I have read "The Help" (wonderful book) and just finished "After River" (I loved it) and in between those two I picked up "The Scarecrow" by Michael Connelly and I could not believe how much I loved it!! I usually don't read mysteries but I love his characters. So I ran to the library and picked up "A Darkness More than Night" and loved it too. Now I have two more of his on order from the library.

I love reading in the summertime! I'm quilting during the mornings and then picking up my book toward evening. Life is good.

Susan

I have finished One For The Money, Two For The Dough and Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich. I loved them and have more coming! (books 4,5,6,7,8,9!)
Right now I am reading T Is For Trespass by Sue Grafton.

I am reading Izzy and Lenore. Story of two dogs and their owner. True story but I can't remember the author as I am not at home right now. I also finished reading a couple books about Princess Diana. They were very good,

Sue

I just started The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan (of Marley and Me fame). So far it is wonderful; John Grogan is a gifted writer, IMO.

marilyn_sue - I just returned Izzy and Lenore to the libray. I loved it. It was written by Jon Katz.

Next up........Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox.

itsmesuzg -- I've read all the Connelly mysteries. "Scarecrow" was very good, but I think you'll find some you like even more. DH enjoyed "Scarecrow" too.

Early this month I finished a book that's still haunting me: "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle". Long, but you don't want it to end. As I started reading I thought, "This reads a lot like a Richard Russo story." Endnotes acknowlege help from Russo. (But it's entirely original -- not a crib.) You would like this, socks! I'll look for your Owl next time I'm at the library.

Sue

"Resilience," by Elizabeth Edwards.

Marci, I read ALWAYS LOOKING UP. MJF is an interesting man and his book can certainly give inspiration to anyone, but especially those facing health challenges. It's amazing the way he has carried on in the face of his illness. You can see him occasionally on the TV program Boston Legal.

I believe the book is divided into chapters like work, politics, faith and family. You might want to read the chapters which interest you the most first.

Susan

I just started "Pretty in Plaid" by Jen Lancaster. Her books make me laugh out loud.
I especially loved "Bitter is the new Black" and "Such a Pretty Fat".

I'm reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. It's taking me a long time to read it as I've been going days without reading a page. I need to get busy and read!
Connie, I plan to read Evanovich's #14 next and will mail it to you when I'm finished if you want it. Just e-mail me your mailing address.

Just finished Linda Howard's "Killing Time". Very good.

Currently reading "8th Confession" by James Patterson. His books are always outstanding.

Next up is Michael Palmer's "Second Opinion". I love his medical thrillers.

Thanks for the recommendations. I wrote down the titles and will bring it to my library next time I go. I can recommend ANY book by Elizabeth Berg.

I just finished reading "Boone's Lick" by Lary McMurtry. Its an older paperback, but I didn't want to put it down.

just finished "Sail" by James Patterson and "Cherry Bomb" by JA Konrath...next is "When The Wind Blows by Patterson! I want to read the ones Joan is reading by Lancaster...they sound great!

Deception by Randy Alcorn. I hope it gets better than it is now, or I am giving up and going on to another book. (yawn)

"Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again", by Dr. Drew Pinsky.

I am re-reading Harry Potter book 6 right now. I wanted to get it fresh in my head before seeing the movie, but didn't finish. I saw the movie Weds night. Still gonna finish the book again though. What the heck. It's probably better that I didn't finish before the movie, I get too critical of the differences instead of just enjoying the movie for itself.

That's nothing new to share, though. I don't remember what I was reading last time this was discussed. But b/c of Chisue's post I will share that I read Empire Falls by Richard Russo, the author she referenced, this summer. I loved it! I like a novel with great, well-developed characters, and that one has them. I plan to read more Russo. So maybe I'll like the Edgar Sawtale book, too. I'll add that to my want-to-read list.

