Drop Shot, Harlan Coben

Jon and I listened to this one in the car. He was impressed with the wit, and humor. Me too. And there was an interesting plot, set against the background of professional tennis, with a crooked Senator and some mob guys thrown in. We really enjoyed it; Jon wants to read more Harlan Coben.

The Thomas Berryman Number, James Patterson

We listened to this one on the way to LA, and couldn't finish it on the trip-so there was a several week gap, until we finished it. I have read a lot of James Patterson books, but this one seemed very different for him. It took place in the South, and centered on a black mayor running for higher office. One review I read said the reviewer had a hard time getting into it. Maybe I didn't have exactly that reaction, especially considering the time gap, but I had a hard time following it. Also, our grandson (age seven) said he didn't like the voice of the reader; he thought it was hard to understand. I don't think I'd recommend this one

Every Last One, Anna Quindlen

The author creates a picture of a very ordinary family, and then has it shattered by an extraordinary event. It is the story of the surviving family members struggling to deal with their grief. The writing is wonderful; it is a hard book, but hard to put down. It's one that will linger. An emotional read.

One Night in Boston Allie Boniface

A Romance Novel. A really good one, but a romance novel. So, formulaic, and the charming, intelligent woman in danger of losing her business is saved at the last minute by her long-lost former love, and all ends smilingly.

The Apothecary's Daughter Julie Klassen

This is the story of a brilliant young woman who helps her father in his Apothecary, at a time when women were not allowed the training to run a shop alone. Set in rural "regency" England, the readers really feel they can see into the snobbery of London, and the charm of the countryside. Historical fiction. I like historical fiction.

House Rules Jodie Picoult

I like these-this one is a complex who done it, but also the story of a teen-aged boy with Aspergers, his brother who sneaks into houses for sandwiches and trophies, and their over-worked single-mother. I like the way Ms. Picoult writes, with each chapter told from the perspective of a different character.