Review of Up at Butternut Lake by Mary McNear

 Rating - 4

 After ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan.

Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself—until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie. (Amazon Desc.)

McNear easily draws the reader in with likable characters, a beautiful setting, and an interesting plot. The romance between Allie and Walker is hot and problematic given the past issues both must overcome. The glimpse we see into Jax's life and Caroline's, leaves the reader wanting to know more about this interesting little town and the people who live there.

Review of Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble

Rating = 3

 Documentary filmmaker Abbie Sinclair is deeply damaged after her latest project ended in tragedy. Luckily for her, her best friend stateside has a few elderly relatives who are happy to host Abbie in their crumbling seaside mansion while she figures out what comes next. Cabot Reynolds the Third is a man who gave up a promising career as an architect to return to the down and out South Carolina beach town of Stargazey Point to restore his uncle's carousel and, hopefully, breathe new life into the town before its natives are forced to sell out to developers. The elderly Crispin siblings are Stargazey Point's old money, but their funds are quickly disappearing. The three have fallen to selling off their belongings to pay off their taxes. Despite their troubles Abbie finds a home with Millie, Marnie, and Beau, and before long she finds that she doesn't have to jet around the world to keep up with the deeds of her over-achieving, do-gooder family members, there's plenty of good to be done right in Stargazey Point. (Desc. yourotherleft, 9/13

Stargazey Point was an enjoyable read with likable characters. There were several sub-plots with just enough suspense to hold my attention from start to finish.

Review of The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter, J. T. Ellison

Rating: 4

 Scotland Yard’s new chief inspector Nicholas Drummond is on the first flight to New York when he learns his colleague, Elaine York, the "“minder of the Crown Jewels for the “Jewel of the Lion” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was found murdered. Then the centerpiece of the exhibit, the infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond, is stolen from the Queen Mother’s crown. Drummond, American-born but raised in the UK, is a dark, dangerous, fast-rising star in the Yard who never backs down. And this case is no exception. Working with FBI special-agent Michaela "Mike" Caine, they determine that the thief is an international art thief known as "The Fox". The Fox will stop at nothing to deliver the Koh-i-Noor to the man who believes in its deadly prophecy. (Desc. from Amazon).

I haven't read anything by Catherine Coulter for many years. After reading Final Cut, I realize I've been missing out! Taut suspense, action, and great characters combine to form a highly entertaining read.

Review of Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann

Rating - 3 1/2 

Headed for Trouble is a compilation of short stories featuring many of the characters from previous Troubleshooters stories. Brockmann includes a timeline showing where each story fits within the list of Troubleshooter novels. It's a fun book to read if you've been a Troubleshooter fan all along. It catches you up on the lives of some of your favorite Troubleshooter characters, after the novel in which they first appeared.

Review of The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Rating - 4 

Phillips reintroduces Lucy Jorik, the U.S. president's adopted daughter from her previous novel, Call Me Irresistible. Lucy has always felt the pressure to be perfect, but when she runs out on the perfect man, Ted Beaudine, on the day of her wedding, she knows that she wants something else. Throwing caution to the wind, she accepts a ride on the back of a motorcycle from a menacing-looking stranger nicknamed "Panda." Lucy isn't quite ready to face her family, and the rest of the world, again, and her growing attraction to the grizzled biker just makes it easier to keep her real life on hold. After a secret about Panda comes out, however, Lucy realizes that escaping her too-perfect life will be harder than it seemed.

This is trademark SEP: Familiar, quirky characters, humor, romance and hot sex. The beginning is a little slow, but once it gets going, it's hard to put down. I hate for SEP books to end because I don't want to let go of the characters! I hope she writes fast...I can't wait for her next novel.

Review of The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Rating - 3

Jo Marie Rose first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a sense of peace and a fresh start. Coping with the death of her husband, she purchases the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn and sets out to begin her life anew. Yet the inn holds more surprises than Jo Marie can imagine.

In this first book in the Cedar Cove- Rose Harbor series, Macomber links the stories of Jo Marie and her first two guests...Abby and Josh...through the common themes of love, loss, forgiveness and second chances. Macomber's books are gentle and satisfying with quirky characters, humor and romance. I look forward to reading the next book in the Rose Harbor series.

