My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

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This historical novel tells the story of an Albany midwife who longs to be a surgeon during the Civil War.  You follow her as she struggles for acceptance in the medical communities of Albany, Washington, D.C. and finally the battlefields of the war.  For history buffs, the descriptions of battlefield medicine are fascinating (though not for the faint of heart!) as well as the depiction of the early days of the nation’s capital.  For local readers, 1860s’ Albany has some familiar place names.  I appreciated the strong female character as well as the history of the Civil War told from the nurse/surgeon’s view.

Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper

One of the best cat stories ever.  Homer loses his eyes to an infection at only a few weeks of age.  When Gwen Cooper adopts this adorable kitten, she thinks she is doing him a favor, but it turns out that Homer gives much more than he gets.  Since all he has ever known is blindness, Homer doesn’t know that he has a handicap, so he lives his life with fearlessness and joie de vivre.  His huge personality and zest for living inspire everyone who has the privilege to meet him.  A true story that will touch your heart.  Don’t miss it.

The Line by Teri Hall

Rachel and her mother, Vivian, have lived on The Property as long as she can recall.  Vivian works for Ms. Moore, who owns The Property and runs a greenhouse in which she grows orchids.  The Property is very quiet and secluded, but it is located adjacent to the infamous Line — a border protection system which separates the U.S. from Away.  To stop an approaching foreign enemy, the U.S. had activated the Line without warning, trapping many U.S. citizens in Away.  Then, Away was blasted with atomic bombs.  The Line is always on to keep Others from crossing the border.  Anyone who speaks out against the government and/or the Line is considered a traitor, and almost everyone lives in fear of the oppressive government.

The Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass

Seventy-year-old Percy Darling is an affable curmudgeon who enjoys swimming in his pond and cheerfully criticizing the neighbors in his well-to-do Massachusetts town.  When he allows a high-end preschool to move into his barn, Percy finds his quiet routine shaken–in a way, he realizes, that is not altogether unwelcome.  Glass gracefully weaves Percy’s story with those of others in his circle: Sarah — Percy’s new love interest, Percy’s daughters Clover and Trudy and environmentalist grandson Robert, Celestino —  an immigrant worker with connections to a prominent academic family, and Ira, a preschool teacher longing for acceptance.  The result is a compelling, memorable read.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss’s skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have run away from their small Ohio town and are determined to make it big in New York City.  Letty is sure that she will be a star, if only she can get the chance to audition for a role, and Cordelia plans on tracking down the man she believes to be her father — infamous bootlegger Darius Grey.  Full of larger-than-life characters and jam-packed with action, this story begs to be read in one sitting.  Now, if only I knew when the next book was supposed to come out… (I’ll be keeping an eye out on http://www.bytseries.com)

Ash by Malinda Lo

Aisling’s father did his best to care for her after her mother died, but his protection ended when he died, and her jealous stepmother did her best to make up for lost time.  Horrible living conditions?  Check.  Too much hard labor for one person to complete?  Check.  A dream that she will some day escape this hellish existence?  Check.  Sure, this is a Cinderella story . . .  but it’s not your mama’s Cinderella story!  More than just a coming of age story and a fairy tale with a twist, this is a beautifully written tale about what it truly means to live and love.

The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell

Swedish judge Birgitta Roslin is shocked to find out that her mother’s adoptive parents were among those massacred one night in the tiny, snowy town of Hesjovallen.  The police charge a lone lunatic with the crime, but Roslin has reason to believe that a mysterious Chinese man may be responsible.  Her tips dismissed by the police, Roslin takes it upon herself to unravel the truth about the Hesjovallen murders, even as it brings her face to face with danger in the teeming city of Beijing.  Fans of Stieg Larsson’s Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy will enjoy Henning’s sweeping tale of suspense.

Bungalow Kid by Philip Ratzer

Philip, a boy from the Bronx,  reminisces about his childhood summers he spent at the Pesekow’s Bungalow Colony in the mountains of Sullivan County, New York on the shores of Loch Sheldrake Lake.  This story takes place when he is twelve years old and recounts the adventures of an almost teenage boy ‘s summer reconnecting with friends and family, puppy love and boyish pranks. This book will take you back to the days when you were growing up, returning to moments in time that can never be equaled.

Cat O’Nine Tales: And Other Stories by Jeffrey Archer

Archer put his time in prison to fine literary use, as evidenced by the 12 stellar entries in his fifth story collection, nine of which are based on tales he heard from fellow inmates while incarcerated.  The stories are delightful with a hint of O. Henry.

The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William Paul Young

This captivating novel will make you both  laugh and cry. When  a young girl is mysteriously abducted during a family vacation, there is evidence that she may have been brutally murdered in the Oregon wilderness. After four years go by, her father receives a note inviting him back to the shack for a weekend. Could that note have come from God?  You will be thinking about this book and its spiritual impact long after you put it down.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

The women of Lucy’s family have been cursed for generations to bear a child by the age of eighteen and then go mad.  Can Lucy escape this fate?  Only if she can complete the three impossible tasks named in the song “Scarborough Fair.”  Using some clues left by her mother, and aided by family and friends, Lucy races the clock to do the impossible and save herself.  A captivating fairy tale for young and not so young adults.