Where They Found Her

Molly Sanderson is reinventing herself as a reporter at the local paper. After the loss of her baby and the depression that followed, her beautiful little family has moved to the small town of Ridgedale for new jobs, friends and hopes of a second chance.  Until the phone call that changes everything. Molly’s boss Erik, has requested she follow a story a lot more serious than the life and arts section she had been enjoying. A body has been found down by the bridge. The body of an unidentified infant. And so the mystery begins, dragging Molly and this small town through a maze of terrifying memories, cover-ups, and emotions that go back for decades. Molly gathers the information carefully as the meticulous lawyer/student she had been. She is desperately trying to follow the rules while simultaneously hold it together as this story leads her to the brink of her own numbing memories that she has been trying to tamp down in order to move on. Her supportive husband worries this subject is too close to their own recent loss. Her boss mysteriously has left town and even the kindly chief of police lurks in the background. As this complicated mystery turns their lives upside down, who is innocent and who is guilty becomes indistinguishable. The relationships between friends, children and husbands become tangled as the fine lines blur between trust and truth. Could not put down this suspenseful second novel by Kimberly McCreight, the incredible author of Reconstructing Amelia. Highly recommend this page turner filled with likable characters and hair raising twists.

Lillian on Life

Lillian, a woman of a certain age, is reflecting on her life, her loves,

her family. Often she smiles, sometimes there is a bit of regret. Lillian, born in Missouri in the 1930's is smart and feisty. She mostly hides her fire because it would be most unbecoming for a woman to do otherwise. She is finally set free from her mother's watchful eyes and makes her way to Europe. Terrified of traveling alone, Lillian knows she must leave her small town and small life if she is ever going to really "live" and she accepts a transcriptionist position in Munich. And slowly, she spreads her wings. Lil finds her way into an exciting career and life in the bustling cities of London and Paris. Dining with Dukes and writers, Lillian takes on a whole new persona. She falls in love, more than once. On reflection she wonders if this was her true self or was she constantly faking it. But aren't we all? We all are an accumulation of our experiences, for better and for worse. Years later Lillian finds herself living in NYC and in love with her boss, who is married. This most unique narrative is unlike anything I have ever read. Its short simple chapters are incredibly elegant. I was able to imagine Lillian, I could hear her. I didn't want the story to end. It is amazing to me when a character in a novel feels so real, I will actually miss her. Highly recommend this read and look forward to more from this incredible author.

The Last Good Paradise

Ann and Richard, a wanna-be yuppie couple in Los Angeles find themselves on

the run like common criminals. None of this is as it was supposed to be. Their path to follow their dreams has turned into a nightmare. Ann has worked night and day at a high powered law firm for the last ten years, solely to support her husbands goals of opening his own restaurant. Richard is a passionate, kind, loving chef that pours his heart and soul into every dish. Ann daydreams out her big corner office window of the future when she can hostess in their quaint little restaurant that she knows will become the talk of the town. And they will live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Richards best friend and partner/chef Javi is a loose cannon that spends way beyond his means and charms and sweet talks everyone with his lies and coverups as he falls deeper into debt. When his ex wife freezes the restaurants' bank account, Ann and Richards' entire life savings goes with it. Ann cleverly finds an escape and she and Richard are on the next plane to the South Pacific until things simmer down. In their desperate search for quiet and isolation and time to figure out their future, they land on a remote atoll where a bizarre cast of characters resides. One crazy adventure after another, each chapter more repetitive and bizarre than the last. What began as an escape from the fast paced lives we all live - to finding oneself on a fantasy-like deserted island morphed into a ridiculous nonsensical circus. Forcing myself to finish, hoping somehow it would all come back together, I was deeply disappointed when it never did. The first half truly grabbed me and then it ran away so fast I could never catch up. Sadly, I don't think I will be recommending this one my reader friends.

Outline

An English woman gets on a plane to Athens to teach a

writing class for one week. She has been to Greece before and has a few friends and acquaintances to keep her busy during her free hours. This middle aged woman has just divorced and worries about her children, how they are faring both from the aftermath of divorce and the family dynamics that are quickly changing. This novel is a series of short stories of the people she meets throughout this trip. The "neighbor" man from the plane, one of her quirky students, a beautiful old friend she meets for drinks and the neurotic teacher replacing her at the end of the week. As a writer she reflects on her experiences past and present and as a woman, she worries what the future will hold after so many years of meticulous, rather rigid living. She is an excellent observer of people and the world around her. I don't always find myself immersed when I read short stories but the exception here is twofold; Rachel Cusk is an incredible writer whose words flow effortlessly and the woman connects and brings a continuity to the stories in a most unique way. I highly recommend this easy, thoughtful novel. For my friends who currently do write or wish to write, I think you particularly would like this read!

The Girl on the Train

I snap my fingers twice to break the spell. I have just been

hypnotized by The Girl on the Train. Rachel takes the 8:04 into London every day. Same day. Same train. And as it slows at a certain spot on the route, she observes life through the back gardens of a few homes. She imagines the lives of these strangers, gives them names, romance and dramas. Rachel lives vicariously through these characters because her life has fallen apart. Piece by piece she has lost everything and everyone she has loved - everything she has dreamed of. Suddenly one of the characters disappears and it is in all the newspapers. Rachel recognizes Jess/Megan and cannot fathom how this beautiful blonde girl with seemingly everything one could ever want, has mysteriously vanished. Then she starts to remember small bits of the scenario  that she has witnessed from the train and feels compelled to come forward to the police. But she is an unreliable witness. Desperate to help this couple Rachel goes above and beyond to find the truth and solve this twisted mystery. I could not put down this novel and when I was forced to feed my family I rushed right back to it. The most suspenseful drama since Gone Girl. Highly recommend.