Review of Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Rating - 3
ARC - On sale 4/30/2013

On a hot southern night, a family is shattered. Three daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Now, a prosecutor, Savannah is the first one back when a case in Nashville leads her to seek shelter in the once grand Wilde mansion.  While she's home, Savannah decides to start going through the mansion, preparing it for sale. When she finds some old letters left by her father, she begins to realize that her parents' death wasn't what it seemed. As she starts asking questions, she realizes that her life is in danger. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy and her first lover, is now the new police chief. Working together to solve the mystery, Zach and Savannah realize that the chemistry they had as teenagers is still there.

 

This was an entertaining, romantic, suspenseful book. I thorougly enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

Review of Postcards from Cedar Key

Rating - 3

 Berkley Whitmore moved to Cedar Key, Florida to open a chocolate shop. She quickly makes new friends, and learns to love her new home. But Berkley moved to Cedar Key for another reason. Her mother lived on the island years ago when Berkley was a child and left Berkley behind. Berkley has never understood why her mother left her and why she went to Cedar Key. Now a series of postcards she found after her mother died, draws Berkley to Cedar Key, hoping to find the answers to her questions about her mother.

This is the 4th book in the Cedar Key series, but the only one I've read. It seems to stand on it's own pretty well. The book is very slow-paced, suitable to the genre, but there is way too much description and information provided, which slows the story down and makes it difficult to stay interested in the plot. It's entertaining and heart-warming and will be enjoyed by people who like to read about small towns and the quirky characters who live there.

Review of Vanity Fare by Megan Caldwell

Rating - 4

 Molly Hagan's husband left her for a younger woman and now she finds out his business has just gone bankrupt. So now she has to find a way to support herself and her 6 year old son with no support from her ex-husband. Through a former colleague, she finds a job copywriting for a new bakery just opening up. Molly finds herself experiencing all of the ups and downs and "politics" in the business world, but she loves what she's doing and maybe has found romance in the process.

Vanity Fare is entertaining and funny and romantic. The premise of the new bakery is that it is opening near the New York Public Library, so the owner is trying to combine the idea of food and books. Molly suggests that each item in the bakery should be named after a famous book. In fact, the name of the bakery  is "Vanity Fare", a take off on the book of the same name.One of my favorite parts of the book were the food descriptions that opened each chapter in the book, such as "Portrait of a Ladyfinger" or "Tender is the Bite". At the end of the book, there are recipes for each of the bakery items. Molly is a strong character and faces her new life with trepidation and humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Review of Devil's Pass by Sigmund Brouwer

Rating - 4
Young Adult

Seventeen year old Webb is living on the streets of Toronto, Canada, alone except for his beloved guitar and the $2,000 in pre-paid bank cards he had stuffed against his body in a money belt. He was about to embark on a cross-country journey to the Northwest Territory on a mission for his grandfather. Two weeks ago, his beloved grandfather passed away. At the funeral, the lawyer showed the family a video that grandfather had filmed when he knew he was dying. Each of his 7 grandsons were sent on a mission, fully funded, by grandfather. Webb's journey would take him to Devil's Pass in Alaska. It was a long trip and along the way, Webb had plenty of time to think about his life thus far, his relationship with his family and would learn more about his grandfather's past. He also learned that the most dangerous animal on earth isn't a grizzly bear...it's a man.

Devil's Pass is one of seven books written by seven different authors all of which were released simultaneously in Oct. 2012. Each book follows one of David McLean's teenaged grandsons as they embark on missions all over the world, sent by their grandfather. The authors are well-known, recognized children's or YA book authors. Devil's Pass, written by Sigmund Brouwer, is exciting, with plenty of danger and adventure experienced by the teenage protagonist. The books will appeal especially to boys in grades 5-8.

Review of The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O'Neal

Rating - 3

After tragedy shatters her small community in Seattle, the Reverend Elsa Montgomery has a crisis of faith. Returning to her hometown of Pueblo, Colorado, she seeks work in a local soup kitchen. Preparing nourishing meals for folks in need, she keeps her hands busy while her heart searches for understanding.

