While house sitting for a friend in nearby Little Walsingham, Cathbad sees a mysterious woman dressed in blue in the church's graveyard. When a young woman turns up murdered, he realizes he might have seen a real woman rather than a ghostly figure. Ruth is drawn into the mystery when an old friend travels to Little Walsingham to attend a seminar for female priests. She has been receiving threatening letters and asks for Ruth's advice. The mystery deepens when another death occurs.

The mystery is well devised, but even better are the ongoing relationships between Ruth and DCI Nelson. Nelson learns of a personal betrayal that strikes at his heart. The foundation of his world is shaken. Ruth continues to feel a deep connection to Nelson, but she knows circumstances are against her.  

Kiram Kir-Zaki, a Haldim teenager, has been given a place at a prestigious boarding school, the first time ever a Haldim has been awarded admission. At the Sagrada Academy he is placed in the care of an upperclassman, Javier Tornesal. As Kiram learns about life as an outcast, he is befriended by Javier, and the two young men form a close bond. But something evil lurks within Javier, and Kiram must help his friend discover what it is so it can be dealt with.

The characters are fairly stereotypical and the world-building is not strong. The mystery surrounding Javier's curse is the only plot element that keeps the reader plodding forward. Nothing is resolved by the end of the book, so reading book two is a must to find out the resolution.

Each year Kate and her son Aaron retreat to the peaceful haven of Lakeside cottage, but this year the place is going to be anything but restful. This year a stranger in town catches Kate's eye.

JD has come to Lakeside to avoid the clammer of publicity after performing an act of heroism back home in Washington, D.C. While the media isn't on to him yet, a certain neighbor and her son are making him rethink his "being alone" idea.

A very tender romance develops between Kate and JD.

Reviewed by Doris Grossman, Watermark Reader's Advisory

A thought provoking government spy thriller with familiar characters. Lots of intrigue and unbelieveable action, based on famous artists of past centuries.

Reveiwed by Doris Grossman, Watermark Reader's Advisory Club

The clarity of this short work allows one to look through surface concepts to its profound depth. Siddhartha is a moral allegory which tries to explore the enigma of human loneliness and discontent to the simple principals of community and compassion.

Review submitted by Tia Pildas, Access Service member.

Daughters of the aristocracy are raised to provide heirs for the race, but Paradise has other ambitions. The elite fighters known as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is opening the call for soldiers to all interested parties, and being the daughter of the King’s chief advisor isn’t going to stand in her way.

1800’s Danish West Indies island of St. Thomas is the backdrop of a small community of Jews who fled the brutality of the Inquisition in Europe. 

  Rachel, whose family is the “pillar” of the community, weds an older man with three children to save her father’s business;  but when the husband dies, she meets his nephew, Frederic. Their love is a scandal but also her enduring salvation.

Submitted by Doris Grossman - Watermark Reader's Advisory Club member

A horrible book that you can’t stop reading: What would have happened if Japan had invaded Hawaii after attacking Pearl Harbor? Author Harry Turtledove explores the lives of a number of characters, but the most haunting is that of Japanese Commander Genda, who creates and plans the invasion of Hawaii, the bombing of California, and the sinking of three American aircraft carriers. Very difficult reading, Days of Infamy offers no happy ending, just a scary look at Hawaiian life, primarily from the view of the Japanese conquerors. 

Have a passion for the health of companion animals? Volunteered at shelters and wished you could do more? Dreamed of being veterinarian? This book covers the how, when, and where issues of applying to accredited schools, then offers a few more guiding steps. Learn about funding your dream, campus life, and what it takes to serve in one of the planet’s oldest professions.

By the end the Fall your heart is aching and you’re not sure if you stand to read on, but you’re hooked. Finding faith in midst of chaos is man’s greatest strength and at the fall of Night Eternal  may be humanity’s only saving grace.

Survived book one?  Dare you to read book two!

  In the Fall, The Master and his network of wealthy businessmen are cutting New York off the world, and daylight is becoming scares.  Eph Goodweather knows his wife has been turned. He also knows she will be coming to infect her Dear One, their son Zack.  </p> Meanwhile, old man Setrakian finds a strong ally Agustin Elizalde; and the Master has messed with wrong Mexican.  Gus will make a deal with the Master’s rivals for revenge.

Fans of the Walking Dead will rush to get their favorite goodies before picking up the Strain.  When a jumbo jet lands in New York with passengers and crew dead on arrival, the CDC send out their most experienced team of pathologists, Ephriam Goodweather and  Nora Martinez.  What they uncover is will lead them to an old man on a mission to save the world from a creature of darkness.

A mysterious key. Time travel through a gateway to a distant land. A strange religion. It all blends together, but it isn't always clear how it fits together. Even so, the characters are very compelling. I liked them immediately and would like to know more about them. And I want to know how all the puzzle pieces fit together. I'm looking forward to Book 2 of the Rifter—hopefully my questions will be answered.

