This is the story of Danny & Maeve, brother & sister who seem to have a privileged life. The novel revolves around their lifelong bond, which undergoes many upheavals. A major character in the book is the Dutch House itself, their childhood home, & we learn the curious history of the house & its former owners. I thoroughly loved these characters, including the house! If you like really delving into someone's personality, then this is the book for you. (Kim)
The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter entwines 2 stories 100 years apart, but both based on true events in history. 1838, Grace Darling loves living with her family at Longstone Lighthouse off the coast of northeast England. She helps keep the Light with her father and unwillingly becomes a hero when they save people from a shipwreck during a raging storm. 1938, Newport RI, curmudgeonly Harriet Flaherty is the keeper of Rose Island Lighthouse. She takes in a distant relative from Ireland, 19 year old Matilda Emmerson who is pregnant and alone. This is a beautiful story about the workings of a lighthouse, the wonders and horrors the ocean can bring, family, romance, and how the past always effects the present. A customer recommended it and I'm thankful he did. (Sue)
From the beginning of their marriage, Lady Clementine Churchill put her husband first often times before their children and her own health. Not content to be seen and not heard like so many politician's wives were treated, Clementine forges her own path proving to be a force to be reckoned with. I was fascinated by this woman who stood up not only for other women but for people effected by the brutal bombings of London by the Nazis. I wonder if Winston Churchill would have reached the political heights he did if he had chosen another woman to marry. With this book, Marie Benedict has introduced another intriguing, brilliant woman I look forward to learning more about. (Lisa)
Tara's upbringing is not one for the faint of heart. The story of her life up in the Idaho mountains with her survivalist parents and siblings was absolutely unbelievable. This was my first biography and an absolute page turner! (Bonnie)
I like a little bit of the spooky in the Fall. This memoir by prolific memoirist Augusten Burroughs , is about his being a witch. Burroughs has detailed many aspects of his life in some of his previous books : Running With Scissors, Dry , Lust and Wonder and A Wolf at the Table, but has never before come out as a witch. In his colorful often whimsical style, Burroughs relates that he is from a long line of witches and then offers up a variety of personal stories often hysterically funny , sometimes creepy and occasionally poignant to back up his claim. (Candie)
The 4th book in Riley's incredible Seven Sisters series, The Pearl Sister takes you from London to Thailand and then to Australia as CeCe begins her search for her roots. The story goes back in time to the early 1900's Australia where life is difficult and the inhabitants are plagued by heat, dust, torrential rains, deadly wildlife, and the pervasive prejudice towards the Aboriginal people. Once again Riley takes you on an epic adventure and journey as she vividly brings her characters and surroundings to life. Join CeCe and her forbears with all of their ups and downs, heartaches and triumphs. You will not be able to put this one down. (Sue)
I really loved this family story about Lillian Oberon and her granddaughter Maggie who must navigate through a mixture of duty, rebellion, secrets, and betrayals as they try to find happiness and fulfillment in their lives, but often end up disillusioned. The story is set at the once lavish English estate Cloudesley that is now a crumbling mess and Maggie must find a way to preserve it and her family's legacy. (Sue)
Cara Rutledge is facing a difficult time in her life. She has lost both her mother and her husband in recent years and is now a 1st time mom to an adopted 1 year old daughter. So Cara decides to go to her happy and safe place, her beach cottage on Isles of Palms off the coast of South Carolina, which has been in her mother's family for years, but she now owns. There she is surrounded by family, friends, and the ocean all of which help her move forward and forge a new path in life. Helping the sea turtles nest and hatch their eggs is just 1 facet of this wonderful story, plus add a little romance and salt air and I couldn't put it down. (Sue)
Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren, SSA Kimberly Quince and Victims Advocate Flora Dane join forces to solve the mystery of a recently discovered unmarked grave in the hills of Northern Georgia. The small town closest to the grave seems slightly off despite it's perfect appearance. As the body count rises, so do the many secrets this small town is trying to keep hidden. Lisa Gardner always includes an element to her stories that shows the research and time she puts into writing her novels. The novel introduces a victim who must communicate what she knows in the only way she can. Without giving away any spoilers all I can say is if you're a fan of her novels, I encourage you to read this thrilling mystery filled with secrets, chills and one very bad man. (Lisa)
