This is going to sound dramatic - but my heart aches for Lila. You can just see the plumes of loneliness coming from this woman. You can ache from it, just like Lila did.

This novel finally tells us Lila's story - the wife of John Ames from the first book in this series, Gilead. We only got glimpses of Lila in the first novel and here we take in big gulps of her. We inhabit her loneliness and sorrow. And then, begin to feel her hope.

This has to be the most dramatic little blurb I've ever written! But this book was so amazing. I'm reading the series a little out of order (still need to read the second one), but I think that's okay. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I say it every time I read one of these books, but THIS was the best one yet! Gamache is investigating the murder of the last of the Ouillet Quints - five little girls born in the Depression era who captivated Canada. He's also still at the Surete and looking for the root of the corruption that has been there for years.

The best news? He's back in Three Pines, which he didn't visit in the last volume. This novel was cozy, delicious, and funny - just how I like my Armand Gamaches!

A cozy little mystery that was a bit predictable, but enjoyable. While it annoyed me that the main character kept whining about her weight, I'm going to read the next one if only for the descriptions of her cozy seaside cottage!

I only finished this because parts of it were set in New Hampshire -- I disliked everything else about it, especially the main character who was petty and unhinged despite everyone around her who somehow remained so kind to her. Why were people nice to her?! She was so mean!

This was just the book I've been looking for. I loved reading about Shapiro's attempt to understand her own beliefs; I could see so many of my own doubts in her words. I felt so much less alone in my own haphazard journey.

Also - I realized how little I know about Judaism. Man - there's a lot to learn in this world!!