Scent of Butterflies

Soraya is a woman on the run. She is running from her home,

her family, her best friend and herself. Soraya is a beautiful young woman, living in Iran. It is the late 1990’s and life in Iran has become more and more difficult and restrictive. She is a photographer and must hide her talent for fear of the Morality Police. She must hide her beauty and her passions. Soraya is content to wait out what her family feels will get better someday as they reminisce and treasure their old lives with the Shah when the city flourished with Western ways. She is passionately, erotically in love with her husband of 20 years. They have no children but are content with their love, their extended family and Soraya’s best friend Butterfly. When Soraya flees to the U.S., to California, her family thinks she is on a photography assignment but in reality Soraya is licking her wounds and planning her revenge on those who have betrayed her. This author paints an intricate picture of life in Iran and closely follows Soraya’s obsession with plants and birds and butterflies. A suspenseful story of love and lies. A woman’s desperate search for happiness in this twisted surprising tale of a family shattered by lies.

Leaving Before the Rains Come

I don’t know how I discovered Don’t Lets Go to the Dog’s Tonight

more than 12 years ago, but Alexandra Fuller’s first memoir of her life growing up in Africa has since been on my mind. I felt like I was there, to see, smell and feel Africa, even though I have never been. Finally, I was rewarded with a sequel called Leaving Before the Rains Come. Her later years of marriage and a big move to the United States. It is filled with pregnancies, children and building a house and life in Wyoming. The marriage crumbles and Alexandra cannot let go of her childhood home and the piece of her heart that has always remained on another continent.

Alexandra Fuller is a smart, passionate writer. She brings the reader deep into her soul to share her experiences to the fullest. The good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. Maybe some of her story, her reminiscing and longing for childhood is common for us all, hers being more exotic having grown up in a world full of chaos and nature and lots of near fatal emergencies involving elephants and storms and war. But at the heart of all matters, her story is that of a woman, in the middle of her life wondering where her younger self has gone off to and she will do anything to catch even a glimpse of her old self to prove that yes, she truly existed. She yearns to know what is to come next.

Leaving Before the Rains Come is beautifully written, it is funny and sad and true. I highly recommend this extraordinary memoir. If you missed her other memoir (Don’t Let’s Go to the Dog’s Tonight) I would read that one first. Both on the top of my list!

West of Sunset

In 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald, sets out for Hollywood. He needs to

jumpstart his career, earn money to pay off exorbitant debt he has accumulated and support his ailing wife and their daughter who is away at a costly boarding school. There is no place better to accomplish all these tasks than at the studios. With a few old connections Scott manages to find work writing scripts for a very good price and although the scripts are often changed until his work is unrecognizable, it pays the bills. He is surrounded by a magnificent cast including Bogart, Dorothy Parker and Shirley Temple. The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind are in the works. It is a magical time in Hollywood. Although Scott has set his sights on the future and sincerely wants to make amends, his demons have followed him across this vast country and his drinking, philandering and general bad decision making are no different in California than they were anywhere else he and Zelda had previously landed as they roamed the world. Sadly, Zelda is in a hospital/sanitarium. Scott believes the beautiful brilliant wife he has long adored is still in there somewhere and he lives in denial that things will ever be the same again. These are his last years, his magnificent talent is not appreciated in this town and his love affair with famed gossip columnist Sheilah Graham is the last he will have. Sheilah is by far the rock he never had and truly needed. But it is too late. His drinking and pill popping have destroyed his health and for all his good intentions, his need for fame and recognition are difficult to sustain. Scott's last years are depressing and although Stewart O' Nan is one of my all time favorite writers, I found the scandalous lives of the Fitzgerald's in "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald," by Therese Anne Fowler, much more enjoyable.

The Rosie Effect

This enjoyable sequel to The Rosie Project, finds Don and

Rosie married, both working at Columbia University in NYC and a baby on the way. With some quirky new additions to the cast of characters, a lot of psychology surrounds the couple as Dons "personality" that is never quite labeled but always charmingly hilarious, finds himself in a heap of trouble. He is consistently honest, straightforward and painfully literal as we repeatedly learn that most people are not... ever. His way appears the correct way as he continually helps his friends and loved ones solve their problems in the simplest most scientific approach which so often works! Dwelling on her complicated past Rosie is not sure Don wants to be a father and she pulls back in a rather uncharacteristic manner while Don is resolved to prove her wrong. They all learn a lot about friendship and loyalty from Don, the one they think needs the help. Fun loving easy read. If you liked The Rosie Project (soon to be a film,) the sequel is a quick must.

Brother of the More Famous Jack

Katherine is 18 years old and living quietly with her

mum when she is thrown into the folds of a boisterous, loving, kind of nutty family called The Goldmans. Brought there by a mysterious older man she meets in a bookstore, she is quickly introduced to Jacob Goldman, who happens to be her new philosophy professor at university, his magnificent wife, pregnant for the 6th time and his many strong willed, handsome children. Katherine is immediately entwined into the drama and complicated relationships of which she (as an only child) has never experienced. The dynamics in the household are odd as the family, especially beautiful Roger, whom she immediately has a crush on, are both incredibly cynical and loving with each other at the same time. Through the trials and tribulations of family and intellectual life, Katherine learns much about the world which she sees through eyes much bigger than she ever imagined. This novel by Barbara Trapido was her smash debut back in the early 80's. (what the heck was I reading back then?) I adored all the characters and coming of age story of Katherine who had and lost and had it all again. Both funny and loving in that twisted dry English way, I most certainly would recommend and read anything by this fabulous author.

Florence Gordon

How this author (male) got inside the head of this brilliant but cantankerous 75 year

old woman, I will never understand. Florence Gordon lives in NYC. She has led a highly intellectual life as a successful writer, speaker and leader of all things concerning feminists. Long ago divorced and leading life very much by her own drummer, Florence is finally writing her memoirs. Her son Daniel, his wife Janine and their daughter Emily unexpectedly show up in NYC via Seattle and throw Florence's life into a tailspin. She is not the type who hugs, is painfully honest and frankly enjoys being alone; people annoy her tremendously. While Daniel is taking some time off of work, Janine finds herself immersed in a fellowship and maybe a crush on her boss. Emily is taking an unexpected break from college and while struggling to find her calling, she begins to assist Florence with research. While everyone seems to be in awe and walk on eggshells around Florence, Emily tries to mirror her fearlessness and figure out what makes her tick. This story is about family, friends and following your dreams (which is not always the same as following your heart.) The characters are incredible. It is written in teeny tiny little chapters which I loved. It was like taking little bites of some delicious dessert. I did not want it to end. If I gave stars, it would be 5.

