Swimming at Night

By Lucy Clarke  Two sister's learn the about the devastating line

between love and hate, need and want, true happiness and contentment. Katie and Mia grow up in Cornwall England with their loving mother in a small house near the sea. Katie, the older sister by three years, has spent her well disciplined life looking out for Mia, teaching her, guiding her and secretly wishing for just a small bit of the freedom and energy emanating from Mia's life. Mia desperately wants to be like her older sister, following her, admiring her yet constantly disappointing her. Well, at least thats the way they see it. Irresponsible Mia is found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Bali. Katie discovers hers sisters infamous journal in her belongings and decides the only way to understand this tragedy is to follow in her sisters footsteps. Keeping the journal close to her heart, Katie learns of the twists and unexpected turns Mia's life had taken the last few months. She feels closer to Mia than ever and as she finds the answers to life's most difficult questions she also discovers who she really is. This novel is filled with sibling psyche, romance, friendship and magnificent scenery. It's got it all! HIGHLY recommend this excellent read, you will not want to put it down!! BUY NOW!
Swimming at Night: A Novel

Pictures of the Past

By Deby Eisenberg  It is 1937 and Taylor Woodmere of Chicago,

is sent to Europe on behalf of his fathers successful business. While traveling he meets and falls madly in love with Sarah Berger, beautiful daughter of a Jewish business associate from Berlin. He presents her with a gift of a magnificent painting by Henri Lebasque that she will possess until they could be together again. And so begins this generational saga engrossing the reader from WWII to present day. Chapters flashing back and forth in time with the lives of Taylor, his disastrous son Courtland and finally his children and grandchildren as well.  Descriptive scenes of the Worlds Fair in 1937, the rise of Hitler, and resistance movement that followed changed all their lives forever. Later when the infamous painting is donated to The Chicago Museum of Art its provenance is questioned and history and love reach back more than 70 years to find the answers and the truth. I recommend this novel if you desire a simplistic historical quick read. It is not a blockbuster but is good. BUY NOW!
Pictures of the Past

Fin & Lady

By Cathleen Schine    It is 1964 and Fin Hadley, an orphan

has come to NYC to live with his new guardian and long lost older sister named Lady. Lady, an exotic free spirited intellectual searching for love and acceptance in a world filled with rules and war. Fin is eleven years old. He has spent most of his childhood on a dairy farm in Connecticut. Fin just wants to have a family and feel safe. He just wants to be loved. Fin watches out for Lady as much as Lady watches out for Fin. Then there is Mabel, the negro maid that does not want to discuss civil rights, thinks these people are generally nuts and loves them more than anything in the world. "Uncles" Tyler, Biffi and Jack, potential suitors for Lady, Phoebe the girl across the street whom Fin confides and joins in his escapades. A colorful novel filled with witty fun and adventure, love and loss. A warm, delicious story from beginning to end, highly recommended! BUY OR DOWNLOAD TODAY!!
Fin & Lady: A Novel

The Woman Upstairs

By Claire Messud       Nora Eldridge is a 37 year old schoolteacher

living in the suburbs of Boston. She has been a good girl, a good daughter and a good friend - all of her life. And she has been waiting. Waiting for true happiness. Waiting to find that magic moment when a person realizes their purpose. And she is waiting. And Nora is getting angry and bitter while she waits. When Nora meets the Shahid family her life dramatically changes. Each member, husband, wife and child become significant to Nora in their unique way and Nora becomes obsessed with their very being. This book is a quiet, intense probe into the workings of an ordinary woman searching for an extraordinary life. Claire Messud is a magnificent writer, I found there were sentences I had to read over and over. She slowly brings the reader closer and closer to the heart of the truth. Highly recommend this excellent read. BUY NOW!
The Woman Upstairs

