Enjoyable light summer read that takes us to familiar places in Nassau and Suffolk while a murder trial is happening in the courthouse in Mineola.

I had no idea what to expect from this book but it was so good! Crying over a Roomba was not on my itinerary.

This year's summer reading program guest speaker at the end of the summer party is the author John Searles. Searles, known for his mystery books, has tried his hand in another genre - the fictionalized account of a well-known person. In SINGLE GIRLS the life and times of the the writer, editor, and personality of Cosmopolitan fame Helen Gurley Brown is the star. The story was enjoyable and heartbreaking in turn. I wish I had paid more attention to all Brown said and did when I would have been able to benefit from it! Oh to be a single girl again ...

Easy read. Enjoyable!

Defy Me is an emotional and fast-paced addition to the Shatter Me series that builds upon both the characters and the world in exciting ways. Tahereh Mafi balances action, romance, and mystery while diving deeper into Juliette's past and the secrets that have shaped her life. The novel keeps readers engaged with shocking revelations, heartfelt character moments, and multiple points of view that add depth to the story. Mafi's poetic writing style remains captivating, making even the quieter moments feel powerful. The plot twists kept me eager to continue the series. The romantic scenes are written so well! Overall, Defy Me is a compelling and emotional read that delivers strong character development, gripping suspense, and an ending that makes it nearly impossible not to pick up the next book.

A nice, light but complex, easy summer read! Revolving stories about an author who, after a surprise divorce request from her NBA star husband, finds out that she has a half-sister in Italy who needs her help. She and her friends travel to the Amalfi coast to meet and take care of her sister... The description of Italy is relaxingly pretty as a number of intermingled stories unravel in her life...

Before there was Jessica Fletcher, Columbo and Sam Spade there was Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle introduced me to the origins of Sherlock Holmes and his meeting up with Doctor Watson; how they became friends and heir working together to solve presumably unsolvable mysteries. A little slow at times but fascinating. Not a perfect 5 but certainly a 4 star read. I am glad my son suggested it and I get to use it for bingo.

This book is Historical Fiction exploring the Korean Conflict. As a ‘MASH’ fan and niece of a Seaman during that time span, I was drawn to this book. Last year I read The Daughters of Shandong by the same author and was impressed by her research, personal knowledge, and ability to weave a time in history into an amazing story. This recent book takes place in the early 1950’s. While reading I was rooting for the characters. Ellie (a reporter covering the war), Emma (a mother searching for her daughter), and IMO (a daughter, wife, mother, and friend who deals with the shame of her family). The cruelty of the Japanese was reflected in the conditions the main characters faced. The Communists from Russia influencing the Koreans, the US supporting the conflict with UN troops, and a people who wanted to be United. Eve’s catalyst for bringing this time in history to our focus ties this period in time to conflicts in our world. As a reader, I could not put the book down but did keep notes on names and places. The cost of war to innocent people can make one hesitant to read this story. So my rating is a 4 for those who may hesitate to read a book about the horrors of war. For me, the book was definitely a 5 because it was engaging, well developed with a message, and shared a time my generation did not talk about.

Three women: Val, Alex, and June meet at Hamilton Dog Park in Maryland, outside Washington, D.C. Two of them are not who they seem. This very well-written often funny novel satirizes the dog people and their pets. Very colorful characters. Highlights themes of friendship and secrets withheld from friends. Also emotionally abusive marriages. The ending is very cinematic.

Crooked Kingdom is a thrilling and a very well-written fantasy novel that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Leigh Bardugo does an excellent job developing the characters. The story is full of clever twists, suspense, and emotional moments. If you are into heist based stories, it would be a great read and I'm sure you would love it! Overall, it is an exciting and satisfying read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure, and character-driven stories.