August Read: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

 

I was curious about this novel as it's taken off at my library and has a lengthy holds list. I think word of mouth has made it pop. It's a short novel--around 220 pages, so you can easily read it in a day. 

Sandwich is about a couple: Rocky (Rachel) and her husband, Nick. They're in their early fifties, and are returning to Cape Cod for their annual family week-long stay, in the same rental house they've always stayed in. Joining them are their grown children Willa and Jamie, and Jamie's girlfriend Maya. In a few days, Rocky's parents will also join them for the remainder of the week. 

Told in Rocky's POV, this novel is about a family and the dynamics at play. It's also about menopause and the feeling women have of being at the mercy of their bodies and hormones pretty much their whole lives. Rocky's hot flashes are random and intense; her flares of rage both bewildering to her and also cathartic. She adores her husband and also is completely annoyed and angry with him; she adores her children but remembers vividly the exhaustion and mental struggles she had as a young mother. 

The characters are all interesting; the repartee between parents and children, and between siblings is at times hilarious and heartbreaking. Rocky's memories of past vacations at the Cape and her children form a lot of the backbone of this novel. 

I've read a few reviews that said "this is boring, nothing happens". A whole lot happens, but not action-wise. Emotionally, a lot happens. Sandwich is about being the generation that not only raises children, but is tasked with taking care of elderly parents, but also ties into Rocky's absolute thrill to create sandwiches for her family that please all of them, no matter how much work is involved. Sounds silly, but she really is dialed in on the sandwiches for their beach trips. It says something about mothering, and the little details that maybe aren't appreciated or noticed by the rest of the family. A mother who centers her life around her children. 

There's a lot to this novel, and it's worthy of a discussion. So many subjects are touched upon: pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, raising children, mental health, sexuality, elderly parents, empty-nesters, women's health, menopause. So much stuff packed into a little novel. Worthy of a read. 

Rating: 5/6 for a novel that packs a punch; loved the writing laced with humor and moments of honesty that hits you in the heart. 

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August Read: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Two July Reads: A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner and The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski

 I've been stopping and starting so. many. books. this summer; my house looks like a book bomb went off!

Here are two quick reviews for two novels I've read:

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner

I love Jamie Brenner novels! Blush remains my absolute favorite. Her latest takes place in Provincetown, Cape Cod. One of those "I desperately want to visit" places for me. 

This novel centers on three friends who became great friends during college, and swore they would return to Provincetown each summer and stick together. It's been three years and Hunter, Shelby, and Colleen haven't kept that promise. But now Shelby has published her first novel, and Colleen's family bookstore is welcoming her to her first book signing.  Great, right? Well, it appears Shelby may have hurt a few feelings with some thinly veiled characters in her novel that are obvious to those who live and work in P-town. The friendship that was so close a few years before needs a lot of work; is this the summer Shelby, Hunter and Colleen grow their friendship? There's lots of bookstore drama, a past boyfriend who is still around, and a whole lot of growing up to do. I kept forgetting the three women were just out of college; it felt as if they should have been older. I didn't care for Hunter; she felt really immature and just hostile for no reason. Colleen was there and an important part of the plot, but just didn't seem to be a well-developed character. It wasn't my favorite Jamie Brenner novel, but it's definitely a beachy-read that will satisfy your summer reading cravings.  3/6 rating.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski

Give me a novel set in Wisconsin and I'm there. Childhood vacations in Wisconsin linger in my memories and I absolutely love that state. 

This was a novel that was not what I was expecting, at all. I thought it would be more along the lines of Lorna Landvik, who is the queen of Upper Midwest small town quirky novels. This was definitely more of a serious novel, tackling PTSD in veterans and the effect it has on families; grief for lost loved ones and lost relationships; regrets, and strained family dynamics. 

There are plenty of beers and brandy old-fashions to be had, however, and some really delightful characters. Esther Larson is the grandmother to Iris, a super smart Gen Z young woman who absolutely loves the North Woods and her grandmother's home, which is in peril, thanks to an internet scam. Enter in Cooper, his famous chef father Ivan, and his little sister. They've come to Ellerie County to bury Annabelle, Cooper's stepmother. The ladies of Ellerie County always gather together to make food for the funerals, and this one is no exception. And it's at this funeral that Esther and Iris meet Cooper, a lost soul traumatized by a horrific shooting at a holiday parade where his role as a paramedic couldn't save a young woman who died in his arms. It's a heavy load to carry. 

This novel took all sorts of twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I loved Esther and Iris; their relationship is solid. Cooper has a lot of baggage, and I rooted for him to get the help he needed to heal. I loved the small town setting, the way nature was always there, ready to soothe and comfort, and how the plot unfolded. Definitely not a light read but a good one.  4/6 rating.

There's two completely different novels, both enjoyable and filled with lots of supporting characters that add to the storyline. Settings are both lovely, and certainly gave me the travel itch. 

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Two July Reads: A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner and The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski

July Read: An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson

 

I'm a huge fan of novels that put a spin on the epic story of King Henry VIII and his six wives. When this came across my radar I immediately grabbed it. I had just started it when I was leaving for vacation, but couldn't take it with me in hardcover, and I couldn't wait until I got back to read it. Thankful for library resources that got me the ebook, which I immediately devoured. 

This is a modern day mystery set in the world of New York finance and Cape Cod. It all starts with the body of a woman, found on the beach near Hank Tudor's summer home on the Long Island Sound. She's dead; found without her head. 

Who that woman is remains a mystery through most of the novel, but you figure out pretty quickly who it probably is but the motive for her murder remains murky. 

