Different Tides

Different Tides by Janet Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clementine is an 20 year old orphan who has a heart for little ones so when she is ask to be a governess to two lonely, orphaned children, she jumps at the chance. One of the children is a 5 year old Earl and the other, his 4 year old sister, both fresh from Australia. Both have experienced too much tragedy for being so young and carry the scars of fear. Can Clementine ensure they have a happy childhood...one that she, herself, did not enjoy?

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A Killing in the Hills

A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When county prosecutor Bell Elkin's daughter, Carla, witnesses a triple murder at the Salty Dawg in their hometown of Ackers Gaps, WV, Bell is determined to protect Carla and find the killer. Unfortunately even though the diner was full of people, no one has description of the suspect. As days go by and Carla relives the horrifying event the face with the gun looks like a young man she seen at a recent party - where drugs were flowing easy. How can Carla give the information to her mom but not be grounded for life? In her quest to find the perp and dig deeper into the drug ring surrounding their county, Bell's own life is put in danger as is Carla's.

Full of suspense, A Killing in the Hills contains more than one mystery and readers will find Bell's own life story as the chapters unfurl. Bitter River is the next great read in the Bell Elkins mysteries.

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The Union Street Bakery

The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One minute you’re on top – fancy, swanky apartment, designer dresses, killer heels and the next minute you’re back sharing your parent’s attic with a ghost and all your worldly goods stuffed in boxes. Daisy lived the good life until the CEO of her company raised the bet and lost it all including his business and employees. Now Daisy spends the hours before dawn kneading dough and making bread in her family bakery – a once prospering business that’s now running in the red. It’s up to Daisy to crunch the numbers, help them break even and solve the mystery of the ghost and an old journal has been gifted to her from a frequent bakery customer. But, Daisy constantly entertains the idea of leaving, especially when she’s offered a job with a prestigious company…..

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Bitter River

Bitter River by Julia Keller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I usually do not read crime fiction, but this one caught my eye. Not only is the cover and title appealing, it takes place in a fictional town in the Appalachian mountains of nearby West Virginia. Several pages into Bitter River I realized that, darn, this is Julia Keller's second book set in Acker's Gap about prosecuting attorney, Bell Elkins. By that point, I was already involved with the story and couldn't put it down. Bell is deeply invested in the area and many of the townspeople are her personal friends or related. When a murder involving a popular and well-liked teen happens, the town is turned upside down with sadness, but yet there is more sorrow to come. Is the perp a local or an outsider? Bell has her hands full trying to track down the murderer.

I will be tracking down the first book - A Killing in the Hills.

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The Tutor's Daughter

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Emma Smallwood enjoys assisting her father with his small boarding school. But, things have fallen away since the death of his wife and Emma's mother two years before. Attendance has dropped and finances are becoming tight. Emma has written to former graduates Phillip and Henry Weston's father, a baronet in Cornwall, to inquire of the two younger sons. Mr. Weston is more interested in the Smallwoods joining him at his estate on the coast and teaching the boys onsite. When Emma and her father arrive in the nearby village, no one is there to meet them so a young boy and cart are hired to take them to Ebbington Manor, where unfortunately not only had their arrival slipped Sir Giles mind but his wife, Lady Weston had not even been informed of the teaching position being filled. The rude beginning gets worse, when the younger sons, twins, do not like being taught and mystery and suspicion surround the Manor - especially at night, when howling can be heard.

Written along the lines of Jane Eyre, readers of historical and Regency romance will enjoy this novel.

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The Cottage at Glass Beach

The Cottage At Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nora Cunningham is taking refuge on Burke's Island, a small remote strip of land off the Maine coast and settled by the Irish centuries before. Her famous husband and his affair have been splashed over tabloids so Nora and her two girls, Annie, 7 and Ella, 12 going on 21 are hiding out. Nora's earliest memories are of Burke's, being able to swim like a fish, and her beautiful mother that disappeared when she was only small. Nora's elderly Aunt Maire lives in the old homeplace nearby and who summoned her with a letter still believes in the magical legends of the island including selkies - a mythical creature. As the island begins to heal Nora, she is drawn towards a quiet fisherman who guards his own secrets but Ella blames her parent's breakup only on her mother, causing her to say and do things that put her and her sister into danger.

Beautifully written and full of mystery, The Cottage at Glass Beach, makes a good anytime read.

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Trouble in Store

Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Melanie Ross is in a predicament. Recently fired from her governess position, she has been left without a home or income. As Melanie packs up her few belongings she fondly remembers an older cousin that lives out in Arizona - when Melanie was young he had treated her as if she was his own child. From old letters Mel finds an address and proceeds to go the long journey West hoping that her beloved cousin will shelter her. To her shock she finds her cousin has passed away and his co-owned business is now being run by a young man, Caleb Nelson, who doesn't believe Melanie's claims and who seems to be bent on scaring her out of town.

Carol Cox combines historical fiction and romance with a twist of mystery in Trouble in Store. Although predictable and little flat, it's a nice little story although I was surprised to see how fast the town's people hysterically became vigilantes.