The Divorce Diet

Abigail is a twenty something woman with an infant, a beautiful

new home, an amazing talent for cooking and a lying cheating selfish scoundrel of a husband, Thad. After never quite losing the baby weight she decides she is going to lose the weight the Natural way through a Life Journey. She begins to follow a hysterical path, guided by some spiritual diet guru, through a diet that will change her life forever. No, excuse me, not a diet - a life journey. As Abigail makes fun of the rubber steam chicken, and weighing inedible cardboard meals, she tracks all of this in her food diary, and slowly her life begins to unravel. Thad wants a divorce, Rosie, her magnificent child is not crawling, she has no discretionary funds, no means to make a decent living and finds herself at home with her stoic (but generous) parents eating frozen dinners and watching bizarre tv every evening while they contemplate absolutely nothing. Swearing she is not a reflection of her parents, will not be a reflection of the middle aged waitress she meets at her new job (waiting tables in a chain restaurant!) and wanting so very badly to change her life, Abigail slowly learns who she really is. Her food journal becomes a reflection of her true self. Ellen Hawely tells this tale in a easy to read, diary-like format. She is humorous and sensitive and honest. For any woman who has ever been on a diet or wanted to grow up to have (more!) this is an easy enjoyable read that you will not put down. Similar humor of a Bridget Jones you certainly don't need to be getting divorced or be on a diet to relate to these funny likable characters. The moral of the story is only YOU can change YOU.

Mermaids in Paradise

Deb and Chip are a young couple living in Brentwood, about to get married. Chip is a

muscular good looking jock embracing a kind heart and unique sense of humor while Deb portrays an out of the box beauty with enough wit and intellect for them both. Together they are planning the last details of their wedding and subsequent honeymoon. Hounded by Chip's difficult demanding mother and Debs "ironic" lifelong friend Gina, each part of their tale is filled with a dry comedy normally found in English novels. When the happy couple arrives on the Caribbean island they booked for a week of romantic bliss; the rocking dinner table, mid western eating partner with a foot fetish and marine biologist specializing in Parrot fish really throws their honeymoon for a loop. Deb and Chip had no idea just how far this bizarre scenario would turn out when they get caught up in a mermaid tale/kidnapping/murder taken from a very bad B movie. The story is well written, funny and I even liked the characters but as I turned each page I kept hoping it was the last. Not a good sign. Sorry, reader friends, can't recommend this one.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

2008, the slums of Annawadi, just outside the Mumbai International

Airport, India. Can there be anything more heartbreaking than thousands (millions??) of people living in the streets, garbage picking for a living? Little food, contaminated water, disease, no education, no help, no hope. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Katherine Boo takes us to the inner workings of one of the overcrowded slums where squatters have made their homes out of garbage. They have no bathroom facilities and very little fresh water. Children labor or beg, many do not survive. They come from far away villages hoping there may be more opportunity for themselves, for their children and the vicious cycle of poverty seems to only get worse. The charities unknowingly (sometimes?) donate their supplies and food only to have them sold on the black market. Very few are educated. Very few ever get out alive. That this exists just outside of a major airport, in sight of a fancy Hyatt hotel where people are lunching by the pool as they talk on their cell phones is part of the problem. Have we become desensitized to suffering? This author takes us on a scary journey into the lives of a few families that fight every day for the right to live almost as if they are entitled to nothing more than the free air, which is filthy as well (and if they could charge them for it, they would.) People, out of pure survival mode have learned to lie, cheat and steal. Between politics, the caste system and religious differences, Katherine Boo has described to us the details of this painful existence and the real and only question is; what can we do about it?

The Boston Girl

Addie Baum is being interviewed by her granddaughter Ava as

she approaches her college graduation. She asks 85 yr old Addie, "How did you get to be the woman you are today?" And so begins the diary-like story of The Boston Girl. Beginning in the early 1900's, the daughter of immigrant parents working in the local factories, learning english, living in the tenements and not having much to eat, Addie shares her story of friendship, family, love and struggle. Through wars, The Depression, illnesses and death - none of it was easy and all of it necessary. To fight for more, for women's rights,  child labor laws, to end lynching, higher education and gosh, just to wear pants! Addie is a feisty, intelligent woman who was as a sister, daughter, wife and friend. She lived her life to the fullest. Every moment and every opportunity. The Boston Girl was reading my grandmothers diary, or that of any her friends and family from that generation. Peeking so deeply into her heart felt as if Addie was sitting in my living room having tea. These stories are all of our stories, America, the melting pot. The values determined from this exciting tumultuous century from using the telephone to prohibition and the discovery of so many things we sometimes take for granted. Addie believed in progression, she believed in moving forward. This is a simple story that I could not put down. Mesmerized by the vibrant cast of characters, all I could think is why in the world did I not sit down and truly interview my own grandmother? Because when you are 22 your life is moving so quickly, it is hard to value the past, until it is too late. I read The Boston Girl in one sitting. This easy enjoyable writing was an absolute treat and boy, is my mother and mother-in-law going to flip over this story!

The House We Grew Up In

This is the Bird family. They live in a small idyllic village in England.

There are two loving parents, 4 gorgeous children, perhaps some small pets running around this beautiful warm cozy house. They attend a cartoonishly cute school and their mother chases rainbows and flowers. It is so perfect - until it is not. A horrible tragic Easter changes their lives forever or maybe perfection could have never lasted and it was just the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. As secrets are uncovered Lorelei, their mum, buries them further and further away in her dizzying home. What begins innocently as hanging every scrap of paper the children draw on (how artsy she seems!) grows into full blow hoarding, which is quite mesmerizing and unstoppable, in a train wreck sort of way, and frankly, I have never read about such an illness. Colin, the dad, barely says a peep, a fine polite soul just wants everyone to be happy. And the children, well ... we all grow up in homes with secrets and its not until you know they exist that they are a problem. This novel is filled with the most amazing characters. Their relationships and circumstances may seem bizarre at times but when you take a good long look at your own family, everyone has their skeletons in the closet and they do not go away. They patiently wait to be discovered. The family dynamics are complicated and the writing is excellent. I truly could not put this book down. Highly recommend and cannot wait to pursue other books by this newly (for me!) discovered author.