What I found enjoyable about this novel was discovering each wife and how they were written into the modern world. It was pretty interesting! I did find renaming Henry to Hank a bit jarring; he just didn't seem like a Hank to me. He's a billionaire sixty-something handsome man, ruthless and always has an eye for the ladies. Currently he's just married his previous assistant, Kate Parker, following a disastrous marriage to Caitlyn, a young starlet caught cheating with an actor. Anna Klein (Anne of Cleves) runs a successful high-end bed and breakfast with her wife, and takes care of Lizzie and Teddy, Hank's kids. Catherine Alvarez, (Katherine of Aragon) also lives nearby--she never leaves her house and lives alone, except for the assistance of her housekeeper. She's got a few tricks up her sleeves, for sure. She hasn't quite left the corporate world and secretly keeps tabs on all of it, especially Hank's empire. 

The biggest surprise was Anne Boleyn's character. Where was she? Known as Nan, she disappeared one night years before, when Lizzie was a few years old. No one knows where she is and it's just assumed by everyone she's dead. 

I found the characters very interesting, and the machinations between the remaining wives kept me turning the pages. Hank wasn't as much of a prominent character, which was disappointing but makes sense in a novel that focuses on the wives. The ending left me with a big WHAT?? and there were a lot of loose ends that didn't tie up.

Overall, it was an interesting read with a bit of a thud ending. There were surprises, for sure, but what I most enjoyed were the modern versions of Henry's wives. I always wonder what they'd be like as modern women, so anytime I find a novel that puts a fresh spin on the saga, I'm immediately intrigued. 

Rating: 3/6 for a mystery that is more of a thriller, with an ending that left me hanging. However, if you are a fan of all things Tudor, you'll enjoy the modern spin and tangled web of the wives and their relationships to each other. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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July Read: An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson

June Read: Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

 

I love Mary Kay Andrews and look forward to reading her summer novels every year. It took me a bit to finish this novel, but only because I couldn't stay awake at night for some good old-fashioned late night reading!

This novel takes place at the Saint Cecelia resort off the coast of Georgia. A family owned resort, it is grand, expensive, and a place where tradition is strong. Traci Eddings once worked at the Saint as a lifeguard in her youth, before meeting, falling in love, and marrying into the Eddings family, owners of the resort. Her happiness is short lived when her husband dies in a plane crash ten or so years into their happy marriage. Grief is still present four years later, as Traci works to run the resort, which seems to be in the red continuously--and she can't figure out why. 

Traci is up against her brother-in-law, Ric, who is one shady character. She convinces her niece Parrish to work at the resort for the summer, and that sets in motion a summer that will change the Saint for good. 

The novel's cover may give you an idea it's a light, breezy novel. However, there is a shocking murder, a twenty year old mystery to solve, and a whole lot of shenanigans happening around the Saint that will keep you turning the pages. Lots of characters, but you quickly get to know them and it wasn't hard to keep track of who was what. Surprises abound at the Saint! 

I throughly enjoyed this, and it is definitely a summer/vacation/beach read. I also, as always, completely enjoyed the epilogue. I'm a huge fan of seeing what the characters are up to in the future. The setting is lush and beautiful, and what I wouldn't give to ride around the grounds of the Saint in a golf cart!

Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC! 

Rating: 4/6 for a contemporary novel full of shady characters, good people, mysteries old and new, and a spark of romance. Female friendships are a strong theme in this novel. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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June Read: Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

March Read: What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

 

I've read a few Shari Lapena novels and they always keep me dangling until the last few pages.   This novel, her latest (on sale July 30), kept me completely engaged and unable to put it down. 

The small town of Fairhill, Vermont is a place where you leave your house unlocked and there's never any crime. Until one early morning when a farmer, driving his tractor into one of his fields, discovers a horrible scene: a naked young woman-dead, lying in the field. 

That dead young woman is Diana Brewer, a senior at the local high school. Her single mother works the night shift as a nurse in the next town over, and Diana spends nights alone at their home. Word quickly spreads, and the first suspect is Diana's boyfriend, Cameron. What were they doing together the night before, and why does Cameron lie? Diana's best friends Riley and Evan are devastated Diana's dead--and murdered. The town quickly become filled with a whole lot of people who have secrets to keep; secrets which point at many of them as potential suspects. Will they lie to protect themselves, or fess up and help uncover Diana's killer?

Shari Lapena usually writes thrillers that involve couples, and this was a bit different from her usual in that it centers around a murdered high school student. As police investigate, there's plenty of people who have things to hide that may tie directly to Diana's death, or may have contributed to her murder. It was hard to tell who would be revealed, and the reveal at the end is a bit of a twist that you may or may not see coming. Another twist is that Diana's spirit is "hanging around", and she's confused as to what happened. She has big gaps in her memory, and is slowly understanding she's dead and that someone killed her. Her flashbacks also give a bit of a red herring aspect to the plot because what she remembers may not necessarily be accurate. Plus, she's dead! 

Definitely one theme in this thriller is the endless harassment and sexualization young girls have to endure, even in a small town. Being called a liar, or not being believed at all, are things Diana has to endure. People always going out of their way to protect themselves instead of standing up for truth. 

If you're a Shari Lapena fan, this won't disappoint. If you're new to her novels, and you like thrillers--Heather Gudenkauf fans I'm talking to you--grab this novel for you summer read when it arrives in stores and libraries July 30th. 

A HUGE thank you to Pamela Dorman Books/Viking for a chance to read this thriller a few months before publication. 

Rating: 5/6 for a thriller that keeps you on your toes guessing who the guilty party is--and also, the effect of murder on a small town and how it completely changes the lives of those left behind. 

Available July 30th in the U.S. in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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March Read: What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

October Read: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

 

What I expected going into this novel and what it was were very different. I'm still processing. 

It takes place in a small town in Australia. A town where houses are expensive and everything is gorgeous and perfect. Except for Black Wood House. It sits empty since a shocking murder forty years before, when the owner of the home murdered his wife while she lay in bed, and chased his daughter out the door. The daughter survived, but her father returned to the home and killed himself. Susan and Bill were beloved in the neighborhood; the horrible murder/suicide left a stain on the community. They all want Black Wood House to be torn down. 

Enter Sarah Spade and her husband Joey. Sarah has a popular website, a bestselling book about "being your best self", and is eager to turn the Black Wood House into a show-stopping flipper that will sell for millions. 