Crazy Rich Asians

By Kevin Kwan  After two years of dating, Nick is finally bringing

Rachel home to meet his family in Singapore. They are both professors at NYU and plan on spending the summer traveling on holiday after attending the wedding of Nick's best friend, Colin. Nick basically has been leading a double life; while in NYC he appears as an intelligent struggling young history professor, he has failed to mention that he hails from one of the most powerful and richest families in Singapore. He does not warn or properly prepare Rachel for the scrutiny and evil eyes she is about to receive from his entire (huge!) family at the mega $40 million wedding of century. This funny, laugh out loud novel sweeps the reader through the world of private jets, couture designer boutiques, yachts the size of cruise ships and mansions staffed with an army of servants. Mr. Kwan describes the delicious cuisine (yum!) in detail, regals us with this ridiculous opulence, which he apparently toned down to be believable! Intermixed with difficult family dynamics (like any family!) a lovely romance between Nick and Rachel and characters out of the cheekiest international soap opera! Fun, enjoyable, terrific beach read! A definite MUST this summer!
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Crazy Rich Asians

With or Without You

By Domenica Ruta  This insightful, semi chilling memoir stars

Nikki, as she is called by most, a young girl growing up in Danvers, Massachusetts during the 1980's. She lives in a ramshackle home that is falling apart and filled with trash, with her drug induced single mom who loves her deeply. But love is a tricky word to describe Kathi Ruta who appears uneducated, yet is wicked smart and quite savvy. Kathi seems most untrustworthy, yet consistently figures out, connives, steals and lies her way to solving most problems successfully. She verbally abuses Nikki and simultaneously loves her immensely. Nikki is raised in a world of drug deals, an extended complicated family in a town where most people do not aspire to ever leave. Nikki finds herself living in a world of books and excels at academics at every level. Her mother secures her a coveted scholarship to private school and even through her drug haze pushes Nikki to always reach for more. After a life filled with such contradiction, it is sadly no surprise that Nikki finds herself as an addicted adult on a confusing road to nowhere. Reminiscent of The Glass Castle, this memoir stole my heart. This authors honest deep story of her life is witty and brilliantly written. The reader wants to cheer, pray and save this smart hungry little girl. There is no doubt this author was born to write and share her words. I recommend this excellent, somewhat difficult read.  BUY TODAY!
With or Without You: A Memoir

If I Stay

By Gayle Forman      Mia is a cellist, a prodigy growing up in

Oregon with open minded hippie parents and an adorable little brother. Juilliard bound and finishing highschool Mia has fallen madly in love with Adam, a talented local punker in a rock band. Suddenly - unexpectedly - tragically - a terrible accident occurs leaving Mia struggling for her life. She quietly reflects on her family, friends and passions to find a deeper truer meaning in her fight to hang on. This layered, simplistic story is sickeningly beautiful, the friendships so true. Focusing on the sacrifices we all make for our children and loved ones on a daily basis. What is life, before and after all the beauty. How people celebrate life every single day, never knowing what the next one will bring. Measuring success and constantly comparing to others when it could all be taken away in a single moment. This is a teary but enjoyable story that forces you to face the truth, or at least one of them.  Highly recommend this novel. It is a YA novel that actually has a sequel I cannot wait to get my hands on.  BUY TODAY!!
If I Stay

The Husband's Secret

By Liane Moriarty  Amazing Australian author Liane Moriarty

(What Alice Forgot & The Hypnotist's Love Story!) once again mesmerizes her readers with a tangled web of love, family and friendship. Tess, Rachel and Cecelia find themselves connected in extraordinary circumstances that they could have never dreamed of in a million years. Tess, a young mother and wife is terrified of losing all she worked for in a mystifying love triangle; Cecelia the perfect mom, housewife and tupperware extraordinaire is shocked to find a letter revealing a past she knew nothing about and her husband's most terrifying secret and Rachel is raging and mourning over the loss of her daughter Janie who was murdered 28 years prior. As the reader delves into each of the women's stories, the connections become astonishingly clear. Who would you choose when it is all at risk? How far would you go to keep a secret? Could not put down this page turner, a definite must read for summer! Enjoy!! BUY TODAY!!!
The Husband's Secret