Dear Daughter

One time LA "IT" girl Janie Jenkins is released from prison on a technicality. After serving ten years for killing her socialite mother she is finally free. Janie never believed she killed her mother. She has a foggy memory of that horrible night. Janie overheard unfamiliar voices while hiding in her mothers closet stealing boots and as a 16 year old, at the time, she was focused on not getting caught with the boots. Little did she know that moments later she would be standing over her mothers dead body with Janie written in blood next to her. After some bizarre technicality her beloved lawyer, Noah, perhaps her only ally in the entire world, gets her out. After she is released there are a lot of angry stalkers, crazed reporters and a mystery that Janie is determined to solve. She has transfixed herself on that short overheard conversation, a few key phrases, and has spent ten long years researching, reading and driving herself crazy with the possibility that she did not commit this murder and she is going to find out who did. She quickly adorns a disguise and takes a train to a small town, rather two identical book end towns, where she believes the answers lie. Janie meets a cast of crazy characters that slowly feed her the information she needs to solve this puzzle. Dear Daughter kept me on the edge with twists and turns but I WAS able to put it down. Day after day ... I put it down. Mostly I was just confused. I did not like, nor was I intrigued by a single character. The time line was completely boggled and unrealistic. Nothing and no one held my interest. Was I looking for another Gone Girl? Maybe. But I didn't find it here.

How to Build a Girl

Johanna Morrigan is 14, she lives in a small town outside London

in what is considered the needy part of of town. She fights endlessly with her 16 year old brother who is also struggling to find his identity, a little brother who clings to her in desperate need, her brand new baby twin siblings and her parents. Her mother is an angry - I cannot believe I have 5 children, no money and live in this shit hole (pardon my language) and her drunken father lives in a dreamland of drugs and alcohol but still believes he can make it BIG in the music business. Somehow, crazily enough, they are a lovable crew who continue on under the worst of circumstances. Nothing good happens to this bunch. Johanna is hysterical, and I mean FUNNY. Really funny. I see this part played by Rebel Wilson funny. She is desperate for love, and mostly sex. Busily experimenting with herself and being the lonely miserable teenager that she is, Johanna writes a lot. She loves music and is painstakingly honest with her words. After a world's most embarrassing moment on a televised poetry reading contest, Johanna transforms herself. Johanna decides she will be a new persona called Dolly, dresses in goth black and starts reviewing bands playing locally. One insane crazy thing after another spirals Dolly into another life filled with a little cash in her pocket (finally!) and even a bit of fame. But most importantly Dolly/Johanna learns what she is really made of. This is a funny crazy book that I could not put down. Pre-requisites for liking this read is an open mind, a bit of free time, a need to laugh and you must enjoy Caitlin Moran satire and humor. Check her column out at http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/profile/Caitlin-Moran

The Language of Hoofbeats

Paula and Jackie move their unconventional family to a small remote

town in California. Paula is a big animal vet and Jackie, an artist home with their kids; Quinn, a young adopted son, Mando an angry pre-teen whose mother is incarcerated and Star, a 15 year old runaway girl who cannot find the love she is looking for nor the ability to make it on her own. They rent a sprawling home on a practically deserted street save for one neighbor. Clementine is an older bitter woman alone and afraid, the town fears her wrath and most folks prefer to stay far away. But Star befriends a horse on Clementine's property that appears neglected and lonely, like herself. She is drawn to care for this horse no matter the consequences and so begins the unlikely relationship of Clementine in all their lives. As Catherine Ryan Hyde reveals the story of family, friendship and trust I became immersed in this beautiful unique story, one I had never imagined. Easy simple flow, I highly recommend this enjoyable read. Thank you TLC book tours for the early read!

Accidents of Marriage

Okay, this one had me on the edge of my seat. Talk about

your worst nightmare. Maddy and Ben live in Boston with their three beautiful children. Ben, a successful attorney works tirelessly in the public defenders office and Maddy is a social worker at the local hospital. Family, friends and busy lives surround them constantly. Days are long, sometimes supper isn't ready and yes, milk often spills - but they always manage to trudge on. Ben is a tough guy to handle. His mood swings are often and go from angry to angrier. When he is working he is defending clients where he is passionate and strong - but when he comes home upset the entire family pays the price. As Maddy helps people for a living she is accustomed to working through an issue but Ben does not want to be psychoanalyzed by his wife and refuses to believe anything is ever his fault, until the accident. There are explanations, excuses and details that lose importance when tragedy occurs and their lives are forever turned upside down. Ben loves his family and whether he is right or wrong, there is nothing he won't do to win their forgiveness. A wonderful writer, Randy Susan Meyers shares this story with care and honesty. It is difficult to decide who to love but this cast of amazing characters will stay with you long after the book is finished. 

When We Were Romans

Hanna, Lawrence and Jemima are off on an adventure.

They are trekking in a small crowded car from their cottage home in England to Rome, where Hanna spent happy times many years ago. 9 year old Lawrence and his little sister, along with hamster Hermann think this is a vacation but in actuality Hanna is running away from her troubles, new and old. They are short on money and stay in bursts of energy with multiple friends to which Lawrence applies an animal for each, like Crissy chick for example. The story is told through the point of view of Lawrence so its saturated in the misspellings of a child, British vernacular and repetitive grumblings. He only wants to make sad mummy happy and tolerate his little sister long enough to get through this trip and back to school in time for his exams. Little does he know that the adventure becomes as twisted as the roads they travel. Mum never stays smiling and the reader slowly understands the seriousness the novel begins to take. The realization sets in and although I dreaded what was obviously coming, I had grown to love these characters and hoped and prayed for their best outcome. Completely original When We Were Romans is an incredible journey in an entirely different direction. Anyone with an open mind to creativity and life in general will "get" what this book truly represents. Highly recommend to my faithful readers!

