The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms (FIC Har)

Amy's husband, John, left her (and her two children) three years ago.  Now he is back and Amy isn't sure how she feels.  When he says he wants to repair his relationship with his children and insists she takes a week off, she signs up to be a presenter at a conference in New York City for librarians.

This might not sound too exciting to the normal person but to Amy the chance to connect with other librarians and sit around and read all day is heaven.  And when she connects with a Hot Male Librarian, it truly is heaven.  But all things must come to an end, right?

Well, not necessarily.  John wants to be with the children all summer and proposes that Amy takes the summer off and leave everything to him.  Amy's college friend, Talia, is the editor of a fashion magazine in NYC and she proposes that the magazine cover Amy's summer off.  And then, there's the Hot Male Librarian...

This book is a fun, breezy story but still has depth to it.  Amy agonizes over her feelings for her not-quite-ex-husband, the time she is spending away from her children, her feelings for said Hot Male Librarian, and how she has spent her life.  And while I enjoyed the subtle references to books, the average reader will (hopefully) come away with a better look at the struggles librarians face and the importance of literacy in our society.

Motherland a memoir of love, loathing, and longing by Elissa Altman (audiobook on Overdrive)

    If the word memoir were not on the front and you just began reading this book, you might not realize it is not a true story but instead a very readable novel.  It was great!
      Elissa has been married to her wife for twenty years and they are happily settled in Connecticut.  There she finds peace.  One big reason for that is she is away from Manhattan where  Rita, her mother, lives.
     Rita was once a singer on a television show.  That is the part of her life with which she still identify.  Clothing, make-up and her singing 'career' are Rita's obsessions.  Having a daughter who is not so interested in make-up or clothing was very hard on Rita.
      Elissa's childhood was rocky.  She is keeping her life stable now with wine and the distance from Rita.  But they are still mother and daughter and Elissa does what is needed for her mom.
      From the description of the book on Amazon -
"...it is an exploration of what it means to escape from the shackles of the past only to have to face then all over again. "

Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon (ebook on Overdrive)

     When the book begins we are introduced to Florence - she is 84, living at a Home for the Elderly, and unfortunately she has fallen and is waiting for someone to miss her and to come looking.  The first two things about Elsie are easy.  She is Florence's best friend since forever.  Whenever Florence is down on herself Elsie will know the right thing to say to make her feel better.  The third thing - well you will have to wait to read the book to find out.
      As Florence lies on the floor she begins to think about Elsie rescuing her when she stops by as she promised.  And then she begins to try and figure out how the new resident looks just like  someone from her past and she is worried.  She is worried because she thinks he might harm her - and also because that man died 60 years ago.
      I loved this book.  The characters are great and the mystery of that man is woven throughout the narrative.

All You Can Ever Know A Memoir by Nicole Chung 921 Chung

  I really like non-fiction books.  I always learn something or get a perspective on people or things that I had never thought about.  I know several people who have adopted children but I have never heard first-hand  stories from adoptees.
      This book is about a baby girl born in the United States to a Korean couple who already had two daughters.  She was born very prematurely  and the Doctors weren't certain she would live. The parents signed papers to give her up for adoption.  The baby spent two months in the hospital and then was adopted by a young couple who were eager to become parents.
      Nicole writes beautifully about her life.  She was a Korean surrounded by children who looked nothing like her.  Her parents were great.  Her life was great.  But there was always this part of her who wonders about her birth parents.  Did they love her? Why did they give her up?
       So she began the quest to find out about her birth parents and the circumstances of her birth.  She finds out - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Syria's Secret Library by Mike Thomson (025.8 Tho)

A reporter for the BBC, the author is familiar with the war in Syria.  In the course of his reporting, he learns of a secret library in the besieged rebel town of Daraya.  Unable to believe what he has heard and also unable to travel to Syria to investigate in person, he manages to establish contact with residents of the city.  Using phones, texts, WhatsApp and almost any means of (often unreliable) communication you can think of, the author slowly tells the story of the secret library of Daraya.

Over the course of months, a group of young men "rescued" books from houses that had been bombed and were now deserted.  At considerable risk to themselves, they moved the books to a basement under a bombed building.  Carefully concealing the entrance, they moved in or built bookshelves and furniture in order to create a space for residents to come.  Because discovery was never very far away, its location (and even the fact that it existed) was kept secret.  In order to use it, you had to know someone.

Why did these young men go to such lengths to create this library?  Because they believed that food for the soul was just as important as food for the body.  Although as the siege went on and food became even more scarce, people became less certain of that.  But even then, this secret library became a source of hope for the future - that the books it contained would help keep citizens informed and educated in a town where schools were almost non-existent.

I was awed at the courage it took, not just to create the library but to live in the conditions they all lived in.  And with Syria still in the news, the book gave me some insight into what life is like in that country and under that dictator.

Moloka'i and Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert Overdrive

   These two books aren't available in our library (at least at the time I am writing this) but you can download them from Overdrive.   I will just give a general summary of the books.  I had holds on both of the books but the Daughter one came first.  After reading the first book I think it doesn't really matter the order in which you read them!
      They are historical fiction but the author explains at the end how he did his research.  He used real people in his books interspersed with his fictional characters.
     In the first book (which begins over 100 years ago) we meet Rachael  She is a happy seven-year-old who loves her family and life in general in Hawaii.  She is especially close to her father who is often gone since he is a merchant seaman.  But he always comes back with a doll for her.  And then one day a red mark appears on her thigh.  Her mother tries different local remedies but they don't help.  She has leprosy (later known as Hansen's disease).  Taken from her family, she is sent to the quarantined settlement on the Island Moloka'i to live with others who are also afflicted.

The second book is the story of Ruth.  As was the protocol,  Ruth was taken from her mother Rachel shortly after the birth.  Adopted by a loving family, Ruth has a good life but always wonders about her mother - while Rachel grieves for the baby girl she gave up decades before.

You will be drawn in quickly to this fascinating story.