Where'd You Go Bernadette

By Maria Semple    Bernadette Fox, certified award winning genius

architect/mom/wife/recluse is living in Seattle with her husband, Elgie, a top top top at Microsoft and her brilliant, sassy 15 yr old daughter named Bee. They live in a ramshackle home that used to be a reformatory for pregnant girls and while Bee attends a local out-of-the-box school, Bernadette hides in her backyard Airstream and sits on her computer all day complaining about Seattle, everyone in Seattle and everyone near Seattle while having a virtual assistant in India complete all her daily tasks. This hysterical, completely UNIQUE, funny book will certainly take you away! The adventures and misadventures of this family and town is almost a spoof and yet could actually be true at the same time. The reader will find themselves in the minds of a topsy turvy world where everyone is on the edge of - is it genius - or crazy???? After many recommendations I am so glad I finally read this book. Sometimes you just can't take yourself so seriously! A GREAT SUMMER READ! People at the beach will keep wondering why you are smiling. BUY OR DOWNLOAD TODAY!
Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel

Is This Tomorrow

By Caroline Leavitt   Ava Lark lives with her 12 yr old son Lewis in Waltham, MA.

The year is 1956 and it is not easy for a divorced, Jewish, working, single mother who just happens to be beautiful - to live in this small town in this small time. It is a period in America where divorce is unacceptable, as are tight jeans and being even a little "pink" (communist or showing signs against the coming war in any way). Lewis has only two friends in the whole wide world and they happen to also be fatherless (theirs died from a heart attack). Jimmy and Rose are siblings that live across the street and the three mouseketeers are inseparable. Ava works, Ava dates, everything Ava does is frowned upon by the neighbors and deep inside shames her son, as he yearns to be more like everyone else. One day a horrible tragedy occurs that changes each of their lives forever. This novel is about family and friendship. It is about love and acceptance. It is hard enough for adults to maneuver through this sometimes crazy world, remember how it felt to be twelve. Ms. Leavitt is an extraordinary writer. She brings the reader into the mind and hearts of these tremendous characters. It is amazing how things on the surface are so very different today yet people have hardly changed at all. Highly recommend this fantastic summer read!!
A MUST READ!!! BUY OR DOWNLOAD TODAY!!
Is This Tomorrow: A Novel

The Silver Star

By Jeanette Walls    Nothing is better than a hammock, a great book, a hot summer day and reading it

in its entirety in 6 hours! :-) Liz and Bean, two sisters that take care of each other through the trials and tribulations of a complicated lifestyle. Charlotte, their mother, a singer and songwriter basically wandering the country with her two beloved daughters leaves them alone to find herself during a "bad spell." When authorities become suspicious that the girls on on their own, Liz, 15 and Bean 12 decide to find their Uncle Tinsley and travel across the country by bus, from California to Virginia and the small hometown of their mother. The girls are smart and savvy and their love is never ending, doing whatever it takes to survive in a world that is not always true or honest. This novel is about family, love, civil rights, and your place in society. It is the early 1970's and while world is trying to fight its way to fairness, so too are Liz and Bean. With the beautiful writing of Ms. Walls, the reader manages to once again love the wacky mother who doesn't always follow the rules but loves her girls nonetheless. If you loved The Glass Castle, DO NOT MISS THIS AMAZING READ!!!
BUY OR DOWNLOAD!! The Silver Star: A Novel

Goodbye for Now

By Laurie Frankel    Sam is a software engineer living in Seattle,

working for a romance matching web site. He is so good at his job that he gets fired. But not before matching himself with a coworker named Meredith and unexpectedly falling head over heels in love. Meredith becomes overwhelmed by the passing of her beloved grandmother and Sam gives her the gift of a lifetime. And so starts the most unique storyline I have ever read. One that is hard to accept but amazing to imagine. In this new high tech world we live in, it is not too far to stretch the imagination and realize that our every click will follow us long after we are gone. Amazing writing, page turner, wonderful funny loving characters. This novel is a great summer read, highly recommend. Enjoy!!
BUY IT NOW!!! Goodbye for Now