Except Sarah's not what you'd expect, and wow I did not expect her character or the novel to take the turns it did. For one, Sarah is not likable. Her marriage is on edge, and oh, the secrets she has to keep in order to maintain her perfect image. Only problem is, once she moves into the house, her life starts to fall apart. She can't sleep, she's finding notes around the house, there's someone walking around in the attic, and her husband won't stay at the house. 

As Sarah slowly unravels, as a reader you're kept wondering: is she losing her mind? The possibilities are all over the place: is someone trying to drive her out of the home? Are the neighbors spying on her? Is the house haunted? Or is there something else?

The turns it took were all over the place. The ending leaves you rethinking everything. It's at turns unsettling, suspenseful, and a bit bewildering. It's a whole lot of stuff going on, and I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on at all. If you want to read a novel that will keep you scratching your head and thinking you've got it figured out (you won't), pick this one up!

Rating: 4/6 for a wild ride where no one can be trusted--even the house. At times suspenseful, at times downright spooky, this is a blend of thriller/horror/suspense that will keep you guessing. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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October Read: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

July Read: Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

 

It's been a hot minute since I read historical fiction! I read this over the weekend and wow it was a huge shift from what I've been typically reading over the last few months. 

Crow Mary is the fictional tale of a historical figure who is known as Crow Mary. She's a young woman living with the Crow tribe in Montana in 1872. Her father is the chief of the tribe, and her grandmother was married to a "yellow eyes", Mary's beloved grandfather. Before she was Crow Mary, she was named Goes First. She was smart, brave, and one heck of a shot. She was happily living with her parents when Abe Farwell arrived in the area looking to trade and possibly find a wife. 

Abe was taken with Goes First, and after reflecting on his offer, Goes First decides to accept his proposal, even though it means leaving her family and traveling to Canada to Abe's trading post. She feels marrying Abe is her calling and in doing so she can escape sad memories and help her tribe by marrying a white man. 

At first, things are going well. Goes First is given the name of Mary once they reach a fort where being an Indian meant trading pelts for whiskey and being cheated out of a fair trade by the white men. They were seen as such non-people that all Indian women were named Mary instead of honoring their native names. So now known as Crow Mary, or Mrs. Farwell, she begins to settle into her married life and make friends with other women in the area. 

Crow Mary and Abe travel to Canada and begin to build their trading post. This is where things take a turn, and Abe's decision to take a stand will haunt him and Crow Mary for years to come. 

I was fascinated by the Crow traditions and respect for family. Crow Mary was such an intriguing character; I couldn't help cheering her on when confronted with men who were just so nasty to her. While I would have wished for an easier journey for Crow Mary, everything she experienced made her a stronger woman. 

I attempted to find more information on Crow Mary, but was unsuccessful in my quick search on the internet. Her great-granddaughter writes the foreword to the novel, and the prologue is a definite circle around scene--you'll just have to wait and read the book! 

All in all, a satisfying peek into the life of a woman who took risks to save others, build a home, and raise a family. Author Kathleen Grissom (The Kitchen House) did a lot of research and it shows in her meticulous and well crafted descriptions of life on the prairie. Rape, kidnapping children to send to Indian schools in Pennsylvania; violence and murder are all part of this novel. 

Rating: 4/6 for historical fiction that brings Crow customs and lifestyle to life in a well written novel about a strong, resilient woman who became a legend. If you are a fan of Western fiction, or heck, even the TV show 1883, you will enjoy this novel. 

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July Read: Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

July Read: The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine

 

I picked up this novel at the library to read over the July 4th holiday and had a few good reading days where I got into the story and far enough along that I just had to finish it and miss neighborhood fireworks (which are illegal in my city, but people do them anyway).

Enter the world of wealthy political figures in this novel that is a twisty-turny thriller that isn't difficult to figure out. Sloan Chase is a wealthy philanthropist who, after the tragic death of her senator husband two years before, marries another senator-Whit Montgomery. Whit was married to Peg, who was the cousin of Sloan's husband and was also involved in the tragedy. 

Phew-got it? Sloan and Whit have known each other for years and the tragedy found them comforting each other and then marrying. Now it's two years later, and Sloan is scheduled to have a hip replacement due to her ongoing lupus issues. She's kept her lupus under control for years, but she's afraid the surgery will create a flare up. Whit arranges in home care for Sloan, and Athena arrives. Athena is not only a qualified and capable at-home care giver, she's also experienced in charities and will help Sloan manage some of her correspondence while she's recovering at home. She's also gorgeous--and Whit is one handsome dude who likes beautiful women. 

Sloan returns home from surgery, and pretty quickly her recovery turns south and she's having terrible lupus issues--lethargy, nausea, pain in her joints, and even hallucinations. She's confused, weak, and every week she's worse. She begins to question her own sanity as she doesn't remember things Whit tells her happened. Athena falls under suspicion, too. Is she doing something to Sloan to make her ill? Can Sloan get help before something horrible happens?

Each chapter is told through a different character: Sloan, Whit, and Athena. You know from the beginning Athena has ulterior motives but you're not quite sure what or who is her target--Whit or Sloan--or both. Whit seems like a loving spouse, but he's got Sloan fooled--he's a real asshole. Sloan seems to be a smart woman, but boy it takes her a long time to get smart about her husband. 

As a reader, you know more than Sloan does, because you've got the inside peek at Whit and Athena. But it all comes together quickly at the end. It's not much of a surprise, but there are a few clever points that build up the "Gotcha!" moment at the end. 

If you like domestic thrillers with a little bit of politics thrown in, along with the glam life of the ultra wealthy in DC, you'll enjoy this novel. I'm willing to read more of the backlist of the writing duo Liv Constantine. 

