On the Island

On the Island  By Tracey Garvis Graves     Anna, a thirty year old teacher from Chicago is hired by the Callahan family to tutor TJ for the summer. TJ is in remission and having missed most of the 10th grade he needs to catch up with his classmates. As TJ and Anna's plane approaches the remote island home his parents have rented for the summer, a fateful accident occurs leaving TJ and Anna alone on an uninhabited island. Fighting for their health, safety and sanity, TJ and Anna battle the elements to stay strong while their feelings and emotions towards each other grows into a beautiful friendship. This wonderful story is a simple one of love, friendship and dreams with a little bit of survivor, a dash of fifty shades and a reminder of the blue lagoon. It is that wonderful chick lit romance, tears, smiles and all over fuzzy feeling. I adored this story and read it in one day. If you long to escape if only for a short while, this is it. Enjoy!

The Last Runaway

The Last Runaway  By Tracy Chevalier      Honor Bright arrives in Ohio in 1850. She settles in a small Quaker community called Faithwell. After traveling from England and suffering horrific sickness throughout her journey her real pain is caused when Honor loses her sister to yellow fever. She is 20, she is on her own in a strange new land. Honor is a quiet girl who finds her solace and is much admired for sewing beautiful quilts. She has an unlikely friendship with an outspoken milliner, Belle, a strange and steamy acquaintance with Belle's brother Donovan and a deep strong belief, as Quakers do, that slavery should not exist. Similar to The Kitchen House, The Help and Someone Knows My Name, a perfect read for Black History Month. I learned much, loved the characters and highly recommend this excellent novel by a superb author!

Yes, Chef

Yes, Chef By Marcus Samuelsson     The idea of celebrity chef is a fairly new phenomena in our culture. Famous chefs have longtime existed. In small circles of foodies their names are often revered. Today chefs are a household name due in large part to cooking competition television shows. The words Yes, Chef mean something even if you have never worked in a restaurant. Marcus Samuelsson was three years old when he and his sister were orphaned in Ethiopia and adopted by a loving Swedish family. He grew up in a small Swedish village and a lifelong love of cooking was born as he helped his grandmother Helga in her small kitchen. This memoir follows Marcus on his journey through his life in Sweden, how he finds his way to food, culinary school and the restaurant business. The writing is heartfelt and entertaining. This author speaks from the heart on all matters regarding love, family, the color of our skin and every morsel we put in our mouth. Highly recommend this terrific read! Bon Appetit.

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper By Kate Morton     As Dorothy's life is nearing the end, her adoring daughters and son reminisce their younger days and attribute it to the mother wonderful Dorothy has been. Laurel, the eldest and a famous actress, is reminded of a tragic incident she witnessed as a teenager and her siblings were much too young to remember. A strange man at the farmhouse, a knife, a murder, and a string of memories that have been buried in the back of her mind for fifty years. Laurel decides the time has come and she must know, she needs to understand how this violent event occurred while her mother has been the most loving adoring of souls to her family, friends and neighbors for all of these years. Her investigation begins as the chapters skip back and forth from 1941 England during the Blitz to 2011. This story pulls the reader into the characters lives, as it twists and turns it becomes less predictable and I happily found myself racing to the end to see what would happen next. A well written saga revealing what can transpire when people try to protect their loved ones by keeping the secrets.

The Little Bride

The Little Bride  By Anna Solomon       Minna,  sixteen years old, is a struggling Jewish orphan in Odessa during the late 18oo's. Her mother ran off, her father dies and she found herself work as a maid for an older woman named Galina who is out of her mind. Minna desperately wants a family, a place she can call home and a new life. She finds herself applying to become a mail order bride to a Jewish man in America. Not mature enough to think this through, Minna feels it is her only option of escape from the orphaned life she leads and the pogroms that fill the Jewish community with fear constantly. She travels to America by ship and goes to live in South Dakota to marry Max, live in a mudlike hut and act as mother to her new stepsons, close to her own age, Jacob and Samuel. Minna desperately tries to stay focused on the goal, which is to be part of a real family. Difficulties quickly surmount during brutal, suffocatingly lonely, harsh winters and an underlying attraction to the eldest son, Samuel. A unique story. For all the historical fiction I have enjoyed I did not know of Jews homesteading in the American West, the movement called Am Olam. Characters are most definitely odd but the writing is excellent, descriptive and heartfelt. I recommend this story and would be interested to read this author again.

Me Before You

Me Before You  By Jojo Moyes    After losing her job at the local cafe, Louisa Clark finds herself at a crossroads. Not much experience, limited education and little faith in her own abilities. She is a spunky 26 year old girl living in a small village in England where the biggest attraction is an old castle in the center of town and a strong cup of tea. Lou lives with her loving working class parents, her sister Katrina and her nephew Thomas. Her world revolves around a very small epicenter of work, her Running Man boyfriend Patrick and a weekly night at the pub. Until she meets Will, her new employer. Will Traynor is a quadriplegic. He is 35, handsome, wealthy and very very angry. Lou is hired to be Will's caregiver for 6 months and with this, her life is changed forever. This unique story is one I could not put down. The witty outrageous characters fill these pages with love, laughter, regret and possibility. They will remain with me long after the novel ends. Do not miss this one, a must read!!

