Dead Man’s Wake
If you like action/adventure mixed with murder/mystery, check out the ‘Mike Bowditch’ series by Paul Doiron. I read “Dead Man’s…
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
I absolutely LOVED “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett! This novel has a story within a story. Lara’s family is together…
Little Monsters
“Little Monsters” by Adrienne Brodeur is a terrific novel, set in Cape Cod (especially Provincetown), and full of dysfunctional family…
The Book of Charlie
History lovers will want to check out “The Book of Charlie:Wisdom From the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man”…
Famous in a Small Town
Viola Shipman has written another wonderful summer read – “Famous in a Small Town.” The novel is set partly in…
Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor
I picked up “Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor” by Shawn M. Warner after seeing a national news…
The Half Moon
“The Half Moon” by Mary Beth Keane is a quiet story set in the small town of Gillam, New York.…
Good Night Irene
I had never heard of the American Red Cross Clubmobile service that women volunteers provided to the Allied servicemen in…
Just The Nicest Couple
If you’re looking for a quick, easy domestic thriller for a summer read, check out “Just the Nicest Couple” by…
The Cloisters
“The Cloisters” by Katy Hays is not my typical choice of reading, but it is a beautifully written debut novel.…
Only the Beautiful
It’s been a while since I’ve read a great historical fiction novel, and “Only the Beautiful” by Susan Meissner is…
The Soulmate
I don’t usually review two books by the same author in a year, but Sally Hepworth’s novels are so twisted…
Hello Beautiful
I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano. It is basically a novel about a…
Chasing Fireflies
“Chasing Fireflies” by Charles Martin was recommended by a retired library staff member and I loved, loved, loved it! The…
Before and After
Before and After: the Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society is co-written by Judy…
The Wager
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann is a really well researched non-fiction novel. It…
The Housemaid
I am so glad that a library patron recommended The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – what an addicting read!!! I…
“Hang the Moon” Book Review
Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls is a terrific historical fiction novel that is full of action and has a…
“Community Board” Book Review
Community Board by Tara Conklin probably won’t win lots of serious literary awards for this year, but it is a…
“Earth’s the Right Place for Love” Book Review
Elizabeth Berg is a wonderful writer, and her latest novel, Earth’s the Right Place for Love, is beautiful and sweet.…
“Bookish People” Book Review
If you are a book-lover, take a look at Bookish People by Susan Cole. It is a contemporary fiction novel…
“Pineapple Street” Book Review
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson is a book about a family that is wealthy, arrogant, elitist and definitely ‘old money.’…
“The Twyford Code” Book Review
Are you looking for a unique novel and do you love mysteries with word puzzles and codes? Then check out…
“Wake Up With Purpose” – Book Review
Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned In My First Hundred Years by Sister Jean and Seth Davis was a…
“The Winemaker’s Wife” Book Review
The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel is a 2019 book that was recommended by several of our patrons and we…
“The Younger Wife” Book Review
Sally Hepworth’s novel, The Younger Wife was first published in April of 2022, but is new to our library. It…
“Exiles” Book Review
Jane Harper’s Exiles is a slow paced mystery novel with terrific descriptions of both scenery and characters. The setting is…
“Someone Else’s Shoes” Book Review
I have loved reading so many Jojo Moyes novels, that I placed a request for Someone Else’s Shoes months before…
“City Under One Roof” Book Review
City Under One Roof is the debut novel from Iris Yamashita, who is also an Academy Award Nominated screenplay writer.…
“The Light Pirate” Book Review
I don’t usually read fiction novels about the devastating effects of climate-change, but Lily Brooks-Dalton’s The Light Pirate is a…
“The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre” Book Review
If you are a lover of Historical Fiction, make sure you check-out The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by…
“The Villa” Book Review
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is kind of a ‘story within a story’ – it’s a gothic thriller with women…
The Blackout Book Club
The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green is a historical fiction novel set in 1942 during WWII. The characters…