Rating: 3/6 for an entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages. Lots of brand names for the wealthy thrown around (Hermes, Tiffany, etc) to hammer home the absurd money that folks have and spend. A peek into the politics of a government and the politics of a marriage that is not what it seems. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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July Read: The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine

June Read: The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley

 

Bookshop, summer, beach...yes, I'm a sucker for it! I've read Ms. Kelley's Nantucket Restaurant series so I knew I would enjoy this summer read that takes place on Cape Cod. It's a place I've had on my travel radar for a long time. For now, I'll have to do armchair travel.

Jess is married to Parker and they're both lawyers in a thriving firm in Charleston. Their daughter Caitlin still lives with them as she bounces from job to job, unsuccessfully trying to find a career path. She's a hard worker, but never a "good fit".

All is not great in the marriage; Jess has noticed they're more friends than partners after 30 years of marriage. Before she can bring up divorce, she discovers her husband's been unfaithful with his secretary and now is expecting another child. Jess is DONE. She decides to return to her hometown of Chatham on Cape Cod for the summer to visit her mother and think about what she wants to do, and Caitlin decides to come along. It's a life changing trip for both of them. 

Jess' best friend Alison still lives in Chatham and works for a magazine that is in financial trouble. She's looking for a part-time job and finds out the local bookshop, which has been a staple in Chatham for decades, may be for sale. It's been her dream to own a bookshop and here's her chance, if she can pull the finances together. 

Along comes Jess with time on her hands, an impending divorce, and the means to invest in the bookshop and become co-owner with Alison. Soon Caitlin has taken over managing a defunct coffee shop next door to the bookshop, and the summer really kicks in! Plenty of characters are introduced and smaller plot lines run alongside the main bookshop/divorce storyline. 

All three women are going through life changes--all involving career changes as well as romantic. Although Jess and Caitlin have set October as a deadline to return to Charleston, will they stay in Chatham for good?

This is what I call a gentle novel. What makes a novel gentle (to me) is when there are no big plot twists; characters are all likable, and the story moves along at a gentle pace. Everyone is likable and the setting is a place that's perfectly perfect. No big surprises, but a satisfying read. 

I enjoyed this read, mostly because it was a relaxing one. My only slight beef was Caitlin expressing over and over how she was going to return to Charleston. It got old after a bit, especially when you, as a reader, knew there was nothing in Charleston to return to except shallow friends and temp jobs. It took her a bit too long to figure it out. 

Romantic interests for all, delicious food descriptions, and a seaside town that sounds like a dreamy place to live. And of course we can't forget the bookshop. I can't think of a more satisfying career than to own a bookshop in a seaside town. 

Rating: 4/6 for a perfectly enjoyable summertime read. Women enjoying their friendships, figuring out life, and realizing that you can go home again. And--you can love the ocean and not swim in it!

Available in paperback, ebook, and audio. 

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June Read: The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley

May Read: Happy Place by Emily Henry

 

I finished the latest from Emily Henry a few days ago and I've given myself a few days to mull it over. There will definitely be those who absolutely love and adore this novel, and some, like me, who are "meh" about it. 

Happy Place takes place over a week's time in Knott's Harbor, Maine. A group of six friends gather for their yearly vacation at a beach cottage in this tourist-friendly town. The six friends: Sabrina, Cleo, Kimmy, Harriet, Wyn, and Parth have made this a tradition, but this year is a bit different: the cottage is being sold by Sabrina's wealthy father, and this will be their last year to relive their college and post-college memories of summers in Maine. 

The kicker here: Harriet and Wyn. They've been together for seven years, and madly in love. Only problem is they broke up six months ago, and didn't tell anyone. Sabrina surprises Harriet by inviting Wyn for the week, and then surprises the whole group with the news that her and Parth are getting married. That week. In Maine. With only their closest friends. So Harriet and Wyn decide they've got to pretend they're still together. Which may very well destroy both of them before the week's out. 

The novel bounces back and forth between "Real Life" during the week, and the past-starting with Wyn and Harriet meeting, and the evolution of their relationship. Let's be clear here--these two LOVE each other. Passionately. Their chemistry is pretty darn apparent, and well written. Wyn can't keep his hands off Harriet, even after all this time. So why did they break up? You never quite get the answer until well into the novel, and it's kind of a blah reason. I expected something more because these two are clearly devastated they are no longer together, but don't know how to communicate to each other to fix it. Mental health is one of the themes of the novel, and I do appreciate that it is brought up and discussed. 

Harriet explores her memories of their relationship, and her desire to please her parents by continuing her focus on becoming a brain surgeon. But is it really what she wants? Is it keeping her and Wyn apart? And Wyn--he's pretty quiet so it's hard to figure out just why he broke things off with Harriet. He needs to be a bit more open and communicate. UGH! Communication!! 

This novel is also about people growing up. Stepping away from college years and into adulthood and all that it demands. It can find all of us making choices and sometimes growing apart as life takes us in different directions. It can be painful and, yes, sometimes hurtful to friends who aren't quite ready to move on. 

I did feel like an intrusive guest sometimes reading this novel-like the extra body that doesn't quite fit in with the close group of friends. I was frustrated with Wyn and Harriet. A couple of good conversations would have cleared up their mess pretty quickly, but instead they mooned over each other and made each other miserable. The other friends all have their own dynamics and issues, too. I was pleased with the ending, though, so I'm glad I stuck it out. 

Rating: 3/6 for a summer read about a painful breakup and how to get back to each other. Harriet's a strong character, but heck woman, speak up! And Wyn? you're a gorgeous man, but dang it all, make an effort for the woman you love! Sheesh. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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May Read: Happy Place by Emily Henry

May Read: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

 

I can't properly explain my fascination with supper clubs, especially Midwest supper clubs. I recently told my partner I'd love to drive to Wisconsin and Minnesota just to eat at a few classic supper clubs. Woodsy decor, a menu that hasn't changed in years, and a classic cocktail. Sounds perfect to me. 

I grabbed this novel by J. Ryan Stradal and devoured it over the weekend. His first novel Kitchens of the Great Midwest gave me a taste of his writing, so I had an idea of what to expect. I wasn't disappointed. 

