Barbara Vey

WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs

The Winds of Fall by Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter 

Read by Marge 

Skye Worthington is a highly intelligent scientist, finishing her doctorates in astrophysics and aeronautical engineering. But these degrees were only for her to fall back on in case she didn’t succeed in her other passion, artistry. It was at a competitive artwork show that she literally fell into the arms of Joseph Allen, leaving them gasping from the instant sizzle that pulsed between them.  After this first meeting with Joe, the constant bombardment of otherworldly dreams started and the strange feelings of wanting to fly where the wind takes her. And if that didn’t frighten her enough it was the creepy feeling of someone touching her as she stepped outside, turning to find no one there, that tipped her closer to insanity. 

A Year of Dancing Dangerously by Lydia Raurell

Read by Debbie

Having a life long passion for dance, Ms. Raurell finally pursues this passion seriously at the age of 54.  After a life filled with struggles, health issues and death, she  free falls and ends up dancing on her feet!

This nonfiction is a gem of a book about dreams coming true by taking a leap of faith, hard work and persistence!  If nothing else I fell in love with ballroom dancing!  Lydia is an author whose elegant writing is filled with vivid imagery, information about dance, but mostly joy and hope.   I found myself with tears in my eyes and wonderment at what leap of faith I might have the courage to take!
 
A Year of Dancing Dangerously is a book to give for Mother’s Day,  to a dancer, a graduate, a young woman wondering about vocational pursuits, and a mid-life woman seeking encouragement for her passions that may have been denied or way laid.  Lydia Raurell invites all of us to dance-- in whatever dance we envision for ourselves!  You go girls!

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

Read by Kathi

Cannie’s daughter Joy is now 13 and dealing with many of the same universal questions and issues that haunted her mother, as well as others, including “Will the boy I like ever like me back?” “Who are my real friends?” and “How do I separate myself from my mom and become my own person?”  Her attempts to answer them involve cunning, thievery, and a clandestine, cross-country search.   Meanwhile, Cannie’s own quest to complete her family and herself results in unexpected and stirring consequences.

Certain Girls, as Good in Bed before it, gave me the rare experience of seeing so many of my own insecurities reflected in someone very competent and likable.  It’s Jennifer's believable and authentic style, this time voiced alternately from Joy and Cannie’s point of view, that makes the book such a fun and gratifying read.  After neglecting my housework and other duties to finish the novel, I rushed to buy copies for my sister and best friend. I especially love the ending which left me feeling satisfied and complete. I hope doesn’t take another 8 years for Cannie 3 to come out.

Murder Takes the Cake by Evelyn David

Read By Heidi

This book had so many quirky characters including an Irish Wolfhound, that I couldn't help but laugh out loud while reading. I don't normally say that I laugh while reading a mystery, but go figure. Since I had to look up Irish Wolfhounds on the internet, I have been seeing them everywhere!

Constellation Chronicles by Vincent Lowry

The Lost Civilization of Aries 
 

Read by joysann

  
A flash of brilliant light over a dark rainy desert road is the start of a wondrous adventure for 18 year old Glen Sawyer. Having never doubted that there is intelligent life beyond Earth, he is quick to accept and adapt to the marvels that unfold in his encounter with extraterrestrials. To his way of thinking, the scary part in the probable attempt at cover-up by Homeland Security, but that threat is quickly outweighed by the conquering evil following close behind Glen's new-found friends.

  
Always up for a first-contact story, I was curious to learn how this new author developed the plot. Though not marketed as YA fiction, I think this first of the Constellation Chronicles would be well suited to young readers, especially male. While reminding me of some old movies and sci-fi exploits, Vincent Lowry's adventure is an inventive and exciting coming-of-age story.



The Man from Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller
 
Read by Jan

On an undercover assignment to the small town of  Haven in the Arizona Territory in the early 1900's, Arizona Ranger, Sam O'Ballivan meets up with  Maddie Chancelor,  who had settled there with her younger brother Terran and is  postmistress and running the general store for Mungo Donagher. Mungo finds his seductive third wife in bed with his oldest son... and takes him out--and then 'third' wife wants to sell the store so she can return to San Francisco. Hired as the schoolteacher during the day, O'Ballivan also teams up with Mexican, Vierra, to thwart a murderous gang who had been rustling cattle and robbing trains. Sam is very attracted to Maddie, but what happens when his 'not quite betrothed' Abigail Blackstone shows up on the afternoon stage?
   

It's been a while, a 'looong' while, since I last read a book out of the wild, wild west, but I found this a fun read. 'tis only the second Miller book I've read, but think I'll go back for more.

Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux
  

Listened to by joysann
   

Jocelyn Minton moves to the small town of Edilean, Virginia, to take up residency in a big old house she inherited from an elderly friend. Her friend was a descendant of the town's founding family, and Jocelyn is quickly intrigued by the rich history of the place and the secrets her friend left behind. She quickly makes friends in the community, among them two handsome men who seem to reciprocate the attraction she feels, one a respected lawyer, the other the estate's gardener.
    

This was the first Jude Deveraux book I've ever "read", and I found it calmly satisfactory. Yes, there was drama, and danger and mystery, but it was of the quiet type, with soft edges, and I was quite intrigued with the story, and the story within the story. The second book in the multi-generational Edilean series will be released later this year, and I'm looking forward to it.

Bottom Line:  "Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors."  ~  John F. Kennedy

Posted by Barbara Vey on May 7, 2009 | Comments (11)