Saturday, December 31, 2022

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

When Clara's and Abbie's mother BettyKay dies, they are united in grief. The sisters felt loved by both their parents and had a happy childhood growing up in Iowa. When movie star Kitty Devereaux shows up at BettyKay's funeral, Clara and Abbie are confused and have lots of questions, especially about how Kitty knew their mother. The Sunshine Girls follows the story of Kitty and BettyKay meeting in nursing school in 1967 and follows their friendship over the years. This storyline alternates with the contemporary story, mainly dealing with a secret that BettyKay revealed to Clara before she passed away that threatens to upend all the characters' lives. The book is notable for being set during the 1960s-1980s time period, which is uncommon in historical fiction.

Friday, December 30, 2022

My Favorite Books of 2022

Here are the five books I enjoyed most this year.

In alphabetical order, by author:

A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

Purely delightful--English village setting, lively characters, and an engaging plot. What more could one ask for?

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

A disquieting page turner that still resonates with me almost a year later.

The Net Beneath Us by Carol Dunbar

A novel about loss, perseverance, and acceptance by first-time author Dunbar.

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

Hartnett packs a lot of plot and memorable characters into her novel, yet the book doesn't feel stuffed, just perfect. That's the sign of a really great writer.

Tally Stick by Carl Nixon

Kiwi author Nixon creates an intriguing puzzle that kept me turning the pages.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

The Heartwood Hotel by Kerry McGinnis

In the outback town of Tewinga, Lyn runs the local shop with her husband, Adam. Her aging father, Tiger, owns the pub. Lyn grew up in Tewinga and came back with Adam when it became obvious that Tiger needed help running the place. Lyn also longs for a child to complete their family, but it hasn't happened yet. Tiger has a young man, Max, that works for him, and Lyn has taken Max under her wing as almost a surrogate son. Soon, however, family secrets and crime come into the lives of Lyn, Adam, and Tiger. The Heartwood Hotel explores what life in small town Australia is like--the friendships, the sense of community, and also the isolation.

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights by Kitty Zeldis

In 1920's Brooklyn, wealthy Catherine's life is shaken when she finds out she was adopted. Her birth mother, Bea, has moved from New Orleans to New York and, with the help of a detective, tracked Catherine down. Catherine also suffers greatly from not being able to have a baby--sometimes, the great love she and her husband Stephen have for each other doesn't seem like enough. Meanwhile, Bea, with the help of young Alice, who is a gifted seamstress, have opened up a dress shop that is turning out to be successful. The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights recounts the lives of Catherine, Bea, and Alice as resentments, secrets, and finally healing come to the surface. An enjoyable story, perfect for readers of Beatriz Williams, Fiona Davis, and Lynda Cohen Loigman.

Sunday, December 18, 2022

The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne

Sloan McPherson works part-time for the Lauderdale Shores Police Department as a diver looking for evidence and helping recover bodies from the local rivers and canals. As a single mom with a good relationship with her ex, Sloan is also working towards in PhD in archaeology. When she discovers a body one evening on a dive, Sloan finds herself entangled with criminals, in addition to those in authority. Teaming with ex-cop George Solar, along with help from her father and even her imprisoned Uncle Karl, Sloan tries to get the bad guys behind bars and keep herself and her daughter safe. The Girl Beneath the Sea is the first book in the Sloan McPherson series.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney

Clemmie, now living in a retirement village in South Carolina, thinks that she's left her past far behind. When her next door neighbor Dom disappears and a dead body is found in his garage soon afterwards, Clemmie fears her past--that she's worked very hard to conceal--will soon be uncovered. Clemmie, not knowing whom to trust, must go to all lengths to keep the life she is now living intact. Before She Was Helen reminded me of the novels of Hallie Ephron.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson

A young doctor who is the unnamed narrator of the story has taken a job at St. Luke's Hospital in London after being suspended for stealing opioids at his previous job in Scotland. St. Luke's is a facility that is underfunded and where the staff is stretched to the limit. When patients begin dying under mysterious circumstances, the main character becomes the prime suspect because of his background. Sometimes People Die recounts the narrator's effort to clear his name while trying to find out who's responsible for murder. Taking place over the course of a year and told in the narrator's cynical style, it's a slow burn.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Paradise Valley by C.J. Box

Cassie Dewell, Chief Investigator for the Bakken County Sheriff's Department in North Dakota, is extremely close to capturing the serial killer nicknamed the Lizard King. However, he gets away and Cassie ends up losing her job. When Cassie finds out that one of her son's friends, Kyle Westergaard, has gone missing near the time that the Lizard King was in the area, she becomes concerned for Kyle's safety. Cassie agrees to go look for Kyle as a favor to Kyle's grandmother, Lottie. Does this mean that Cassie will finally be able catch the Lizard King once and for all? Paradise Valley is the fourth book in the Cassie Dewell series and shows Cassie's transition from being a member of the police force to private investigator.