Mariel Prager is the third generation of a supper club owning family. Located near Bear Jaw Lake Minnesota, the Lakeside Supper Club was a popular destination for families all year round. Her grandparents have kept it going through hard work and dedication, and now Mariel is going to inherit the supper club. Her mother Florence hates the supper club and wants nothing to do with it. 

Mariel falls in love with Ned, who is the heir to his family's chain of restaurants. Ned's got the dream of making customers happy, but not the drive or desire to run a chain of restaurants and build the business.  Both are at a crossroads in their lives. 

This novel moves back and forth between Florence's younger years (the 1930's) up through Mariel's early years and marriage to Ned in the 1980's. It finishes in present day, but I'm not going to tell you with who!

Lakeside is about generational guilt, expectations, and breaking free of past hurts. Florence is one heck of a character--you see her from early childhood to an elderly woman, and she's by far the most compelling character in the novel. You can't help but love Florence, even when she's at her worst. Mariel is the heart of the novel, with her dedication to the supper club and her love of tradition and Ned. Ned is someone on a journey to realize his own worth, and to become the man he wants to be, not the man he is expected to be. There's tragedy, comedy, and that perfect vibe of the wilds of Minnesota captured perfectly.

This novel took me back to childhood memories of traveling to Minnesota and Wisconsin for summer vacations. I loved those vacations, even if they were full of chaos. We never did visit supper clubs, but spent time boating, fishing, swimming, and staying in cabins. Perfect vacation for kiddos. 

Rating: 4/6 for a family saga that unfolds through the years. Decisions made ripple through each generation, but the supper club stands as a beacon for all. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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May Read: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden

 

This book hit me right at the perfect time. I was having a bit of reading fatigue this week and thought it was a good time to read the e-arc of this gothic novel (thank you Penguin Random House!). It was the perfect antidote to my reading blahs. 

It's 1852 and Margaret Lennox is recently widowed and broke. She's accepted a governess position for a young boy at Hartwood Hall, far away from London. Margaret arrives, and of course this place is massive, set all alone past the creepy dark woods in the English countryside. 

Young Louis is a sweet boy, and Margaret immediately connects to him. If only the Hall wasn't so big, and if only there weren't weird things happening. The villagers won't go near the Hall, and Louis and his mother, Mrs. Eversham aren't welcome there. Superstitious villagers are convinced she's a witch and the Hall is haunted. 

Margaret's terrible marriage still weighs on her mind, and she's convinced she somehow killed her husband. Susan, one of the hired help, is always watching Margaret, and it's pretty clear she's spying on everyone and gathering information to blackmail not only Margaret, but the whole staff. She's a nasty piece of work. 

I went into this novel not knowing much at all about it, and went along for the ride. I couldn't put it down and the plot kept ramping up just enough to keep me in it. Margaret was a pretty decent character, but I was a bit annoyed at her relationship with Paul the gardener.  I get why she made her decision, but I felt it was a bit cold, too. I just felt the relationship was a bit clunky in some spots. I liked all the characters and how Margaret's relationships with all of them evolved. 

One thing I would have liked is an epilogue to see where the characters were a year later. Otherwise, a solid story that I enjoyed quite a bit. 

Rating: 4/6 for a gothic tale with tones of Jane Eyre (the book features in the plot), strong female characters, and families can be shaped by circumstance, friendship, and love. 

Thank you to NetGalley for a review ARC and Penguin Random House for the chance to read and review this novel. It will be out in hardcover in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 28th. Also will be available in ebook and audio. 

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The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden

February Read: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

 

BookTok is going wild for this novel, and I'd seen enough people talking about it that I thought I would see what the buzz was all about. 

Millie is broke and living out of her car. Recently released from prison after 10 years, she's just lost her bartending job and been evicted from her apartment. She's got one shot left at a new job, and it's as housekeeper to a wealthy family on Staten Island. 

Millie is so relieved to accept the job--and she even gets to stay at the house-in a very tiny attic room that appears to lock from the outside. The window in the room is painted shut, and it's not the best. But it's better than her car, and she just wants to stay long enough to save money and stay out of trouble. 

Nina Winchester appears to have the life: a loving, handsome husband, a young daughter and a beautiful home. But Millie's first day at work is really odd: the home which was immaculate just the week before is now a complete disaster, and young Cecelia is a horrible brat. Not only that, but she's dressed in very fancy dresses no young girl would ever willingly wear. Nina is nice one minute, and horrible to Millie the next. 

Millie thinks she's doing everything wrong, as Nina finds mistake after mistake. Andrew, her husband, is just so kind, and quick as a wink, Millie is having some feelings for him--her boss. Ugh. 

It all seems pretty cut and dried and I wasn't really surprised by the plot; but once you hit Part II, things shift very fast. Part I is told from Millie's point of view, and the second part is told from Nina's point of view. They are two very different points of view, and there is one heck of twist. It's the first of a few twists. Part III moves back to Millie's point of view, and action happens fast. There are some points in the last bit of the book that are tied up just a bit too easily, but that's my only complaint. Let's just say you don't feel bad about why some issues are so easily resolved.

I'm not saying anything more, I don't want to give anything away. It's a really fast read; I finished it in a day. There are some surprises, but nothing that is extreme--even the end.  In any case, it makes a quick thrilling read, with a two strong female characters. Best of all, there is a second Housemaid novel out this month called The Housemaid's Secret. I will definitely read it. 

Rating: 4/6 for a fast paced thriller that mostly takes place in a home. Somehow the author makes you forget the one setting, and keeps the story moving along. I liked Millie, and yes, even Nina--read the book and you'll see. I'd say you'll want a friend to read it, too. 

Available in paperback, ebook, and audio. 

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February Read: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

January Read: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

 

I don't know why this cover sucked me in, but it may be because of my love of lemons. 

