Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny

In Katherine Heiny's first short story collection, she writes about young women and their relationships with men. Some are married, most are having affairs, and one named Gwen longs for a relationship with her roommate. Three stories feature Maya, who, when the reader first meets her, is thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend Rhodes, and is in the process of saying goodbye to her dog Bailey, who is dying. In later stories, Maya has an affair with her married boss Gildas-Joseph and then is expecting her first child with Rhodes. Having read all of Heiny's books, this one was a miss for me. I just didn't care for the characters.

Blue Heaven by C.J. Box

When sister and brother Annie and William happen upon a man being murdered while they are out fishing after school, it sends them on the run, because they know their lives are in danger. As children, they don't have any resources or a place to hide out, but taking shelter in rancher Jess Rawlins' barn just might save their lives. The killers--men who have retired from jobs at the LAPD--know just how to manipulate the town's sheriff and have no qualms about using violence to capture the kids. In Blue Heaven, which won the Edgar for best novel in 2008, Box writes a cat and mouse scenario that's hard to put down.

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman

In the years after World War II, brothers Abe and Mort live with their families in a two-family brownstone in Brooklyn. Abe and his wife Helen have four sons, while Mort and his wife Rose have three daughters. Helen and Rose then find themselves pregnant again and due around the same time. As a blizzard rages outside, with their husbands away on a business trip, the wives give birth at home the same evening and make a decision that has repercussions for decades. In The Two-Family House, author Loigman excels at making all the characters come to life, portraying them so vividly that the pages fly by. A must-read author for lovers of historical fiction.

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Anna is headed from Denver to Toronto to spend the holidays with her boyfriend Nick and his family. On the same flight is Maryam Aziz, who is travelling with her grandfather, parents, and her younger sister Saima for Saima's wedding--but a severe snowstorm strands everyone in the picturesque small town of Snow Falls. Anna is sad to be spending Christmas and Hanukkah alone, even though she has doubts that Nick is the one for her. Maryam, meanwhile, blurted out her feelings for old family friend, Saif, to her seatmate on the plane, Anna. Saif, unfortunately, was sitting right behind them and heard everything. Anna's and Maryam's friendship starts off rocky, but soon they are supporting and encouraging each other to follow their heart--Anna with an actor who's filming a movie in Snow Falls, and Maryam with Saif. Three Holidays and a Wedding is a feel-good romantic story filled with loveable characters (like Maryam's grandfather--a famous retired Bollywood director) and vivid descriptions of food--especially when Maryam's family breaks their fast at sunset, since the book takes place during Ramadan.

Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

Police deputy Mattie Lu Cobb has just completed K-9 training with her partner, Robo. Their first case together is when a body is found in the national forest near Timber Creek, Colorado. It turns out to be the remains of teenager Grace Hartman, who was best friends with Angela Walker (the daughter of local veterinarian, Cole). Grace's dog, Belle, is found alive near her body and later becomes ill from bags of cocaine that were fed to her. Mattie and the rest of the police department focus on suspects who are involved in the local drug trade, hoping that there will be a connection to Grace's killer. In this first book of the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series, author Mizushima gives the reader a main character with an interesting backstory and surrounds Mattie with co-workers and friends you hope to see more of. Although not as hard-edged as C.J. Box's Cassie Dewell series, this would be a good read-alike.