The Light of Amsterdam

The Light of Amsterdam By David Park    Belfast, Ireland. Three different families are taking a weekend trip to Amsterdam. Gordon and Marion on going on a pre-Christmas holiday, they have been married for many years, are grandparents and Marion is critically analyzing all that has changed in their lives while she incessantly worries about their future. Karen attends her daughter Shannon's hen party with a group of young girls that drink hard, party often and expect instant gratification in every aspect of their lives. Karen is a struggling single mom that has sacrificed her entire adult life for her daughters' well being while sinfully neglecting herself in every way possible. A father, bitterly divorced, takes his 16 year old son Jack to see Bob Dylan. He reminisces about his past trips to Amsterdam and desperately tries to connect with his miserable, spoiled teenager. Maybe the depression lies in the reality of it all, while the writing is excellent and Amsterdam is a dynamic, intoxicating city, the story lines are rather dull and my AHA! moment never arrived. Can't say that I would not read this author again but this story was mediocre at best.

The Art Forger

The Art Forger By B.A. Shapiro    Claire Roth is a struggling artist living in Boston. After a tumultuous affair with her professor Isaac, she finds herself paid to do professional reproductions of famous works. Surrounded by an eclectic group of friends and filled with a burning desire to show her own personal work Claire longs to escape the label as the great pretender. Claire enters into an agreement with an unlikely, handsome art dealer that changes her life in every way. She is forced to choose how far she is willing to push aside her conscience to get what she has long desired. An intriguing look into the art world of the masters, forgeries, art dealers and museums. Likeable characters, a little romance and a unique world all its own. Highly recommend this read!

Reading Lolita in Tehran

Reading Lolita in Tehran  By  Azar Nafisi   After attending school in England and the U.S. Ms. Nafisi returns to her homeland of Iran. Shortly after the revolution begins and she spends the next 18 years pondering her existence as a woman, a wife, a teacher and a mother. She passionately loves teaching English literature at the University but life has become so difficult in the 1980's. The restrictions on women and the cultural arts has become suffocating. This memoir reflects her time as a teacher and the works she studied with her enthusiastic students. After leaving her teaching post she creates a small reading group in her home for some of her brightest and favorite students. These women embrace Austen and James and Fitzgerald to name a few. They begin to wonder who they are and what possibilities are available outside of Tehran. This memoir is very thoughtful and passionate. As a reader it is interesting to delve into the thoughts and ideals of these intelligent women. The freedom to choose what we read and when we read and have an opinion, is priceless.

These is My Words

These is My Words By Nancy E. Turner     The Prine family is traveling west on a wagon train in the Arizona Territories in 1881. Life is hard. They work day and night to merely survive, they struggle to eat, sleep and stay safe and healthy. Sarah is a young girl that begins to keep a journal practicing the bit of reading and writing that her papa taught her and most girls/women have not learned. She is tough and smart and brave and the reader is enamored with Sarah immediately. As she grows up begins the saga of her life, her deep romantic love with Captain Elliot and the family she raises. This book is Little House on the Prairie for adults, it is a time that is both hard to imagine, yet not that long ago. The characters are wonderful and remain with the reader long after the book is over. Could not put this one down. Enjoy!!

Almost Single

Almost Single By Advaita Kala     Aisha is a 30 yr old woman living in New Delhi and working as a  guest relations manager in an upscale hotel. She and her two girlfriends are too "old" by India standards to still be single and they try in every way possible to overcome this circumstance. Call it Sex and The City in New Delhi, Aisha is definitely Carrie, loving her friends and freedom, getting herself into ridiculous situations and always landing on her pedicured feet. This is a light, fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed this break from reality.

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie  By Ayana Mathis    Hattie Shepherd moves with her family from Georgia to Philadelphia during the 1920's. They immediately encounter a new world where they can hold their heads high and walk on the sidewalk past a white person without stepping into the street. But life is not so easy for Hattie, although beautiful and smart Hattie marries August who becomes the great love and the disappointment of her life. She has many children, struggles through their illnesses, poverty and August's constant philandering yet her will to survive is as strong as her intense sadness. This novel is almost like 12 short stories connected through Hattie. The characters are intense and the writing is extraordinary leaving the reader to imagine every detail. The only downside is the inexplicable sadness of Hattie, that is so strong it has a life of its own. The glimpse of mental illness is heartbreaking and appears hereditary throughout this powerful novel. There is no doubt that the characters will linger in your heart and imagination long after the last page. Highly recommend this authors first novel.

The Sweet Life in Paris

The Sweet Life in Paris By David Lebovitz      Sweet memoir of this pastry chef/authors life changing move from San Francisco to Paris. This funny, witty, honest story details the ins and outs of what day to day life feels like in Paris for an American. David is both an outsider and insider when it comes to his foodability. He loves everything french and everything that is delicious. He learns you can definitely win them over with kindness, if not awesome brownies and ice cream! This glimpse into the authors daily life is very entertaining and a delicious read, recipes included!