Wunderland by Jennifer Cody Epstein FIC EPS

          WWII is one of my time periods when it comes to books.  So the minute I saw the cover I knew I would love it.  And I did.
    In 1989 Ava Fisher is living  with her teen daughter in NYC.  She was born in Germany.  She never knew her father who was killed.  Her mother, Ilse, had sent Ava to an orphanage during the war for her protection.  Ava waited years for her mother to come back for her.  Their relationship has always been shaky. In fact, Ava told her daughter that Iles died a long time ago.
       And then one day she receives a package from an attorney in Germany.  It contains her mother's ashes and letters addressed to someone Ava had never know.
      That is part of the story.  The other part is the life of Iles.  She was a teen when Hitler was beginning his reign of terror.  But for Iles and her best friend Renate it seems more exciting than scary at the beginning.  But things change for Iles as she sees the awful things that happen to her friends, neighbors and town.
     These two stories were interwoven in a way that kept me engaged from page one to the last past.

The Book of Dreams by Nina George (FIC Geo)

This is kind of a hard book to describe but I'll give it a shot.

On his way to meet his 13-year-old son for the first time, Henri is struck by a car and ends up in the hospital on life support.  For the next 46 days, he is joined by his son, Sam, and his former love, Eddie (short for Edwina).  Deep in his coma, Henri relives his life, sometimes confronting reality and other times not. 

Meanwhile, Sam becomes attached to Madelyn, the only surviving member of her family who is in the same hospital wing as Henri.  Sam is a synesthete, someone who sees voices and words as colors, and he can see and sense both what Henri is feeling as well as what Madelyn thinks and feels.

Eddie finds herself in the position of holding Henri's medical power of attorney.  As she sits by his bedside, she remembers their relationship (it is her version that we ultimately believe) and mourns its passing even years after it ended.

And then there are the doctors and nurses who treat both of these patients as well as others on the floor.  It is through them that Sam and Eddie (and the reader) come to better understand comas and how they work.  And also through them that we understand that sometimes science doesn't hold all the answers.

I really liked this book. I liked the way the author
blends both the real world and the dream world.  It is a little sad but ultimately uplifting and reassuring.   Reading this book was time well-spent and I mourned its ending just a little bit.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake (FIC Bla)

The story of three generations told back and forth in time.

In 1936 and a year after the sudden and tragic death of their oldest son, Kitty and Ogden Milton buy an island off the coast of Maine with a house on it.  They return, with their children, to the Island year after year.  It becomes the anchor for their family and friends.

In 1959, their youngest daughter, Evelyn, is about to be married.  Their oldest daughter, Joan, meets and falls in love with a man not of their "kind" (meaning East coast white upper class privilege).  He is, in fact, Jewish, and his best friend is African American.  And their oldest son, Moss, is struggling to find his way.  All of these people end up on the Island to celebrate Evelyn's impending marriage and nothing is the same after.

In 2019, Evie, Joan's only child, mourns the passing of her mother.  Suddenly she is confronted by all she doesn't know about not only her mother's past but, in many ways, her own.  And now she and her five cousins must decide whether they can afford to keep the Island or if they must sell it.

I liked this book almost in spite of itself.  The tone is moody and contemplative and thoughtful.  There were times when I wanted to shout at the characters and tell them to just get over themselves and move on.  There's a lot of talk about what makes "us", well, "us".  I realized in reading this that in many ways our society has not moved on from long held prejudices but that, in the end, there is hope.  I'm curious now about the author's other books.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict FIC Ben

      An historical novel on the life of Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr.   I remember seeing her in movies (decades ago!) and I am certain I knew that she was from Europe,  This book will take you into Hedy's life from the decade leading up to WWII through the war.
     When the novel begins Hedy is living a good life.  She lives with her parents (her father was her idol but the relationship with her mother was much more complicated) but is also doing well as an actress.  She catches the eye of a rich and influential man named Friedrich Mandl who begins to send her beautiful flowers. Then he corresponds with her parents asking for permission to come introduce himself and to take out their daughter.
    Hedy's father was very well versed in the dangerous politics of the time.  He felt it would be ill-advised to turn Friedrich away.  It leads to a hellish marriage.
      Later Hedy will end up in Hollywood.  The war is still raging.  It was time for Hedy to use her knowledge to try and help her new country put an end to the war that was tearing apart her beloved Austria .  An interesting read.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing FIC DOW

     I always like a psychological thriller and this was no exception.  The plot is exceptional.
      The story begins in a bar.  A man begins to flirt with a woman by pushing his phone toward her to introduce himself - Tobias, and he is deaf.  With his ability to read lips they begin a flirty conversation.
     In reality "Tobias" is an alias and he isn't deaf.  He is looking for a mark.  He is in fact a father and a husband who is wildly in love with Millicent, his wife.  "Tobias" is the narrator of the story and we never do learn his name.
     Throughout the book we learn more about the background of these two people and why killing women is the thing that spices up their marriage.  In the meantime they live their lives as if they are your normal couple.
     It's different and I enjoyed it!

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda FIC ROU

    Mommy Dearest - yes that is Jane.  A narcissist on steroids (or wine in this case). She was living the good life - husband, David, and her daughters in a beautiful home on the coast.  Jane has plenty of time to be the helicopter mother that is the bane of any child.
     Then a year ago her daughter Mary, home from college, disappears over a cliff and her body is recovered a few days later. Jane spends the past year trying to block out everything. She spends most of her time hiding in her bedroom- mentally and emotionally checked out.
    The book begins on the one year anniversary and she decides she is ready to join life again.  But she isn't really capable of doing that .  David is spending more time than ever at work.  Daughter Betsy is finishing up her senior year of high school and tries to avoid her mother as much as possible.
      One day Jane receives an anonymous note saying that Mary's death was not an accident.  Time for Jane to turn to her detective skills.
The story is told in Jane's voice and it is a wild ride.