However, once I started the book, I quickly left the lemons behind and dove into this tale of two best friends, two different eras, and a villa that holds a few dark secrets.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy is a beautiful, isolated place where the sun shines and nothing could possibly go wrong. Emily and Chess are two friends who grew up together. Both are authors; Emily writes cozy mysteries, and Chess is a self-help superstar. Careers and time have kept them apart over the years, until a quick get together in their hometown over coffee. Next thing Emily knows, Chess is inviting her to a six-week vacation at Villa Aestas to give Emily time to finish her latest mystery (already past deadline). Hard to say no to that, so Emily travels to Italy and soon falls under the spell of the Villa and the rekindling of her friendship with Chess. 

The Villa is infamous for what happened there in the summer of 1974, when a group of people stayed, and one person ended up murdered. Out of that summer at the Villa, a classic horror novel was produced, and one of the top bestselling albums of all time was written. Stepsisters and best friends Lara and Mari have traveled to the Villa with Mari's boyfriend Pierce at the invite of famous rockstar Noel Gordon. Mari is hopeful this will be the breakthrough Pierce has been waiting for, and their money problems will be over. Lara hopes to be more than just a fling for Noel. Johnny is there, too, providing Noel with whatever drugs he needs. It's the seventies; sex and drugs and living day to day were a way of life for this group. 

But over the course of the summer, things start to change. Mari begins writing a story she can't get out of her head. It's pretty dark. Dynamics change; tensions rise, and one stormy night a murder takes place that leaves a wake of destruction for years to come. 

Present day; Chess and Emily relax, drink wine, and soak in the sun. Emily finds a copy of Lilith Rising, Mari's one novel that became a gigantic hit. As she reads it, she begins to become inspired to look into that summer of 1974, and the murder. Emily's passion for writing is reinvigorated, and she's writing again, but not her cozy mystery. And Chess wants in on the potential of this new book. Should Emily trust Chess?

There are twists and turns all throughout the novel, but the one big twist is at the end. It took me a hot minute to realize what I had just read, then to unravel it all in my mind. Pretty darn clever. 

I read the author was inspired by the summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron that birthed her famous novel Frankenstein. It's quite a mix of music, literature, love, entangled relationships, and terrible choices. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful novel. Read this first, then go back and read about Mary and Percy Shelley. Talk about a soap opera of a relationship! But you can definitely see where Rachel Hawkins was inspired to write this novel. 

Rating: 4/6 for a suspenseful novel that has two compelling stories-although the 1974 story of Mari, Lara, Noel, and Pierce is the better of the two. I did like the connections made between the two time periods at the Villa, and the twists, all the way up to the end. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. 

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January Read: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

January Read: Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry

 

One of my reading goals for 2023 is to read more non-fiction. I had to wait a few weeks on the holds list at my library for this book but it was worth the wait. 

Rabia Chaudry is someone I wasn't aware of until I read a few reviews of this book and of course a food memoir always grabs my interest. Rabia is a Pakistani-American lawyer who is famous for her work in overturning the conviction of Adnan Syed. She's pretty impressive--but this memoir looks at her struggles with her absolute love of food (some would say a food addiction) and the battle to try to lose weight and fit in the traditional Pakistani ideal of a young woman who should make a great marriage. Looks have much to do with securing the right spouse. 

Rabia's family moved to the U.S. in the 1970's when she was a small child. Her father was a veterinarian who got a job with the U.S. Government, and her mom worked various jobs to make ends meet. They didn't have much money, and even though her mom was a gifted cook (she didn't like to cook, though), the pressures of money, working, and trying to care for two children quickly changed their eating habits to that delicious nemesis, American junk food. Prepackaged food also entered the household, and don't we all know the lure of chips, fries, burgers, frozen pizzas, and snack cakes? Rabia's appetite was off the charts. She loved food so much it was all she though about. She was also deeply enamored of her Pakistani food, and my gosh the descriptions of the spices, crunch, steam, and everything are pretty irresistible. 

Rubia grew from a chubby child to an overweight teen, to an obese adult. She tried exercising, cutting calories, but to no avail. Her food journey is fascinating, and her frustrations with it are heartbreaking. For a long time, she didn't see any problem with her eating habits and love of food, despite her family always telling her she was overweight and would never find a man to marry. 

In parts a love letter to her Pakistani heritage and food and a memoir about a young woman struggling to listen to her body and find peace with it, this was at times funny, sad, and  painfully truthful. Rabia is someone who has finally found her peace, happiness, and truth after one heck of a battle with herself. 

Rating: 4/6 for a memoir chock full of family love, squabbles, brutal truth, and generations of recipes. The food is amazing (some recipes are in the back of the book) and I could almost taste it. Rabia's memoir is one to read. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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January Read: Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry

January Read: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

 

First book of the new year, and it was my favorite genre, historical fiction. It was also a fascinating dive into the world of the Mitford Sisters. 

You may, like myself, have heard the Mitford name. Nancy Mitford is most famous for her two novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. She's also famous for being one of six of the Mitford Sisters, who were young, beautiful, and part of the "young bright things" group of the 1930's. So many books have been written about the Mitford Sisters because they were big and bold, and that fascination continues nearly 100 years later. 

The sisters: Nancy, Diana, Jessica, Unity, Deborah, and Pamela, were brought up in English society by parents Muv and Farve. Financial problems plagued the family and they had to keep downsizing, all the while maintaining ties to the movers and shakers of the time--Winston Churchill's wife Clemmie was their cousin. 

What's fascinating about the sisters during the 1930's and into the 1940's are the ardent belief in fascism and friendship with Hitler by Unity and Diana. Unity's obsession with Hitler led her to move to Munich, learn fluent German, and work to become his closest friend. Diana followed suit in her determination to keep her lover Mosley's British branch of fascism the BUF growing and gaining power. It's well documented the two sisters were thick as thieves with Hitler and the Nazi party. 

That relationship is the biggest part of this novel. Nancy is another large part of the plot, as she struggles in her marriage to an alcoholic, writes her novels, and sees her sisters (and eventually her mother and father) fall further into the Nazi fold, and the slow descent into war with England. Should Nancy do something to stop all of this?

