The Covenant

When her family - husband Jonathan and daughter Ilana - are kidnapped from their home in Jerusalem, Elise frantically calls her Bubbee (grandmother) Leah for help. Soon Leah and her four friends, now grandmothers and great grandmothers, band together to help Elise. The four women made a covenant when they were in Auschwitz that if they survived the war, they would do anything and everything within their power to make sure that they each lived happily for the rest of their days. As the women reunite to help find Elise's family, we learn of more serious problems plaguing Israel - the threat of Hamas and the lives that are destroyed at the hands of terrorists. And we discover, most importantly, that not just Jews are harmed in the fighting. A great, powerful novel.

Click here to buy the book: The Covenant by Naomi Ragen

The Confessor

The Confessor by Daniel Silva. Benjamin Stern, a professor in Germany in the modern era, is writing a book. But suddenly, a man shows up in his apartment with a gun and a demand, and soon Benjamin is dying on his apartment floor. His friend is sent by the Israeli secret service to discover what happened and to make sure that he left no evidence of his link to the Institution. But something else is going on, something bigger than the Israeli secret service and the spies of the Vatican...

Click here to buy a copy: The Confessor by Daniel Silva

Twilight

I had to read this one for a class, and I'll admit, I enjoyed it. This teen novel follows a young girl named Bella who moves back in with her somewhat estranged father. She is not looking forward to living in his small town, and is absolutely dreading her first day at her new school. But soon she discovers Edward Cullen and her life will never be the same. Because Edward...is a vampire.

This novel gets a little sluggish around the middle, but soon picks up. It's a great twist on the vampire myth, and its pretty fun to read, if you like that sort of thing. (which I do....)

Click this link to purchase a copy: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The Dark Is Rising

If you like The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, you'll love The Dark is Rising series. I just finished the first book, and it was fantastic! Young Will turn eleven years old in Midwinter and learns a secret about himself. He is the last of the Old Ones, a group of immortals born throughout time that are destined to defend the world against the Dark. Will must learn about his new powers and harness his abilities in order to find the Six Signs that will drive back the dark from destroying England during the Christmas season. This is a beautifully told tale, and kids will love it! It's coming to theatres soon as well, and the previews look pretty good! If nothing else, read it for fun! The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

The Alexandria Link

Another great read by Steve Berry! This time Cotton Malone has to battle the bad guys and his ex-wife as he tries to save his son from international kidnappers. He soon realizes the kidnapping was nothing more than a ploy to get him to help them find the fabled lost Library of Alexandria. This book has it all - great action scenes, memorable dialog, and bad and good guys galore. A very fun read littered with the odd facts about the Library of Alexandria. If you liked the Templar Legacy you'll really enjoy its sequel!

Click here to purchase a copy: The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I can't say enough about this book. It's been a long time since I've read such an emotionally involved novel. The story is about two Afghan women, two decades apart in age, whose lives tragivally intertwine in the least desirable of situations. Mariam, the older of the two, has had a hard life and is married to an abusive husband. Laila, the younger woman, grew up with a father dedicated to education and the rights of women. After the Taliban came to Afghanistan, Laila's life was completely uprooted, leading her into the life of Mariam. In the end, the two women bring more to each other than either thought possible. This is a haunting novel of the ravages of war and the plight of the Afghan, male and female alike. One can't help but be moved by this novel. I must admit; it was painful for me to read this book at many points. But at the end, it was worth it. Hosseini is a brillant writer and I guarantee that if nothing else, you will be a more compassionate person for having read it. Click this link to buy a copy: A Thousand Splendid Suns

White Flag Down

I just finished reading this WWII novel by author Joel N. Ross. What a fantastic read! His novel chronicles the involvement of the Swiss in the Nazi war effort. Yes, we know that the Swiss are neutral, but that doesn't mean they don't have sympathies! Ross weaves a powerful and adventure-packed story in Switzerland that takes a Swiss woman, an American pilot, and a Russian Major on a whirlwind adventure to stop the Nazis and the Russians from forming another pact. Full of excitement, twists and turns, this novel is what you hope for when you read fiction set during this time frame. If you are looking for an adventurous summer read, this is the book for you! I thouroughly enjoyed this novel and give it two thumbs up! This book will be published on July 31, 2007, and is available by clicking the following link: White Flag Down by Joel N. Ross

Enjoy!