The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig

After her mother passes away, governess Rachel Woodley discovers the father that she thought died when she was little is still alive. He is actually the Earl of Ardmore, and he has an estate called Carrisford. Feeling angry and deceived, Rachel joins forces with Simon Montfort, a reporter who agrees to introduce her into high society disguised as his cousin in return for an article about Rachel and her family later on. Navigating the world of late night parties proves to be not too hard, but coming face to face with her half-sister and eventually her father is far trickier. The Other Daughter, set in 1920's London, is full of secrets and romance. Perfect for readers who enjoy Daisy Goodwin.

The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

In Mill River, Vermont, everyone knows about the large house on the hill, but not about Mary McAllister, who has lived there for over seventy years. Mary has kept to herself, with her lifelong friendship with Father O'Brien to sustain her. Now dying of cancer, she has plans to make.... The reader also gets to meet more residents of Mill River: widower policeman Kyle Hansen and Rowen (his nine-year-old daughter), schoolteacher Claudia Simon, potion maker Daisy Delaine, and misguided cop Leroy Underwood. The Mill River Recluse recounts the daily lives of the residents and is a gentle read for those who like stories about small towns.

What Doesn't Kill Her by Carla Norton

Reeve has tried to put her past behind her by moving to San Francisco and going to college. When Daryl Wayne Flint, the man who kidnapped her as a teen and held her captive, escapes from an psychiatric hospital, she is forced to relive old memories. Reeve even decides to head back to Washington state to help the authorities find Flint before he harms anyone else.  What she doesn't suspect is that Flint's mission is to find her again... In this second book of the Reeve LeClaire series, Norton writes another fast-paced novel that's hard to put down.

After the Storm by Linda Castillo

After a tornado hits Painters Mill, Ohio, human bones are found in an abandoned barn. The remains turn out to be those of Leroy Holt who went missing thirty years ago. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder and her team delve into Leroy's personal life to find out who might have murdered him. Not only is Kate dealing with the storm cleanup, but she also faces trouble from Paula and Nick Kester, who blame her for causing their young daughter Lucy's death, even after Kate rescued Lucy during the tornado. When Kate is shot at, she wonders if it's the Kesters who are targeting her, or if it's related to the Leroy Holt murder case. In this seventh book of the series, Castillo writes a mystery that's hard to put down, although I have a minor quibble with an aspect of Kate's personal story.

Lawyer for the Dog by Lee Robinson

Lawyer Sally Baynard is asked by her ex-husband, Judge Joe Baynard, to act as a lawyer on behalf of a miniature schnauzer named Sherman. Maryann and Russell Hart are divorcing, but both of them want custody of Sherman. Sally will live with Sherman, interview the Harts, and try to determine where the best place for Sherman is. Then Sally discovers that Joe wanted her on the case because he has feelings for her--and she finds herself interested in Sherman's vet, Dr. Tony Borden. She realizes how complicated her personal life has become, especially since she's struggling with the fact that she needs to put her mother in assisted care because of her Alzheimer's. Will Sally be able to find a balance between dealing with her mother's needs and finding love? And who gets the dog? A light read similar to Mary Kay Andrews and Jeanne Ray.

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

It's Christmas Stroll weekend on Nantucket, and the Quinns are getting together for the festivities, as well as the baptism of son Kevin's daughter. However, two family members are not there--youngest son, Bart, is missing in Afghanistan and oldest son, Patrick, has several months left of his prison sentence for insider trading. Their absences cast a pall over the whole family. In the sequel to last year's Winter Street, Hilderbrand updates readers on the characters from the first book--this novel takes place a year after the first--but the family's stories feel not that well-developed and the ending felt too abrupt to me. Definitely a disappointment... It will be published in October.