Leaving Time

Jenna Metcalf is a thirteen year old girl searching for her mother,

Alice. She disappeared 10 years ago after a tragic accident at the elephant sanctuary where her and her husband lived and worked as scientists and activists. Jenna is a feisty, brilliant young lady who has traded her entire childhood to play detective. She has devoured every word of Alice's scientific journals. Jenna believes her mother may still be out there and is torn between the horrible idea of finding out she is dead or the more horrible idea that she is alive, on the run and chose to leave her beloved daughter behind. Her father is in a psychiatric hospital after a complete breakdown following the events at the sanctuary and Jenna hires a quirky psychic named Serenity and a has-been detective called Virgil to help her solve this lifelong mystery.

Hmmmmm ... this is a tough one. Jodi Picoult's writing is as always, superb. She flawlessly carries the reader through this story with mystery, humor, and lovable characters. The elephant theme kind of surprised me. There is a lot of elephant behavior research and it is both interesting and burdensome. I loved the twists and turns of the actual mystery but found myself wanting some other parts to hurry up, and I rarely feel that way. I adore Jodi Picoult. She always has a great story to tell.  I suppose if you love mysteries, elephants and nature it is perfect for you!

The Aftermath

After WWII zones were set up in Germany to rebuild, denazify,

democratize, feed and in general help the German citizens. They say the Americans got the view, the French the wine and British got the ruins. When the Morgan family arrive, Colonel Morgan is stationed in Hamburg, one of the most destroyed cities in all of Germany. His wife Rachael and son Edmund make their way by ship from England to be with him, they are scared, nervous and have not seen the Colonel in quite some time. Rachael, not herself since their elder son died in a bombing the year before, and 10 year old Edmund is both reluctant and excited to see his father and begin a new life. There are but a few residences they could possibly stay in while on this post and Colonel's status leads them to a mansion by the river that has survived the war but its owners remain, which can be seen as lucky or suspicious to the troops. Being the fair, kind, intelligent man that he has been through this war, Colonel Morgan allows the father and daughter to remain instead of going to an internment camp where its residents are freezing and starving through the brutal winter. The house is huge but the idea of living with "the enemy" is revolted by the Colonel's colleagues and Rachael's acquaintances. The unlikely understanding and tolerance between the two families is a lesson in itself. Rhidian Brook is an incredible writer who shares this story with creative grace. Coincidentally, after I finished, I found this amazing article - http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/01/hamburg-after-the-war-how-my-dad-made-friends-with-the-germans which explains the premise of the novel and connection the author had to this house and this story. Highly recommend The Aftermath, there is no doubt I will be reading more by this talented author.

Keep Quiet

Jake has a rocky relationship with his teenage son Ryan.

As many parents of teenagers can agree, it is hard to find common ground and gain their full trust and attention. Jake tries too hard. He goes against his better judgment and allows Ryan to drive the car with him late at night after curfew for learners permit drivers. And their lives are changed forever. Tragedy strikes, split second decisions are made and lies snowball out of control. Pam, Jake's wife, cannot fathom what is happening to their family and every day they find themselves deeper in this horrible nightmare. There will definitely a lot to discuss at book club this month. Lessons learned about family, trust and standing by your beliefs. Unfortunately, the writing is mediocre, predictable and boring. The characters are not very likable so you just feel sorry for them but it is lacking someone to root for. Although I tried to like this read it failed to grab me. Sorry, reader friends, I really cannot recommend this one.

What is Visible

We all know the heroic tale of Helen Keller. As a child I

remember watching the movie multiple times in school. But hardly anyone is familiar with Laura Bridgman, her predecessor who had the strength and determination to conquer her disabilities and set the stage for all of those that followed. In the early 1830's (Helen's story takes place 50 years later) Laura, at two years old, is struck with scarlet fever. It leaves her not only deaf and blind but without her sense of smell and taste as well. Touch is all she has, and intelligence, wit, curiosity and determination beyond comprehension. This is the story of Laura's amazing life. Her struggles, her triumphs, her love and her losses. As young a girl whom most people had given up on, she is taken to the Perkins Institute in Boston which is primarily a school for the blind. Dr. Samuel Howe falls in love with this little girl and begins his mission of miracles by unlocking her mysteries and developing methods of communication. Her love of knowledge has no bounds. Her thoughtful writings and perceptions of religion, politics, and poetry to name a few are astonishing. Laura pushes the people and her capabilities to their very limits. There are those that adore her and she forms lifelong bonds, and those who have neither the patience or understanding for this girl that they simply cannot connect with. Her companion in the last years of her life is Annie, a young orphan kitchen girl, who later becomes the teacher of Helen Keller. This is a remarkable piece of historical fiction that I could not put down. I cannot believe I had never heard of this woman and I cannot believe this is Kimberly Elkins first novel.

The Story of Land and Sea

Three generations of families in a small town in North Carolina

face hard choices during the late years of the American Revolution. The main character is John, an ex-pirate turned brave soldier who falls in love with Helen. She is the daughter of a successful businessman, Asa, that is unrelenting in his love and his religion. A good person buried deep inside of a slave owning man that lost his wife and raises Helen to the best of his ability. Helen is given a slave friend Moll when she is just a girl and they nurture a sister like love hate relationship for all of their lives. And then there is Tabitha whom John loves with all his heart. He is raising their daughter to the very best of his ability, land bound for ten years since she was born until she contracts yellow fever and they set sail believing the sea may save her. This wonderful small piece of historical fiction is a haunting read. The times are difficult and life was often cut short. Author Katy Simpson Smith truly captures the deep love that bonds father and daughter, the horrific reality of slavery and the moral compass that drove generations of people to accept this and in hardship life in this new America that strove for independence and truly believed in the future. Highly recommend The Story of Land and Sea.