Meanwhile, her sister, Tamsin, as pretty and colorful as Elsa is unadorned and steadfast, finds her perfect life shattered when she learns that her financier husband is a criminal. Enduring shock and humiliation as her beautiful house and possessions are seized, the woman who had everything now has nothing but the clothes on her back. But the two sisters are strong and their involvement in the local church's community garden in a very poor part of town allows them to heal and make decisions about moving on with their lives.  (Amazon desc.)
This was a pleasant read and allows the reader an inside look at the life of a Catholic priest. Much of the book explores the power of faith and how it affects people differently. The characters were very likeable and the plot kept me reading until the very end. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a "feel good" book and who are comfortable with discussions about faith and religion.

Review of Home for the Summer by Mariah Stewart

Rating - 3

Lucy Sinclair grew up in St. Dennis, a small town on the Chesapeake Bay. Her best friend was Clay Madison from the time she was in 3rd grade. But in high school, Lucy began to withdraw from Clay and the rest of her friends. After school she moved across the country to California to start a highly successful event planning business. Now, several high profile events are taking Lucy back to St. Dennis. While she is reluctant to return, she begins to be drawn in by her family, friends, her memories and especially by Clay. 

This is the 5th book in the Chesapeake Diaries series. The series is sweet and "feel good". It's fun to see previous characters in the book. A nice beach read.

Review of Keepsake by Kristina Riggle

Release Date - July 2012
Rating - 4

Trish considers herself a messy housekeeper. When a pile of items in her home falls on her son and breaks his collarbone, she realizes that she has a much more serious problem. Child Protective Services tells her she must clean up the house so that it is safe or she might lose her children. Her older son, Drew, realizes that it will be difficult for Trish to accomplish this and he contacts Trish's sister, Mary, asking her to come and help them. Mary and Trish have not been in contact for many years, both of them suffering from the consequences of living with their mother who was also a compulsive hoarder. As Mary and Trish work together to clean up Trish's home, they learn more about each other and uncover long-buried secrets about their mother.

Riggle does a great job of exploring the phenomenon of compulsive hoarding and how it affects families. It's a quick read and difficult to put down once started.

Review of In the Bag by Kate Klise

Rating - 4
Release Date - 5/2012

Daisy and her daughter Zoe are traveling to Paris from St. Louis for Zoe's spring break. Daisy is a top-notch chef and recently left a restaurant job to clear her mind and decide what she wants to do next. Andrew and his ason are heading to Madrid for Andrew's job as an exhibit designer. On the plane, Andrew actually jostled a woman holding a glass of wine which spills on her silk blouse. Andrew feels terrible. The woman is very attractive and Andrew is drawn to her. Uncharacteristically, Andrew composes a note apologizing and asking her out for a drink when they are back in St. Louis. He stuffs the note in her open purse. When the parties arrive at their respective destinations, Zoe and Webb realize that somewhere during their journey, their bags have been switched. From this unpromising beginning, the four characters...Daisy, Zoe, Andrew and Webb...go about their business not realizing that everything they do is connected in some way.

This book is a light, entertaining and funny read. It is told through the POV of each character. The reader sees the interconnections among the characters which adds to the fun and fast pace. It's really two stories...Daisy's and Andrew's, both looking for something more in their lives...and Webb and Zoe's...both on the brink of adulthood and trying to stand on their own. Teens  will enjoy this book as much as adults will. It's a perfect beach book!

Review of Hummingbird Heart by Robin Stevenson

Rating = 4
Young Adult

Sixteen year old Dylan has never met her father. Now, out of the blue, he has contacted her and asked her to be a bone marrow donor for his other daughter, Casey, who is 4 years old and suffering from a form of leukemia. Dylan lives with her mother, Amanda, and her adopted sister, Karma in near poverty. She discovers that her mother has been lying to her for years about her father and more and now she doesn't know how she feels or who to trust.
This is a well-written story about a teenager being forced to confront questions about her past, her family, her relationships and her very identity. Dylan is a well-developed, realistic character and teens will be able to relate to her dilemma. Highly recommended.

Review of Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Rating - 4

At the age of 13, Maisie Dobbs procures a job as a housemaid in a nobleman's house. Maisie lived in near poverty with her father from the time her mother died when she was a young child. Although Maisie never went to school, she was a avid reader. One day her new employer finds her reading in his library and eventually discover that not only is Maisie a bright young woman, but she is exceptionally gifted. Her new employers decide to take Maisie under their wing and educate her. In her second year of college, war breaks out and Maisie decides to become a nurse and work on the battle front treating the wounded soldiers. When the war is over and Maisie returns to England, she decides that attending college is too frivolous and wants to something with her education. She starts her own business as a private investigator and her first case involves severely injured war veterans.

