The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint

Grace's life isn't all that it use to be. After her grandfather dies, she mopes around and refuses to go out and participate in life. The only thing that soothes her is working on old cars. Then fate intervenes, and she's shot while out buying cigarettes.

John's been leading no life at all. He works, he draws, and he sometimes hangs out with his friends. The Halloween Nina convinces him to go out changes his entire life. Because he meets Grace.

John and Grace meet that Halloween night. The problem? Grace isn't alive anymore. And as she struggles to find out why she's in limbo, John discovers a life he's never dreamed of living.

An interesting book told in alternative points of view. Grace's story is the main one here, and becomes the focus more as the story goes on. Highly entertaining read!

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

This novel actually tells two stories - one set in the modern day and the other set during the reign of Charles II of England.

Hannah Devlin, a female doctor in 1672, is called to court to treat one of the mistresses of Charles II. Reluctantly, she gets involved in court intrigue and the mysterious murders of two courtiers. Could their deaths be related to the death of her own father a year previous? And is the murderer the intriguing Ralph Montagu or another doctor, Edward Strathern?

In the modern day, newly minted PhD Claire Donovan is teaching at Cambridge University. She and another Cambridge professor (both characters were introduced in The Rossetti Letter) become caught up in their research of the Devlin diary - and its relationship to the death of yet another Cambridge professor.

The author tells both stories in alternating chapters. Sometimes I wanted to skip ahead and find out what was going to happen! I learned a lot about Cambridge and also about the reign of Charles II, both subjects of interest to me. A quick read and very entertaining.

The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook

Noreen (I'd rather be called "Nora") takes a buyout and loses her boyfriend in the same day. After years of working, she isn't sure what to do with the rest of her life or even the next day. So she puts on her tennis shoes and starts walking. She's soon joined by her neighbors, Tess and Rosie. As they walk together, they become friends.

It seems a simple enough plot but I enjoyed reading about women who are roughly my age, with problems and pasts that I could relate to. As they walk, the three women deal with job issues, children issues, and family issues. It was light, fun reading and my time with the Wildwater Walking Club zipped by. I almost started walking myself!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

I think Lisa See is a wonderful writer. This is the third book of hers that I have read and they have all been fascinating. Her books allow a look into a culture that is foreign (no pun intended) to most of us. In this newest book the story begins in Shanghai (probably no surprise if you paid attention to the title!) in 1937. We follow the stories of two sisters, Pearl and May. They were brought up in a financially well-off home and led rather modern lives. Then one day their father announces that he is in debt and needs to sell them off to repay the money. The have the ceremony and then the "husbands" leave to go back to California and the sisters are to follow. Before that happens war breaks out. We follow them through the unrest in their country and to this country where the welcome isn't very warm. This book has great, interesting detail about that time in history - and we can always relate history to something that is going on now!
We have the book and also the audiobook. I listened to it and the narration was great. Highly recommended!

Sail by James Patterson

I don't always care for the books that Patterson only co-authors, but I did enjoy this one. Katherine Dunne is a hard-working doctor with three kids. Four years ago her husband died in an accident and her family life began to fall apart. She meets and marries Peter - the perfect man. Or is he???? It isn't explained how Katherine found the time to have this courtship but yet not the time to connect to her children - oh well, that is a small detail. To get the family "back together", she sets up a sailing trip with her children and her brother-in-law, Jake. Peter has a trial (he's the lawyer - not the defendant), so he's staying home. Mishaps, drama, suspense and more are found in this book. I enjoyed listening to it.

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

Newly arrived in the Duration (translation - the hereafter), Molly Marx is delighted to find out that she can still keep track of her friends and relatives left behind on earth - and follow the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death at the age of 35. Was it an accident, a suicide, or murder?

As the police investigate, Molly watches over her young daughter and realizes how important being a mother was to her. She follows her husband and relives her troubled marriage. And just how did her attraction to an irresistible colleague fit into her life...and death?

This book was, surprisingly, humorous and an easy read. I liked the characters and mourned Molly's early death. I never really understood why she was so intent on staying in her marriage but then who am I to judge someone else's decisions? All in all, a quick read with likable characters.

Home Repair by Liz Rosenberg

Ms. Rosenberg has written award-winning books for younger readers, but this is her first adult book. I loved it. It is well-written, kept my interest and has believable characters that I cared about. It is the story of Eve. She was happily married to Ivan and they had one son, Marcus. Then 13 years ago Ivan was killed in a car crash. Eve remarried (Chuck) and they had their daughter Noni. Then in the middle of a garage sale Chuck leaves - really leaves. Eve's mom has been visiting and she stays on to help out. There are many scenes that I could relate to and was impressed at how true-to-life they were. The garage sale is one. Ms. Rosenberg has obviously done garage sales before! I enjoyed the book a lot!

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

This is vintage Mary Higgins Clark. There's a murder and a suspect and I think I know who did it but you know there is always some kind of twist. There are actually two story lines. One is the murder of actress Natalie Raines. Her soon-to-be ex-husband (and agent) is arrested and is brought to trial. The prosecutor is Emily Wallace. She is a young widow with a dog given to her by her father. She happens to be living next to a serial killer (from Iowa, no less - where did Clark get that idea????). Oh yeah, there is also a heart involved! Easy, entertaining read by one of the most consistent authors.

Hello goodbye by Emily Chenoweth

This is a beautifully written book. Helen Hansen is an active woman with a job, a husband and a daughter, Abby, who is a freshman in college. After her usual long run she begins to make coffee trying to ignore the headache that is overtaking her. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital. She is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. This is in the winter. Then the story jumps to summer. Elliott, Helen's husband, has planned a week in New England to celebrate their 20th anniversary. He really can't afford it, but this will give their friends they left behind in New England a chance to come and see Helen. Other than a brief introduction of the background, the whole story takes place during that week. It is a touching story about a dying woman, her friends, her husband and her daughter.