I'll Be Right There

It is the mid 1980's in South Korea and Jung Yoon is a

young college girl finding her way to a new life in the big city. She is on her own for the first time and has left the safe haven of her cousins apartment. She is alone and she is lonely and learns quickly that these are two separate emotions. With unparalleled beauty this Korean author, Kyung Sook Shin, details the long days and nights that blend together endlessly for Jung Yoon. And then she meets Myungsuh, Miru and her cat named Emily (after none other than Emily Dickinson).  Their triangle friendship which is both complicated and beautiful mixed with the unending riots and protests that fill the city, close the universities leaving all the students along with  their beloved Professor bewildered and lost. All they want is to learn and read and be free but under martial law none of this is possible. The memory of Jung Yoon's mother and Miru's sister haunt them as they chase their literary dreams and experience young love for the first time. This is absolutely one of the most poetic storytellers I have encountered. Although it is a slow - somewhat sad read , it is different than anything I have ever experienced, truly a beautiful story. Different time, different place, different perspective.

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You By Courtney Maum

Reverse love story that starts out with a cheating husband,

loses his girlfriend and then begins a long winding road back to his once beautiful marriage. Sounds twisted? Yes, it is, but what is captivating about this story is you really really like the characters and want them to be happy. There is not so much anger as you just want to bop Richard in the head and wake him out of his ridiculous stupor. Richard and Anne have been together almost a decade. She is a successful, beautiful, sophisticated French lawyer and Richard is a British artist that is having a mid life a bit young (only 34!) and is at a loss with his relationships and his artwork. All at once everything seems to be unravelling. Poor little Cam, their 5 year old daughter is caught in the messy tangle. With heartfelt wit and insightful retrospect Richard goes back to his childhood home and retraces his life. He is grateful for the lessons that begin to transform his priorities and get his life back into shape. But now he must convince Anne to give them a second chance. Forgiveness is hard, forgetting seems near impossible but can love really conquer all? Set in Paris which never fails to bring delicious food, lots of wine and an enormous amount of free time, Richard and Anne have only two choices, begin again or end their marriage. Thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of this crazy cast. Loved the writing by Courtney Maum, a mix of humor and intellect. Even under the most bizarre circumstances, the reality is not all that different for every couple.

The Children Act

Fiona and Jack have been married for most of their adult life.

She is a highly regarded Family Court judge in London and he a professor at the nearby university. They have by default not had any children of their own but have a large extended family and brilliant careers that keep them busy and content. Until, its not. Jack approaches Fiona with the idea that as he turns 60 and before he dies, he needs a love affair with the gusto they once had themselves. Fiona changes the locks. Simultaneously we are pulled into the trials that Fiona's position demands daily. The cases defend and protect the welfare of children at all costs. It is not the morality but the law that must provide a safety for these children, thus The Children Act. Fiona's most intimate case is a loving family that refuses to give their son, who is battling leukemia, a blood transfusion due to the fact that they are Jehovah's Witnesses and it is against their religious belief. This is a fast paced, sophisticated read. While pulling the reader's heartstrings for all involved, Fiona's marriage issues cannot wait, as she loves Jack deeply and does not want to lose him. Highly recommend this excellent story that explores love and faith on a whole other level.

Longbourn

The novel Longbourn takes Pride & Prejudice to another level,

a lower level according to the times, but full of the same delicious drama and romance as the original, its all about the house staff. Mr. & Mrs. Hill run the Bennet estate. Sarah, a young woman has been with them ever since she was orphaned as a child. She is diligent, hardworking and intelligent girl who remembers just enough of her former life to know there is more outside of servitude within these walls. Polly is still a small girl whom they have all grown to love. She is not much help in the kitchen but sassy enough to bring an element of liveliness to the repetitive motions day in and day out that the help endures. And then we meet James, the Mr. Darcy of this wonderful version interweaving dreams of which there are few allowed to enter young Sarahs life. James Smith, the new footman, is handsome and worthy and works his fingers to the bone for these women, but he carries a few secrets. Secrets that can change their lives forever. If you love Jane Austen, who realized the very basics of the romance novel way back in 1813, you will also love Longbourn. Author Jo Baker brings us into the heart and soul of the Bennet family and introduces us to a whole other cast of amazing characters. Who would believe that 200 years later matters of the heart would be virtually unchanged! A must read!!

The Story Hour

Maggie, a psychologist is called in for a difficult case at the hospital.

And it is here that she meets Lakshmi, an Indian woman who has tried to commit suicide. So begins the incredible journey these women take together and unlikely friendship that grows to immense proportions. Maggie is married to her college sweetheart Sudhir, a professor at the University who is also from India. She has visited India many times with her husband and knows that the attachment Lakshmi has to her traditions and culture are all that matters and she is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to make things right. Maggie has her own childhood skeletons lurking in the proverbial closet. In addition, she is surprisingly attracted to a photographer from the past that shows up unexpectedly and wreaks havoc on her quiet life. The attraction is so strong that Maggie gambles all that she loves; her husband, job and friendship with Lakshmi for this selfish, beautiful man. The tables slowly turn as Maggie teaches Lakshmi about independence, self worth and confidence and in return Lakshmi offers a friendship so pure and innocent, it is almost surreal. This amazing author Thrity Umrigar (The Space Between Us) once again reels the reader into the hearts and minds of these magnificent characters. The smells of Indian food waft through the air as you read and their voices are clear as a bell. Learning the difference between right and wrong, what is possible and what is merely tolerable are just some of the lessons in this novel filled with friendship, love and family. Highly recommend The Story Hour, it is a must for your reading list!

Cartwheel

When college student Lily Hayes arrives in Buenos Aires,

Argentina for her semester abroad she is curious, young, adventurous and truly believes the world is her oyster, until its not. Lily's adventure quickly becomes a nightmare filled with murder and mystery. Her roommate (similar to the infamous Amanda Knox case) Katy is found brutally killed and with each clue and every person who has touched their lives in Argentina, the finger seems to point at Lily. Lily, with the obnoxious emails, the texts and conversations she should have never had. She appears jealous and envious of the beautiful Katy, the perfect student with the perfect smile. And Sebastian, the handsome neighbor whom Lily is romancing, conveniently mysterious while hiding in a house right out of the Adams Family.  Lily's family comes to Argentina to support her through this horrific trial and her younger sister is both scared and angry as they find their way through this maddening foreign legal system. Cartwheel is filled with completely unique characters, it is suspenseful and well written. I love the way this author describes so completely each and every scene although it does take time to get used to the overabundant vocabulary that feels slightly self conscious. Highly recommend this exciting new novel, if you loved Gone Girl (and who didn't?!) or Reconstructing Amelia, do not miss this excellent read!