The Interestings

By Meg Wolitzer    Summertime during adolescence, torture for some, defining moments for others. The Interestings, a self named group of teens at Spirit-in-the-Woods, an arts camp in the Berkshires. It is the mid 1970's. Womens rights, freedom of expression and spin the bottle are the hot topics of the summer. These new friends share experiences, dreams and hopes that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Jules the comic actress, Ash the playwright, her brother Goodman - the spoiled good looking one, Jonah - a talented musician with a famous mother, and Ethan - whose talent as an animator outweighs all others from the very beginning. These teens are self conscience and curious. The loving friendships they form evolve and struggle through the years but never disappear, even as some of their dreams and visions fade into memory. Success, envy, jealousy and change, always change. This novel is superbly written, the characters are crisp and clear, their journey created by many pieces of real life. A heartwarming story filled with creativity and love. As I highly recommend (and I do!!), the only note is that it is long. The chapters are long, the book is long. I thoroughly enjoyed each part but it is a time consuming read. Perfect for the summer when you have the time and inclination to read and reminisce.
BUY NOW!! DOWNLOAD OR PURCHASE! The Interestings: A Novel

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

By Mohsin Hamid  

 A table in an outdoor cafe in Lahore Pakistan, two men, one evening, a tale that is both simplistic and complicated. Told in a dramatic narrative form, Changez details his recent years to man who could either be a friend or foe, the reader is never sure. A top student, from an old Pakistani family, Changez graduated from Princeton and was living in NYC, working at an upscale financial establishment. He was a shining star at work, had a blossoming friendship with Erica, a beautiful fellow Princeton graduate and was enjoying an expense account for the first time in his life. And then it is September 11, 2001. Changez recounts his sense of betrayal, loss and confusion to his newfound dinner companion. How his life and future changed in an instant. One of the most unique styles of writing I have ever encountered. A story that will fill your imagination with images and your heart with questions. Do not miss this extraordinary read.
BUY NOW! By Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist: A Novel

Austenland

By Shannon Hale  

 A single girl in NYC, working as a graphic designer at a magazine, dating one disappointing man after another, Jane secretly dreams of another man, in another time. Jane is obsessed with Jane Austen novels and the romantic idea of Mr. Darcy. Not a single date in real time can ever live up to the idea and notions she has of a real gentleman and true love. When her Aunt Carolyn passes away she wills Jane a 3 week vacation at Pembroke Park, hence Austenland. And so begins a modern day Austen tale of this beautiful young woman finding love and most importantly finding herself in the process. If you loved Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict or Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, enjoy this quick summer read, loved it!!
CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW!!   Austenland: A Novel

The Best of Us

By Sarah Pekkanen

Four college friends and their spouses find themselves on the tropical island of Jamaica to celebrate Dwight's 35th birthday. Isolated in a magnificent vacation villa they realize a lot has changed since college days as they explore their lives, and question their choices, desires and dreams. Suitcases are filled with sexy swimsuits, sunscreen and unfortunately all their fears and worries tag along. Although this story is one that most of us could write (and definitely relate to!) - predictable, simple, honest writing, make this novel a fun, mindless, quick beachy chic read for summer. Enjoy, I did!!  BUY NOW!!
The Best of Us: A Novel

And the Mountains Echoed

By Khaled Hosseini 

As many streams flow into a central river, so does this novel by esteemed author Khaled Hosseini. When Pari is four years old, she is taken to the big city of Kabul, away from her small village family, never to see them again. Abdullah, her older brother has cared for her since the day she was born, as their mother died during Pari's delivery. Their father, remarried, works day and night to provide for his family in this poor village in Afghanistan. The separation of Pari and her brother begins a chain of effects lasting through decades and changing the lives of everyone it touches. Written with beautiful language, these chapters are almost short stories in themselves woven together with the central thread of Pari, who spends her life mystified by an empty void she does not understand and Abdullah, who never fully accepts the loss of the special bond they shared. Do not get frustrated by the numerous names, dates and places. This is an enjoyable read but one must pay close attention as it jumps forward and back through time.  A must read for summer!
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The Storyteller

