SAVANNAH BREEZE by Mary Kay Andrews

SAVANNAH BREEZE by Mary Kay Andrews A fun light tale of two best friends. BEBE meets a new guy who turns out to be a crook and fleeces her of house, jewels, money, art, her grandparents money, everything – except a rundown motel being “managed” by a fisherman. Weezie, BeBe’s best friend, tries to help BeBe get her money back. A fine caper it is. Fully realized characters, a deft plot, a bit of hilarity, a bit of pathos, a great read for a lazy afternoon. 5 of 5 stars for the genre

A FALL OF MARIGOLDS by Susan Meissner

A dual story that uses the tragedies of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and 9-11 to link Clara, a nurse on Ellis Island, and Taryn, a Manhattan widow. A beautiful scarf with a colorful print of marigolds link the two women and their personal stories. Meissner’s careful research and deft storytelling make this a compelling read. Both women are damaged by loss and unable to find their way out of grief. Both bear terrible guilt and carry secrets that need to be told -- or kept hidden – to protect others. This story could have been maudlin or depressing but in Meissner’s hand the tale is one of hope and love. Her impeccable research, lively characters and unfolding plot make this a read well worth your time. Book groups will find a discussion of “what would I do” a valuable exercise in moral dilemma. 5 of 5 stars

MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFÉ by Heather Webber

Anna Kate has returned after many years and her grandmother’s death to the café her grandmother and mother owned. The locals believe the blackbirds come out of the forest every night at midnight and sing songs. Those who have eaten the “special pie” from the café dream messages from their dead loved ones. When Anna Kate inherits, the townspeople are worried the messages will stop and many birders come to see and hear the blackbirds and their unusual behavior. Fully formed characters and an interesting premise make this mystical romantic novel a step above the usual. Women’s groups especially will like this charming Southern romance/family novel. 4 of 5 stars

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

The sun is being eaten by an alien infestation. Mankind will cease to exist in 50 years. So… Project Hail Mary. Send a crew of scientists to a star that has beaten back the infestation and see how they did it. This being a seat of your pants thriller, things go wrong – quickly. Most of the crew dies. The one left can’t even remember his name, let alone what he is supposed to be doing. Then he meets another alien survivor. Great story. Believable situations. An intriguing alien society. Good writing. Weir even makes the science understandable. Well worth your time if you like sci-fi, or thrillers, or just a good story with a great ending. 5 of 5 stars

MRS. MARCH by Virginia Fietto

MRS. MARCH by Virginia Feitto The feeling of portending disaster looms from the very first page, The disturbing adjectives and descriptions add to the malevolence. I hated this book and loved it at the same time. The writing is wonderful. The character of Mrs. March spirals out of control splendidly. I don’t want to say much more because this book needs to be read without knowing even the basic plot. It is not quite a thriller, not quite a book of psychological horror. It is definitely a book that grabs you and then doesn’t let go until the shocking end. (Yes, I saw it coming, but didn’t want it to happen.) Did I “enjoy” reading this book. No, unequivocally. But it was a great book. Would I recommend it to my book group, No! Would I recommend it to a very select group of friends that I know well. Yes! 5 of 5 stars

KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo ishiguro

KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro Oh MY! I still am not quite sure what exactly was going on in this interesting Sci-fi (I think) novel that is ultimately unsatisfying. Yes, we know what happens to Klara, but we are still unsure exactly what happens with or to anyone else. Is josie happy? Is Rick happy? Is Mother happy? What happened to Melania Housekeeper? What happened to Rosa? What is “lifting? Why was Josie sick? Why was the Father “substituted” and what does that mean? So many questions. So few answers. This was just a very weird book. It kept my interest but now that I have finished the book I just don’t care about any of the characters (because they weren’t real!). 3 0f 5 stars for a frustrating read

ETERNAL by Lisa Scottolini

ETERNAL by Lisa Scottoline Marco, ELisabetta and Sandro are friends in the Eternal city – Rome -- as war comes ever closer. This novel follows them as World War II nears and then envelopes them and their families. Scottoline’s research is impeccable and it shows in her first historical novel. The story line is engaging and realistic. However, the writing is pedestrian. Narrative sections often read like an essay for a writing assignment. She details the scene by including the noise, smell, sound, sight and touch in consecutive sentences that simply do not flow well. Her characters tell each other exactly how they feel, then their facial expression, stance and gestures are described to give the reader the same information and, finally, the narrator of the story tells us in detail how the character thinks and feels. As the reader I am a bit insulted that Scottoline thinks so little of my powers of observation that I need to be told in three different ways what the characters feel or think. Book groups will like this take of WWII in Italy, the rise of Mussolini and Fascism, a love story with lots of angst, and characters whose ideals are challenged in many ways that conflict with love, family, faith and culture. Many comparisons can be drawn to today’s politics, BLM, cancel culture and other news worthy topics. 3 of 5 stars