Secret Daughter

Secret Daughter By Shilpi Somaya Gowda     A couple in a small village in India cannot afford to raise their baby girl, the father, as is customary, longs only for a son. Krishnan and Somer, two doctors in America try and try to have a child but to no avail, Somer continues to miscarry. These lives cross paths over and over again. This novel speaks of love, marriage, family, loyalty and hope. It is a simple, almost predictable story but the author creates these intense, loveable characters and touches on the most common threads of humanity that we all face, every day. While reading this story the tastes, sights and sounds of India come alive and days after finishing, these characters remain in my thoughts. This is a most enjoyable read and it is highly recommended!

Paris A Love Story

Paris A Love Story By Kati Marton   This memoir reflects the life of Kati Marton, journalist, novelist, mother, daughter and wife. She has lived an exciting life as she traveled the world, spoke multiple languages and was married to both Peter Jennings, renowned newsanchor and Richard Holbrooke, beloved American diplomat. All of this, combined with living in the romantic exciting city of Paris (at multiple times in her life) would have seemed a perfect read except; the author has used this memoir as her therapy after the devastating loss of her second husband Richard Holbrooke and it its thoroughly depressing. In addition, it is equally sad that Ms. Marton who is no doubt extremely successful and accomplished in every way, contemplates the majority of her choices through her relationships with these famous and complicated men in her life. Maybe this is more common than not but I was uninspired by this story.

The Baker's Wife

The Baker's Wife  By Erin Healy      Audrey senses peoples emotions. She can feel their pain, their illness and their sadness. It is random and when Audrey deciphers whose feelings she is emulating, she aims to help them, to soothe them and share their pain. When she does, hers subsides as well. Audreys family life is in turmoil. Her husband has lost his job as pastor and they are struggling to start a new business, a bakery. Their teenage son has troubles of his own and then there is a mysterious accident and Audrey has to use her faith and intuition to save the people she loves. This unique story captured my imagination with many twists and turns. I really enjoyed this mystery filled with the power of the mind and the heart. Highly recommend this intriguing read.

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train  By William Kuhn       The Queen of England is feeling a little blue. She decides to venture on her own (unheard of!) and visit a place she has found much happiness over the years. The Brittania was a yacht the royal family vacationed and traveled on until it was docked and made into a tourist attraction in recent years. This very British work of fiction both sympathizes with and somewhat makes of fun of the inner workings of the monarchy. The Queens adventure includes a most eclectic group of characters that normally revolve around her daily life and find themselves in a secret search for her whereabouts before the M15 secret service needs to get involved. This light, humorous novel humanizes the monarchy and the people who keep it in the peoples favor, an ongoing and difficult job. If you enjoy British writing (think The Uncommon Reader By Alan Bennett), and the monarchy, don't miss this most enjoyable read!

Astray

Astray By Emma Donoghue   After loving the novel "Room" last year (if you haven't read it, a must!) I decided to try a new collection of short stories by Ms. Donoghue. These short stories were various types of people in the midst of traveling, to find gold, a new home, the truth or peace at the end of life. These stories varied throughout history from the mid 1600's to 1960's. Short stories are tough for me personally because just when I am getting involved, it ends. I loved that following each story Ms. Donoghue briefly details the source of the story and at the very end of the book, surmises the entire account. An excellent collection and easy to read. If you enjoy historical fiction and short stories, this one is for you!

Gone Girl

Gone Girl  By Gillian Flynn  Amazing Amy is amazing; a clever beautiful, sophisticated girl, madly in love with Nick. They marry and are the ideal New York couple. Young, eager, happy and having the time of their life. Until they are not. Their lives change dramatically when they move back to Nicks small home town. Their lives unravel even more rapidly when one day, the day of Nick and Amy's 5th wedding anniversary, Amy is missing. And then their story really begins. This novel is told from 2 points of view. One chapter Amy, the next Nick. It is truly amazing how two people can see one story in two totally different ways. I rarely read mysteries of any sort. I could not put this one down. A must read.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao  By Junot Diaz    Oscar Wao is a teenager growing up in Paterson New Jersey with his outrageous, beautiful, intelligent sister, his completely off the wall but hard working intermittently very ill mother and again out of jail tio (uncle). Oscar is obese, science fiction obsessed, extremely girl crazy, brilliant writer and wordsmith. This family is originally from the Dominican Republic of which the past history, superstitions and cultures remain a stronghold within them all, whether they like it or not. The Brief Wondrous Life takes the reader on a journey backwards and forwards in Oscars life. Back to his ancestors tortured by Trujillo and his present search for acceptance, friendship, sex and love. Oscar is unquestionably a remarkable and likeable character. This author is no doubt full of talent, humor and a prose all his own. I enjoyed the DR history and spanglish very much but this story is at times hard to follow. It is not newly published but something I always wanted to read and although at times I was pushing myself to continue, there is no doubt I will read other works by this author and for me, that is the point.