Mean Streak by Sandra Brown
READER FAVORITE!!
While the female protagonist Dr. Emery is entirely too perfect--doctor, wealthy, beautiful, runner, humanitarian--the novel has some great plot twists along the way. 
Reader will think they know who attacked the good doctor, but beware! Brown throws a curve ball at the end that no one sees coming.
The pretentious husband Jeff is cocky and arrogant. Readers disliked him from the get-go.
The sexy mysterious man Hayes is dreamy to read about and keeps the novel moving along at a nice steady pace.
The writing is excellent, especially the description of the local police. Brown makes Hayes into this bad boy that readers will love only to find out that he has a hidden past. Some of the extreme ways in which he hid his identity was the only negative to the novel. It seemed a little over the top.
Readers said they could see Bradley Cooper playing Hayes in a movie based on the novel. Needless to say, we would all go to see it!

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Nancy
Lori
Sheryl
Kathy
Lisa

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
February is the month of love, so readers wanted to read a love story. Well, this book tried to be a lot of things, but romance was not one of them.
The book consisted of the following characters:

• William, the hunky gentleman with Aspberger Syndrome
• Bridget, William's wife - a former nun and "saint", who loses a daughter Twyla in a tragic car accident
• Walcott, the weird and nerdy best friend
• Shandi, the female protagonist who was raped but blocked it out and claimed immaculate conception
• Shandi's son - also has Aspberger Syndrome, which is inherited through his biological father (rapist)

If that is not enough to give potential readers a hint about the jumble of characters, here are some other components addressed in the novel.

• Religion - Shandi's mother is Catholic and her father is Jewish.
• Sexual Preference - Walcott has lesbian mothers
• Robbery - the setting where William and Shandi originally meet

The book is somewhat interesting; however, the "love story" is imaginary and some of the science referenced in the novel seemed off [a rape victim keeping stuff from the rape in a bag for 4 years and everything is in tact.] 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Kathy
Debbie
Nancy
Anne

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
This China-based setting is a powerful look at how a poor Chinese farmer breaks the bonds of poverty through land ownership. The protagonist Wang Lung builds a lot of wealth over years through purchasing a small plot of land and savings over the years. The true heroine of this novel is Lung's wife Olan because she ultimately was the brains behind Lung's prosperity, and she also taught her sons to be street smart during their tumultuous times living on the street. She even has to bring herself to "kill" her one daughter because of the drought. Their poverty-stricken circumstances are exacerbated by the drought; thus, they were poor, had no food and were starving.
There are a multitude of characters along the way in the novel written by the humanitarian Pearl S. Buck. Buck spent a lot of time in China with her missionary parents. Her writings evolved out of her advocacy for women and minorities, as well as mix-race adoptions.

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Anne
Sheryl
Lisa
Nancy

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
This unique novel is told from the point of view of Enzo, a dog. Denny, his owner and a race car driver, lives a very bittersweet life. Enzo knows Denny's wife Eve is sick long before any of the humans know. After her death from cancer, Denny's life takes some serious twist and turns as he loses custody of his daughter to his rich and self-centered in-laws. Denny is a really good person, who is a great role model. He is so good that Enzo is looking forward to dying after many years because he knows that dogs reincarnate as people. He wants to come back as a race car driver. Read the book to find out what happens in the end.  

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Anne
Sheryl
Debi
Nancy
Kathy
​Kevin

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
This controversial novel had readers somewhat disgruntled. Some of the book club members did not even purchase the novel because of the cost. Additionally, one member only read two pages, as the text did not seem engaging. However, there were two readers who managed to finish the novel.
Overall, the novel is not well-written, even having times of confusions; however, there are sections that demonstrate Lee's writing talent. But readers understood why Lee did not want to publish the novel. It seemed as though it was a rough draft. One that needed revision.
The novel jumps ahead in Jean Louise (Scout) Finch's life into the world of desegregation. She is no longer that tomboy we all knew from To Kill a Mockingbird. Her life is in New York. However, upon returning to her hometown of Maycomb, she finds that nothing has changed. Little does she realize that things are changing in leaps and bounds. During a committee meeting in which Jean Louise is observing, she finds that the men she loves, Atticus and Hank, are no longer the men she respects. In fact, the whole town is embroiled in the controversy surrounding desegregation and the rights of everyone.
The uncanny issues that are presented in this novel, unfortunately, are still occurring today. Jean Louise continues to grow up and her disillusionment in her father is a hard candy to swallow. 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Kathy
Sheryl
Lisa
Lori
​Kevin