“We Are the Light” Book Review
Welcome to the Watseka Public Library book blog for 2023, written by Velanne. I’ll be posting about books I’ve read…
Best Worthwhile Reads of 2022
I can’t believe it’s already time for the “Best Books of the Year” for 2022. I’m only featuring books that…
“A Murder at Balmoral” Review
I decided to recommend A Murder at Balmoral by Chris McGeorge for this week’s book blog. It is a ‘locked…
“The Lindbergh Nanny” Review
The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks is a well-researched historical fiction novel about the kidnapping of little Charlie Lindbergh in…
“Fairy Tale” Review
I will admit that I had never read a Stephen King novel – I don’t like horror stories . .…
“Killing the Legends” Review
If you’ve been looking for an interesting non-fiction book to read, Killing the Legends: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity by…
“Beartown” Review
I am a lover of all of Fredrik Backman’s novels – even though his books have very different topics and…
“The Boys From Biloxi” Review
Fans of John Grisham have probably been waiting for his new novel, The Boys from Biloxi. It is, of course,…
“Over Her Dead Body” Review
Mystery lovers will enjoy Over Her Dead Body by Susan Walter – it was a quick read that kept me…
“A Death in Door County” Review
A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan is classified as a ‘cozy mystery’ and is the first book in…
“Mad Honey” Review
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is a captivating novel that touches on SO MANY different topics…
“Who is Maud Dixon?” Review
As I was waiting anxiously for our NEW October books to arrive, Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews was…
“The Lost Ticket” Review
If you’re looking for an uplifting story, The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson might be just what you need!! I…
“Other Birds” Review
I can’t stop thinking about Sarah Addison Allen’s new novel, Other Birds. Her writing is so wonderful – making me…
“Fox Creek” Review
If you haven’t checked out a book by William Kent Krueger, I highly recommend his novels. I couldn’t wait to…
“Pie” Review
My “Worthwhile Read” this week is one that Watseka Public Library is promoting in conjunction with the Unit 9 Schools.…
“By Her Own Design” Review
I needed a change from murder mysteries and thrillers, so I checked out By Her Own Design : A Novel…
“The Lies I Tell” Review
The Lies I Tell is a well-written mystery with a ‘cat and mouse game’ throughout. Revenge and justice are a…
“The It Girl” Review
I’ve read several of Ruth Ware’s books, and thought they were ‘just ok,’ but I think The IT Girl is…
“The Edge of Summer” Review
The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman was a really nice story set in a Michigan lakeshore resort town, with…
“The House Across the Lake” Review
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager was SO hard to put down – I loved Sager’s writing style…
“The Measure” Review
The Measure by Nikki Erlick is a terrific novel filled with wonderful characters that are appealing and very diverse. Each…
“The Club” Review
The Club by Ellery Lloyd is a mystery that kept my interest well, even though I didn’t really “like” any…
“Two Nights in Lisbon” Review
I was in the mood for a good suspense thriller and Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone was the…
“Something Wilder” Review
For a great beach or vacation read, check out Something Wilder by Christina Lauren!! This book is a combination of…
“The Foundling” Review
The Foundling by Ann Leary is a historical fiction novel that explores the use of eugenics in the United States…
“The Woman in the Library” Review
I loved the cover of this novel and discovered a terrific mystery with The Woman in the Library by Sulari…
“The Book Woman’s Daughter” Review
We have a new service at the Watseka Public Library – HOOPLA! (Come and see us to find out more!)…
“The Lioness” Review
The Lioness is Chris Bohjalian’s terrific new book set in the African Serengeti region in the 1960’s. (It has already…
“The Diamond Eye” Review
I was so intrigued by The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn that I could barely tear myself away from reading…
“The Good Left Undone” Review
I adore reading books by Adriana Trigiani and she does not disappoint with her new historical fiction novel, The Good…
“The Second Half: 40 Women Reveal Life After Fifty” Review
For a change of pace, check out The Second Half: 40 Women Reveal Life After Fifty by Ellen Warner]. It…
“What Happened to the Bennetts” Review
What Happened to the Bennetts? is an intense, action packed suspense novel that hooked me from the beginning. The Bennetts…
“The Love of My Life” Review
The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh is a thriller/suspense novel with a romance plot thrown in as well.…
