Delta Girls by Gayle Brandeis

In this tale of seemingly unrelated stories, Izzy has been a nomad for all nine years of her daughter Quinn's life. For now, Izzy and Quinn have settled at the pear farm of the Vieira family in California. Even though Izzy is comfortable with the Vieiras, she's trying to keep a low profile and is very watchful of Quinn. Meanwhile, teenage figure skater, Karen, has just got a new partner, Nathan. He is risky, impulsive at times, yet he and Karen are a successful team. When the media descends on the farm, it's inevitable that Izzy's and Karen's worlds collide. While I liked Delta Girls, I felt that it was not as good as her last novel, Self Storage.

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

Eliza Benedict hasn't really felt that anywhere is home since she was kidnapped at 15 by Walter Bowman and then freed after six weeks. Now an adult, she's a mother of two and happily married to Peter. After several years in London, the family is now back in the states, residing outside Washington D.C. Eliza's quiet life is disrupted when she gets a letter from Walter, now on death row and soon to be executed, wanting to resume contact with her. Desperate to keep her past from her children, Eliza wonders what to do. Since Eliza was Walter's only victim that he let live, she is torn between wanting normalcy and seeking answers for herself and the families of the other girls. It also causes her to immerse herself in memories of that horrific time twenty years ago... I'd Know You Anywhere alternates between the past and present to create a novel that's hard to put down. Lippman is spot-on her portrayals of all the characters and their lives--from Eliza and Walter right down to Eliza's two children. She presents them in all their complexity and allows you to form your own opinions. Don't miss it...

The Blessings of the Animals by Katrina Kittle

Veterinarian Cami Anderson is blindsided when her husband, Bobby, moves out and wants a divorce. Bobby has been unhappy for awhile, but Cami believed they could work it out, especially since they have a teenage daughter, Gabriella. Immersed in her work and her love of animals, Cami tries to move forward with the strong support of her wide circle of friends and family. Cami also wonders about the tradition of marriage and if it's possible to find love again. I loved Kittle's last book, The Kindness of Strangers and adored this one. This novel reminded me of Judith Ryan Hendricks who wrote Bread Alone.

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon's daughter Minnie, now two, is as determined and obsessed with shopping as her mother. When a financial crisis hits England, Becky's parents and her husband, Luke, decide that they must economize. Being on a budget goes against Becky's own nature, so she's finding the decision quite a struggle, especially since she's in the process of planning a gigantic surprise birthday party for Luke. Will Becky be able to control Minnie, keep the party a secret, and have it be a celebration to remember on a shoestring? Mini Shopaholic will be enjoyed by all the fans of the best-selling series. It's to be published next month.

Dream Queen by Betsy Thornton

Chloe Newcombe travels to Dudley, Arizona to visit her younger brother, Danny. Soon after she arrives, Danny disappears, followed soon after by his girlfriend, Kristi. Worried about his whereabouts, Chloe delves into Danny's life. He's been in trouble with the law before and was seen arguing with someone when he was picking her up at the airport. Being a private investigator in New York, she's familar with the ways to conduct a search. Will Chloe find out what's happened to her brother? Dream Queen is the prequel to Thornton's Chloe Newcombe series. In the book, the reader learns why Chloe ended up making the small town of Dudley her home.

In the Woods by Tana French

Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are called to an archaeological dig outside Dublin because a young girl's body has been found. The girl, Katy Devlin, had been reported missing the previous day. Going to the site is particularly traumatic for Rob because he grew up in the area and as a child he was found dazed and bloodied with no memory of the previous hours near the current murder site. His two best friends, Peter and Jamie, weren't so lucky. They vanished without a trace. When a hair clip seeming to belong to Jamie is found near Katy's body, Rob and Cassie wonder if the cases are connected. Rob treads a fine line working on the Devlin case, since only Cassie knows of his past. Will Rob and Cassie be able to find Katy's killer and determine what happened to Peter and Jamie? In the Woods is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series and is more a traditional police procedural than the third book in the series, Faithful Place.