Obsession Falls

Obsession Falls by Christina Dodd Summary: Taylor Summers witnesses the death threat to a young boy, and does the only thing she can do--she sacrifices herself to distract the killers. Her reward is a life in ruins, on the run in the wilderness, barely surviving a bitter winter and the even more bitter knowledge she has lost everything: her career, her reputation, her identity. She finds refuge in Virtue Falls, and there comes face to face with the knowledge that, to live her life again, she must enlist the help of the man who does not trust her to defeat the man who would destroy her. She's being hunted, but it's time to turn the tables.... Angie's Comments: This is an intriguing book. I am still not sure if I liked it or hated it, but I read it through in one sitting. The plot isn’t very believable – it is like a modern Gothic book, but it is exciting. And the end is chilling. The little bit of romance isn’t believable to me, but each character added a lot to the story. Recommended for readers of Gothic fiction and mysteries.  Request this item

Only a Kiss

Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh Summary: Since witnessing the death of her husband during the wars, Imogen, Lady Barclay, has secluded herself in the confines of Hardford Hall, their home in Cornwall. The new owner has failed to take up his inheritance, and Imogen desperately hopes he will never come to disturb her fragile peace. Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, has no interest in the wilds of Cornwall, but when he impulsively decides to pay a visit to his estate there, he is shocked to discover that it is not the ruined heap he had expected. He is equally shocked to find the beautiful widow of his predecessor’s son living there. Soon Imogen awakens in Percy a passion he has never thought himself capable of feeling. But can he save her from her misery and reawaken her soul? And what will it mean for him if he succeeds? Angie's Comments: Another Survivors’ Club novel from Mary Balogh! I have enjoyed the series, and this book was no different. The characters are complex and face difficult decisions. I wasn’t as involved with these book as the others, but it was still a good historical novel. The smuggling plot was different from the standard smuggling plot. Recommended for readers of historical romance.  Request this item

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Markup Summary: People are fascinated by murder. The popularity of murder mystery books, TV series, and even board games shows that there is an appetite for death, and the more unusual or macabre the method, the better. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but poisons are inherently more mysterious. How are some compounds so deadly in such tiny amounts? Agatha Christie used poison to kill her characters more often than any other crime fiction writer. The poison was a central part of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances was far from random; the chemical and physiological characteristics of each poison provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. Christie demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge (much of it gleaned by working in a pharmacy during both world wars) in many of her novels, but this is rarely appreciated by the reader. Written by former research chemist Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel and investigates the poison used by the murderer. Fact- and fun-packed, A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering, and detecting these poisons, both when Christie was writing and today. Angie's Comments: A lot of research went into this book! Author Harkup coves 14 poisons used by Christie. The sections on availability of the poisons is fascinating. Although Harkup discusses Christie’s books, she doesn’t give the main secrets away often, and when she does, she gives a spoiler warning. Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and/or readers interested in poison. Request this item

Saving Normal

Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life by Allen Frances Summary: Anyone living a full, rich life experiences ups and downs, stresses, disappointments, sorrows, and setbacks. Today, however, millions of people who are really no more than "worried well" are being diagnosed as having a mental disorder and receiving unnecessary treatment. In Saving Normal, Allen Frances, one of the world's most influential psychiatrists, explains why stigmatizing a healthy person as mentally ill leads to unnecessary, harmful medications, the narrowing of horizons, the misallocation of medical resources, and the draining of the budgets of families and the nation. We also shift responsibility for our mental well-being away from our own naturally resilient brains and into the hands of "Big Pharma," who are reaping multi-billion-dollar profits. Frances cautions that the newest edition of the "bible of psychiatry," the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), is turning our current diagnostic inflation into hyperinflation by converting millions of "normal" people into "mental patients." Saving Normal is a call to all of us to reclaim the full measure of our humanity. Angie's Comments: This is a fascinating look into psychiatry and psychology and the changes that have happened over the years. While I don’t agree with all of Allen Frances’s views, I would recommend this book. It has made me think about psychiatry and the use of diagnoses and medication. Recommend for people who are interested in psychiatry and mental illness. Request this item