By Jodi Picoult

Sage Singer is a twenty five year old lost soul. At such a young age Sage feels she has lost everything has ever mattered. Her parents, her beauty, her friends and sadly, her hope. Living in a small town in New Hampshire, Sage has spent her life in the shadows of her outspoken sisters and questionable faith. She squirrels herself away as a baker, working nights for an ex-nun and sleeping all day while the world spins forward without her. Until Sage meets Josef Weber. A 95 yr old German man could that will change her path and life forever. Sage is deeply connected to her grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, who has never shared her past but continued on to a loving full life. The Storyteller is more than another Holocaust story of survival. The moral codes of guilt, forgiveness and regret are dissected through a story within a story. Jodi Picoult never fails to amaze the reader with her intricate web of characters connecting in ways never imagined. There is no doubt that she is the ultimate storyteller. Don not miss this awesome summer read!
BUY NOW!! The Storyteller

Oleander Girl

By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Fall in love with Korobi Roy as she takes us on a journey through friendship, family, loyalty and secrets of the past.  This most endearing main character finds herself engaged to the man of her dreams, while forced to question everything she ever believed in about her parents, grandparents and most of all, herself. Korobi attends college in Kolkata, India, while living with her grandparents in their ancient beautiful home. Her grandfather is an especially well respected lawyer with a deep rooted family history that makes Korobi the perfect match for Rajat, son of two successful parents enmeshed in their climb of the social ladder. Korobi's honesty and innocence bring out the very best in this young man, Rajat, who is living life in the fast lane. After a confusing vision following her engagement, Korobi finds herself searching for the truth surrounding her parents death. Korobi is determined to understand the mother she has never known and follow her heart, no matter what the cost. From India to America Korobi's mix of strength, curiosity and bravery helps her confront these ghosts, both real and imagined. The author brings the story alive with the sights and smells and sounds of a rambunctious city (so vivid!) and young love of Rajat and Korobi, extremely likeable characters. Similar to my other India favorite's, here is a beautiful story not to be missed. An enjoyable read of a culture both exotic and mysterious that takes the reader to another continent, if only for a few days!
BUY IT NOW!! THIS GREAT SUMMER READ!! Oleander Girl: A Novel

Maya's Notebook

By Isabel Allende 

Maya Vidal is abandoned by her parents when she is very young. She is raised by her loving, intelligent beautiful grandparents whom she calls Nini and Popo.  When Popo unexpectedly passes away Maya is devastated and this tragedy leaves her despondent and careless. The beautiful, soccer playing girl is now a rebellious, belligerent teenager. Her behavior spirals out of control until she hits the very bottom of our society. This story approaches love, loss and friendship with a mix of spiritual guidance and sometimes magical beliefs. The very brightest star to the absolute lowest point in a humans life is described with extraordinary detail. The happiness and pain comes alive on these pages as the novel unfolds from their artistic home in Berkeley CA to the streets of Las Vegas and finally a remote island off of Chile. This author has a remarkable way to bring the reader into the very hearts and minds of these loveable characters. Do not miss reading this unique, one of a kind story. Excellent!

BUY NOW!! Maya's Notebook: A Novel

Reconstructing Amelia

By Kimberly McCreight

 Amelia is a smart, beautiful, talented teen attending a posh prep school in Brooklyn NY. She has a best friend, plays field hockey and dreams of being in love. Amelias mom Kate has done all that she can to make their family the best it can be. As a single parent with a stressful but satisfying job at a top law firm, Kate may not have enough hours in the day but like most parents she thinks she understands her daughter. When tragedy strikes Kate delves into the details she never knew existed. Emails, texts, facebook and horrid videos announce all the things that have been troubling Amelia. As Kate searches for answers her past collides with her present and everything she once believed is questioned. This suspenseful story with vivid characters analyzes the truth, not necessarily in the eye of the beholder but in the mysterious electronic language of this generation. If you liked Gone Girl, Defending Jacob or This Beautiful Life do not miss this contemporary mesmerizing story which is already in the works for a movie starring Nicole Kidman, perfect! BUY IT NOW! Reconstructing Amelia: A Novel

