The Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay

Recommended by JoAnn

FIC Rosnay

de Rosnay (Sarah's Key) intrigues us with another drama of suspense and romance. Frenchman Antoine Rey and his sister confront the mysterious dark death, 30 years prior, of his mother. Complex family relationships, the painful death of a friend, emotional assistance from new girlfriend Angele who is a mortician...all force Antoine to confront his past and present relationships, to 'grow-up', and begin the healing process.

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Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Recommended by Donna

FIC Hoffman

This story takes place in 1967 in Ohio. CeeCee grows up with a father who travels often for business and a mother who is schizophrenic. When her mother is killed in an accident, CeeCee goes to live with an aunt down South. This move dramatically changes her life for the better.

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Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

Recommended by JoAnn
FIC Walls

Walls writes another winner (Glass Castle was her first) with her interesting narrative that draws the reader through the early life of her grandmother. Life in early 1900 West Texas was one difficult, spirit-breaking trial after another for Lily, but her indomitable determination and pluck reveals a true heroine of the Wild West.


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The Executor by Jesse Kellerman

Recommended by Jean
FIC Kellerman

What a great book! A suspenseful and well written story of a graduate student whose life takes a turn after answering an ad in a newspaper. Lots of plot twists and a surprise ending. I loved it!
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Little Bee by Chris Cleave

FIC Cleave
Recommended by Jen R.

A haunting incident on an African beach binds and forever changes the lives of a Nigerian refugee girl and an affluent family from London. This is a serious book with serious characters. Each character tries to free him/herself of guilt and accept the consequences that come with their own decisions.
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Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

FIC McCann

Recommended by Jen R.

In McCann’s novel, the true story of tight-rope walker Philippe Petit binds together the lives of ten unique individuals who all have their own stories to tell. The novel unfolds steadily with finesse, describing the tragedy and triumph of each character. The characters converge at the end effortlessly. The book reads itself.
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Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Recommended by JoAnn

FIC Smith

MGB officer, Leo Demidov, becomes obsessed with tracking a child serial killer in post-Stalin Soviet Union at a time when the government views criminal behavior as non-existent in this "perfect" society. This well-researched debut book about paranoia excels in a sensational plot, strong characters and accurate cultural detail.

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Red Leaves by Thomas Cook

Recommended by Jean
FIC Cook

A very well written story of how a family deals with a kidnapping accusation. However, there is a lot more to this story as family secrets are revealed. It also had a surprise ending.
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Twilight at the World of Tomorrow: Genius, Madness, Murder, and the 1939 World's Fair on the Brink of War by James Mauro

Recommended by JoAnn
907.4747 MAU
This narrative of The New York World's Fair is a fascinating drama of a glorious optimism for global peace and prosperity, as well as the horror of terrorist bombs, and Germany's menacing aggression toward war. The larger-than-life personalities of Fair President Grover Whalen, Mayor LaGuardia, Robert Moses, and Einstein, make an interesting read.
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The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall-Smith

Recommended by JoAnn
FIC McCall-Smith

This is the 5th novel in the series 44 Scotland Street. The author continues his entertaining tales of the delightful characters whom we have come to know.
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An Affair with Africa: Expeditions and Adventures Across a Continent by Alzada Carlisle Kistner

Recommended by JoAnn
914.706 KIS

The author joins her entomologist husband, David, on 5 scientific expeditions to study new species of ants from 1960-1973. She finds herself in a violent revolution in the Belgium Congo during the first 4-month expedition from which she and David miraculously escape. They spend 9 months traveling across southern Africa, during the close of Africa's Colonial period, having hair-raising experiences.

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Prima Donna by Megan Chance

Recommended by Jean
FIC Chance

Megan Chance, author of An Inconvenient Wife, which I loved, has written another great book. Prima Donna is the story of opera singer Sabine Conrad who leaves her career and life behind to escape a scandal and finds a new life in Seattle in the late 1800s. It's a really interesting story of how she survived in a different world. I loved it!
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Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Recommended by JoAnn
B Zeitoun

During Hurricane Katrina, Syrian-American contractor Mr. Zeitoun, decides to stay and wait until the storm ends. He canoes in his deluged neighborhood, assisting stranded people and dogs, even though his frustrated wife and family followed the mandatory evacuation instructions. A nightmare ensues when he is arrested for looting and spends 23 days imprisoned and treated unfairly.
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The Girls of Room 28: Friendship, Hope, and Survival in Theresienstadt

Recommended by Jo Ann
HOLOCAUST 940.5318 BRE

On their way to death camps in 1942-44, thousands of children played out 2 years of their lives at the internment camp of Theresienstadt. Brenner interviewed a small group of survivors for their stories of hope, creativity, and friendship in the midst of despair; she uses diaries, letters, photos, etc., as well, to chronicle their remarkable young lives for posterity.
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Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #10)

Recommended by JoAnn

FIC McCall Smith

A continuation of the universally beloved series about Botswana's private detective, Precious Ramotswe, and her latest problems to be solved: why is the local football team losing all of their games? Can she finally give up her dying, tiny, white van or can it be saved? Can she prevent her co-worker's rival, Violet, from stealing Grace Makutsi's fiance? Success is celebrated with a cup of good bush tea!

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An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance

Recommended by Marlene

Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction will fall in love with this book. The mistreatment of women, and their husbands' dispassionate displays of affection are sure to get your blood boiling. The ending will surely surprise you.
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Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Recommended by Jean

I read this in one day; one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. This author has somehow combined a heart-breaking Holocaust story with a modern day romance, showing how the lives of everyone invalued are changed forever by Sarah's story. I just loved it.
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