Somewhere in France

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Elizabeth wants more than the stuffy boredom of being an Earl's daughter. Not content to languish doing needlepoint until married off, Elizabeth, on the sly, learns to drive...unheard of for most women in that period..moves out of her family's wealthy home and becomes a clippie. When she finds out from her brother that the War Office is creating new women's corps to ferry officers and supplies, "Lilly" signs up to be an ambulance driver near the Western Front in France. There she confronts the War and the days become a nightmarish blur.

Being born in 1960, when women were fighting for equal pay, it still surprises me how women were kept in the dark about so many things..as if their brains could not fathom the truth...perhaps it was only the wealthy for the poor had too much realism in their face everyday...

Excellent reading guides included..

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Stuck Together

Stuck Together by Mary Connealy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stuck Together ends the Trouble in Texas series, another historical romantic comedy by Mary Connealy. The budding romance between Tina Cahill and "Invincible" Vince Yates heats up like their Texas surroundings as does the quick courtship between Jonas Cahill and Vince's new to town stepsister, Melissa. But with all the sparks flying, real gunshots ring out threatening the little town's Regulators and those they love. With trouble at his door and an abandoned mother showing symptons of dementia to shelter, Invincible Vince puts his love life on the back burner.

Mary Connealy always makes me giggle throughout her books - her main characters are always good guys and gals with hilarious quirks and thoughts. In this series, I believe my favorite was the first: Swept Away.

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The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At 14 Grace was fortunate to start service, as her mother did many years before, at Riverton, where the wealthy Hartford family lived. She watched the three golden haired, blue-eyed Hartford grandchildren, all near her own age, grow up and totally fell under their spell - David, Hannah, and Emmaline. Over the years, Grace took on the role of a lady's maid, helped dress the young women, and was privy to their conversations and secrets. Enter World War I, the Lord of the manor and his son, the Major, both fall in France, and Riverton and the world are changed forever. Hannah marries to escape, taking Grace with her, only to find that there is no escape, only boredom, but does find kinship and romance with her brother's best friend, Robbie - now a poet but Emmaline's love interest as well. The story ends with a scandalous event that no one knew Grace was privy to. Now 98 and failing, Grace is determined that her only grandson will know the truth.

The Great War changed so much, as all wars do, and social classes lost a foothold..the story is haunting as in how secrets were handled in that era, women were handled with kid gloves and not accepted into exclusive male conversations. ...for lovers of Upstairs/Downstairs and viewers of Downton Abbey..

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four friends

Four Friends by Robyn Carr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Three women, Gerri, Andy, and Sonja, have a fantastic friendship, live on the same street, and power walk at 6am together every morn - how perfect is that? (although I can't even imagine being awake at 6am let alone power walking, grrr...) BJ has just recently moved to the area and is quite aloof, runs every morning but is quietly keeping a big secret she's not ready to share. Three of the four women will soon find that her marriage has been unraveling for quite awhile and when it does - it happens in a big way...BJ will come to be the friend that steps in, sees what needs done, and helps pick up the pieces.

This is the first book by Robyn Carr I've read although I've heard about her Virgin River series. She was an author I hoped to catch up with eventually and I'm very glad I did! You'll be giggling after some chapters and empathizing after others. Readers of Kristin Hannah will enjoy her writing.

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Starry Night: A Christmas Novel

Starry Night: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Light, as the millions of stars above the Arctic Circle. Fluffy, like snow drifts. Romantic, like toasters. Hahaaa, Debbie Macomber's new Christmas book is a loveable little read that will dissolve you into giggles. Think social reporter girlygirl meets He-man from Alaska. Starry nights, an Aurora borealis, and a big, furry mutt named Hennessy lend a romantic air to the chemistry sparked between these two, that against the odds, are meant to be...



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Candlelight Christmas

Candlelight Christmas by Susan Wiggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Here it is - Christmas time and I'm trying to read all the holiday books I can find. Candlelight Christmas, part of her Lakeshore Chronicle series, includes characters within that are all familiar to long-time readers of Wiggs. Tall, athletic Logan O'Donnell, divorced with a young son, is determined that buying the local ski lodge will be a profitable and enjoyable business. His sister India's best friend, Darcy, is not only supportive but will drag her sponsor's camera crew along for a snowboarding gear shoot. Sparks seem to be flying between Logan and Darcy, but with both being divorced and hurt in their past relationships, moving forward is slow-going.

