nor sure. Each person’s ‘one amazing thing’ brings the group together in unexpected ways.

- Sally

Hannah's List

Hannah’s List
by Debbie Macomber

Dr. Michael Everett’s wife, Hannah, passed away a year ago from cancer. The pain of her loss is still deep in his heart and he still misses her. To ease the pain, Michael puts in long hours at the pediatric practice and volunteers at a medical clinic. His brother-in-law, Ritchie, pushes him to start socializing, but Michael just cannot do it. At the anniversary of his sister’s death, Ritchie presents Michael with a letter from her. Hannah wants him to start socializing and lists three women as dating candidates. Of course, he is opposed to this but as Ritchie points out, this was Hannah’s last wish and must be respected.

The story line for Hannah’s List was unusual and the reader is swept away with Michael’s emotions as he embarks on a journey to embrace life.

- Rose

The Cookbook Collector

The Cookbook Collector
by Allegra Goodman

Allegra Goodman has been described as a "modern-day Jane Austen" and this novel is an adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. Emily Bach is a 28 yr old CEO of a software company while her sister, Jessamine, is a 23 yr old philosophy student. Emily is scientific & organized and Jess is passionate & scholarly.

Set in backdrop of Silicon Valley in the 90's, the novel carries through to the sobering reality of 9/11. I absolutely loved the story and didn't want the novel to end. I can't recommend it enough.
-Holly

The Spy Next Door

The Spy Next Door
(DVD)

When Bob Ho becomes the babysitter for his neighbor's wild children, they accidently blow his cover as a spy! The chase is on as Bob fights off the bad guys and tries to keep the kids safe. The story is predictable but Jackie Chan's stunts are highly entertaining. A good family film for all ages.

- Dixie