Outer Calm Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin 648.5 Rub

       
    After reading organizing and decluttering books for decades I feel that I'm finally in a good place.  However, it never hurts to get a new injection of enthusiasm and this book hit the spot. It is not a long book.  There are lots of 'try this' and 'try that' in the book and some hit home for me.
      Early in my quest I thought organizing my stuff was the answer to find inner calm.  Now I have no doubt that for me it is a matter of getting rid of stuff.  That is what helps me feel more calm!  
    If you are interested in this subject I would recommend that you spend a couple of hours reading this book,

The First Mistakes by Sandie Jones FIC Jon

     Alice is a mother and a very talented interior designer.  Her business was started with Tom, her first husband.  She was devastated by his death and had a hard time coping.  Then she met Nathan.  He bonded with her daughter and won Alice's heart.  They marry and he becomes a partner in the business that is doing very well.
      And then Nathan begins behaving strangely.  Like most women Alice confides in her best friend Beth about her worries.  Beth was abandoned by her daughter's father years ago so she understands Alice's concerns.
     There are many things that convince Alice there is an affair going on even though Nathan insists he isn't.
     This is a story that had me trying to figure out the truth but it wasn't the usual domestic psychological thriller!   Loved it.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center FIC CEN

   Cassie Hanwell is a successful firefighter but she is still scarred by her 16th birthday.  On that day her mother left her and her father for another man.  She has never been able to forgive her.
Cassie is happy at her firehouse in Texas and the people she works with.  Out of the blue her mother reaches out to her asking her to move to Boston and help her out for a couple of years due to a medical issue.
      An incident in Texas makes Cassie say yes to her mother and she moves to a new state and a new firehouse.  But this firehouse is quite different and she is not well-received.  Living with her mother is more than difficult.  At work she is tasked with mentoring a rookie who happens to be very hot!  But rule number one is to never date a firefighter.
      I liked the characters and the way the author brought in the past of her life and her mother's,

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth by Sally Hepworth FIC Hep

     Mother-in-law books will never go out of style!  In this novel Lucy is the DIL who struggles with her relationship to her MIL, Diana.  Lucy is never able to have the bond she wanted with her.  Diana was polite but never warm - at least with Lucy.  Yet Diana was well-respected in the community.  After all she spent her time helping female refugees become a part of the community.  Her deceased husband, Tom, had left her well off.
       Five years into Lucy's marriage Diana is found dead.  According to a suicide note she had cancer and didn't want to go through it.  Seemed like a likely reasons for suicide - except the autopsy makes it clear that there was no cancer.  But there was some poison and signs of suffocation.
    It is also discovered that Diana recently changed her will and left no money to her two adult children or their spouses.  There are some things that will have to be explained!
      I loved the book.

The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death and Everything That Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams (available from Bridges)

A miracle?  I think when you finish this book you will truly
understand how many miracles there were in the life of Julie
Yip-Williams.  Her parents were refugees who fled from China
to Vietnam where Julie was born- blind.  She narrowly escaped being euthanized at the request of some of her family.  In the 1970's her family escaped the chaos of Vietnam by boat.  They went to Hong Kong and eventually to the U.S.
     Julie was given the gift of partial sight by a surgeon at UCLA. Unbelievably she goes to Harvard and earns a law degree.  She gets married and they have two daughters.  When she was 37 when she found out that she had colon cancer which was already metastatic .
      There is no part of her journey from birth to death that won't leave you in awe.

The Little Book of Hygge Danish Secrets to Happy Living 648.5 WIK

        I am constantly in a state of anxiety because of what is going on these days.  This seemed liked the perfect book to provide some escapism.  And it was.
      If you ever see any articles or polls on the happiest places on earth (excluding Disneyland of course!), Denmark is always leading the pack.  So what is their secret?  Part of it is Hygge.  I don't think there is an equivalent word in English that can properly translate it but here is one explanation: "Hygge is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.  It is about an atmosphere and an experience.  A feeling of home.  A feeling that we are safe."  Sounds great doesn't it?
       Part of it is physical - bringing plants into your home, paying a lot of attention to the lighting in your home, using lots of candles, having a simple approach to home decor.
       Part of it is social - spending a lot of time with family and friends, leaving work at a reasonable time so that you have that time with people.
  

      Even if you only a find a couple of take-aways from the book, I think it is worth your time to read it!

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves (FIC Gra)

Jonathan and Annika (rhymes with "Monica") meet as seniors in college when he joins the university chess club.  Annika has difficulty relating to other people but Jonathan is completely different.  In fact, each feels immediately comfortable with the other.  Over the course of that year, their relationship grows.  Until something happens that tears them apart.

Now, ten years later, they run into each other again while standing in line at the grocery store.  Can they move on from their past and rebuild their relationship?  And survive the threat that current events present?

This is a sweet novel.  The author (from the Des Moines area) draws her characters well.  The story moves back and forth in time and is told from the point of view of both Jonathan and Annika.  I really had a lot of sympathy for Annika and, I must admit, a bit of a crush on Jonathan.  This is the first book I've read by Graves and I think I'm going to add her to my author list.

The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden (FIC Hol)

At 26, Mia has her whole life planned out - her boyfriend of six years will propose to her, they will live in a Craftsman cottage in Seattle, and she will continue baking at the job she loves.  But then, suddenly, that boyfriend can't bring himself to propose to her and tells her instead that he "needs a break" and he doesn't think they "work together" anymore.

Mia finds herself having to create an alternate life than the one she planned.  Mother Teresa was a childhood hero and she herself would like to become Saint Mia.  But baking is all she really likes to do and that just doesn't seem like enough.  So on a whim, she joins her roommate on  a humanitarian trip around the world, hoping to figure out what it is she's meant to do while she's gone.  They visit Mumbai and then are called to the Hungarian border to help with the refugee crisis there.  Will she ever be able to figure out what she is called to do?

This was a good, quick read.  (Which seems to be what I've been reading lately!)  But it isn't necessarily a light-hearted book.  We visit the slums of Mumbai with Mia and her teammates and see and feel their frustration at how little they can do.  And that frustration is only strengthened when they have to deal with the hordes of people trying to escape such difficult lives that living as a refugee is better than what they left.

The romance may be a bit too obvious but the characters are likable and worth rooting for.  I enjoyed it a lot.

