Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott

I picked this book up because the title intrigued me. Essentially, it’s the story of a good person.

Clara Purdy, divorcee, has spent most of her adult life caring for her now- deceased parents. She lives in a small house by herself and works in an office. She is on the way to the bank on her lunch hour and is in an automobile accident. She walks away unscathed but the family in the other car has a myriad of troubles, some caused by the accident and some having nothing to do with it.

The Gages are homeless and have been living in the Dart that was involved in the accident. The father is out of work. The mother is harboring cancer in her body and is unaware of it. They have three children and a grandmother who live with them in the car.

Clara Purdy has a big heart and decides that she will take the family into her home and care for them. She quits her job and jumps into being a full-fledged nanny. Through many bumps in the road, Clara moves forward, relinquishing her own lifestyle for that of the Gage family.

This was a lukewarm story. I wouldn’t say don’t read it but--- don’t get your hopes up!

Ladybookbug!

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

This book was suggested by a library patron. She said the descriptions of food were mouth-watering. She was right. I hasten to add that the descriptions of people were done equally well.

This is the story of Lillian. She owns a small restaurant, teaches a cooking class, and studies people both emotionally and how they relate to the food they are cooking.

Each chapter of the book introduces the reader to another person in Lillian’s cooking class. This style of writing is much like Maeve Binchy’s Evening Class and I enjoyed it just as much. In both cases, this reader thinks the books would make GREAT movies.

The writing in the book was a delight to read. I felt as if I knew each person. This is the author’s first novel but I’m certain it’s not her last.

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Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

So everyone’s talking about babyboomers. This is definitely a book for them.

Liam has reached the age of 60 and the private school he works for has effectively “fired” him (although he likes to say they downsized). He decides to make his life more simple by moving out of his larger apartment and getting rid of his excess stuff.

He moves into a smaller habitat and an incident occurs on his first night there. During the course of his recuperation, he tries to recall his memories about what occurred. In doing so, he begins to realize other memories that he has forgotten over the years.

This is a story about reinventing yourself. It is also a story about self-discovery.
Was this a great story? No. But it was interesting.

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Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

Think good twin -- think evil twin -- think fast-paced mystery. You've got it a great new entry from mystery writer Lisa Scottoline.

Bennie is a lawyer with her own top-notch firm. Alice is a scam artist who dabbles in the re-sale of illegal prescription drugs. Bennie & Alice are identical twins. Both are successful in their own particiular endeavors. That's where their likeness ends.

Alice, despondent about her lack of money and prospects, decides that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and is determined to do something about it.
She maneuvers herself into Bennie's life and manages to trick everyone into believing she is Bennie. Meanwhile, Bennie is literally struggling for her life and is being thwarted at every step.

This author did such a fine job of portraying the evil twin that this reader disliked her from the start and kept hoping that Alice would trip herself up.

A good read from a seasoned writer.

Ladybookbug!

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

I’ve been reading Sue Grafton’s series since the beginning in 1982 with A is for Alibi and have never been disappointed. Kinsey Millhone is as enchanting today as she was more than twenty years ago.

This latest entry is filled with plots and subplots, keeping the reader on their toes and motivating the reader to read on. There is an object being buried on a hillside with a six year-old boy witnessing the event. There is contact from Kinsey’s long lost relatives and decisions regarding re-connecting. There is an old kidnapping case resurrected. All work together to form a satisfying mystery and conclusion.

I like to think of Kinsey Millhone as the precursor to Stephanie Plum. Plum having a bit more fun. Both writers have gone a long way to make this mystery reader a satisfied customer.

Ladybookbug!

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay

The starting point of this new thriller by Linwood Barclay is an amusement park. Hence, the picture of a ferris wheel on the cover.

Jan and David Harwood are your average young couple living in Promise Falls, New York. They have a four-year old son named Ethan. David's parents live nearby and help with babysitting for their grandson.

Jan hasn't been feeling too well lately and is complaining to David about having suicidal thoughts. David is battling with the anticipated demise of the newspaper for which he works as a reporter. They plan an outing with their son at Five Mountains Amusement Park and that is where the trouble begins.

This was a great story. Just when you think you know what's happening--bang--the author throws a twist in the storyline and you find yourself back on the hunt again, trying to figure out who done what and when.

Mr. Barclay is one of my favorite authors and he has not disappointed me with this new entry.

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The Body in the Sleigh by Katherine Hall Page

Every once in a while I like to take on a “light” mystery. This series about Faith Fairchild, married to a minister, chic caterer, mother of two small children is just that.
All of her titles contain the word body. I still remember her first The Body in the Belfry and thoroughly enjoyed this most recent. Although several references are made to previous books in the series, you can really read this as a stand alone though I suspect you might want to go back and read them all.

Faith discovers a body in a sleigh which sets off the mystery. Concurrent with this discovery is the baby left in the barn at a nearby goat farm. Is there a connection? Read the book and find out.

A delightful read.

Ladybookbug!

Next Stop, Reloville by Peter T. Kilborn

This book is all about “reloes” a part of the subculture of America. Reloes are upwardly mobile professionals who relocate to different parts of the country, as well as Europe in an effort to move ahead in their careers.

Relovilles are located throughout the south and southeast and are recognizable by the amount of houses that transfer hands over the course of several years, suvs in the driveways, subdivisions often times devoid of sidewalks, mothers ensconced in the turmoil of shuttling their children here and there and dads commuting sometimes as much as 150 miles to work.

I picked this book up because I had never heard of the term, nor the people involved. It was a very informative book, well-written and chock full of examples of people who have lived this way of life for many years and some who gave it up in search of a “real” life.

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