JUNE - Rachelle - Fury by Robert Tanenbaum

In Brooklyn, a female jogger is brutally raped; the assailants are convicted and later exonerated by the Kings County DA. Now the guilty are filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city of New York, the police, and the two Brooklyn Assistant DAs who tried the case. Caught in the glare of the media-frenzy, Butch Karp may be blinded to the lethal maneuverings of a terrorist cell plotting to bring the city to its knees by striking Times Square on New Year's Eve. But the destruction begins far below ground, in the subway system -- where Karp's family may become their first victims....

MEETING DATE:  11:30 A.M. on Monday, June 18th at Primos in Rocklin

Everyone by Jan (?) and Rachelle (out of town) attended.  Nancy's sister Eileen joined us as well.  Erin, Janice and Nancy were determined to read the book, but most everyone agreed there were too many characters to follow.

MAY - NANCY - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Monday, May 28th

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

All 7 of us met at Nancy's home at noon on Memorial Day.  Nancy had food leftover from their 40th anniversary party and we had a long, quiet discussion about The Hunger Games.  Everyone but Rachelle (who's been inundated by work) has read the book or seen the movie. 

APRIL - JANICE - The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock

Monday, April 23rd

The Edge of Town
by Dorothy Garlock

First love is sweet for a fresh-faced country girl in bestselling author Garlock's latest romance, set in 1920s Missouri. Since her mother's death, lovely Julie Jones has cared for her farmer father and five siblings. She dotes on her family, but she also dreams of the day a worthy love will come and whisk her away. When Evan Johnson, the son of the Joneses' despised neighbor, Walter, comes home to take over his father's farm, he proves a pleasant surprise. The handsome young WWI vet has a college education, and is nothing like his drunken, abusive father. Julie worries that he'll never notice a country girl, but Evan falls fast for her and her lively, tight-knit family. The course of true love does sport a few bumps: a neighbor's pretty sister, Birdie, and her daughter come to visit and Birdie sets her cap for Julie's father, Jethro, managing to stir up plenty of trouble. Meanwhile, local lawman Corbin Appleby is stalking a rapist who has been preying on the young women of the county for years, and who hovers frighteningly near the Jones family. A secret Julie has kept for years threatens the lovers' happiness, too, but trust and justice win the day in this heartland romance. Garlock's dark and incongruously graphic rape subplot seems out of place in an otherwise charming story, but her sprightly dialogue and convincing depiction of family farm life rescue the tale.

Everyone but Jan (granddaughter's play) and Rachelle (sick) met at ON THE BORDER where we had Happy Hour appetizers.

MARCH - Erin - A Web of Evil by J.A. Jance

MEETING DATE: Sunday, March 18th at lunch

Fired from her dream job as a Los Angeles new anchor and still recovering from the truth about her cheating husband, Ali is content to lick her wounds far away in Sedona, Arizona. But before she can leave the past behind, she must return to L.A.: her ex, Paul, is in a hurry for a divorce so he can marry his very young, very pregnant fiancÉe. But the day before the final proceedings, Paul's bound and broken body is found in the Palm Springs desert. Ali finds herself the sole heir to his wealthy estate - and the prime suspect in his brutal murder. As the evidence piles up against her, she must navigate a torturous path strewn with danger - and bodies - to expose the real cold-blooded thriller.

Everyone but Rachelle met at a small bistro for lunch to discuss the book. Everyone read the book and liked it.

FEBRUARY - JAN - A STOLEN LIFE - Jaycee Dugard

MEETING DATE: Sunday, February 19th





When Jaycee Dugard was eleven years old, she was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. She was missing for more than eighteen years, held captive by Phillip Craig and Nancy Garrido, and gave birth to two daughters during her imprisonment. On August 26, 2009, Garrido showed up for a meeting with his parole officer; he brought Jaycee, her daughters, and his wife Nancy with him. Their unusual behavior raised suspicions and an investigation revealed the tent behind the Garridos’ home where Jaycee had been living for nearly two decades. A Stolen Life was written by Jaycee herself and covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991 up until the present. In her stark, compelling narrative, she opens up about what she experienced—and offers an extraordinary account of courage and resilience.

Everyone met at Jack's Urban Eats for lunch and discussed the book

JANUARY - Rachelle - A Vision in White

Meeting Date: Sunday, January 22nd for lunch

Nora Roberts - VISION IN WHITE****

Childhood friends, Emma, Laurel, Parker, and Mackensie operate a wedding planner company named Vows. Each has their own specialty: one creates beautiful wedding cakes, one arranges floral arrangements, one handles the books, and one is a photographer. Together they are able to unite people on their most joyous occasions. The first character we learn about is Mackensie. Mackensie is a renowned photographer and her works have been featured in some of the top magazines. Despite being an integral part of the wedding business, Mackensie, doesn't pursue a husband and doesn't see herself ever getting married. This lack of interest might be due, in part, to her mother, Linda. Linda has had numerous marriages and uses her daughter as a shoulder when things go wrong. All that changes with a chance meeting with Carter. Carter is the brother of a soon to be bride. Nora Roberts is a master at developing characters and it should be no surprise that Vision in White, follows the same formula. Her ability to blend emotions with the background settings is another of her amazing talents. The wedding business, Vows, almost feels like an additional character and the struggles each of the friends endure make this a novel not to be missed. It is fun, engaging, and flows like a gentle river.

Everyone but Rachelle gathered and had lunch at Dennys in Rocklin. Rainy day.

2012/13 BOOK ROSTER and CHRISTMAS MEETING LOCATIONS

2013 Book Selections
January - Rachelle - PLAY DEAD by Harlan Coben



2012 Book Selections and Christmas Meeting Roster

January - Linda - VISION IN WHITE by Nora Roberts
February - Jan - A STOLEN LIFE by Jaycee Dugard
March - Erin - WEB OF EVIL by J.A. Jance
April - Janice - THE EDGE OF TOWN by Dorothy Garlock
May - Nancy - THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
June - Rachelle - FURY by Robert Tanenbaum
July - Frances - THE BROKER by John Grisham
August - Linda - FALLEN by Karin Slaugher
September - Jan - MINDING FRANKIE by Maeve Binchey
October - Erin - THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis
November - Janice - DAKOTA HOME by Debbie McComber
December - Nancy -  KISSING CHRISTMAS GOODBYE by M.C. Beaton

 

CHRISTMAS MEETINGS - PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE:
1998 - Nancy
1999 - Erin
2000 - Jan
2001 - Linda
2002 - Janice
2003 - Jennifer
2004 - Rachelle
2005 - Jan
2006 - Linda
2007 - Janice
2008 - Nancy
2009 - Janice
2010 - Erin
2011 - Rachelle
2012 - Nancy
2013 - Frances
2014 - Linda
2015 - Erin
2016 - Rachelle
2017 - Janice