P.S.  This book is NOT about honeybees in the obvious way.  You won't learn anything about how bees produce honey but you MIGHT learn something about how bees can guide you on your path.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (FIC Hol)

A year after her husband's death in a traffic accident, Evvie Drake rarely leaves her large house.  The exception is her weekly breakfasts with her best friend, Andy.  Everyone, including Andy, thinks Evvie is keeping her grief locked inside.  In fact she can't bear to tell anyone the truth.

When Andy asks her if his childhood friend, Dean, can rent her apartment, she welcomes the extra income.  Dean is a professional pitcher who can't pitch.  He's done everything but nothing has worked.  And the media and public don't seem to understand.

Dean moves into the apartment and they immediately make a deal:  He won't ask about Evvie's husband and she won't ask about baseball.  But can they stick by the rules they have established?

I liked this book.  The author has a real way with dialogue, which is something I never thought I would say!  But the way the characters speak are never stilted and seem tuned into modern speech patterns.  Probably not the best reason to read a book, though!  So, I liked the characters and found them both to be sympathetic.  The setting was also great - a small town in Maine.  Oh - and I learned about "the yips."  Google it - it's a real thing.

You have a great setting, sympathetic characters, and you learn something, too.  What more could you ask for?

Betrayal in Time by Julie McElwain (MYS McE)

Transported back to the early 1800s in the first book in this series, Kendra Donovan is still trying to fit into the world in which she landed.  Everything is different - manners and customs, everyday living, how crimes are solved.

And it is solving crime that Kendra is still drawn to.  Before she landed in the 1800s, she worked for the FBI.  Now, safely under the wings of the Duke of Aldridge as his ward (something that grates on her), she has become known as someone with the ability to solve crimes.  And the current crime to involve her is the murder of Sir Giles Holbrooke.  Left naked and strangled and with his tongue cut out in a church, the other puzzling thing is the symbols that show up during his autopsy.  Are they crosses or something else?

With the help of Bow Street Runner Sam Kelly, the Duke's goddaughter Rebecca, and his dashing nephew and heir Alexander Morgan, Kendra sets out to solve the puzzle.  And just as she is used to, the murder is solved one step at a time with careful footwork and questions.  Will they be able to solve this one before someone else is killed?

This is the fourth book in the series and I have enjoyed all of them.  To be honest, I enjoy time travel books.  The author does a good job of showing Kendra's frustrations as the strictures that exist in this time period, especially those for women.  But as Kendra finds out, solving crimes in any century follow basically the same path.  So maybe life wasn't really so different?

The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne (FIC Tha)

After their mother died and after a year spent in the foster care system, Daisy and Beatriz were reunited with their aunt, Stella.  The house that they lived in, on a cliff, became the focus of their lives together.

Now, Daisy is an accountant and the sensible one.  But she's hiding a big secret from her sister and aunt.  And then there's the handsome stranger in town who's very presence upsets her carefully balanced world.

Beatriz was a wild child and married her high school flame after she became pregnant.  Now her ex-husband is a famous rock star who wants to re-unite with her but Bea is sure that isn't what she wants.  If only she can convince him that her heart lies elsewhere.

And then there's Stella.  She sacrificed a lot to raise her two nieces, including the love of her life.  Just ten years older than Daisy, she is still able to have the one thing that she craves. 

Told in alternating chapters that focus mostly on the women in the story, there is really no doubt how the book will end.  But I still liked it and kept reading.  I enjoyed feeling as though I lived in a coastal town in Northern California (in a house with a pool, of course!) and liked the characters (even if they were all beautiful and handsome!).

A quick read perfect for summer.

The Gifted School: A Novel by Bruce Holsinger FIC Hol

          This novel could also have been called Desperate Parents.  I would like to think that this story is just an exaggeration of things that go on in our society but no doubt the truth is we live in a very competitive society.
     The fictional town of Crystal is located in Colorado.  Many families moved there thinking it was the perfect place to raise a family.and educate the children.    The novel revolves around four families.  The parents became friends when the children were young. Everything is good - until it is announced that a Gifted School is going to be opened as a magnet school.  To be accepted it is not simply good grades.  The school will be looking for more than that.  They want diversity (including geographically) and they want children with special gifts - such as the boy who did unbelievable origami .
        Let the competition begin for these kids are headed to Middle School.  There are different phases and students are cut from the potential list. The parents will stop at nothing to get their children in the school.  Friendships, marriages, and the community will be tested during these months.  And of course there will be secrets revealed.
      I enjoyed the book.    

The Editor by Steven Rowley (FIC Row)

At 31 and after years of working odd jobs so that he can work towards his dream of being a writer, James is on his way to meet with his new editor.  But this isn't just any old editor.  Much to his surprise, James' new editor is none other than Jackie Onassis.  Yes.  THAT Jackie.  None other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Over the next few months, James and Jackie form an unexpected friendship.  She pushes him to be more specific in his book while entertaining him at her Cape Cod home. Does she share more with James than with other writers she has edited?  James doesn't know the answer but he cherishes his contact with her.

The book, however, proves to be a problem.  Perhaps because it deals with the relationship between mothers and sons, particularly James and his mother.  And until he can figure out what that relationship is, it looks as though his book might never get finished.

You know how sometimes you walk into the Library and you pick up a book and read the flap or jacket and think that it sounds like a good one and then you take it home and start reading it and you just don't like it?  Well, that was definitely NOT my experience with this book.  It was surprisingly sweet and sometimes funny.  The relationship between James and Jackie (or Mrs. Onassis, as he calls her) is touching.  His mother is sometimes likable and sometimes not.  But I really enjoyed the time I spent with these people and sorry when the book came to its inevitable end.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn (FIC Qui)

The story of three people:  Nina, Ian and Jordan.

In the cold east of Siberia, Nina grows up reckless and wild, perfectly suited to the dangers of pre-WWII flying.  Determined to fly, she journeys from her lakeside home to become a member of a flying club.  When war breaks out, she becomes a member of the Night Witches, so named by the Germans they bomb, an all-female flying regiment.  (Historical note:  The USSR was the only country to use women in wartime flying.)  When she comes down behind enemy lines, she must fight for her survival.  Her early upbringing helps her.  Until she comes into the path of a Nazi murderess known as the Huntress.  And survives, unlike any of her other victims,

In post-war Vienna, Ian, an English journalist, and his small group (actually just him and Tony, a former US soldier) hunt for Nazi war criminals.  Next on their list is a woman known as the Huntress.  While the Huntress committed many horrible crimes, this hunt is personal for Ian - she killed his brother in cold blood just before the end of the war.  And only one person knows what she looks like.