Mom & Me & Mom

By Maya Angelou 

A beautiful memoir of what it means to be a mother, a daughter and everything in between. In magnificent prose Maya Angelou details her abandonment and lifelong reunion with her dynamic, brilliant and feisty one of a kind mother. Unable to "mother" as she would want to, Vivian Baxter sent 3 yr old Maya and 5 yr old brother Bailey to Arkansas to live with their paternal grandmother. After ten long but loving years they returned to San Francisco and the home of Vivian whom Maya decided to call "Lady." Although at times a very bumpy road Maya's mother never passed up a moment or opportunity to encourage her daughter to the limits of her talent, freedom and womanhood. She was blessed to have Vivian in her life and double blessed to have the ability to look back with such loving reflection. Most importantly, Maya Angelou has the words to share her story with the world. I found myself wanting to take notes. Don't miss this easy enjoyable perfect Mothers Day read!

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald  By Therese Anne Fowler 

The Jazz Age, Writers, Artists, Musicians, Prohibition, the earlier part of the 1900's in NYC, in Paris. A time when art is exploding. People of interest and ideas are displaying and performing art that had previously been reserved and conservative. Zelda Sayre, a beautiful girl filled with wit and talent and charm is swept off her feet in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama by none other than F. Scott Fitzgerald, handsome in a military uniform, consumed with desire for fame and riches he felt he should have been born to. Their tumultuous, love/hate relationship with family, friends and each other fits like a puzzle piece into this time period of risk and risque. Ms. Fowler's historical novel, told in Zelda's voice has the reader immersed in another world, a different place, a far off time. Entranced by this intense romance I could not put down, described in a voice so real, I dreamt of Zelda and Scott, heard their voices, almost tasted the champagne! All on the eve of The Great Gatsby remake arriving onto the big screen! WARNING: DO NOT MISS THIS READ!!!

Fever

FEVER  By Mary Beth Keane    This interesting, sad, historical, true story of Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary! Mary, a beautiful feisty Irish immigrant has made her way to NYC in 1893. She is a fantastic cook and soon finds work in some of the most prominent homes of the time. A few years later Mary is approached by a health inspector/physician and accused of spreading typhoid fever. She is bewildered and distraught and violently responds to their request for testing. Mary is subdued and taken to North Brother Island, a small isolated island adjacent to Manhattan. There, very ill people arrive, never to leave. TB, Diptheria, Typhoid, etc. Mary has never been sick a day and appears healthy and strong. She becomes the first "healthy" carrier and the DOH does not know how to handle the situation. This novel follows Mary's fate and difficult journey through the system. Mary is smart, outspoken and refuses to give up on life. Excellent novel of a subject we do not hear much about. Accurate portrayal of NYC in the early 1900's and relationships within the colorful, loud, immigrant neighborhoods of the lower east side. Highly recommend.

The House Girl

The House Girl By Tara Conklin  

It is the mid 1800's and Josephine, a 17 yr old slave girl that has never stepped foot off of her owners plantation in Virgina wants to/has to/ must! run!  She has been "lucky" if one can see that being a house girl was far better than being a field hand. Josephine's missus teaches her to read and allows her to assist with paintings and drawings that are her saving grace after 17 miscarriages. Josephine is beautiful and has an artistic gift that one can only be born with. Flash forward, Lina Sparrow is a young twenty something lawyer at an elite NYC firm and has taken on the historical case of a lifetime regarding reparations for slave descendants. These two worlds, so separate yet completely connected. Ms. Conklin brings the reader so deeply into the thoughts and hearts of its characters, it's as if you are under a spell as each chapter unfolds. The voices are palpable and while it is quite clear what the heroines should do next, the steps are never that easy. Highly recommend this amazing story of love and hope and dreams of freedom.

