"Sarah's Key"

"Sarah's Key" by Tatiana De Rosnay is a historical novel that moved me in a way I cannot remember any other book moving me.  It alternates between modern day France and America and World War II France and the holocaust.  When Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in France -- and married to a Frenchman -- is asked to write a story about the round up of Jews in Paris in July of 1942, she has no idea where that story will lead her and how it will impact her life as well as her family's life.  She uncovers the story of 10 year old Sarah, a Jewish girl taken with her parents by the French police in a door-to-door round up of Jews.  Her younger brother is afraid and decides to hide in a secret cupboard that he and Sarah play in.  Sarah locks him in, pockets the key, and promises to return to free him.  What happened to Sarah, her parents, and her brother all impact Julia's life.  It was a tale that saddened me but also inspired me with the bravery and compassion of others in a time of great fear and danger.  pazt

"The Reincarnationist"

"The Reincarnationist" is the second novel I've read by M. J. Rose in her "Reincarnationist" series and I believe it is my favorite of the two. It is hard for me to describe but I suppose I'd have to say it's a suspense thriller set in multiple historical times with most of it being set in modern day America. Josh Ryder is the main character and he's a photojournalist who is injured by a bomb explosion in Rome. From then on he suffers "flashbacks" that appear to be earlier lives he's led and he's particularly drawn to an archeological site and one of the female archeologists on the dig. When he visits the site, his life becomes intertwined with others in such a way that he has to solve the mysteries of the past and the present to free them all. pazt

"House of the Hunted"

"House of the Hunted" (also known as "House of the Hanged")is the second Mark Mills novel I've read and it leaves me wanting more. Mills writes historical romantic thrillers and this one is set in France in 1935 with flashbacks to 1919. Tom Nash is a former British Intelligence operative who has settled on the coast of France to retire to a life of writing. Friendships with the locals and visits from friends and his goddaughter keep his social life alive but, when an unknown assassin tries to kill him while he's sleeping, he learns he hasn't lost all his skills. Now he has to find who was behind the assassination attempt while protecting those he loves. Who wants him dead and why? Are his past "sins" coming back to haunt him? Who can he trust? Will his life ever be the same again or must he disappear to keep those he loves safe? pazt

"Desert Shadows - Publishing Can Be Murder"

Betty Webb's third Lena Jones mystery, "Desert Shadows - Publishing Can Be Murder," was another hit with me. When Lena's business partner's friend, Owen, is suspected in the poisoning murder of his employer, Gloriana Alden-Taylor, he asks Lena to investigate. She discovers plenty of other suspects with motives for murdering this woman with ties to the early Pilgrims and sets out to uncover the truth. In the midst of her investigation, Lena also has to report for court-ordered counseling sessions if she hopes to keep her private investigator's license. Through flashbacks and therapy Lena also begins to remember more of her childhood -- both before and after she almost died of a gunshot wound at age four. As in her previous books, Webb manages to give us some hints about what is happening in modern day Arizona. This series keeps me coming back for more so I'm off to find the fourth book! pazt

"The Two Minute Rule"

"The Two Minute Rule" by Robert Crais is one of his stand alone novels and, as far as I can remember, is the first of his work that I've read. He's also written a couple of mystery series - the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels. "The Two Minute Rule" follows Max Holman after he's served prison time for a bank robbery. He has plans to get it right this time and also look up the adult son that he hasn't seen since he was a kid. His son is now a police officer and before he has a chance to find him, his son is murdered along with three other police officers. Devastated at the loss of his son and the relationship he hoped to build with him, he also learns the boy's mother died in a car accident a few years ago and he's unable to make amends with her either. Adrift and angry as well as not getting the answers he is seeking from the police, Holman sets out to find out what really happened to his son and enlists the help of the female FBI agent who was responsible for him going to prison. The investigation leads him down a path that makes him wonder who his son really was - a question he must find the answer to in order to find peace. This is a great read! pazt

"Newport Blues - A Salesman's Lament"

George Byron Wright's novel, "Newport Blues - A Salesman's Lament," is another book I picked up off my library's "good pick" display. It looked interesting to me just reading the back cover plus it's set along the Oregon coast -- one of my favorite places and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the coastal towns along with Sidney. Sidney Lister was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his high school class but that nor his marriage to Ellie Conway two years out of high school panned out. When Sidney didn't succeed, Ellie moved on after ten years of marriage to richer pastures. Now that she's widowed they maintain separate residences but hook up for sex when it suits both of them. Since Ellie never wanted children, they both remain unencumbered and Sidney works as a shipping clerk for Beeman's International after having failed at different types of sales jobs. However, when Jonesy Jones, Beeman's salesperson drops dead, Sidney is forced to fill his shoes and head down the Oregon coast informing Jonesy's customers of his death and taking orders for Beeman's. He's given the company Cadillac that Jonesy used and a couple of credit cards that he has to be careful not to max out then told to be frugal. The story is really what Sidney learns about Jonesy (a man he didn't really know) as he travels down the coast. The reactions to Jonesy's death are varied but for the most part he has strongly impacted the lives of his customers and, as the stories are revealed to Sidney, he begins to get a sense of who Jonesy was. In the meantime, he's running from some trouble of his own that threatens to cost him his life and to complicate matters he runs into a high school classmate in Newport who he lusted after from afar in high school. He "knew" she outclassed him and he never stood a chance with her then but, as they become acquainted in a way they never could have in high school, the trips down memory lane reveal some truths about both of them they must face. Jonesy's death may have been the best thing that ever happened to Sidney because his life it is a changing! pazt

"Mr. Popper's Penguins"

The movie, "Mr. Popper's Penguins," starring Jim Carrey is a far cry from what I remember of the children's book by the same name but it is a great family film. Although I'm not particularly a fan of Jim Carrey, his portrayal of Mr. Popper was fun to watch. Successful and divorced Mr. Popper has to take a second look at his life and his relationship with his children and his ex-wife when a gift in the form of a penguin arrives from his recently deceased and adventurer father. Through a series of missteps by Mr. Popper one penguin becomes a family of penguins which in turn improves his relationship with his children. Mr. Popper -- a man who has never been introspective -- finds himself challenged in his business dealings as well as his personal life and is forced to look at the life he's been leading and make decisions about what he wants in his future. I enjoyed this funny and heartwarming movie watching it first with my spouse then with our two youngest grandchildren. What could be more fun than enjoying it along with the giggles of a 5 year old and 7 year old! pazt