NOTE: These Outlander books are 1000 pages. That's cutting down on my numbers.
46. A Breath of Snow and Ashes Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #6) ****Set during the three years leading up to the American Revolution, this compulsively readable mix of authentically set historical fiction and completely satisfying romance maps both violent loss and strong family ties. On the eve of war much is changing on Fraser's Ridge and Jamie and Claire encounter much harm.45. Fiery Cross Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #5)**** Set against the War of the Regulation in North Carolina (the first tax-payer’s rebellion in the American colonies, and a precursor to the full-blown Revolution), the story deals with Jamie Fraser’s efforts to protect his family, build a community on Fraser’s Ridge, and keep his land–this last requiring him to walk a delicate tight-rope between the pressing urgency of the rebellion and the increasingly unsteady but still dangerously powerful government. In these efforts, he’s mostly aided–and occasionally hindered–by his wife Claire, who has become the conjure-woman for the Ridge, his daughter Brianna, whose 20th-century inventiveness may possibly kill them all, and his new son-in-law, Roger MacKenzie, which whom he has a rather wary relationship, owing to his having at one point sold Roger to the Iroquois (under the misapprehension that Roger had raped his daughter, but still…), and to Roger’s sense of inferiority, comparing his own budding skills at swordcraft, farming, and leadership with the man he refers to privately as “The Great Scot.”
44. All my Love, Detrick Roberta*** Kagan Detrick, a German boy, was born with every quality that the Nazi's considered superior, this would ensure his future as a leader of Adolph Hitler’s coveted Aryan race. But on his 7th birthday, an unexpected event changed the course of his destiny forever. As the Nazis rose to power, Detrick was swept into a life filled with secrets, enemies, betrayals, alliances and danger at every turn.
43. Mrs. Tuesday's Departure ***Suzanne E. Anderson Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…faith is the evidence of things not seen.
42. Paterno by the book ****Joe Paterno 1989. As relevant today as it was then. Here are the Paterno principles: the straight word from the curious quarterback and English major who went from Brooklyn to Brown to Penn State, who lost his way to law school and became instead America's best-loved coach.
41. Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4) ****Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history...and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past...or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong. (Amazon)
40. Voyager (Outlander #3) Diana Gabldon ****Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams. Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny.(Amazon)
39. Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) Diana Gabaldon ****For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his . (Amazon)
38. Outlander (Outlander #1) Diana Gabaldon****Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another..In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743..(Amazon)
37. Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Cheryl Strayed *** A young woman hikes the Pacific Crest Trail from southern Calif to Oregon to straighten out her life: bad girl's quest for redemption, survival, forgiveness.
36. Who Owns the Ice House Taulbert/Schoeniger **** 8 lessons (choice, opportunity, action, knowledge, wealth, brand, community, persistence) lead to entrepreneurial thinking.
35. Fostering Kimmie Cherie Mitchell***We had never owned a dog, but I had always admired greyhounds. Over the past few years we had moved countries, moved lives, adapted to a new environment. One afternoon a TV show about ex-racing greyhounds reignited my pledge to own an ex racing greyhound. This is the story of Kimmie and the lessons learned by both greyhound and human during the fostering journey. A story of how a dog who had lived in kennels her whole life adapted to both her new environment and new life, and to the humans who now shared her world. A positive story about these delightful, gentle, funny dogs. (Amazon)
34. Magic (Dog Myseries) Edmond Humm**Frankenstein meets Lassie. Two decades of genetic research and experimentation, subsidized by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, produces an amazing animal of the sub species Canis Lupus Familiaris. It appears to be a large golden retriever; however, it has one salient attribute that separates it from the rest of the canine world, it possesses the intelligence of an adult human being. Named Magic by the Marine whose life he saves, he travels from war torn Iraq to America and beyond. (Amazon)
33. Alaska Bound: One man's dream, one woman's nightmare Tammy Jones**Author has gone from bank teller to builder with a few career changes in between. Her honest and direct revelations will transport you to another world where she courageously takes on challenges that will both surprise and delight you. Her story about real-life experiences is a “must-have” for the adventurous soul. Amazon) If you can get past her whines.
32. Dead Reckoning Tom Wright***Civilization is descending into the apocalypse: a deadly, extinction-level plague engineered by terrorists, international wars, and mankind’s own innate depravity are about to take the world to the brink of collapse. Stranded on the idyllic tropical island that was his home and cut off from his wife and children by five thousand miles of ocean, Matt elicits the help of two loyal friends to find out what happened. Together, they defy the law and set out to sail across the Pacific Ocean to reunite with their loved ones—if they're still alive, if anyone is still alive. High seas, zombie-like pirates, severe storms, and terrible luck will test them physically. Hopelessness, anger, self-doubt and the pure horror of the disaster will test them mentally and emotionally. But against all odds and with the help of a woman they rescue along the way, they will make it to the mainland—and what they find there will be the ultimate test of survival. Dead Reckoning is a post-apocalyptic story of a man and his friends who will stop at nothing to save their families and each other.