I like how Wiggs covers the worry, heartache, and guilt of shuffling children between divorced parents and the contemporary issues of today.

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Christmas Bliss

After reading Blue Christmas awhile back, it was fun to read about the double duo of "Weezie" and "Bebe" again - two great friends that have each others backs. Weezie is about to be married, on Christmas Day to boot, when she discovers her fiancee, a chef, may be canoodling with his boss in NYC. Even though the wedding is only days away and her dress isn't finished, Weezie flies off to the city to find out the truth. On the other hand, Bebe, to her horror, discovers that the divorce to her first husband was never filed. Determined to track down her ex and force him to sign the papers, Bebe, pregnant and ready to pop, hides the fact from her beloved baby daddy. Our favorite cast of characters are back and you can't help but giggle at these two fun-loving, trouble-finding, crazy gals and their adventures. A light and fluffy read!!

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 Dogs of Christmas

The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book made me giggle out loud - hahaaa, some of the situations that Josh finds himself in - babysitting a pregnant dog, dealing with abandoned puppies, and falling into crazy, silly love with a woman from the animal shelter, Kerri, just will crack you up! Josh designs websites for a living, had abandonment issues, and never owned a dog in his life. So, when he is confronted with poor prego Lucy, Josh freaks out but as he gets over his fear, he slowly begins to fall in love this four-legged creature. A wonderful, little, quick Christmas read!

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The Longest Ride

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We can't get enough stories on love and relationships from super writer Nicholas Sparks. In his latest novel, two couples' courtships - one nearing its ending, one just beginning - are the love stories that Sparks explores. Ira, a widower, had one last mission to complete before joining Ruth, his beloved wife, forever, but fails when the car he is driving plunges over the side of a hill. Ira begins to see visions of Ruth, encouraging him to stay alive, and as he slips in and out of consciousness, Ira reviews their tender relationship over the previous decades. At the same time a young couple, Sophia, a college student and Luke, a bull rider and rancher, are being drawn into a relationship and suffer from expectations and immaturity. As the story nears its conclusion and both love stories unfold, the connection is finally revealed.

Written from different viewpoints, the characters' vulnerability and passion show through across a span of over 90 years.

Soon to made into a movie....

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The Lemon Orchard

The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grief and heartache bring people together as in the unexpected romance between two unlikely people. One - an immigrant that has crossed the USA/Mexican border illegally, at the cost of his young daughter, Rosa, and the other, an anthropologist who lost both her husband and 16 year old daughter in a car accident. They meet in a seaside, lush lemon orchard in the beautiful Santa Monica mountains owned by Julia's aunt and uncle. Julia is there to house-sit with her beloved Bonnie Blue, a seven-year-old border collie when she meets Roberto, manager and caretaker of the orchard whose quiet, strong ways reach across Julia's barriers and draw her in. As Julia learns more of Roberto's past, she feels the need to redeem her loss by solving the clues that surround the missing Rosa.

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Small Town Girl

Small Town Girl by Ann H. Gabhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Small Town Girl continues the story of Angel Sister with the same beloved characters but introduces a newcomer, Jay Tanner. Jay, a bit of a roamer and ladies' man, comes to town to be his best and only friend Pastor Mike Champion's best man at his wedding and ends up staying and liking the small town of Rosey Corner. Jay also has his eye on Mike's sister-in-law, independent Kate Merritt but is afraid to commit to a relationship because of his background.

Set on the verge of World War II, Small Town Girl is a sweet, historical and inspirational novel whose vulnerable characters wrap themselves around your heart and won't let go...

