Maame by Jessica George

 

A very soulful story from the eyes and mind of the main character Maddie. Her insights on her life are telling and rarely delightful as she painfully comes to terms with all she has been burdened with by her absent mother and brother and with the care of her very ill father. When she finally has the opportunity to move out of her family home, her naivete and her lack of understanding the subtleties  of single life create pitfalls and stumbling blocks. 

It is a very deep novel and not one to read lightly.

This is Us by Helen McGinn

 

A husband just up and leaves his wife and three children with no explanation. He literally disappears and provides no contact. His wife is bewildered, hurt, angry. The story is how she recaptures her life and progressively moves ahead dealing with all his lies and deceit. Well worth your time and very engaging.

Dearly Departed by Heather Novak

 

A paranormal thriller with a story of deep betrayals and hurts. The last in the Love Me Dead series, Dearly Departed is right up there with the mystery and intrigue of the continuing saga of the vampire venom and the havoc it can cause. The LGBT tone might not be for everyone but it does enhance the story line and bring it full circle.

Autumn's Magical Pact by Leigh Ann Edwards

 

A truly magical and captivating beginning to The Maidens of the Mystical Stones series. The four maidens-Rhianwyn, Serena, Elspeth, and Lilliana-are different as different can be. Each is held captive by the bonds of society and their lot in life. I look forward to the continuing story and the paths the maidens will take as the pact they have entered unfolds.

A Cup of Autumn by Melissa McClone

 

A simply delightful story with romance on the pages and love in the air for Keaton and Raine. Both are set on a no relationship path and find themselves completely enjoying each other’s company. Unfortunately, Keaton is determined to find work away from Silver Falls, Raine’s perfect home. Their limited time together is meant to be enjoyed and savored while it lasts.

They just cannot fall in love.

A Secret in the Family by Leah Mercer

 

Lies on top of lies and deceit round every corner drives this novel of relationships that bind.

Rachel felt responsible for her father’s death and her mother’s subsequent remoteness. More lies under the surface and it all begins to unravel when she discovers a horrifying secret. A definite seat of your pants thriller.

Coming Home to You by Rebecca Crowley

 

A love that was cut short by circumstances beyond their control starts to reignite when Sam and Mabel see each other again. Twelve years is a long time to be apart and the intervening years had not diminished the hurt they felt. Wronged by their parents and thrown together by chance,  Mabel and Sam attempt to make sense of it all. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters.

The White Hare by Jane Johnson

 

A hauntingly mysterious story of a hardened grandmother, a belittled daughter, and a charming child all caught up in the bewildering and peculiar situations surrounding the home they have bought in a small town. They are seeking a new beginning and find no one wants to talk about the history of their home. Some very interesting characters that enhance the story.

The House on Rockaway Beach by Emma Burnstall

 

A very, very lovely novel exploring the relationship of two very different sisters and of their difficulties in getting along. The effects their father had on each of them bore out in their lifestyles and traits. Celia is the by the arrow one living up to exaggerated expectations. Sophie is a free spirit living her own life. They come together at their grandmother’s house to dispose of it and find their mutual dislike still flourishes. The undercurrents of their aggravations bubble to the surface and change the course of everything.

In Sweet Harmony by Megan Squires

 

Sweetest second chance story. The main characters still love each other after eleven years of separation and a decision that led them apart. There is a secret that will rattle and shake their cages and those of a young boy. 

Cowboy on the Run by Anne McAllister

 

Sweetest second chance story. The main characters still love each other after eleven years of separation and a decision that led them apart. There is a secret that will rattle and shake their cages and those of a young boy. 

Somebody like Santa by Janet Dailey

 

Nice story with enough ups and downs to keep the pace steady. Interesting characters with a bad guy to boot.

Love in 3D by Marie Harte

Cute, sexy and fun story. Great novel if you love lots of funny lines and adventurous sex scenes. It has a great plot and characters to love.

 

My Big Fake Wedding by Jessica Hatch

 

This was billed as funny. I did not really find any humor in a desperate, cringy young woman latching onto anyone available who will agree to marry her in six months because she won a wedding in a raffle. No depth, lots of boring whining.

The Texas Cowboy's Proposal by Debra Holt

 

The Texas Cowboy’s Proposal does not disappoint. I loved that it has a slow build romance that surprises both of the participants. Plus, there is an absolutely wonderful young girl who just takes over your heart.

The Book Haters Club by Gretchen Anthony

 

The lives of three people are in upheaval when the owner (Irma) of a local bookstore sells it. Bree is losing her job and dreams of owning her mother’s store. Laney, Bree’s sister, does not seem to care. Thom, partner of deceased Elliot (owner with Irma) is beside himself with grief and knocked for a loop at Irma’s decision. The three join forces to plot to investigate Irma’s decision. It is a touching novel.

The Last Casterglass by Kate Hewitt

 

A very engaging novel of two people who find love with someone who truly understands them even though no one else does.

Seph Penryn grew up in a lonely house where her absent minded parents rarely acknowledged her. Her brother and sisters are all older than she and have long been gone from the castle. She has built up a contrary shell of protection. Oliver Belhaven comes to intern at Casterglass Castle and sees Seph for the lovely person she is inside. Of course there are many misunderstandings between them and insecurities.

Love at Meg's Diner by Lara Van Hulzen

 

The story of Meg and Chet is a charming tale with a slow and gentle build to love.

A wall made of armor protects the gentle heart of Meg. She has suffered the loss of too many loved ones. Chet is determined to poke through the armor and get to Meg’s heart.

Central Places by Delia Cai

 

As I ruminate over the story of Audrey Zhou, I am not certain if I liked it or not. Over an eight year period away from her parents and the small town she grew up in, Audrey returns with her fiance, Ben. She has cultivated a persona in New York far removed from the past. Her strong capable persona implodes as she sees the friends and family she left behind. Ben is mostly clueless about her relationship with her parents as Audrey has not chosen to share about them. Her mother is wrapped in disappointment with Audrey and never fails to voice it. Her father is quiet and resigned.

It is a story of history returning, lost relationships, and mistakes. I cannot say I enjoyed the story. It was interesting.

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

 

A very engaging novel of the family dynamics in the relationships of siblings Natalie, Jake, and Lynn. When Natalie was a teen, her actions led to prison terms for Jake and Lynn. Upon the death of their mother years of estrangement later, the siblings are all to regroup at their ancestral home to satisfy the terms of the trust. It is a trying time of wanting to rebuild their relationships in a sea of misunderstandings and lost time.

The Do Over by Shannon M. Peterson

 

Cute and funny novel about the trials and tribulations of Percie, a young woman of generous proportions who finally finds “The New Percie” and begins to change her life. She finds love along the journey.

Overkill by Sandra Brown

 

A thriller that I had to put down several times to get my heart rate to drop. The bad guy, Eban, is seriously evil with no conscience. The subjects of his rampage are almost helpless to stop him. Be prepared for a wild ride.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

 

Something in the Heir has got to be one of the cutest and, to me, funniest, Regency novels. There are none of the bodice ripping scenes normally found. There are so many scenes in which you know are not going to turn out well and provide dilemmas for the main characters-Emmie and Will, George and Rose. Rose and George are delightful children with a mix of sweetness and misbehavior. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.