31. Goliath Richard Turner***In 1931, during its maiden voyage, the British Airship Goliath mysteriously disappears without a trace. Hidden deep inside is a secret that could change the world. Present day, in The Philippines, an attempted kidnapping draws historian Jennifer March and former soldier Ryan Mitchell into a deadly race to find the Goliath before a mysterious figure who threatens to topple governments and the lives of millions. From Alaska, to West Africa to Iceland the hunt for the truth is on.(Amazon)
30. Killing Sands John Cleever***On December 21st 1988, Pan American Airways flight 103 exploded in a fireball over Lockerbie, Scotland. There were no survivors from this brutal act of terrorism. Colonel Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, had obstinately refused to allow the suspected bomber, Abdul Baset Al-Megrahi to be tried by the West, in the West until he could no longer withstand political pressure. Many years later, the international trial long over with Al-Megrahi sentenced to life imprisonment in a Scottish jail, Gaddafi paid a diluted compensation to those families whose loved ones went down. Following a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Al-Megrahi was subsequently released on compassionate grounds to spend the final days with his family in Libya, infuriating the west and the bereaved even further. (Amazon)Had events in this novel reached their intended solution, Pan Am 103 would have reached its destination and... Colonel Gaddafi would have long been assassinated.
29. Outlander: A Novel by Diana Gabaldon **** The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon — when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach — an "outlander" — in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord ... 1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life ... and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire ... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. (Amazon)
28. Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking *****Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. (Amazon)
27. The Language of Flowers*** The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. (Amazon)
26. Triple Exposure *** Collen Thompson Photographer Rachel Copeland has been formally acquitted of the murder of Kyle Underwood, a young man who stalked her, but she remains disgraced in her adopted Philadelphia community, where many still believe she seduced and killed him. Rumors and harassment follow Rachel as she flees to her hometown of Marfa, Texas, where she butts heads with her stepmother, Patsy, and other locals. One of the few people willing to support Rachel is Zeke Pike, a woodcarver with a secret of his own, and they soon wrestle with romantic feelings for each other as mysterious stalkers threaten and try to separate them. Thompson's supporting characters and their tensions are believable, especially Patsy with her multilayered jealousy and unhappiness.(Amazon review)
25. Saving Eddie the Rescue Dog** Marty Gates Talking dog tells how (rescue) dogs should be treated. Too much how to for me.
24. Lahn's Edge***Chuck Driskell Patrick Lacher, a fully-recovered Purple Heart recipient and an American hero. He's a model soldier, possessing a genius IQ and dashing good looks. He's also rumored to have family money back in Texas, which would explain his M-series BMW, his luxury apartment and his stable of alluring women. Unknown to his unit, golden boy Patrick Lacher is a thief. He's concocted a seemingly foolproof method for stealing and selling Army fuel. There's just one flaw in his scheme: a beautiful, equally-intelligent young criminal named Rebekka. She has the looks of a runway model and the training of a professional psychiatrist. Her mission: entrap Patrick using her psychological and sensual talents. (Amazon review)
23. The Last Call ** George Wier Bill Travis is an investment counselor; the go to guy when you have a little extra money that you need to invest but invest in a way that is legal but hidden from Uncle Sam's extended hands. On a Monday morning he meets his newest client Julie. She needs his help to retrieve some money from a very bad man. Bill agrees to help this damsel in distress and by agreeing, he finds himself on one thrilling but deadly ride of the week. (Amazon review)
22. Washington's Lady****Nancy Moser Biography of the private life of Martha Washington. An excellent look into the first lady's life in Colonial America.
21. Color Tour**Aaron Standler A plodding murder mystery set in small town Michigan on the lake at a private school.
20. Start Something That Matters****Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe Giver at TOMS (Tomorrow's shoes) explains why early, meaningful charitable giving is important your business plan, you as an entrepreneur, and the world.
19. Adrenaline ***John Benedict Murder, greed, adultery: just what every Pa hospital needs...and Penn State graduates too.
