November Read of the Month: “Moonrise,” by Cassandra King

Reviewed by Donna Meredith Remember reading Daphne DuMarier’s Rebecca when you were younger and loving it? So did acclaimed novelist Cassandra King, and now she has written her own gothic tale of a new bride whose curiosity about a first wife might uncover more than she wants to know. The release of Moonrise on September […]

“More Things in Heaven and Earth,” by Jeff High

  Reviewed by Donna Meredith Jeff High’s More Things in Heaven and Earth is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Really. And I read a bunch of books. This is the book you should give to your mother and your best friend at Christmas. After you read it yourself, of course. The […]

October Read of the Month: “When Mountains Move,” by Julie Cantrell

  Reviewed by Donna Meredith From the outset, wrenching secrets handicap Millie and Bump’s marriage in When Mountains Move, the sequel to Julie Cantrell’s debut Into the Free. You don’t have to read the debut first to enjoy the sequel, but you should. Cantrell’s first novel won Christy awards for Best Debut Novel and for […]

“The Guest House,” by Erika Marks

Reviewed by Donna Meredith One of the biggest pleasures in reading The Guest House by Erika Marks is watching the missteps in communication among three generations of characters. Readers are treated to at least half a dozen viewpoints as the tale unfolds. The various viewpoints and introduction of many characters make the first chapters of […]

“Confession,” by Richard Freis

Reviewed by Donna Meredith Confession could just as easily have been titled Obsession, although that name has been snapped up by numerous other books and a popular perfume. This debut novel by Richard Freis is the first person tale of 55-year-old George Burden’s fixation on a woman much younger than his wife—even younger than his […]

“Keep No Secrets,” by Julie Compton

Reviewed by Donna Meredith Keep No Secrets, Julie Compton’s powerful sequel to Tell No Lies, is guaranteed to keep readers turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. Both of Compton’s courtroom thrillers are set in St. Louis, Missouri, where she grew up. Like Jodi Picoult’s best works, Compton’s novels sizzle with all the […]