This is fiction, but based on a lot of historical fact. What was frustrating for me was Nancy's inability to act on what she saw and heard in her family. Eventually she does put her feelings for her sisters aside when the enormity of what is happening in England makes it clear she must act. But holy heck! One of the quotes in the novel is "How personal is the political in the end". For Nancy and her sisters, they were so intertwined it became impossible to separate the two. 

The novel also focuses on Unity and Diana. Diana is beautiful, cold, brilliant, and obsessed with her lover Mosley. She'll do anything for him. Unity is obsessed with the Nazi ideal and Hitler. So much to that she goes to great lengths to get into the inner circle of Hitler and become his friend. 

Before reading this novel, I knew very little about the Mitford Sisters, and even less about their close connections to Hitler and the Nazi system. Wow. I'll say this novel got a bit heavy at times, especially the scenes where people dismissed the rise of Hitler's power and scoffed at what was being reported in Germany. 

This was a very good novel, and kept me turning the pages. I had to do a quick dive into the internet to look at photos of the Mitford sisters, and there is plenty of material out there if you decide you want to read more about them. One of the more popular books about the Mitford Sisters:

Honestly, the Mitford sisters are endlessly fascinating. You won't be able to resist exploring the wealth of articles, photos, and books written about them. 

Rating: 4/6 for a well researched historical novel about one of the most interesting families in England, at one of the most fascinating times. 

A big thank you to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. This novel will be out in the U.S. on January 17th in hardcover, audio, and ebook. 

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January Read: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

A Dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen

 

Followers of my blog know I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. I was asked to be part of the blog tour for A Dress of Violet Taffeta and jumped at the chance. You'll want to grab this novel when it is available on July 5th in the U.S. 

Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon is a fascinating historical figure. She made this a hard-to-put down novel, about her rise from a scandalously divorced woman to one of the most respected and revered clothing designers of the early 20th century. Toss in surviving the Titanic, and you've got a life that seems as if it can't possibly be true-but it is.

Lucy's first husband was a loser who left her practically penniless, with a young daughter. She'd always been intrigued by clothing design, and had an uncanny ability to know exactly what colors and style of dresses would suit women the best. With nothing to lose, she begins designing dresses for the upper crust women of British society, all while making it look to all that it wasn't really "work", but a genteel woman gently giving advice to other women. She grew her business over the years, adding more staff and moving to bigger homes. 

Lucy is a remarkable woman, and her fictional tale is hard to put down. She moved women's fashion forward, and wow! she accomplished a lot. Her second married to Sir Duff-Gordon was beneficial to both, but their trip on the Titanic became a scandal. Surviving in a lifeboat that only held a few people, she was appalled at the terrible tragedy, and was one of the only passengers to testify at the hearings. Her husband became a central figure in the Titanic trials. 

I so enjoyed this novel. The fashion--oh my. Stunning descriptions of color, fabric, and style. A glimpse at a world long gone, and a way of life long gone, too. Lucy and her assistant Celia, along with Lucy's sister Elinor are three strong women, making successes in a society that frowned on strong, independent, smart women. 

Anyone interested in clothing design or fashion, the Titanic, and a woman who helped determine the fashion of the 1890's all the way into the early days of Hollywood will want to dive into this novel. It clips along quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There's plenty online about Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon--photos of her and her clothing, as well as her life. 

A big thanks to Austin PR for inviting me along on this blog tour! Also thanks to Berkley (Penguin/Random House) for a copy of the book. 

Rating: 5/6 for a solid, well researched novel about one of the earlier fashion influencers with an amazing talent and eye for color and fabric. Strong women, independence, taking chances, and female friendship are all major themes in this novel. A truly remarkable trailblazer. Grab it on July 5th!

Available in trade paperback and ebook. 

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A Dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen

Summer Reading 2022: The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker

 

This was one odd, haunting, dysfunctional family wallop of a novel. 

It's 1950, and we're introduced to the Chapel sisters: Aster, Rosalind, Calla, Daphne, Iris, and Hazel. The Chapel family is famous for gun and rifle manufacturing that has helped settle the West and win wars. Their father works every day, and they live in the town of Bellflower Village in an ornate Victorian home surrounded by acres of land. 

Their mother sees the ghosts of all of the victims of the Chapel firearms. She screams, like clockwork, every night. She hates her husband, but loves her daughters even though she's clearly got a lot of issues and can't be a very good mother. 

On their annual trek to the Atlantic Ocean, Aster meets a handsome young man, and after dating for a bit, they become engaged and plan a big wedding. Only problem is, the closer the wedding approaches, the more mother gets worked up, claiming if the wedding isn't postponed, something horrible will happen. Iris believes her mother, and does her part (as much as a small child can do) to try and disrupt and postpone the wedding. 

Well, it doesn't work, and Aster's wedding proceeds. It seems mother was wrong. 

Except the next morning, Aster's new husband returns with Aster, clad in a honeymoon nightgown, clearly not well. What follows is a horrible nightmare for the Chapel family, as Aster dies one day after her wedding day. To prevent a scandal, the doctor claims it was simply the flu, and Aster is buried less than a week after she walked down the aisle. 

Okay, weird. However, the pattern repeats itself...until it's very clear the Chapel sisters are cursed, somehow. There are possible explanations, of course, that go back through their mother's line; however, there's just enough fuzzy-wuzzy info to make you wonder if it's all real or just horrible bad luck. 

One daughter escapes this fate. The novel begins in 2017, when she receives a letter from someone claiming to know who she really is; her current name and fame as a well-known feminist artist are fake and she's actually a Chapel girl. It's been sixty years since those horrible days, and now she will be outed. Is it time to relive those memories, and spill the story of her bizarre family curse?

I was fascinated by this novel. The sisters were all definitely different characters and I felt they were well-drawn and strong women. The atmosphere of the entire novel was what really grabbed me: haunting, melancholy, and slightly off-kilter. Kind of gothic in flavor; I had to remind myself this took place in the 1950's. There's a lot to unpack in this novel and it would make a great book discussion novel. There's much to discuss about female sexuality, mental health, family issues, sisterhood, LGBTQ, and so. much. more. 