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Sea Change

Sea Change by Karen White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ava never felt like she belonged to her family - youngest sister of four brothers, who could be identified as funeral directors, just like her father. She had always deeply yearned for a sister. When Ava suddenly announced she was marrying Matthew and leaving landlocked Antioch, GA for the seashores of St. Simons Island, her mother Gloria took to her bed. Oddly enough as she left, her grandma Mimi, who had lived with Mimi forever, reminded her that some endings are really beginnings. As they draw closer to the island what Matthew doesn't know is that Ava, a professional midwife, has a very deep rooted fear of the water. Matthew has a few secrets of his own - some that when come to light, threaten their new marriage. As Ava settles in her home, she has a feeling of really coming home - it seems the house holds many secrets of its own and it's up to Ava to unlock them.

This is one of the best books I have read in awhile - it contains beautiful descriptions of the lush island and of earlier times so that it feels as if you are in that time period. Told with the voices and thoughts of three women, history and modern times entangle themselves into a story that is just so hard to put down.

As a gardener myself I love these two phrases:
"Ava and I had always known that sticking our fingers in the dirt was a lot like holding the past and the present in your hands, understanding that decaying plants nourished the soil for new seedlings" and "being a mother is like being a gardener of souls."

...and one more:
"Because sometimes we have to be a hero and do the right thing, even if it's just for one person and even if nobody else notices."

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Tidewater Inn

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Libby Holladay loves to save old buildings and renovate them; her partner Nicole convinces the property owners to entrust them to Libby's care. While talking with Nicole by way of a live cam and a laptop, Libby actually views Nicole's kidnapping by two men at Hope Beach, where her friend has been exploring an old life-saving station for possible renovation. After calling 911 Libby races to Hope Island to help find her friend but is actually viewed with much suspicion by the local police. Now, this read is already turning into a mystery, but Libby finds out (on page 3) that her late father who died when she was five, was very much alive until just a month ago. To top that off, Libby discovers that she now has two half siblings and an aunt living on that same Hope Island. Mystery after mystery is solved as Libby is determined to find Nicole.



Inspirational, mystery, and throw in a light romance, Tidewater Inn is very good read.



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Sea Glass Summer

Sea Glass Summer by Dorothy Cannell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Leaving behind a crummy divorce, thanks to her ex and best friend's dalliance, Sarah Draycott is delighted to move to the pretty little town of Sea Glass, Maine. With the coast at her back door and her front door facing the town, Sarah is ready for a do over in a big way. Right away energetic, 90 year old Nellie Armitage, knocks at the front door and makes friends. Then, Sarah makes the acquaintance with 70 something Gwen and her son, Sonny plus little Oliver, an orphan with a huge vocabulary. Sarah finds herself fitting in rather comfortably with the residents of Sea Glass.

I've never read Dorothy Cannell until this book and and found to my surprise that I really enjoyed her writing. I must say she really get detailed and sometimes that can derail your reading but Cannell also has a sense of humor that makes it fun.

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Out of Control

Out of Control by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't know how Mary Connealy does it - but her books always make me giggle. The thoughts and dialog between the main characters are quite witty.



Rafe Kinkade has everything under control, especially since that fateful day when he and his two brothers were lost and hurt in the deep cave that runs under his Colorado ranch. When he forces himself to return to scene to make peace with his guilt, he hears screams echoing out of the hole and ends up saving a feisty, young woman named Julia Gilliland who had been looking for fossils. The story continues with Rafe and his brother Ethan returning Julia to her rundown cabin and family, hidden on the mountain. As Rafe and Julia spar with each other, you can see the sparks begin to ignite and more caving happening in their future.



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The Christmas Wedding

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Gaby is planning a Christmas wedding - her own, but she is the only person who knows who the groom will be! It's a secret! She does have it narrowed down to three men - who have all ask for her hand. It will be Gaby's second marriage, as her first husband died years ago and her family hasn't been together since. She wants all her four children to come home from all parts of the country and she teases them into coming back by sending them five videos. Romantic, sad, mysterious, and funny, this book is a wonderful read as the holidays draw closer.

I usually do not read James Patterson and this little novel is unlike his thrillers - a very, enjoyable read. Down to the very end, when Gaby was waiting up front on her groom - I was still trying to guess which one of her three friends would be the lucky man!



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There's No Place Like Here

There's No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another novel with author Cecelia Ahern's different, humorous take on things. The story centers on
Sandy Shortt, a woman who is obsessed with finding the missing - a sock, a shoe, articles of clothing, and people. Her obsession becomes so great that her family, and man she falls in love with, are pushed away. When Sandy herself becomes missing - where is she and who will bother to look for her? Can Sandy find her way home? Although the story bounces around a bit - it's not hard to keep track.

I have to admit - it does drive me crazy when my washer or dryer eats a sock and its mate is left to carry on alone.



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Promise Me

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I always look forward to a new novel by Richard Paul Evans. Small and compact, they are like wrapped packages of candy - ready to be unwrapped & devoured! Past, present, and future all collide in the form of a mysterious man recently widowed Beth Cardall meets on Christmas Day at the local 7-Eleven. The secret he carries and the promise he makes will change Beth and her daughter's life forever.



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