Water for Elephants

By Sara Gruen

I absolutely loved this novel. It was refreshing to read something that I had a hard time putting down. It got to the point I had to stop reading it during the day, because I would get upset when my kids bothered me!! I also enjoyed how this novel was written in flashback format, similar to "The Green Mile" or "The Notebook." It's interesting to know the narrator already knows how the story is going to end and keeps me wondering.

As I mentioned before, the author narrates this story in a flashback while he is a resident in an assisted living center. From the window of the center, the residents can see that there is a circus being set up nearby. This brings back a flood of memories for the narrator as he describes his early life and what led up to his present situation. The narrator tells how he goes from a promising young veterinarian student to a college drop out who hops trains after the death of his parents. He inadvertently jumps onto a circus train and becomes the resident vet when the owner realizes his value. What follows is a rich tale of love and life as he recalls the past.

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Similar Novels: The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Length: 350 Pages

Copyright: May 2007

Look Again

By Lisa Scottoline

As I've mentioned before, I'm a sucker for a mystery/detective novel. So when my mom brought this book with her on vacation to my house, I recognized it as one I've seen on the shelf at Target and considered buying on more than one occasion. I've never read a Lisa Scottoline novel before, but apparently, she's published quite a few novels. After reading this particular novel, I might look up her others when I'm short on reading material. Having written that, I wouldn't put her up there with Janet Evanovich or Carl Hiaasen as one of my favorite authors.

This book tugged at my heartstrings as a mother. When the main character discovers that her adopted son might actually be a kidnapped child, she begins to questions her duty to act on the information. I found myself on more than one occasion asking what would I do in that (albeit far-fetched) situation. There were a few times I had difficulty getting into the novel and continuing, but I found myself itching to know the outcome of the situation. I would recommend this as a read if you were riding in a plane or sitting in an office.

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Similar Novel: The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

Length: 416 Pages

Copyright: February 2010

Star Island

By Carl Hiaasen

For the record...I just want to say that Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich are the only two authors who have ever written a book that made me laugh so hard, milk came out my nose!! Carl Hiaasen uses sarcasm to the extreme in his latest novel. He makes fun of everyone in the entertainment world including, but not limited to actresses, actors, agents, body guards, and especially the paparazzi. While I didn't enjoy this novel as much as his previous works, it was a funny, light read that kept me entertained.

The novel follows a once popular singer as she attempts to release a new album and put herself back on the charts. Her parents have hired a double to keep the paparazzi from finding out and publicizing her many overdoses and partying ways. When the double is accidentally kidnapped by a disillusioned paparazzi, chaos ensues as everyone scrambles to cover up their cover ups. Characters include the once governor of Florida who now lives in the swamps, a scarred body guard with a weed whacker in place of an arm, and a set of parents who occasionally want the best for their self-destructive daughter/money maker!!

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Similar Novels: Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen and Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

Length: 337 Pages

Copyright: July 2010

The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

By Vicki Iovine

I actually bought this book on the advice of a friend back when I was pregnant with my first child in 2005. While it didn't offer a whole lot of advice on the pregnancy/baby/parenting adventure I was about to embark on, it did make me laugh so hard I thought I'd go into labor. I heard about this book in college from a friend who mentioned it made the perfect baby shower gift and that every pregnant woman should read it. I don't know about EVERY pregnant woman, but if you want a good laugh, this is the book for you.

Ms. Iovine explains her way through her pregnancies with a mixture of sarcasm and realism. She bluntly talks about body changes, breast feeding, delivery, and more. I especially love the part where she describes how her, um..., relationship with her husband changed when she was pregnant. While I don't believe this book is necessary to read before giving birth, it definitely gave me a break from all the serious aspects of pregnancy and let me know that someone out there understands the frustration and inevitable humor that comes with being pregnant!

Similar Novel: What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

Length: 288 Pages

Copyright: 1995

The Last Child

By John Hart

I'm a total sucker for police mystery/drama novels. So naturally, this book caught my attention while I was browsing the book department at Target for something to read. Apparently, this author has written several other novels, but I had never heard of him before. I decided to give this book a try and ended up finishing this book by bedtime the following day. All I have to say is...WOW!! Talk about drama and suspense! While I did guess the final outcome of the novel, I had no idea how point A got to point B so reading the entire novel was still exciting. I might just have to go find more books by this author.