Rating: 5/6 for a novel that had me captivated and wondering just what the heck was going to happen next. The Chapel sisters are quite simply unforgettable, and this is one tale that will leave you pondering and thinking about it for days after you've turned the last page. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio book. 

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Summer Reading 2022: The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker

Summer Reading 2022: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan

 

If you're looking for gentle World War 2 fiction, Jennifer Ryan is your person. I've read two of her novels and enjoyed them both for the very fact that they are just good historical novels that give a flavor of the time from the women on the home  front. 

This novel takes place in 1942 in the small village of Aldhurst, outside of London. England is deep in World War 2, and rationing is in full force. Not only food, but clothing is in short supply. 

A group of women in the village gather each week to sew and repurpose (the "make do and mend" program) second hand clothing, along with knitting socks for the troops. Violet is the daughter of the manor, and niece to famous clothing designer Cressida Westcott. She's only interested in finding a titled man to marry. 

Cressida's home and shop are bombed in London, and the only place for her to go is her family home in Aldhurst. Reluctant to return to her childhood home, she doesn't have much choice and can't wait to return to London. 

Grace is the vicar's daughter, and engaged to be married to another vicar. It's not a love match, and it's pretty clear her fiancé is looking for a helpmate and not necessarily a wife. She's vaguely unhappy, but believes this is her calling and a way to have a family of her own. 

These three women are the main characters in the novel. There are other players, of course, and it's pretty interesting how much each of the women change over the course of the novel. Violet is petulant and a bit of a brat; she's been conscripted to join the women's war effort and believes her upper class standing will make it a smooth ride for herself. She is wrong. 

Grace runs into Hugh, the lord of the manor (and Violet's brother). Childhood friends who haven't seen each other in years, both are dismayed to find the other completely different from their carefree days as children and best friends. There's more here to unpack, for sure. 

Cressida meets up with Grace's father, Vicar Ben. Cressida's fiancé was killed in World War I and was Ben's best friend. Cressida left Aldhurst to begin her career as a designer and never fell in love again. Ben married, had Grace, and lost his wife. They strike up a friendship again; could it be more than that after all these years?

Besides all the stories going on with these three women, the sewing circle has begun something pretty fantastic and unique: helping women who are getting married have a white wedding dress. Since clothes rations leave little room (as in none!) for special clothing, women are getting married in their uniforms and every day dresses. What starts with Grace's wedding dress blooms into a movement to have wedding dresses available for any woman in the country who is getting married. It's an amazing part of the novel, and brings home the willingness to work together, to share, and give selflessly so others may have even a tiny bit of happiness. There was no "me", it was all "us". 

I liked all the characters and especially the growth of each woman as the six months of the novel go by. A lot of self discovery, confidence building, and understanding of love and the precious time we all have in which to be happy and lead fulfilling lives. 

Kate Quinn's World War 2 novels are a bit more intense than Jennifer Ryan's novels, even though both take place at a dark time for the world. I've read both, and would say Jennifer Ryan's novels are more wholesome and less anxiety inducing! 

Rating: 4/6 for an entirely likable cast of characters, a unique movement in British home front activity, and the message of uniting together and doing what's right for all instead of being selfish. Another theme is discovering the life you want to live and going for it, even if it means leaving the familiar to forge into the unknown. And finally, loving someone for who they are, not what they have. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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Summer Reading 2022: The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan

Back to the Prairie by Melissa Gilbert

 

As soon as I as Melissa Gilbert had written another memoir, I just had to read it. I did gulp it down in one weekend (which is something I haven't done in a long, long time). 

I grew up a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House in the Big Woods is my favorite book) and of course my family always watched the TV show every week. Then Melissa Gilbert dated Rob Lowe and wow I thought she was pretty fantastic outside of her role as LIW. She was part of the cool, young, rising stars set of the early 1980's. 

Then darn it all, she married Bruce Boxleitner, who I had a huge crush on in the 80's. Dang. I read her first memoir, Prairie Tale, and loved it. I thought she had managed to have a pretty sweet life. 

I was wrong. She ended up divorcing Bruce after many years of marriage, and found herself in her forties divorced, financially strapped, and so tired of living the Hollywood life. And then...she met Timothy Busfield. You know, the actor from Thirtysomething and one of the geeks from Revenge of the Nerds. That guy. The universe  works in weird ways, and they came together at the best time in their lives. Finding so much in common, and, yes, life goals to still achieve, they ended up in Michigan, and finally, upstate New York. That's where most of this memoir takes place. 

Melissa and Tim start over, and the pandemic gave them the chance to really dive into living a simple life on fourteen acres of woods in a small ramshackle home they refurbished. Melissa is definitely a city woman, but found herself embracing country life-and also discovering she's pretty darn handy at home maintenance, gardening, and raising chickens. She found fulfillment and a place to land. 

Now in her late 50's, Melissa's tale is about starting over and discovering that there's always a chance to find your happily ever after. Every mistake you make leads to your best life. She also says she finally learned she's "earned the right to her opinions". As someone in my 50's as well, I will say there's something almost magical about this age. You do let go of so much stuff, grow into who you really are, and start putting yourself first. I guess that's the trade off for hot flashes! 

Fair warning Melissa is very clear on her political views so if you're a Trump fan who can't bear to hear any criticism, don't read this book. 

Otherwise, enjoy Melissa's memoir. It's a fast read, and her voice is very strong. Her energy is apparent and I found myself hearing her voice as I read (I did not listen to the audio).  She's survived a lot of heartbreak, childhood issues, and boy oh boy, back and neck pain. I had no idea she had such such painful medical issues. 

Rating: 4/6 for an uplifting memoir about embracing life, opportunities, and always learning something new. Love and family are the center we always return to and the  foundation from which we grow. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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Back to the Prairie by Melissa Gilbert