Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay ANdrews

SAVANNAH BREEZE Mary Kay Andrews BeBe, a formerly rich Southern belle, is reduced to remodeling her family’s rundown motel after a con man takes her money and most of her worldly goods. Her friends come to her aid when she determines to con the con man and get her money back – and remodel the motel into a magical get-away at the same time. A fun read by a master of the genre. You will enjoy this ramp thru the motel business. 4 of 5 stars

No Judgements by Meg Cabot

NO JUDGEMENTS by Meg Cabot When a hurricane hits the small beach town in Florida Bree has escaped to in order to reassess her life, she finds that many left their animals behind. Bree decides to help as many of these bereft animals as she can when the bridge to the island is washed out. Owners who expected to be gone just a day or two left behind many animals now trapped in empty homes. Bree and several friends, including a heart throb, work to save the animals while Bree’s former boyfriend and her mother attempt to convince her to flee back to the big city and her former fiance’s money and power. A light romantic comedy that is well written and has believable characters. 4 of 5 stars

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Miessner

BRIDGE ACROSS THE OCEAN by Susan Miessner I don’t usually like “ghost” stories, but this one was intriguing. Give it a chance. After WWII many American GI’s married the women came to know and love while overseas, this book tells the story of three of them. The “War Brides” came to the United States only after being cleared by the US government and passing health exams. They came in large groups on former troop ships to at last rejoin their husbands, often with small children in tow. A present day woman who “sees ghosts” is talked into visiting the Queen Mary in its California dock to reassure a young girl. What she finds there is not the Ghost of the young girls dead mother but an entirely different ghost, one who leads her to research the war brides who traveled on the ship in 1946. Interesting and well researched with believable characters and situations, Miessner tells a tale of love, betrayal, and desperation. 5 of 5 stars

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND BRAVE BY hAZEL gAYNOR

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND BRAVE – by Hazel Gaynor Based on real people in real peril, this book follows Nancy, an eight-year-old student, and Elspeth Kent, a teacher at the Chefoo (China) School from 1939-1945. When the book begins, both Nancy and Elspeth are new arrivals at the school for children of missionaries and diplomats. The students are expected to study hard and make their way to colleges like Oxford and Harvard at the completion of their school years. When the Japanese occupy the school, life for both students and teachers abruptly changes. The book centers on how the teachers help the children cope with their very changed circumstances. Well researched and well written the story is compelling and full of incidents that portray life as “guests” of Imperial Japan from Temple Hill to Weihsein Internment Camp. Olympic medalist Eric Liddell was also interned atWeihsein and became one of the children’s teachers. The grit and perseverance of both and adults is starkly shown without excess reliance on graphic details. Book groups will find much to discuss. Older children and their parents in a combined book group would find this book absorbing and thought provoking. 5 of 5 stars

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens WOW! Just WOW! This is a great book. Murder, abandoned child, growing up alone, nature, young love, sex, ecology, love, poetry, betrayal, education, redemption, forgiveness, treachery -- it is all here. Well written with strong characters and even stronger biology, Owens debut novel is clearly a winner. The North Carolina coastal region and the animals, birds, flowers, grasses, etc. are as much a character as the human in this book. Kya, Chase, Jumpin’, Mabel and Tate are the main humans in this beautiful elegy to nature and the human spirit. Saying too much more will spoil the “mystery” in the book, so just know that is a book that should not be missed. Book groups will find much to discuss and ponder. Biologists and sportsmen/women will appreciate the accuracy of the science. 5 of 5 stars

EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs

EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs This 7th book in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries series finds Suzanne discovering the dead body of her cheese supplier instead of rounds of cheddar cheese. When the amateur sleuths get too close to discovering the scheme to defraud the farmers, things get pretty dicey for Suzanne, Petra and Toni. Clever plotting served with a helping of friendship and rounded out with enticing recipes make this a cozy mystery worthy of an afternoon with a book. 4 of 5 stars

EVERY CROOKED NANNY by Mary Kay Andrews (Kathy Hogan Trochek)

 

EVERY CROOKED NANNY by Kathy Hogan Trochek (Mary Kay Andrews) One of Mary Kay Andrew’s first outings is this delightful romp through cleaning and mayhem. Callahan Garrity, former cop and now owner of a housekeeping service, finds herself embroiled in her clients missing jewelry, silver, important documents -- and nanny. Is their Mormon nanny really who she says she is? Where is she? Why would take the documents? How far does a high school friendship require one to go? And then there is the dead body! As times rollicking, this mystery will keep you guessing until the last page. Andrew’s characters and situations are believable and likeable. The writing is fresh and intelligent. Altogether well worth your time. 4 of 5 stars

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

SAVANNAH BLUES  by Mary Kay Andrews

Okay, yes, it is chick lit. BUT, it is GOOD chick lit.  Andrews is my favorite author for when I am mad at the world (don’t ask) and I need a picker-upper.  She gives me a good story with interesting characters, some local touches, a lot of romance, a bit of “southern” and good writing with a few laughs on the way to getting the bad guy and having a happy ending.