In Boston, Jordan lives with her father.  At 17, she longs to be a famous photographer.  When her father, an antiques dealer, brings home a lovely German widow who becomes his fiance, Jordan is at first excited.  But there's just something about Anneliese that doesn't seem quite right.

The lives of all of these people eventually intersect as they search for the Huntress.

This is a long book (530 pages) so I had to psyche myself up to start it!  But once I did, I found it hard to put it down.  I liked the characters and the story, the setting and the details the author provided.  I also enjoyed her first book (The Alice Network) so I'm definitely adding this author to my list of favorites.

The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney (FIC Moo)

Joel lives in a nursing home.  Since the sudden passing of his beloved wife three years ago, he has had only one roommate.  And since he was in a coma the whole time, you can hardly say that Mr. Miller was a troublesome person to have around.  Still, Joel had gotten used to his presence so when Mr. Miller, too, passes away, he finds himself unhappy in ways he never imagined.

Estranged from his daughter and her two children, Joel decides that the only option for him is to commit suicide.

And then his new roommate, Frank, arrives.  A retired actor and soap opera star, Frank is the very opposite of Joel.  And just like that, Joel's life changes forever.

Part A Man Called Ove and part The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, this is also part it's very own book.  The characters were interesting and worth caring about, even though sometimes Joel was just a little bit TOO much the grumpy old man.  His dissatisfaction at living in a nursing home comes through loud and clear.  But the ultimate message of the book - that it's never too late to change your life or your relationships - comes through loud and clear.

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan (FIC Kol)

Zoe is a single mother in London living life on the edge.  It seems there is never enough money to go around and Jaz, the DJ father of Hari who is four, is rarely around and provides little support of any kind.  To make matters worse, her definitely low-scale but almost affordable studio apartment is about to go upscale.  Zoe can't afford the rent now.  How can she afford it later?

Jaz's sister, Surinder, comes to the rescue.  Her friend is pregnant and needs someone to look after and run the bookshop on wheels that she owns.  (Both characters are from the author's previous book, The Bookshop on the Corner, but the book really isn't about either of them.)  Zoe, book lover that she is, would be perfect for the interim position.  And there's a second job to provide housing - as an au pair to three children.  All of this is on the shores of Loch Ness but maybe getting out of London is the best thing possible.

Scotland is everything Zoe could hope for.  Fresh air, plenty of space for Hari to run around, beautiful surroundings.  But Nina, the owner of the bookvan, isn't as welcoming as Zoe could have hoped for.  And that genuine Scottish castle?  Well, the laird is distant even to his own children, the children are more than a little wild (Zoe is their seventh au pair), and the castle is just a little bit creepy.

This book was a welcome summer break.  I loved the setting and felt for the characters.  And the ultimate message, that families come in all shapes and sizes, is one that can't be heard and read often enough.  I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to another "sequel."

Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos (FIC Kal)

In her 70s, Margaret Hughes lives alone in the family mansion high on a hill in Seattle.  She is surrounded by the treasures, valuable pieces of porcelain and china, accumulated by her late father.  Dusting them and talking to them has become her life. When she is diagnosed with brain cancer, she realizes how isolated she has become and decides to makes drastic changes.  The first one is taking in a boarder.

Wanda Schultz has come west looking for her boyfriend.  He left her suddenly and her only clue is that he might be in Seattle.  Working as a tech in theater gives her plenty of time to look for him.  In Margaret she finds not only a place to live but a home.

Both women have lived with secrets and regrets for their entire lives.  As they come to know one another, their horizons are broadened.  And gradually, other people come into the house and a strange but very real family is formed.

Often, a book title has no real significance.  But this title speaks in many ways to not only the emotional state of the characters but the things that happen within the walls of the house.  And this statement from someone who doesn't every dive very deep into the meaning of books!

I enjoyed this book a lot.  Bad things happen but so do good things.  Some of it might be a little fantastical but it all seemed believable.  I really cared about Margaret and Wanda and their growing circle of friends.  And I was sorry when it came to an end.

Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris (MYS Har)

London.  1814.  The very end (hopefully) of Napoleon.  And Sebastian St. Cyr is called in to help solve the vicious murder of a sadistic young lord.  Many factors complicate the investigation, not the least of which is the fact the Lord Ashworth's widow is Sebastian's beloved niece who just might be a suspect in the murder.

As Sebastian investigates, he finds more and more suspects, more people who are lying to him.  And more deaths.  Could it be the Russian princess attached to the retinue of the Grand Duchess of Russia?  Or the furniture maker (and other merchants too numerous to count) who was owed a huge debt by the now dead lord?  And what about the fortune teller whose daughter committed suicide after being raped by Lord Ashworth?

This is the fourteenth book in the series and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one.  In addition to a good mystery and characters I have grown to care for, the author gives the reader a good look at what life was like in England at the beginning of the nineteenth century.  In a subplot, Sebastian's wife, Hero, works on a series of articles about life among the lowest of the low classes.  Ever wonder how cesspits were cleaned out?  You'll find out (and maybe wish you hadn't) when you read this book.

Number fifteen should be out next April.  I can't wait!

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick (FIC Pat)

Since caring for her parents, Martha Storm has lived determined to do good things for others.  It doesn' always make her feel good.  She keeps a list of projects in her notebook and has an elaborate method to track her progress which only reminds her of how far behind she is.  Meanwhile her home has become stuffed with other people's things.  And her efforts to achieve a full-time job at the library where she volunteers have gone nowhere.

One day a book is left for her at the library.  In it she finds a written note to her from her beloved grandmother.  The problem?  The note is dated three years after her Nana died.

Martha sets out to discover what really happened more than thirty years ago.  In the process, she uncovers long-kept family secrets and, finally, learns how to move forward in her own life.