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
This month's read had readers agreeing that it is a good book. The idea of forgetting our "nasty" selves and reverting back to a better time was interesting to discuss. How and why people change over time is fascinating, especially for Alice. In the beginning, her life is wonderful with her husband. However, after three children and advancements in her husband's career, Alice finds that she is bored with her marriage and her life. While the money is flowing and the family wants for nothing, it demonstrates that sometimes the more we have the less we fulfilled we are.
After an accident at the gym where Alice suffers a concussion that leaves her with amnesia, she wakes to only remember her "former" self. She has no idea of the trials and tribulations that have occurred to her and her family over the last 10 years. In fact, this reversion back takes Alice to a time when she was extremely happy. Will she ever get her memory back? Does she really want to?
​Read the book to find out! 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lisa
Lori
Anne
Sheryl
​Nancy​

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
This novel, scheduled to be released as a movie, surrounds the life of a strong character, Louise (Lou), once she finds her niche. Finding something that she loves comes as a surprise, but Lou is a free-spirit, easily guided by kindness to people. Dealing with a poor family and a spoiled sister, Lou grows up taking care of everyone but herself. However, when she is hired to take care of Will, a quadriplegic, her life takes a turn. Once an active, if not selfish, handsome young man, Will was the victim of a pedestrian versus car accident. Lou comes on the scene as his family is trying to dissuade him from trying to end his life. In the beginning, Lou and Will are like oil and water; however, Lou's kind-kindheartedness wins out over time; however, Will's announcement will surely stun readers. 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Sheryl
Anne
​Nancy

Ax & Spade (Book 1 in the Raven Trilogy) by By Kurt Dowdle
The book club this month was honored with the author's presence. Dowdle, an alumnus of Freedom High School, was inspired to write this historical-fiction thriller after reading about a murder that happened in his hometown of Bethlehem.
This exciting story had book club members glued to the pages, since most reside in the area where the original murder happened.
Dowdle was asked about the pacing of the novel because readers knew he had just finished the second book in the Raven Trilogy. He said that it is hard as a writer to keep a certain pace that will keep readers wanting to turn the page. Additionally, he had to allude to some of the first novel in the second book, so reader's who had not read the first would still be engaged in the story.
The history surrounds the murder of a local family and the subsequent lynching of the the accused murderer. However, Dowdle was more curious about the daughter of the murdered family and the detective on the case, as neither was really mentioned in detail in the old news articles. Thus, these characters are at the focal point of the novel.
The novel also insinuates about a corrupt government in the town, as well as other interesting habits and knowledge of the townspeople. Dowdle assures readers that these areas are explored more in books two and three. 

Meeting Attendance
Kurt, author
Karla
Lori
Kathy

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
This New York Times Best Seller created a lot of discussion for readers. The protagonist, Rachel - a divorcee and alcoholic, seems to be extremely crazy in the beginning of the novel. However, the author expertly weaves a tale of lies created by her ex-husband, Tom, that ends up vindicating Rachel. It showed how positive attributes can be used by a character in order to manipulate other people. The novel covers topics such as alcoholism, lies, family issues (babies and miscarriages), murder, and infidelity. 
Moral of the story: Do not marry someone thinking that person will make you happy. First learn to make yourself happy. 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Lisa
Sheryl
Kathy
Anne
Bernadette
​Melissa

The Story Sisters  by Alice Hoffman
This book starts off a bit strange, as it introduces the reader to three sisters, Elisabeth, Meg, and Claire, who create an alternate city and language. It seems as though it is going to revolve around this; however, it quickly changes. The mood throughout the book is dark and sad. There is much turmoil for the sisters as well as death.
This novel , while entertaining, was difficult for some readers to get past the beginning. As the novel continued on, it gathered speed and interest for those who persevered in reading.
Ultimately, the story revolves around the eldest daughter, Elisabeth or Elv, and her life--actually how her life begins to crumble after she is abducted by a pedophile, and after she escapes. No one but her sister Claire knows about the abduction. The time frame of the abduction is less than a day, but it was enough to scar Elv for her entire life.
Following the abduction Elv begins acting out, which ultimately leads to her being shipped off to a 'rehabilitation' school, where she meets the brother of a student, Lorie. Once she is released from the school, she ends up killing her sister Meg in a car accident. This pushes Elv even further, and she disappears where she is living a drug-induced life. Her mother Ann ends up dying from cancer.
There are many situations for both Elv and Claire as they lead separate lives that do not connect again until the end of the novel, which does end on a happier note 

Meeting Attendance
Karla
Lori
Bernadette
Melissa
​Anne