Weezie, the wronged wife and soon to be divorcee, has been consigned to the “coach house” while hubby lives with wife number two in the “big house”. Best friend, Bebe, comes to the rescue when Weezie is caught standing over the bloody body of wife number two.  Bebe brings along the hunky chef of the best restaurant in town  who tries to help with interesting results (he must have a great staff because he is rarely at said restaurant).

Lots of fun and skullduggery, a bit of antiquing and home repair, along with many twists and turns in the romance department make this a great read for a quarantine summer.

5 of 5 stars

How The Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior

HOW THE PENGUINS SAVED VERONICA – Hazel Prior

This is a lovely story about an 86-year-old curmudgeon who decides to go to a scientific station in Antarctica to see the penguins.  What ensues is gently humorous, scientifically factual, and full of family, love, disappointment, sorrow, overcoming setbacks, relationships, and coming to terms with yourself.  

Prior writes warmly, gracefully, and clearly. Her characters live and grow and endear themselves to the reader. I enjoyed the relationship growth between the characters as they dealt with isolation and extreme cold along with the hardships of living and working in the unforgiving environment of an Antarctic scientific base.

The relationship of Veronica and her grandson develops in a natural way as they alienate each other on first meeting and then write notes and letters to each other as they each attempt to make amends.

A lovely book by a  newish author. This is her second book. Her first, ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER, is also worth your time.

5 of 5 stars

Camino Winds by John Grisham

CAMINO WINDS  by John Grisham

Wade your way through the first half of the book to get to the exciting second half.  True Grisham but without the lawyers (until the final third).

A book store owner caught in the storm of the century in a small beach front Florida town, has a dinner party just before the storm. The party serves to introduce all the main players, including the soon to be murder victim. The first half of the book lays out the ground work for the shenanigans of Bruce and his crew of would be crime solvers and sets up the intricate details of the much bigger crime than the small time murder of a best-selling author. 

Tautly written, full of surprises and fully fleshed out characters, this is a tale not to be missed.

5 of 5 stars.

AS BRIGHT A S HEAVEN by SUsan Meissner

AS BRIGHT AS HEAVEN   by Susan Meissner

In 1918 there was the Spanish Flu. It was devastating. Millions died. This is the story of how one ordinary family was affected.

The Bright family chooses to move to Philadelphia where they will take over the family mortuary just as the Great War and the Spanish Flu descend upon the city.  Thomas and Pauline and their three daughters, Evie, Maggie and Willa, take up residence and intend to have a better life than tobacco farmers.  The victims of the flu upend their plans as the mortuary fills and then is inundated with bodies.  Disease strikes every family even as the war takes away the young men. 

This picture of how a family and a city is changed, gives a realistic picture of medicine and funerary practices as well as family life in a middle class family. Well written and researched, the book is compelling even as Corona 19 claims lives today. 

5 of 5 stars  

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs

A CONSPIRACY OF BONES   by Kathy Reichs

Temperance has been summarily ejected from her own office in this outing by forensic scientist Kathy Reichs.  Out maneuvered at every turn, Temperance is stymied but undeterred when a body with no face and no hands is brought to the lab.

Also battling a life threatening condition, Temperance battles to keep her job, discredit her opponent and discover who the faceless man is and how he came to die.

Exciting and full of red herrings, this is one of the best tales by an expert in the fields of writing and forensics.

5 of 5 stars

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

THE HENNA ARTIST   by Alka Joshi

India in the 1950’s was not a welcoming place for an unwilling bride who is also poor and desperate.  Lakshmi, the unwilling bride, takes matter into her own hands and runs away – successfully. She is taken in by a group of prostitutes in a brothel and taught the art of Henna. Lakshmi has great skill and is soon able to launch out on her own with help from a businessman who acts as her banker.

Lakshmi is set to achieve all of her dreams when a sister she did not know she had shows up on her doorstep seeking protection.  The two women clash over talent and fulfillment as Lakshmi’s world is endangered by innocence and guile. A young beggar boy Lakshmi had taken on as partner may help one of the two sisters. 

India, in all its beauty and cruelty, is ever present in this tale of women in a closed and oppressive society. THE HENNA ARTIST is well written with interesting and multi-dimensional characters and a compelling plot.

