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!!!

Goodbye, Sweet Girl by Kelly Sundberg 362.8292 SUN

      I picked up this book along with some others about a month ago.  The others had holds on them and this one fell to the bottom of the pile.  I renewed it but I still hadn't started it.  Two days ago I finally started reading it and finished it the same day.  So obviously I liked it!
       The sub-title is A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival.  That should give you a good idea that it isn't a fluffy, feel-good book.  It is a compelling book that will make you understand a few hard truths.  The experiences of childhood has a big impact on the adult that one becomes.  You can really understand how the violence begins and why women don't run away at the first signs of trouble.  It is a reminder that violence is perpetrated by people from all walks of life - college teachers are not exempt.
      This story might alert people to be more aware of friends, family or colleagues who may be in a dangerous situation.  If you find out that someone you know left a domestic violent situation I think you will understand better why she didn't 'just leave'.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff FIC Jen

    I've had read other books by Jenoff and I was sure I was going to love this one too.  And I did!   It is historical fiction which is set immediately after World War II and begins in Grand Central Station.  Grace Healey is on her way to work where she discovers a suitcase (when she trips on it!).  Thinking she might find a clue to the owner, she opens it up and sees photos of women but no identification  other than the word Trigg .  Needing to get to work she impulsively takes the photos and leaves the suitcase.
       Later she finds out that it belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg who helped train a group of ordinary women to be secret agents in Europe.  Their job was to act as couriers and radio operators in order to help the Resistance.  The women in the photos Grace found belong to 12 women who risked their lives to help win the war and they never came home.  Grace is determined to find out what happened to them.