My DD has me reading 'Sookie Stackhouse' novels by Charlaine Harris 8 of them!!! The 'True Blood' series on HBO is based on these novels. They are about vampires and other spooks and goblins. I guess it is the grown up Twilight series~~~the author does not gloss over the sex;)

I just finished "Live Bait" by PJ Tracy, the second Monkeewrench Gang book. It was good, but it didn't feature the Monkeewrench Gang all that much. I have the third book but probably won't read it for a few weeks yet.

I recently finished "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. As much as I enjoyed it, I don't know if I want to read the sequel, though.

I love Michael Connelly's books featuring Harry Bosch. For a mystery/thriller writer, he injects his characters with so much, well, character.

I finished "The Illuminator" by Brenda Rickman Vantrease recently, and currently have the pseudo-sequel "the Mercy Seller" in hand.

The economy is so bad here locally that the county has closed my local library for all except 12 hours a week -- M/W/Sat 1-5 pm. I am p*ssed!

I've become totally hooked on mysteries by J.A. Jance. Usually I read history and biography, but this summer is going to Jance's Joanna Brady series set in southern Arizona and her J.P. Beaumont series set in Seattle. I know both areas and am loving these books!

The only other time this has happened is when I discovered Nelson De Mille several years ago and plowed through all of his books (haven't read the last few, they're not nearly as good).

I just finished reading J. A. Jance's first book in the Ali Reynolds series, Edge of Evil, and enjoyed that, so sent for what looks like the rest of the series right now, Web of Evil and Hand of Evil.

MaryAnn Thank you for your kind offer!
Off to email you!

Sable...I'm so glad to see another DeMille fan here. I discovered him after reading his most recent literary contribution...The Gate House...and immediately ordered every book he's ever written. I'm currently on the 8th book [The Charm School...slightly out of numerical order from my beginning]and loving every printed word. This author is phenominal...but I must agree that his current work...The Gate House...although a good read...isn't up to his first works. I know I'm going to have serious withdrawal pangs once I finish his books. Not only are they entertaining...they're geographically and culturally educational. Not to mention...frighteningly realistic in today's world.

Perhaps I'll check out "your" J.A.Jance next. ;-)

Anne

mtwoman, I have read Son of a Witch, the sequel to Wicked, and was very disappointed. It was too forced. I have the third one, A Lion Among Men, the cowardly lion's story. Someone gave it to me as a gift, but I have not read it yet. However, I like Gregory Maguire's other books very much. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is very fun to read, smart and funny.

Sorry to hear about your library! That would hurt me, too. If you have not read Confessions.. Stepsister I will pass my copy on to you. Email me your address if you want it.

Deadline by Randy Alcorn and The Associate by John Grisham.......the second one started slow but I got into it eventually. I've been reading lots of Mary Higgins Clark too, I hadn't read many of them before.

I'm also reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by C. Harris. We've even subscribed to HBO to watch True Blood on Sunday nights.

I need to get on the list for the new Konrath book, he is so funny. And Finger Licking Fifteen should be in soon! Woohoo.

Wow! What a great thread. I just put "Boones Lick" by Larry McMurtry on hold at the library. I love his books. And I have a list of Connelly's books I want to read. His books remind me of the old Ed McBain books I read as a kid (and that was many years ago). LOL My mother loved those books.

I also copied some of the other authors you all recommended for future reads. Thanks to everyone who posted. The Garden Web has a book forum "Readers Paradise" but every time I pop in I haven't seen any "summer or beach" reads. It is a wonderful forum but my mood isn't really serious reading in the summertime - or really most of the time. LOL

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts (and recommendations).

Susan

I just finished "Finger Lickin' 15". The funniest one yet!! I also read per MaryAnn's recommendation,, "Memoirs of a Geisha", "1,000 White Women","Shutter Island". I'm now reading "Morning Glory" by Laverle Spencer. This is the first book I've read by this author. I know how someone earlier feels about reading everything an author has written--I've got 2 or 3 left by Robt. B. Parker and then I'll be there. Sad!! I've read 2 of his this month--"Sea Change" and "Stranger in Paradise". Our book group has read "Midwives" for July and I really enjoyed that.