This is the first book in a series about Maisie Dobbs. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading it. The characters drawn the reader in immediately and at the end I needed to know more about Maisie and her life.  Highly recommended. Fans of the PBS TV show, Downton Abby, will really enjoy this book since it is set during the same time period and deals with the upper and lower class system prevalent in England at that time.

Review of What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas

Rating - 4

Hannah ran away from home when she was 16 years old and never looked back. Now she learns that her mother and sister are dead, leaving behind her 15 year old niece, whom she's never met. Hannah returns to her hometown to meet her niece, face Grady, her boyfriend from all those years ago, and deal with the memories of her tragic past.
This is a bittersweet story of love, loss and family. It's easy to identify with the story and characters. I was sorry when it ended because I wanted to know more about them.

Review of State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

 Rating - 3

Marina Singh is a researcher for a pharmaceutical company. When office colleague Anders Eckman, sent to the Amazon to check on the work of a field team, is reported dead, Marina is asked by her company"s CEO to complete Anders task and to locate his body. Once she's in the Amazon jungle with the team, Marina discovers that there is more to the story of Anders' death than anyone knew and that the field team has discovered something much more than the original assignment.
While elements of this story are interesting and exciting, it never seems to really go anywhere. The pace is very slow and by the end of the book, I felt let down.

Review of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

Rating - 4

Born a dwarf in the early 1800s, Lavinia Bump was part of a loving family and community. She constantly chafed against the limitations she had not only as a dwarf, but as a woman. Women were not typically educated in the 19th century, but Lavinia not only learned, but was a teacher for a period of time. Yearning to move beyond her restrictive environment, she took a job as an entertainer on a riverboat just prior to the Civil War. The man who "recruited" her was believed to be a family relative, but ultimately she became a member of a "freak" show and was all but sold into prostitution by her "cousin". She didn't let her narrow escape from the riverboat keep her from moving on. Eventually, she ended up as part of P.T. Barnum's show and circus. She met Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), one of the best known and most-beloved performers in Barnum's show and married him. Lavinia and Charles had one of the most famous marriages of it's time, but it wasn't a love match. Together, they became one of Barnum's most popular performers. They traveled the world, had tea with the Queen of England and lived as part of high society in New York. P. T. Barnum was Lavinia's best friends and confidantes. He, alone, of everyone she knew thought the way she did and between the two of them the fame and fortune of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb continued to grow, as did P.T. Barnum's.

Lavinia is a very strong character. She dearly loved her family, especially her younger sister, Minnie, who eventually became part of the troupe. She was very ambitious, though, and her career and fame was always first and foremost in her mind and in the decisions she made.

One of the most interesting features of this novel for me was the historical context. Benjamin did exhaustive research not only about Lavinia but also of the world in which she lived. I learned a lot about the Gilded Age, circus performing, and the life of a "small person" during a time when people paid to see "freaks" and were intolerant of anyone who is different.
This is a well-written book, full of history, romance, and performance.

Review of Exposure by Therese Fowler

Rating = 4
Young Adult

High school students Amelia Wilkes and Anthony Winter met when they were both in a high school play together. Their relationship grew deeper, cemented by their talent and love of theater. No one knows they are a couple because Amelia is the only daughter of an influential and powerful family in town and Anthony is a scholarship student at the elite private school they both attend. Amelia and Anthony have a plan to audition for entry into the New York University theater de4partment and work toward careers in theater. This is something Amelia's father will never condone, so they keep their plans and their relationship secret. As their love deepens, they become intimate and feel the need to be in constant contact...via e-mail, texting, phone or in person. When Anthony, at Amelia's request, takes photos of both of them naked, Amelia asks him to forward them to her computer. Her father finds the photos while browsing through her computer and has
Anthony arrested. The events that follow snowball completely out of control, affecting Amelia, Anthony and their parents and with almost tragic consequences.

Exposure is thought-provoking with its examination of the "sexting" phenomenon, especially among teenagers, and the posible legal consequences.