Art of the Deal describes Trump's daily life and many meetings with the Who’s Who. The second part of the book is autobiographical, describing his childhood, the influence of his father, and his huge goals: a convention center and office towers in Manhattan and the tallest building in the world. The third part of the book describes his real estate negotiations and acquisitions. There is also information on Trump's ownership of the USFL New Jersey Generals and his challenge to the NFL. As the title states, he uses creativity in his business growth and thinks very big. Trump offers insight into his presidential campaign years later: the ultimate business deal.

Elizabeth Wein has written some amazing historical novels for teens and while Black Dove, White Raven is different from her previous books, it’s also very good.

Em and Teo grew up together and consider each other siblings, especially since Teo’s mother, who was Em’s mother’s best friend, died. But in 1930s America, a racially blended family (Em is white and Teo is black) is complicated. So Em’s mom Rhoda, a stunt pilot, moves the family to Ethiopia and for a while, their lives are idyllic.

But then Italy starts threatening to invade Ethiopia, and the whole family is drawn into the conflict. Rhoda teaches Em and Teo to fly, and while Em is terrified, Teo quickly becomes a skilled pilot. But then a shattering discovery about Teo’s birth father puts him in serious danger, and it’s up to Teo and Em to figure out how to find safety.

Although the story unfolds slowly, it is interesting and thought-provoking. Check out Black Dove, White Raven.

Richard and Malley are cousins and good friends. Richard is always level-headed, while Malley is the impulsive one. So at first, when Malley doesn’t show up to meet him at the beach, Richard is annoyed but not worried. But then he finds out Malley has possibly gone to meet someone she met online, and Richard gets worried. Really worried. Actually pretty desperate. He ends up enlisting the help of a man known as Skink, who is rumored to be dead, and who happens to be eating roadkill when Richard meets him, and that’s just the start of his strangeness.

Skink No Surrender is a fast-paced, funny mystery that will have you holding your breath as you see if Malley can be rescued and justice served.

In this memoir, Jason Schmidt tells the true story of growing up with an abusive, drug-addict father who ultimately contracted AIDS and died when Jason was a teenager. If you like gritty memoirs, this book will appeal to you.

Even as a small child, Jason knows he can’t get help from teachers or friends – he has to deal with his dad all on his own. He does his best to raise himself, even as his father physically and psychologically abuses him. Jason is incredibly smart, but because he has been lied to so systematically, he struggles to know what is real.

The book follows his intellectual and emotional awakening to the truth of his life. It takes an honest look at the impact of both his father’s abuse of him, and the failure of other adults in his life to help. It’s a dark, gritty read, but also fascinating and ultimately inspiring. Check out A List of Things That Didn’t Kill Me for a mesmerizing read.

If you like thinking about big questions and issues of discrimination, racial injustice, and the American criminal justice system, check out Ta-Nehisi Coates’ amazing book Between the World and Me. This book was written in the form of a letter to the author's teenage son, and is an important book for both teens and adults.

Ta-Nehisi talks about his experiences growing up as a black teenager in Chicago, and as a student at the historically black college Howard University. He talks about a college friend who was murdered by a police officer, and how the fact that that officer was never brought to justice impacted his life.

If all the police shootings in the news have you asking why black teenagers are so disproportionately affected, you will want to read Between the World and Me.

Romy Grey lives in a small town where life is perfect – for some people. But Romy lives on the wrong side of the tracks and when she is raped at a party and tries to point out her attacker, the sheriff’s “golden boy” son, it feels like the whole town turns on her. Romy faces intense bullying from her peers and a total lack of support from the adults in town, including her mother. She tries to put the attack behind her, but when another girl goes missing after a party, Romy has to make a decision. Should she try to speak up again? Will anyone listen? Will she be in even greater danger if she tries to do the right thing?

All the Rage made me angry. This intensely moving book is the voice for so many teens who have been shamed into silence. It asks big questions about our society – who we believe and who we blame when someone gets hurt, and why. If you like books that make you think, you won’t want to miss All the Rage.

Orianna, a talented ballet dancer, is locked up in Aurora Hills Juvenile Detention Center, convicted of viciously murdering two fellow dancers who were bullying her best friend Violet. Now Violet is on the outside, moving on with her life as she heads to Julliard and a promising dance career. Orianna adjusts to life inside with girls like Amber, convicted of murdering her stepfather when she was 13. The truth of what happened the night of the crime unfolds slowly and reluctantly, as Violet narrates. Amber tells the story of life at Aurora Hills, and the story is a puzzling one. Supernatural forces seem to be at work, and the stakes are incredibly high.

The Walls Around Us is an intense and sometimes strange read, but it asks big, important questions about guilt, innocence, and personal responsibility.