I've read other books by this author and always enjoy them.  This one is no different.  I enjoyed the characters and emphasized with all of them - even Martha's thoroughly unlikable younger sister, Lilian.  The ending was completely satisfying.  I'm looking forward to the author's next book!

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See FIC See

      Lisa See never fails to entertain and enlighten me.  The story begins in the WWII era and ends in modern times.  The background of the book tells us the story of a Korean Island called Jeju.  It is a horrific tale of what these people went through during a tumultuous time of history.
     The main characters are Young-sook and Mi-ja.  Their backgrounds were different but they became the best of friends as they became members of the all-female diving collective.  In their community these women are the bread-winners for their families and the men support them by cooking and watching the children.
The life of these divers is fascinating!  It is hard work and quite dangerous.
      Young-sook and Mi-ja support each other has tragedy after tragedy is visited upon their families and their community.  But there comes a time when their tight bond is cut.
      This book is about a culture, Korean history , traditions and most of all about friendship, family and the difficult path to forgiveness.

White Elephant by Julie Langsdort FIC LAN

         White Elephant can be used in several contexts.  In this book it refers to an over-the-top house, a McMansion, a giant of a structure which  looms over the 'normal' houses around it.
     Willard Park is a suburb described as quaint.  It had quaint homes.  It had quaint traditions.
    Ted and Allison Miller live in a quaint house.  On one side there is now a four story house inhabited by Nick and Kaye Cox. On the other side is Nick's construction project -another White Elephant.  Trees are being cut down to allow more light into these new homes.  And one of those trees is one that Ted had planted after the birth of his daughter.  He is ready for war.
     Tension between the new and old neighbors in the town begin to rise.  Trees all over town are being mysteriously cut down in the dead of night.  Part mystery and part character study, this book is 100% entertaining!

Maid by Stephanie Land 920 LAN

  This is a memoir - and so much more.  There are so many lessons that can be taught from this book.  People who say disparaging remarks about single mothers and  people who are on welfare can get an up-close look at that life.  Young people who live in poverty or become parents unexpectedly can read this book and understand that with enough determination you can change your life.  It isn't quick or easy but it is possible.  People who lead an easy life might be encouraged to reach out and help someone in their family, or in their church, or in their community.  People who have the means to hire house cleaners may be reminded that these cleaners should not be invisible beings!
    Stephanie Land did not grow up in luxury but neither was it poverty.  Like many young women she had a plan- go to college and become a writer.  Instead she became a mother.  The first line of her book is "My daughter learned to walk in a homeless shelter."  How does that not tear at your heart?  There weren't many ways Stephanie could earn money.  With the help of some government programs she was able to survive by becoming a cleaning lady.  She did it for hours on end for years and this book is the story of her life during this period.
      This book kept me so engaged that I read it in a couple of days.  It will stay with me for a long time.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion FIC SIM

         This is the third novel in the 'Rosie Series'.  (You need to start with The Rosie Project and then The Rosie Effect).  Where has the time gone?? This book begins with Don and Rosie already ten years into parenthood.  Yes, Hudson is 10 years old already.  He is a chip off the old block.  That means he is having his share of issues.  That is always hard for parents to watch.
      As always, Don has thought it over and come up with a solution.  It would be called The Hudson Project.  It will take friends and family to help improve Hudson's school life.  That will include fighting with the school.  The school wants to have Hudson tested for autism.  If he shows up on the spectrum  the school can hire a one-on-one aide for him.  And it would also give the school a reason to excuse some of Hudson's actions at school.  (My favorite is when he can't resist correcting the teacher's grammar!).  I found Hudson to be a very likable kid.
     This series of books is full of wonderful characters.  They may make you laugh one minute and bring tears to your eyes the next.  Through these characters we can learn, or be reminded of, how difficult it can be to fit into society.

The Blink of an Eye by Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard 616 Kja

      The subtitle of this book is 'a memoir of dying-and learning how to live again'.  It is a given that none of us know when we get up in the morning what is going to happen that day.  I guarantee that the most pessimistic among us could ever envision a scenario like that which happened to Kjærgaard.  

    A new year is dawning.  She is young, smart (a scientist) and blessed with a husband(Peter)  and kids.  The day is spent celebrating with family and friends.  During the day she was hit by chills.  By that night she has a high temperature and no amount of blankets can warm her up.   Eventually her husband calls a doctor who comes to the house (they live in Copenhagen) and pronounces that, like many people, she has the flu and gives Peter a prescription for Tamiflu.  She was unable to keep it down because she was vomiting and her fever rose.  Peter called the Dr.'s office as soon as it opened. The receptionist called the Dr. who came immediately.  It didn't take him long to summon an ambulance.  Shortly after they arrived Rikke's heart stopped and they began CPR. 

      She was given 5% chance of living.  Peter stayed by her side constantly. When she finally begins to come out of her coma she is basically trapped in her body.  She has no idea where she is or why she is there.  When Peter and the staff realize she is awake they have no way of knowing what is left in her brain.  The only way she can communicate is one blink for yes and two for no.  

     An amazing and miraculous memoir.  

Henry Himself by Stewart O'Nan FIC ONA

   I adored this book. As always I have several books going at the same time.  There are so many I want to get read.  So unless it is an audiobook, I often find myself reading quickly and skimming parts that are just descriptive passages or what appears to be minutia.  You can't do that with this book because it is basically made up of minutia.  For most of us there will be some big events, but in between those events is usually a life filled with, well I would call it minutia.
      Henry is now 75.  He lives with his wife, Emily.  They have children and grandchildren.  He has a sister.  They have a dog.
    Henry is retired now (He was an engineer).  People his age are really starting to notice how close they may be to the end.  It makes him retrospective.  He questions if he handled things with his children over the years - is that why there often seems to be a distance between them.    The marriage between Henry and Emily seems to be a strong, happy one.  They have their unspoken rules and a pattern of life that is rarely interrupted.
      I love the way he writes.  It is all about the characters.  They seem so real and normal.  There were many times I felt the tears in my eyes and many times  I found myself smiling as I agreed with something he did, or said realizing it reminded me of someone I know (or myself).
     