5 of 5 stars

THE UNWILLING by John Hart

THE UNWILLING  by John Hart
If you are squeamish, this is not the book for you.  Violence abounds in this gripping thriller.  Animal lovers beware.  Hart is an excellent author who doesn't miss this time. 
Jason, a decorated former soldier, is also violent and out of reclaim his good name after his release from prison for a crime he did not commit.  A woman who taunts and then is dead, a corrupt warden who takes pleasure in pain (other people's pain!), a vice lord out to put him back in prison, and an innocence project that takes on his case, all combine for a thrill ride with lots of violence. Once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down.
5 of 5 stars with a warning for violence

LOST BOY FOUND by Kirstin Alexander

LOST BOY FOUND  by Kristen Alexander

Based on a true story this novel follows a family after their 4 year old son goes missing.  The family, wealthy and socially important, leaves no stone unturned in their search for the child. Two years later, a child is found in the company of a supposed tramp. Is this the missing child?  Why does this tramp have this child?   The family believes the child is their missing Sonny and uses every means to keep him.  But then there is the other mother who also claims the child. Who is this child? And what happened to Sonny?

Well written. Contains a reading group guide. Lots of things to talk, or think, about here.

4 of 5 stars

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan WIggs

THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP  by Susan Wiggs

Natalie, who discovers she hates her job, suffers a tragedy and inherits her mother’s bookshop.  Unfortunately, the building is falling down around her ears, she has no money because she quit her job and then discovers she DIDN’T inherit because her grandfather, suffering from dementia actually owns it and won’t sell.  Oh my, the problems mount by the page. Ah, but here comes Peach, a handsome (of course) builder contractor who just happens to have lots of time on his hands to work on old falling down, but historic buildings, to the rescue – or does he???

This fun read also has a cute kid, an adorable cat, a rich author, a mystery treasure and lots of book allusions. What more could you want?  Book lovers and romance readers alike will enjoy this charming book.

4 of 5 stars

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

SUNSET BEACH  by Mary Kay Andrews

A master of the “chick lit” genre, Andrews has written a sexy, witty, engrossing mystery. Drue, recovering from an injury is working for her father’s law firm and hating every minute until she is berated by a woman who thinks the firm cheated her out of money. Drue and two (or maybe three) swains begin their own investigation and incur wrath and danger.

Andrews characters speak and act like real people. Her situations are the usual (boy meets girl, a situation intervenes, boy gets girl or girl gets boy!), but Andrews finds a way to make you like the characters, believe the situation and root for the boy and girl to find happiness.  Altogether a likeable story, well written, and worth your time.

4 of 5 stars

Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn

AGGIE MORTON, MYSTERY QUEEN: THE BODY UNDER THE PIANO

  by Marthe Jocelyn

Aggie is twelve and does not go to school – except dance class. In England in 1902 that was not so unusual. But meeting a boy – a foreign boy and making friends with him certainly was! Finding a dead body in her dance class room was also unusual. Joining with the foreign boy to solve a murder is VERY unusual.

This unusual story introduces Aggie (based on Agatha Christie) and Hector Perot is the boy (based on Hercule Perot). They band together to solve the mystery.

A delightful romp through English manners and murder for the middle school set.  Intended to be the first in a series, this is set to become an interesting and lengthy series.

4 of 5 stars

Westering Women by Sandra Dallas

WESTERING WOMEN  by Sandra Dallas  

Characters are all important in this book that relates what it might have been like for a group of women, two ministers (who arranged the trip), and a few men (to drive the teams) traveling by wagon across the country from Chicago to the gold fields of California in 1852.  The object was to provide the men working the male dominated gold fields with honorable women as brides and co-workers. 

The women, their reasons for making the perilous journey, their personalities and their growing sisterhood are the basis for the book. Dallas excels at characterization and the book shines because of her deftness in examining the women through the hardships and dangers of the trip. Maggie, the main character, carries lies, burdens, secrets, and fear with her as do many of the other women.  None are prepared for the trek through plains, mountains and deserts as they make their way across the country. 

Although the hardships of the journey are made clear, this book is about the women.  The epilogue informs us of the resolution for each of the women the reader has come to know intimately.

Book groups will find much to discuss, including answering the questions “Would you have made this trip?” and “Would you have survived?”

5 of 5 stars

THE PRISONER'S WIFE by Maggie Brooks

THE PRISONER’S WIFE  by Maggie Brooks

Based on a true story, THE PRISONER’S WIFE tells of a Czech farm girl who falls in love with the British POW assigned to work on her family’s farm.  When it becomes apparent the POW’s will be moved to another area, Izabela and Bill decide to marry and then have Izabela pose as a mute British soldier. The privations and terror of prison camps, hard forced labor, fear of discovery and then a forced march ahead of the Russian Army as the German’s face defeat make up the whole of the book.

The characters are well defined and grow and change as time passes. Each of the POW’s is a complete and complex person.  The guards are more “stock” characters.  The situations are believable and grab your attention from the first pages. 

My one complaint is – I want to know the outcome of all the characters we have become so intimate with, what happened to them when the POW camps were disbanded and they returned to civilian life, were they able to achieve their desires as war’s end? My desire to lnow more confirms the writer’s ability to draw me in to each character’s story.

Book groups might discuss the decision’s that were made, the morality of various deaths, the culpability of civilians, the actions of the guards, the treatment of POW’s in time of war, the endurance of the human spirit, etc.

5 of 5 stars