“The Extraodinary Life of Sam Hell”
While waiting for some new publications to come in, I picked up The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert…
“The Violin Conspiracy” Review
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is a mystery/thriller I picked up just for fun, but this novel is SO…
“The Unsinkable Greta James” Review
The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith is a really nice story about the relationships within a family -…
“The Paris Apartment” Review
I have read other books by Lucy Foley, and couldn’t wait to read The Paris Apartment. This novel didn’t disappoint…
“I Must Betray You” Review
I ask everyone to please read the historical fiction novel, I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys!! In the climate…
“The Horsewoman” Review
James Patterson and Mike Lupica (award winning sports writer) teamed up for the novel, The Horsewoman. I don’t know much…
“Beautiful Little Fools” Review
If you haven’t read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you’ll need to read (or reread) that classic novel.…
“The Magnolia Palace” Review
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis is a wonderful historical fiction novel for readers who love the worlds of collectible…
“The Appeal” Review
I’ve got another debut novel for this week – The Appeal by Janice Hallett. The style of this book is…
“A Flicker in the Dark” Review
I chose Stacy Willingham’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, for this week’s blog and I could not put…
“The Maid” Review
The Maid by Nita Prose is a murder mystery told in an unusual way – kind of light hearted and…
“For the Wolf” Review
I am not usually a reader of Fantasy genre books, but I absolutely loved For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten!…
“The Boys” Review
If memoirs or biographies are your interest, or if you loved the tv shows – “Andy Griffith,” “Happy Days” or…
“The Shadow Box” Review
If you’re looking for a good page-turner for your New Year, check out The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice. This…
Best Books of the Year 2021
It’s time for the “Best Books of the Year” featuring books that have been on our Worthwhile Reads blog this…
“Wish You Were Here” Review
My last book blog post for 2021 is Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. If you’ve read any Picoult…
“Silverview” Review
Silverview by John Le Carre is on many of the “best of the year” lists, so I really wanted to…
“The Family” Review
I don’t usually read stories about the Italian Mafia, but I was drawn to the cover art on this novel…
“Cloud Cuckoo Land” Review
I just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and I had to sit and let the power of his words…
“Once Upon a Wardrobe” Review
I spent a magical, enjoyable day reading Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. The story is beautiful and the…
“The Lincoln Highway” Review
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles was not at all what I expected, but it was a terrific read. In…
“Apples Never Fall” Review
I have been waiting for Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall to hit the shelves for months, and it did not…
“West With Giraffes” Review
I love to visit the zoo and I especially love giraffes, with their beautiful eyes and gentle nature. West With…
“Rock Paper Scissors” Review
Are you looking for a creepy, unsettling thriller to curl up with on a cool, Fall evening? Check out Rock…
“We Are the Brennans” Review
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange has been on many of the “recommended” lists for a few weeks now,…
“The Exiles” Review
Be prepared for a heartbreaking novel if you decide to read The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline. It is a…
“The Reading List” Review
If you love books and you love libraries, please check out The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. This book…
“Once There Were Wolves” Review
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy is a novel of survival – full of love, fear, violence, tenderness and…
“Moon Lake” Review
I tried reading a new author (for me) this week and was not disappointed. Moon Lake by Joe R. Lansdale…
“The Rose Code” Review
Do you like WWII novels, English settings, great characters, romance and lots of mystery? Then The Rose Code, by Kate…
“The Girls in the Stilt House” Review
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian is a very moving and intense historical fiction novel – Mustian’s…
“Such a Quiet Place” Review
I picked up Megan Miranda’s new thriller/mystery, Such A Quiet Place and was so glad I made that choice! (I’ve…
“Sooley” Review
I enjoy college basketball, so it’s not surprising that I liked John Grisham’s new novel, Sooley. This book gives a…