The Library Book by Susan Orlean (027.4794 Orl)

If you are just browsing the shelves in the Library, you might miss this wonderful book.  Because, honestly, the Dewey Decimal number puts it in an area of the Library's collection that not many people see.  It's between the computer books (004-005) and the psychology books (133-155).  But if you miss it, you will miss a wonderful reading experience.  It's in the part of the library's collection assigned to books on libraries.  And, quite frankly, only librarians usually spend in time in that part of the collection.

Orlean's book ostensibly investigates the devastating fire in the Los Angeles Central Library on April 28, 1986.  I won't describe it here - she does a wonderful job of explaining how it started and spread as well as the results.  In a nutshell, 400,000 books were destroyed, another 700,000 damaged possibly beyond saving.

This book is so much more.  It is the history of the Los Angeles Public Library.  But in describing the history of this particular library, the author also explains the history of libraries in general.  She talks to people who love libraries, who love to work in libraries, and who support libraries. 

She talks about how the Los Angeles Public Library is adapting to the needs of today's society.  And in so doing, she talks about how all libraries are adapting to today's society.

You might think that this book is only about one writer's love of libraries and reading.  And only about one library.  But you would be wrong.  To get an understanding of how libraries (including the Indianola Public Library) operate and respond and believe, read this book.

Let me say this again.  Read this book!

So says the retired librarian.

Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty FIC More

        The title refers to the way Poppy refers to women with children.  She and her husband had decided not to have children. Poppy’s best friend doesn’t have children.  Everyone is happy - until Poppy comes home to find her husband and bff waiting to talk to her......seems her husband is now in love with her bff (he used to complain about her all the time!) and he wants a divorce. Oh, I forgot to mention that her bff is pregnant!
     Poppy moves out and finds an apartment above that of Annalise - a co-worker and soon to become her new friend.  Together they begin an online group made up of  childless women who celebrate their freedom and want to socialize where they can air their complaints about women at work who often need special favors to attend to their children. Or the children that  interfere with their evenings out in a restaurant.
     There is another online group in their town.  It’s made up of mothers who want to support each other in the tough task of raising children.
     When the mom group finds out about the anti-children group things are going to get nasty.
An entertaining book!

The Soul of America: the battle for our better angels 973 MEA

     Unless you are able to totally ignore what it going on in government and politics, you are possibly depressed.  That was how I felt when I began this book.  I have seem Jon Meacham many times on television and I could listen to him talking about history all day long.  His title is taken from a phrase in Lincoln’s first inaugural address.
       Meacham takes us through many times in American history when it seemed our country, and what it stands for, was in danger. The time span of this book goes from Lincoln and slavery to Lyndon Johnson and civil rights changes.  By telling us about many of the crises that have occurred - and that still our country has endured, I  feel (a bit) better.  I definitely feel I am better educated about American history!
   

The Uninhabitable Earth Life after warming by David Wallace-Wells ebook available on Bridges

        I have read some scary books over the years but this book makes Stephen King’s books seem like fairytales.  Like many people, I have been concerned about climate change for decades.  This book increases my anxiety to a whole new level.
      I listened to this book and found it well done and kept my interest from beginning to end.  Chapter after chapter I heard about why it is happening  - and then the consequences. If I were a Canadian I think I would encourage my government to start building a wall now because it seems if we do nothing to reverse this now, it will be the Americans immigrating north.
     Climate change will change everything - our towns, our states, our countries, our cultures, our way of life and of course the human race.
       I hope that many people will read this book.  You may doubt some of his predictions but should we be willing to take a chance?

The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen (FIC Bow)

It is 1918 and the Great War (you know, the war to end all wars) is still raging in Europe.  In England, Emily Bryce chafes at the restrictions placed on her by her parents.  Ever since her older brother was killed in the opening weeks of the war, her parents have kept an eagle eye on her and still insist that she act as though nothing in their society has changed.

Finally 21 and able to make her own decisions, Emily joins the Women's Land Army.  Her parents are horrified but Emily is determined to finally do something to help the war effort.  Sheltered for her entire life, she is now forced to fend for herself and learn how to take care of herself.  Thrown into the mix is the charming Australian pilot she meets and falls in love with.

The war continues as Emily's life changes in ways she could never have imagined.  Facing censure from her parents, she forms a new life with the women she meets in the WLA and the people she works for as a result of her efforts.

It still amazes me how many books and novels are written about WWII and how few, in comparison, are written about WWI.  So I enjoy the different perspective as well as a look at what life was like for people who thought that THIS was would solve all the world's problems.  Throw in a likable main character who grows and finds herself in the course of the novel and this book is a win-win.  I enjoyed it a lot!

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly FIC Kel

     This is a great read if you enjoy historical fiction.  If you want to know the background of this story, check out the end of the book where you will find the Author's Note.  She also explains how she became interested in this topic and the preparation and traveling she undertook.
       There are three main characters in the book.  Caroline Ferriday (who was a real person) lives in NYC.  She is a socialite and spends her time volunteering giving family assistance for the French Consulate.  She has a deep connection to France and loves helping French citizens trying to escape conditions in France in 1939.  Her other passion was sending packages to the suffering children in France.
      In Poland lives Kasia Kuzmerick who is a teenager.  Her world is changing rapidly as the Nazis invade her country.  When she tries to help the underground as a courier, she becomes a prisoner and is sent to Ravensbrück - a women's concentration camp.
        Herta Oberheuser is young, ambitious and a doctor in Germany.  There aren't too many opportunities for a female doctor.  She longs to be a surgeon but has been settling for working as a dermatologist .  The one day she sees an ad.  She applies for a job working for the German government.  She sees this as a chance to finally practice real medicine - and she will do it in Ravensbrück.
        One of the horrific things at Ravensbrück was the experimental surgeries done on women.  Those women became known as the Ravensbrück Rabbits.
       This is a powerful novel.