Lean In

Lean In By Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is the COO at facebook. She wears many hats; mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and high powered businesswoman. She wears them well. Lean In is about passion, living life to the fullest, and her personal experiences in the workforce. It describes Sheryl's compelling journey, the influential people she has met and her personal and sometimes public unease with the gender gap in the work place. After confirming a pattern in the many successful women and men she spoke with (and quotes) throughout this book, Sheryl Leaned In and faced her fears by chronicling her journey. There are a number of reasons to read this book, some you will agree with, some you will not,  but the most vital lesson is it is never too late to LEAN IN.

The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans By M.L. Stedman   Life. Death. War. Love. The world does not stop spinning and the waves do not stop crashing on the rocky islands surrounding southern Australia. It is post WWI and Tom is an honored, brave soldier that is trying to rebuild his life and put the death and destruction he witnessed behind him. He falls in love with Isabel in a small town just as he is beginning his post as lighthouse keeper on a rocky deserted island 100 miles away, called Janus. They marry and live in their own little world, isolated from all of civilization. The only voices they hear are each others and there is nothing they would not do in the name of love. But things are not always easy and there is a fine line between right and wrong. They are struggling with protecting their happiness at whatever the cost, convincing themselves the circumstances allow it. This novel is a love story, it is a debate of moral values, of family and friendship. The best lesson, forgiving -  you only have to do once, anger you have to feed continuously. Quite interestingly, and not a spoiler, the author M.L., I was positive! was a male and it turned out to be a woman. It is shockingly her first novel and sure to be a smash success!! Do not miss this one!!! Highly recommend this excellent read!!

Lessons in French

Lessons in French By Hilary Reyl 

Katie has just graduated from Yale, it is 1989 and she is an aspiring artist. Her mom has struggled to provide for her and desperately wishes Katie to follow a more substantial path with a promising future. Through friends of friends she has discovered an opportunity she cannot resist, to assist a famous photographer in Paris called Lydia Schell. It sounds too good to be true, Paris, romance, culture and meeting other inspiring artists. Although she will struggle financially and work hard to avert her mothers growing worries and disappointments, Katie is on the quickest flight to France she can find. In addition to all she hoped Katie also finds, lies, subversion, manipulation and the craziest household she has ever witnessed. The dynamics of those around her are both interesting and scary and Katie learns to find her own "style" and true self. Thoroughly enjoyed this coming of age story. Great characters, love Paris and enjoyable story!

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon 

Kamila Sidiqi and her sisters find themselves trapped in Kabul during the Taliban regime. They are educated modern devout women from a large family. Of the nine girls in the family, Mr. Sidiqi, a former military man, insisted that all his girls are fully educated, independent and self sufficient. Although things had never been easy the Sidiqi family had learned to manage and live life to the fullest despite the constant fighting and political upheaval throughout their beloved Afghanistan. When the Taliban arrives in the late 90's, times are not just difficult and they are finally impossible. For their own safety, the men are forced to temporarily leave Kabul and Kamila and her sisters have to find a way to survive. They stick together, and with a tremendous amount of ingenuity, hope and perseverance reach success they had only dreamed of. Ms. Lemmon, a reporter/writer, business student, details this amazing family and the brave people of their community. Easy to read, hard to imagine, more personal than a news brief, don't miss this intimate account of these amazing inspiring young women!

Gift From the Sea

Gift From the Sea  By Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Usually when we read books written long ago we can relish in how different life was "back then" or how much times have changed. It is amazing how this collection of essays by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a poetic, magical writer, has captured the timeless essence of women. For mothers, sisters, friends, everyday life which includes your hopes and dreams, past, present and future. She says so much in so few pages leaving the reader craving more of her words. Fifty years after its publication, nothing has changed because what mankind ("womankind") holds deep in the heart is  true for all people in all places and at all times. A book to read over and over, I highly recommend this uplifting work of art that is truly the authors never ending gift to us.