The Hanging Girl

The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen Summary: In the middle of his usual hard-won morning nap in the basement of police headquarters, Carl Mørck, head of Department Q, receives a call from a colleague working on the Danish island of Bornholm. Carl is dismissive when he realizes that a new case is being foisted on him, but a few hours later, he receives some shocking news that leaves his headstrong assistant Rose more furious than usual. Carl has no choice but to lead Department Q into the tragic cold case of a vivacious seventeen-year-old girl who vanished from school, only to be found dead hanging high up in a tree. The investigation will take them from the remote island of Bornholm to a strange sun worshipping cult, where Carl, Assad, Rose, and newcomer Gordon attempt to stop a string of new murders and a skilled manipulator who refuses to let anything—or anyone—get in the way. Angie's Comments: The Hanging Girl is another great installment in the Department Q series. I recommend reading the other novels in the series first, as this book has less explanation about the ongoing storylines than the other books. This book featured some nice moments with the Department Q characters – Carl in particular is becoming a nicer character. Recommended for readers of thriller mysteries.  Request this item

When a Scot Ties the Knot

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare Summary: On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shy, pretty, and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart. A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter . . . and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely. Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He's wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters . . . and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep. Angie's Comments: This was funny and sweet romance. Maddie is a unique character, and Logan is an honorable man who has his own flaws. I also liked the lobsters. The main issue I had was the ending. I felt that Maddie gave up so much, when she and Logan could have compromised more. Recommended for readers of light historical romance. Request this item

Hallucinations

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks Summary: To many people, hallucinations imply madness, but in fact they are a common part of the human experience. These sensory distortions range from the shimmering zigzags of a visual migraine to powerful visions brought on by fever, injuries, drugs, sensory deprivation, exhaustion, or even grief. Hallucinations doubtless lie behind many mythological traditions, literary inventions, and religious epiphanies. Drawing on his own experiences, a wealth of clinical cases from among his patients, and famous historical examples ranging from Dostoevsky to Lewis Carroll, the legendary neurologist Oliver Sacks investigates the mystery of these sensory deceptions: what they say about the working of our brains, how they have influenced our folklore and culture, and why the potential for hallucination is present in us all. Angie's Comments: Oliver Sacks, who died August 30, 2015, always seemed to meet up with some interesting medical questions. In Hallucinations, he addresses issues that we all have. It is a good book, although not as interesting as other book he wrote. In some cases, I wasn’t sure what the difference was among the different types of hallucinations that he addresses in the book. However, I did learn a lot, and I enjoyed the book. Sacks’ writing is always easy for a layman like myself to read. Recommended to readers who like Oliver Sacks’ books and/or medical mysteries. Request this item

Brown-Eyed Girl

Brown-Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas Summary: Wedding planner Avery Crosslin may be a rising star in Houston society, but she doesn't believe in love-at least not for herself. When she meets wealthy bachelor Joe Travis and mistakes him for a wedding photographer, she has no intention of letting him sweep her off her feet. But Joe is a man who goes after what he wants, and Avery can't resist the temptation of a sexy southern charmer and a hot summer evening. After a one night stand, however, Avery is determined to keep it from happening again. A man like Joe can only mean trouble for a woman like her, and she can't afford distractions. She's been hired to plan the wedding of the year-a make-or-break event. But complications start piling up fast, putting the wedding in jeopardy, especially when shocking secrets of the bride come to light. And as Joe makes it clear that he's not going to give up easily, Avery is forced to confront the insecurities and beliefs that stem from a past she would do anything to forget. The situation reaches a breaking point, and Avery faces the toughest choice of her life. Only by putting her career on the line and risking everything-including her well-guarded heart-will she find out what matters most. Angie's Comments: This is a light romance that ends Lisa Kleypas’s series about the Travis family. As a light romance, it was sweet and satisfying. However, it does not match up to the other books in the Travis family series. Read this as a light-hearted diversion. Recommended for romance readers who like a sweet, uncomplicated story.  Request this item