The Good Neighbor The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King 791.4502

  I am no spring chicken and you may be surprised that I have never, ever seen an episode of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood".  Of course I knew who he was, the name of his show and even what he wore during the show.  I knew all of that from the many parodies on tv shows.  A few months ago I recorded the movie on him that was shown on IPTV.  It was something I was going to watch someday.  Then one Sunday my minister announced that the sermons during Lent would be based on Mr. Rogers.  When the children came forward for their sermon we would all sing "It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood" and my minister would change into a cardigan, call for trolley to come out of his temporary home, and make-shift puppets would appear.  During the sermons there were pictures and snippets from the show.  I watched the movie - which was great.
     I was hooked.  In this world that often seems topsy-turvy it was wonderful to escape to a book and read about the life of Mr. Rogers.  From his not always so perfect childhood to his fight for quality children's programming, to the effect he had on people until the day he died - and beyond.   If you need an emotional, spiritual, nostalgic break, I suggested you check out this book.

The House of Gold by Natasha Solomons (FIC Sol)

In Vienna in 1911, Greta Goldbaum is the youngest daughter of the Austrian branch of the House of Goldbaum, a family-owned banking family. (Think the Rothschilds.). She has always thought she was free to choose her own path but reality strikes when she marries her distant cousin, Albert, because Goldbaum women marry Goldbaum men.  

Relocated to England, she finds herself lonely and seeking a place to call her own. Albert is distant and uninterested. When her mother-in-law gives her land to transform into a garden, Greta at last finds something to interest and distract her. When her brother suggests that perhaps she should try just a little bit harder with Albert, she begins to wonder if maybe she was wrong.

As Albert and Greta grow closer, so does war. It is Europe in 1911 and tensions among all the countries are strained. Countries considering war need money. And the Goldbaum and their banks in major countries have it. They may be Jewish and outsiders but money can bring acceptance. Goldbaums across Europe are drawn into the impending war.

I enjoyed this book. I will admit that some of the financial maneuverings were beyond me but I did at least get the idea. The characters were likable and the settings interesting. It is the first book I’ve read by this author and I plan to read more. 

All the Wrong Places by Joy Fielding FIC FI

       Another great read by Joy Fielding.   The 'location' for this novel is the world of online dating.  There are lots of reasons people choose this way of meeting someone new and maybe someone special.  In this book the reasons include a new beginning after a divorce, recovering from an infidelity, widowhood and just plain boredom.  
       There are also pitfalls.  Online pictures may not be up-to-date, and details may have been played down or exaggerated. Meetings always start out in public places but when is it safe to trust the date and go somewhere private?
       Paige, her cousin Heather, her bff Chloe and Joan, her mother, are all drawn into this world.  One of them arranges to meet a man who goes by the online name of "Mr. Right Now".  He seems perfect on the screen.  In real life he wants to woo women to his apartment for a lovely dinner........which ends with a torturous death.  

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir FIC WEI

        Essie is 17 and the youngest in her family.  Her family is not a normal family. No, they are the Hicks family known for their wildly popular reality show Six for Hicks.  Her father is an evangelical preacher which makes being a perfect family mandatory.  Essie doesn't know any other way of life but that doesn't mean she likes it.  

     Essie's mother, Celia (perfect wife and mother), discovers that her youngest is pregnant!  This will not do.  What is a mother to do??  Of course she turns immediately to the producers of the show.  After all, they need to figure out a way to spin this story in order to save the show.  Ideas are thrown around.  Maybe a secret abortion?  Perhaps they could cover up Essie's pregnancy and Celia could pretend to be pregnant. Oh wait - the best idea ever.  Arrange a marriage (quickly of course) and of course the wedding would be broadcasted which would lead to ratings gold.  

       Naturally they picked option 3.  It is a bit tricky though because Essie doesn't have a boyfriend.  So they have to find someone willing to quickly 'fall in love' and marry Essie.  Fortunately the show has a big budget so it's just a matter of finding someone in need of money.  

In Another Time by Jillian Cantor FIC CAN

Another novel set in Europe during WWII.  I just can't seem to get enough of them!   The book also jumps to the 1940's and 1950's.  It begins with a brief introduction to Hanna. In 1958 she is playing her violin in an orchestra in NYC.  She makes reference to the time in Germany she stumbled into a church in very bad shape.  But the worse part of her condition is that she has lost ten years of her life.  She was told that no doubt it was caused by a great trauma.
      And then the story returns to the Germany of 1931.  Although her family is Jewish and they are beginning to see and more signs of hatred towards Jews they can't imagine anything bad happening to them in their own country.   It is also the time that she meets Max.  He is the owner of a bookshop that was left to him by his father.  The economy is bad - especially for someone selling books.  To better his future prospects he decides to take some classes at the University.  It is there that he enters  a building by mistake and hears the most beautiful violin music.  After following the sound he sees Hanna practicing on a stage.  And thus begins a love story. But remember -- "true love never runs smooth". That is especially true during the rise of Hitler and the war.    I really enjoyed this book!

Watching You by Lisa Jewell FIC Jew

         In Bristol, England there is a neighborhood called Melville Heights.  It is a very nice neighborhood filled with colorful, historic houses.  Among the inhabitants is the Fitzwilliam family.  Tom, the headmaster of the school, his wife Nicola, and their son Freddie.  Freddie attends a private school instead of his father's school.  He is socially awkward.  He spends most of his spare time spying on the neighborhood and writing it all down.
     Joey is a young woman who has had some big life changes.  Her mother died recently but Joey keeps her up to date through long one-sided conversations at the grave. Her big news is that she is now married to a guy named Alfie.  They really don't have any money so they are not the kind of people who live in this area.  Joey's brother, however, has recently moved into one of the houses with his wife Rebecca.  They have graciously invited the newlyweds to move in.
                                   Jenna also lives in the neighborhood.  She is a student at Tom's school.  Her young life as not been very carefree.  After a divorce her father took her brothers and moved about twenty miles away.  Jenna stays with her mother whose grasp of reality is not always the best.  She is paranoid and communicates online with groups of people who have their own paranoia.
          It is an interesting community and like any group of people there are secrets.
          Did I mention that the book begins with a crime scene?  In a kitchen there is dead body. Blood is everywhere due to the twenty knife wounds.  A vicious, personal murder.  
     It's a good book!!!