18. The Dressmaker of Khan Khana****Gayle Lemmon Second daughter of educated Afghani man leads her 8 sisters to safety through entrepreneurship. They start as dressmaking business at home, teach the neighborhood women, and make enough money to prosper. (Non-fiction)
17. Blindsided ***Jay Giles Matt Seattle, a Sarasota stockbroker, befriends an older stock enthusiast, Joe Jesso. During one of their weekly Wednesday morning sessions, Joe announces he’s gotten married. A week later, Joe dies. Believing Joe may have been the victim of a black widow, Matt hires an investigator to look into Joe’s death. The investigator finds old Joe wasn’t so innocent; he embezzled money from a drug cartel. Suddenly, Matt finds himself battling Joe’s widow and her shyster lawyer who want his money, The National Association of Security Dealers who wants his broker’s license, and the cartel who wants his life.
16. Lost at Starvation Lake**Gary Hansen No problem that money and God can't solve in the poorly edited Christian novel. Full of acrylogia (replacing a word with another which sounds similar but is incorrect. i.e. chalk and chock, paster and pastor) and grammar errors. Glad it was free.
15. Another Sky***Fereshteh Roshan Wounded, kidnapped by the Afghani rebels, and then imprisoned at infamous interrogation cell of Pakistani Intelligence Service, Anika stubbornly follows her own vision of humanitarian work, where the ultimate aim is to assist those who need the assistance the most.
14. 10 Days in the Everglades***Michael Goldy 7 friends take a canoe trip in the Everglades. 6 are experience one who isn't has a life changing experience as he meets nature in the wild.
13. The Back Door Man***Dave Buschi James Kolinsky, a simple family man who works in information security. His day goes from bad to worse when he discovers that his greatest fear is his fault and what’s happened to him has happened to millions of others. He’s been set up. His family—make that the world—has been taken hostage. In the next twenty-four hours he back doors his way into the thieves' plan, solves the problem, returns the money, and save his family from the wrath of the bad guys.
12. Collapse***Richard Stephenson 2nd great depression, 2 cat 5 hurricanes, and terrorism from within cause the collapse of the US. Obviously a series as it doesn't end; it just stops.
11. Cultivating Hope*** Linda Hubalek 1869-1886 Life in Kansas for a Swedish immigrant family. They arrived at their homestead with nothing but a strong work ethic and what they could carry.
10. Sliding on the Snow Stone **** Andy Szpuk Autobiography of life in the Ukraine during WW2 and how he trudged, avoiding the Soviets and the Nazis, to be picked up by Americans and sent to England.
9. Psalter***Galen Watson A medieval prayer book, an Irish saint's prophecy, and a forgery that changed the church on top of a female pope. Jumping back and forth between centuries made this sometimes difficult to read.
8. Lone Survivor****Marcus Luttrell SEAL team is lost in Afghanistan, 1 or of 4 survives and their first rescue chopper is killed too. Horrible story; great book.
7. The Hundred-Foot Journey ****Richard C. Morais Indian boy with perfect palate is mentored by several French 2-3 star chefs. (paper!)
6. FlapJack***Daniel Ganninger An explosion rocks a New England university lab setting off a carefully orchestrated chain of events. A small dAvogadro Group: The singularity is Closerevice has been stolen, a key to the entire world's energy problems, and the power that comes with controlling it. Investigators to the rescue.
5. Avogadro Group: The singularity is Closer ***William Hertling David Ryan is the designer of ELOPe, an email language optimization program, that if successful, will make his career. But when the project is suddenly in danger of being canceled, David embeds a hidden directive in the software accidentally creating a runaway artificial intelligence. David and his team are initially thrilled when the project is allocated extra servers and programmers. But excitement turns to fear as the team realizes that they are being manipulated by an A.I. who is redirecting corporate funds, reassigning personnel and arming itself in pursuit of its own agenda.
4. Dark Perfection *** Mark James Advanced weapon systems, the behind-the-scenes politics of Washington DC with the darkest global killer yet conceived. After the worst terrorist attack in U.S history, O’Neill is ordered to Washington to interrogate the only terrorist survivor – Aisha, the Arab girl with the face of a Siren. O’Neill is then pulled into a brutal homicide investigation as he aids Detective Keialani Keno, a childhood friend from Hawaii teaching at the FBI Academy, as she attempts to solve a bizarre series of murders.
3. How Green was My Valley****Llewellyn Welsh town dies of unionization and environmental collapse. Huw Morgan recalls the times when his valley was green and not black with coal dust and slag.
2. The Flu *** J. Druga A deadlier that ever flu breaks out and kills 80% of the World. Mick, chief of police, takes charge and quarantines his town of Lodi, Ohio, from the rest of the world because no on in Lodi yet has the disease. This is an Apocalypse in the making; the town gets through the disaster but not without death.
1. Sparrow Migrations*** Carl Norga An autistic boy finds himself in birds, specifically Canada Geese, after watching the "Miracle on the Hudson", plane crash and rescue, from a ferry on the river.