Landline

First of all, how could you not love a book by an author named

Rainbow? Or a story where the main character in Landline is Georgie McCool? Georgie is a thirty something comedy writer in LA. Her husband Neal stays at home with their two young girls while she and her longtime writing partner Seth strive to create the next big hit on t.v. A few days before Christmas the comedy duo have an opportunity they cannot pass up and since Hollywood waits for no one, Georgie tells Neal she cannot go to Omaha for their annual trip to visit his family for the holidays. And Neal goes with the kids, without her. From the moment Neal leaves town nothing is right and as Georgie reflects on their marriage and their life together she becomes terrified that she has made too many mistakes and it has all finally caught up on her. The problem is she wholeheartedly loves Neal and as she reaches back to her past self for an answer to the future it becomes crystal clear that she cannot live without him. Laughing out loud at how real and unreal this is at the same time, I could not put Landline down. If only we could talk to our younger selves, reevaluate our dreams and take back some of the hope that was so abundant in those years. If you enjoyed the satire in Where'd You Go Bernadette (by Maria Semple) or reflective humor of What Alice Forgot (by Liane Moriarty), Rainbow Rowell writes with a consistently smooth, humorous flow that grabs the reader and won't let go. Looking forward to reading her other novels, I do not know how I missed them!

Wonder

August Pullman, smart, funny, age 10, lives in NYC, has a sister,

a dog and two loving parents. August has everything that would most likely make him the most normal kid in the world. Except he is not your typical kid. August was born with a genetic anomaly so serious that the doctors did not think he would survive. But he did. And Auggie grew and grew and had 27 different surgeries to make his face and features as normal and functioning as possible. Throughout his early childhood he was homeschooled by his patient, understanding mother and finally, now that the surgeries are finished she would like him to start regular school, middle school. In 5th grade when kids are naturally self conscious about their bodies, their overall appearance and which friendships they make, Auggie has to learn the ropes for the very first time. And it is hard. Wonder is about Auggie's struggle to fit in and survive in this world, his family's intense love for him and how friendships are made, and change and grow constantly. This YA book has many a lesson to be learned. The author fits beautifully inside the voices of these amazing characters. As you make your way through the kleenex you will fall in love with them over and over again. A simple story derived from a complicated medical wonder and the idea that kindness can really change the world.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

A.J. Fikry owns a small book shop on Alice Island. In this quaint village,

Island books is every booklovers dream until A.J.’s life slowly falls to pieces. After the death of his beloved wife (and this was her hometown, really) sales begin to dwindle. A.J. becomes unapproachable and alone. His love of books cannot fill the deep empty void that is his daily life. He refuses to socialize and pushes any do gooders away until a series of events changes everything. A chance meeting with a quirky sweet publishing representative named Amelia, a theft of an extremely valuable book of Poe and a package that is left in his store carrying a short note that will change his life forever. This is a beautifully written, easy pleasant read that no booklover can ignore. A.J. Fikry teaches us about life, love and books all in one simple story. What more could I ever ask for?

I Shall Be Near to You

Rosetta has always been the son her father never had.

She works hard on the farm, she is tough, uncomplaining and even asks one of the boys to teach her how to fight. But her beauty lies not far beneath this gruff exterior and she marries her longtime friend Jeremiah. They dream of a farm together far away from the towns prying eyes, filled with crops and animals and eventually children. As the Civil War continues Jeremiah decides to enlist as they could use the $150 towards the start of their new life together. But three years is a long time. Little does he know that Rosetta who could not bare to be separated from the one person who understands her and loves her like no other, changes her name to Ross and enlists as well. She most certainly has the attitude that if he can do it, so can she, and then they will have twice the funds to begin their dream farm. Jeremiah begs her to return home but she refuses to leave his side and as the battle rages on, the details of the raging battles that follow leave the reader holding their breath with the turn of each page. Filled with such amazing characters I was not only able to envision but actually hear their voices! This historical novel captured my heart instantly and I could not put it down. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend, I Shall Be Near to You, for an in depth look at the Civil War through the eyes of patriotic young love. Looking forward to reading more by this exceptional author. Thank you Erin Lindsay McCabe for sharing your imagination and talent with us all!

The Summer Book

In the Gulf of Finland there are many small islands that

people maintain summer homes on. Little Sophia is 6 years old and spends summers in a delightful cabin with her father and 85 year old artist grandmother, called Grandmother. On the island the difference in their ages melt together as their similarities are strikingly attuned. The Father works at his desk and Sophia has her Grandmother all to herself. The relationship between Sophia and her grandmother is simple and yet captivating. They discuss life and attempt to define death and G-d. They explore nature from the detailed experience during a horrific storm, to the tiniest bugs on the tiniest sticks along the ocean shore. In summer the daylight is so continuous that theirs seem endless and are filled with exploration, love, and understanding. Sometimes Sophia is stubborn and so is her grandmother. Sometimes she is understanding and concerned, as is her grandmother. Often Sophia is afraid to be alone yet craves the silence of nature, as does her grandmother. This beautiful, quiet story is broken into small vignettes capturing the beauty and isolation of our what makes our world truly beautiful. The unending love belonging to families and the idyllic of summer. Really, truly enjoyed this unique novel. A quick easy read that has the ability to quiet the mind of the reader in a peaceful and pleasant way. Highly recommend this summer read, as ours is coming to an end.

Every Time I Think of You

In the small town of Fenton, California, Daisy Jane is living a

quiet life with her 3 yr old son Elliot and loving grandmother Pauline. She works as a nurse at the local hospital and mostly keeps to herself with a few close friends. Pretty, sweet Daisy seems to be living a small idyllic life but the reality is she is a single mom struggling to pay off her dead beat ex husbands debt and move on ever since he abandoned them for his addiction to drugs. After her life is once again turned upside down by the mysterious murder of her grandmother, Daisy meets Brooks, a reporter who has temporarily moved back to town to help his Dad care for his ill mother. Although neither is necessarily ready for romance the chemistry between Daisy and Brooks is unstoppable. Brooks quickly becomes a friend and confidant as Daisy strains to remain platonic knowing he will soon return to his life in San Francisco. The feeling of danger lurks around every corner. Daisy cannot feel safe knowing that the miscreants that surround her ex husband Scott may have something to do with the murder of her grandmother and the fact that the police department has no leads. Tracey Garvis Graves has once again brought us into the lives of her simple yet irresistible characters, their triumphs and their tragedies. This novel is another one of her stories that pulls the reader into the story making it hard to put down even for one day. Highly recommend this easy romantic heartfelt read. ENJOY!!!