The story starts out a year after a young girls goes missing from a small town. The focus is on the twin brother and how he deals with the fallout from this tragic event. A side story is how far one cop in the town will go to solve the mystery and why he's so involved. I know stories like this have been told before, but the raw emotion in this book seemed so real I could almost imagine myself in their shoes. How does a family deal with missing child whose fate is unknown? How does an unsolved crime effect a cop whose job centers around such tragedies? You'll have to read this novel to find out and I highly recommend that you do!!

Similar Novel: Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Length: 432 Pages

Copyright: March 2010

The Forgotten Garden

By Kate Morton

Just so you know...I finished this novel in 2 1/2 days. I haven't had a lot of time for reading lately, but for this novel I made time. It's just the mix of mystery and drama that I love in a novel. While the storyline has been done before (see similar novels below) this was done with such flare that it's worth the read. I do have to admit that I guessed the ending before it was told in the novel, but that didn't diminish the shock of the ending.

The novel begins with an abandoned little girl arriving in Australia on a boat from London. She is subsequently adopted and raised by a loving family, but the mystery of her origins fuel the story throughout the novel. The story includes family secrets, lost loves, and untold tradgedies. When the girl's graddaughter inherits a tiny cottage near a long forgotten garden, the secrets of the past begin to unfold.

Similar Novels: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

Length: 549 Pages

Copyright: 2008

The Dead and the Gone

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is a companion novel to Life as We Knew It. I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel and was looking forward to the "sequel." I can, without a doubt, say that this novel didn't let me down! Even though this book is marketed for teens, I couldn't help but be enthralled with the story line. Apocalyptic events in novels is a weakness for me (as you can see by my previous reading material).

Just like the companion novel, this story deals with the aftermath of a meteor striking the moon and moving it closer to the earth. This causes mass destruction dealing with flooding, volcanoes, earthquakes and more. The main character of this novel is a teenage boy who is left in charge of his two younger sisters when his mother and father disappear in the damage of the city. The book chronicles their struggles to stay alive and stay together. It is a wonderful story of survival and family and shouldn't be missed!

Similar Novels: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank and The World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Length: 321 Pages

Copyright: 2008

House Rules

By Jodi Picoult

Well, my favorite author has written another novel and has stayed true to her modus operandi. This book, like the other before, deals with a controversial topic and ends with a court battle. I must say, this storyline is getting a little old and even though I love how Picoult deals with the emotional end of everything. I have to admit, I guessed the outcome of the novel in the first 100 pages. The topic for this book deals with Asperger's Syndrome. For those of you who don't know, Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high functioning autism. The main character in this novel believes her son developed the syndrome after a series of vaccinations. However, the autism and vaccination link is not the topic of the court battle.

A devoted mother, Emma, finds herself in unfamiliar territory after one of her sons is arrested for murder. Emma refuses to believe her oldest child has the capacity to commit murder. Her son has Asperger's Syndrome and what seems normal to Emma (refusing to socialize, no eye contact, and body ticks) looks like a sign of guilt to law enforcement. This novel shows how a simple diagnosis for one child becomes a lifetime of adjustments for the entire family.

Similar Novel: The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty

Copyright: March 2010

Length: 532 pages

The Christmas List

By Richard Paul Evans

Well, I always have to read a Richard Paul Evans novel around Christmas time and this year he released a new novel. This novel embraces the "true spirit of Christmas" and gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. Although this novel seems familiar (movies and other novels follow similar story lines), the story line is refreshing and perfect for those looking for good holiday reading material. I mean, come on, who hasn't wondered what it would be like to attend their own funeral?

The antagonist/protagonist in the novel is James Kier, a ruthless real estate developer. At the very beginning of the novel, he opens the local paper and reads his own obituary. After reading the comments section of the article, he comes to the realization that he's not a very well-liked person, and that's putting it lightly. James, with some unexpected help, makes a Christmas list and decides to right some wrongs he's committed against people in his life. James is met with some hilarious and heartbreaking results.

Similar Novels: Grace and Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans

Length: 351 pages

Copyright: 2009