Wicked Autumn by GM Malliet

This new series by GM Malliet features a retired spy who now works as a priest.  When a death occurs in his parish, he puts his old skills to new use to try to solve the crime.  This is the first book in the series and the characters are being introduced.

The Dog that Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith has a way of writing that just makes me happy.  His new series about an apartment building called Corduroy Mansions is delightful.  I really enjoy that the characters are developed to show their strengths and weaknesses.  The novel moves back and forth between several characters whose only connection may be the place they live or where they work.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

I really enjoy Shannon Hale's books about strong female characters who are able to achieve their goals without help.  The main character of this book is a simple rural farmer, not the princess she is entombed in a tower with.  Dashti is faithful to her princess, making sure she remains well groomed and nourished, while dreaming of life beyond the tower.  When the situation grows desperate, she manages to free them both from the tower and they set off across a devastated countryside.  I enjoyed the 1st person perspective of the book.

Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

This fun mystery series follows a mystery book shop owner in rural New Hampshire.  I enjoyed the depictions of small town personalities.  It's definitely a cozy read.

An Ordinary Man

by Paul Rasesabagina


The movie Hotel Rwanda is based on experience from Paul's life.  When civil war causes absolute chaos in Rwanda, Paul uses his position as a hotel manager in a luxury hotel to save over 1,000 from the genocide. Their ordeal is hallowing and he truly didn't know if they'd survive.  Using  his understanding of how people work, he is able to save lives several times by  meeting face to face with officials.  


The title invokes to be the idea that it only takes ordinary people to stand in the face of evil and make a true and lasting change.

Wesley the Owl

by Stacey O'Brien

I really enjoyed this biography about a biologist and the barn owl she adopts.  He lives with her for 19 years, a vital and important part of her life.  She does a great job of explaining Wesley's personality and also letting us know how her experiences with him stack up against what scientists know about barn owls.

It was a quick, satisfying read.

Austenland

by Shannon Hale

I really enjoy Shannon Hale as an author.  We've read two of her books in my book club Goose Girl and The Book of 1,000 Days.  I like her strong female characters.  Austenland is a bit of a difference.  The main character, Jane, struggles a lot with feelings of self worth and inadequacy. 

Jane, the main character, is obsessed with Jane Austen, most importantly with the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.  She's gotten to the point where she judges potential boyfriends against what Mr. Darcy would do.  Her aunt dies and leaves her the gift of living out her Jane Austen fantasies for three weeks in an immersion experience.  Once there, she learns that what she's been longing for might not be so satisfying after all.