Love & Treasure

Natalie Stein, beautiful and young, is at a crossroads

which contains no shortcuts. Her longtime relationship (12 years!) - subsequent short marriage ended in nothing more horrifying than finding out her husband was in a relationship with another woman, has left her law practice to care for her ailing and beloved grandfather in Maine. And it is there she begins a mysterious adventure that will change her life forevermore. Jack Wiseman spent his later years in a small town in rural Maine but his time in the army during WWII, his lifelong career as a professor at Columbia University, and his innate expertise with languages and history are all that Natalie has ever known about. As he nears the end of his journey Jack gives Natalie a beautiful locket he got during the war. He shares only a minute amount of information and sends Natalie on a mission she has no control over. Jack's dying wish is for Natalie to return the locket to its rightful owner, no easy task as his story took place well over 50 years earlier in war torn Germany. This incredible author Ayelet Waldman takes us through Germany, Salzburg, and Hungary, the war, the gold train and even to Yad Vashem in Israel. Natalie remains brave and determined to grant her grandfather his last wishes. As the story unravels more quickly than even Natalie had hoped it becomes clear what she must do to fulfill Jack's wishes and the guilt he lived with for many years. I HIGHLY recommend this excellent account of the enormous amount of art, gold and belongings strewn throughout post WWII Europe and the difficult aftermath of DP's, their future and return of their personal treasures. Easy, quick, interesting read of a time when Love & Treasure were really one and the same.

Cambridge

Susanna, an inquisitive young girl, is the main character

and narrator of this novel-like-memoir by Susanna Kaysen, author of 1993 bestseller Girl, Interrupted. The story begins in England when the family relocates for a year sabbatical from university life at Harvard. Susanna is immediately as grim as the dark rainy sad days she describes. Elementary school is pure torture. Onward, the family returns to Boston and Susanna continues to barely scrape by on her lonely existence. Her parents, highly intellectual, in an awkward relationship, a younger sister vaguely mentioned, a Swedish nanny named Frederika, whom she adores and Roger, the one friend she can tolerate that she feels close to. And so continues the saga of poor Susanna's life. The family traipses off to Greece for a year where amid the ruins and bad economy of the 1960's, Susanna once again feels left out and unnecessary. Susanna Kaysen is a fantastic writer, her words flow effortlessly as she describes in meticulous detail her childhood (or something like it - since technically this is not a memoir) quirky parents and search for adolescence as she faces her imposing teens that lay ahead. She is most certainly witty and honest and smart as a whip but the sadness is so apparent, the loneliness so contagious that it was almost too depressing to read. Perhaps my knowing that this young girl later grew up to write Girl, Interrupted, which became a cult classic and somewhat biographies her teens, may have set the tone for what I already anticipated would be a dark story. It is a quick, interesting well written novel but you must be in the mood for this type of genre.

Big Little Lies

A small coastal town, called Pirriwee, Australia is filled with enough

drama to give any Real Houswives a run for their money. Madeleine's daughter Chloe, 5, is starting kindy (I just love Australian speak) along with her beautiful wealthy bestfriend Celeste's twins named Max and Josh. There is Skye in the class who happens to be Maddie's ex-husbands new family and Renata, who has a real job, with her daughter Amabeth, and that is not a typo. It is not something as common as Annabeth. And on and on, the kindy class in this idyllic beach town is filled with one hysterical, (and that means funny and crazy simultaneously!) character after another. After this amazing author sets the table for this rich comedy the drama arises when the truth about Jane's son Ziggy comes to light, Celeste's big secret cannot be held any longer and the French nanny is not so innocent. It all revolves towards a school fund raiser called Trivia Night where the parents find themselves in the pouring rain, drunk, dressed as Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn and not quite prepared for the entire charade to come tumbling down.  The fabulous Liane Moriarty, best selling author of What Alice Forgot and The Husbands Secret once again brings us spinning and laughing through a world she creates that is both ridiculous, funny and too similar to reality to ignore. This is an easy, enjoyable read, shouting PERFECT for the beach and pool because no amount of background noise will tear you away as this soap opera unravels. Highly recommend.

We are thrilled to share the gorgeous cover for Cherish, by New York Times best selling Author Tracey Garvis-Graves. This novella is a companion to Covet.

Fans of Covet by bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves will be delighted by this novella-length sequel.

http://www.amazon.com/Cherish-Covet-Tracey-Garvis-Graves-ebook/dp/B00MBVGDSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407092358&sr=8-1&keywords=cherish+tracey+garvis+graves

Life Drawing

Gus (Augusta) and Owen are artists living what one would imagine

an artists life. An old house, off in the countryside, Gus painting on a sunlit porch and Owen writing magnificence in the cozy barn. But all is not as idyllic as it seems. Love, life, family, trust and even death are threaded throughout their every move, their every breath. This incredible author Robin Black brings each feeling to the light as she literally paints a picture for us that is so shockingly real my heart beat loudly with the turn of every page. This couple, recently married but having spent many years together have no children, have not much in the way of family outside of the little enclave they have carefully built with their art, their passion, patience and love. But love can be tricky and when trust has been broken it is sometimes hard to repair. Alison, a beautiful, self appointed artist bearing her own secrets moves in next door, their quiet repose is temporarily shattered, yet Gus finds a calming friendship with Alison that surprises even herself. When Nora, Alisons daughter visits, the web that is woven becomes ugly and dangerous. I could not put down this unexpected novel, set outside Philadelphia with likable characters and quiet yet page turning prose, I HIGHLY recommend Life Drawing. A must to add to your summer list, fall list, winter list, A MUST READ!