Maddalena Moretti, a young widow from the country, works as a servant in the Vatican Palace. Following a near assault at the hands of Juan Borgia, she is given a position in Lucrezia Borgia's household by her handsome rescuer Cesare Borgia. This book was very well written bringing the time and people alive with incredible descriptions, historical figures and events. Although I loved learning more about this notorious family, as they destroyed countless lives around them due to politics, greed and passion, I was truly disgusted by them. The saving grace of this book for me was the extensive research Alyssa Palombo did and Maddalena's character as she made her way through the hazardous web of deceit the Borgias created. Excellent historical fiction! (Lisa)
The latest from Loreth Anne White is an addictive, complex thriller based on the Agatha Christie classic "And Then There Were None". A group of professionals is lured to a remote resort hoping to get long-term contracts for their specialty services. The tension builds as the group begins to fracture and their secrets come to light. Revenge, betrayals, murder and the intricacies of running a SAR rescue in a beautiful, unforgiving remote area kept me captivated till the very end. One of the best I've read this year! (Lisa)
After much praise of this book I finally decided to pick it up and I definitely could not put it down. Abandoned at a very young age by her whole family Kya Clark survives on her own out in the marsh. With no schooling and really no social skills she is a mystery to the town. When the local football star is found dead the locals immediately blame “Marsh girl” as she’s known. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages of this novel! It is definitely a must read! (Bonnie)
Consuelo Vanderbilt, American heiress, was forced into a loveless marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlboro by her mother Alva Vanderbilt. After producing "An heir and a spare" Consuelo's marriage falls apart. She scandalously separates and forges and path of her own. Her fight for women's suffrage and medical care of children give her meaning in a world she had to make her own. This was a great story and a great character. Her story was very inspiring! (Bonnie)
Anna Princess of Kleve is engaged to the enigmatic King Henry VIII. While she is afraid from all the rumors she has heard she is also interested to learn about the man he truly is. While, as history tells we know the marriage does not last, Anna does not lose her head but becomes the sister to the queen and lives an independent life. This headstrong woman's life was both interesting and a joy to read. (Bonnie)
Naturalist Sy Montgomery takes the reader with her on her explorations into the lives of octopuses. She befriends four of them who are housed at the New England Aquarium. Each of them had different personalities. Her relationships with them form the basis of this funny, touching and often awe inspiring book. You will never look at octopuses the same again. Award winning nature writing- this should be a must read for anyone who enjoys reading about the natural world. (Candie)
Anna is a suburban housewife who loves to listen to podcasts. On the morning her life falls apart, she tunes into her favorite crime show and finds that not only is her present life crumbling, but her secret past also now needs to be dealt with. A road trip with her ex-best friend's now ex-husband to get things straightened out leads them both on a dark, dangerous yet often hysterically funny journey to solve an old crime and free Anna from her past. I could not put this "Tartan Noir " mystery down. (Candie)
Charming is the first word that comes to mind about Evvie Drake Starts Over. Characters are what draw me in to a novel and the characters in this novel are richly developed. I was cheering Evvie on during the entire novel. Set in Maine, Evvie is a small town girl who is supposed to be grieving the death of her husband. No one knows she was literally in the car leaving him when she learns of his death. Her best friend, Andy, encourages her to rent her spare apartment to his other friend , Dean, a former Yankee pitcher who has been forced to retire due to a case of the "yips" and is looking to escape the public. A witty, warm romance ensues as the two emotionally battered characters try to find themselves so they can find each other. (Candie)
With many reading no more than 140 characters it looked for for a while that the print book was an endangered species, but this book, by Harvard Book Historian Leah Price looks at the reasons for the ongoing resiliency of books. Asking what is a book and how has it changed over the years and how it keeps reinventing itself. It's a celebration and an in-depth examination of what the book has meant to us and the roles it plays in the past present and future. (Bob)
