More Novel Destinations Readers' Reviews!

Bikini Season by Sheila Roberts
Bikini Season is a fun and cute book about friendship.  A group of friends join together to diet together.  Everyone learns something about themselves along the way. Amid the funny situations they get into, they learn more about life, love, and friendship.  A great summer read! -- Dorris

Betrayal of Trust by J. A. Jance
J. A. Jance's new installment in the J. P. Beaumont series is an excellent police procedural that covers a multitude of dangers facing teens today, including snuff films, cyber bullying, predatorial advisors, non-functioning parents, and suicide.  There is just enough humor sprinkled through the story to lighten its message, and the sub-plot where Beau actually discovers who his father was is a nice twist and proof that these characters continue to surprise and entertain.  It's also refreshing to experience investigative work through the eyes of someone in their sixties, bad knees and all.

Tough love and courage reign in the end, families reunite as a gift for the dying, and reconstructive knee surgery looms as a starting point for the next time Jance treats her readers to more in the lives of these favorites.  It is a great story and scores 5/5 in my book!  -- Diane

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
As usual, Nora Roberts writes great attention-getting stories with attractive, assertive characters that are too good to be real.  Rowan fights fires by jumping out of airplanes.  She is beautiful and strong.  She can fight men bigger than she is.  She can't cook and I liked how she got upset when she learned that her dad was dating.  Her shortcomings made her more human.  They guy is also perfect. . . strong, good looking, and owns his own arcade business.  As always in Nora Roberts books, the couple solves the case and ends up with each other.  --Monica

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
Julia Alvarez explores the interrelated stories of a boy and his farm in Vermont and a Mexican family's hardships in the U.S.  Alvarez challenges readers to see the whole picture of Mexican migrant families, especially those torn between family members who are legal and illegal.  Though the issues are difficult and a reality that some care not to explore, the story is heartwarming in its narration through the voices of two budding adolescents.  I recommend reading this book.  -- Colleen

The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey
Reading this book helped me understand the Old Testament better, especially the Psalms.  It shows, in simple everyday language, how the Old Testament relates to the present.  People avoid the Old Testament because they feel it's not relevant in today's society and/or it's hard to understand.  This book helps the reader gain a better understanding of these books.  --Joyce