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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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Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Working in a library for years I've checked in and out many of Alexander McCall Smith's series, never once reading them myself, although I knew they were beloved by many. So when I came across this little novel on our new shelf the cover and title drew me in along with my love of compartmentalized British trains. I had no idea that AMS could delve inside the human brain and remember all the little chatty details of our life. What a discovery! Trains and Lovers is the story of four ordinary people on a train journey from Edinburgh, Scotland to London, England. All but one have a story to share about love - lost love, first love, love without trust, and parental love. The fourth ponders on his fellow passenger's tales but keeps his own story to himself.

A very enjoyable quick read, gentle and witty, for followers of McCall Smith and people like me who are just discovering him. Favorite quotes: .. the story of four people, all strangers to one another, who met on that train, and of how love touched their lives in very different ways. Love is nothing out of the ordinary, even if we think it is; even if we idealise it, celebrate it in poetry, sentimentalise it in coy valentines. Love happens to just about everyone; it is like measles or the diseases of childhood; it is as predictable as the losing of milk teeth, or the breaking of a boy's voice. It may visit us at any time, in our youth but also when we are much older and believe we are beyond its reach; but we are not. It has been described as a toothache, a madness, a divine intoxication, metaphors that reflect the disturbing effect it has on our lives. It may bring surprise, joy, despair and occasionally perfect happiness. But for each person who is made happy by love, there will be many for whom it turns out to be cause for regret . . . The heart has more than its fair share of ghosts, and these ghosts may be love, in any of its many forms. There are many ways of falling off the high moral ground you’ve carefully built up for yourself. Moral ground is like that – slippery at the edges.

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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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The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe

The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe by Mary Simses
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ellen Branford, NYC attorney and soon to be married, is on a weekend mission - to deliver her beloved, late grandmother's letter to an old friend in Maine. But what is supposed to be quick trip turns into trouble when Ellen falls through a rotted seaside dock and has to be fished out by a local, handsome carpenter. As Ellen finds out more about her grandmother's young life in the small village, discoveries are made and questions turn into more questions! An enjoyable light read but rather predictable from this first time author.

It is definitely not to be compared, as it was touted, to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a favorite of mine...

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Wedding Night

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At the perfect moment Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to finally propose! Setting: fancy, smancy restaurant, corner table overlooking the river, and at the point where Richard has something to ask her, Lottie looks down at her stockings and sees one of them flapping around her ankle. Flouncing off to the ladies room to tear both both stockings from her legs results in Lottie telling all the girls in there that THE moment has arrived - now practically the whole restaurant is holding their breath when Lottie returns back to her table, Richard, and the question. Only to Lottie's tearful embarrassment, the question isn't, "Will you marry me, " but something boring about air miles...

Lottie's sister Fliss knows that every time her sister ends a relationship, impulsive, outrageous things happens...like when Lottie got a tattoo, or an "intimate" piercing, or the expensive membership in a cult. So Fliss knows something horrible is about to happen and will she be able to successfully head it off?

Sophie Kinsella is hilariously funny - I found myself giggling until my sides hurt!

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And Then I Found You: A Novel

And Then I Found You: A Novel by Patti Callahan Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Katie hasn't loved another man since she kissed Jack Adams in the moonlight by the May River - at the time she was only 13. Fast forward to Kate, now 35 and trendy boutique owner, who panics when she discovers she will soon to be proposed to by her very patient boyfriend, Rowan Irving. But, Rowan doesn't know the secret that Kate has hidden since she was 22 - only her, Jack, and her family are aware of the deep, drowning sorrow that Kate carries. How can Kate move ahead with her life when her heart is set in the past...


Beautiful writing..

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A Perfect Proposal

A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie - who seems to me, is quite smart and funny - is the black sheep of the family - the non-academic member.(think tops in common sense) More than a lil snobby and money-grubbing, they're quite happy to stick Sophie with the mundane tasks of life, like working, cooking, and taking care of the house. When Sophie get the chance of lifetime to jet over to New York and see a friend and follow up on a job lead, she jumps, only to find out the job has fallen through. How like Sophie to land on her feet, as Sophie as usual and without airs, lands another one. Read more about Sophie and her up and down life in A Perfect Proposal,


There is something about the way Katie Fforde cooks up her characters - a little charming, goofy, a bit trodden upon and taken advantage of, and sometimes even a little dizzy - that keeps me coming back for more.

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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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