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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Keep Quiet

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How far would you go to protect your child? How does the domino effect of lying affect the relationship with your spouse..your child..your job...

Jake Buckman, an accountant, is trying to rebuild a crumbling relationship with his 6'5" teenage son and high school basketball star, Ryan. After picking Ryan up from movie, Jake allows him to drive home a quiet, back road after 11pm, even though Ryan's learner's permit does not allow it. But, the unthinkable happens and in a heartbeat Jake makes a decision that will take the heat off Ryan but will mentally tear the family apart. It's crushing to read the thoughts and turmoil of what they face as each lie steamrolls, creating even more pain in its wake.....

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Harbor of the Heart

Harbor of the Heart by Katherine Spencer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

5th in the Angel Island series, Harbor of the Heart continues the storyline between inn owner Liza Martin and carpenter/EMT Daniel Merritt. With summer approaching Daniel is considering taking his board exams over to return to the medical field but it means a season away from Liza and the inn. Plus, it means facing and overcoming his old fears. Meanwhile as he and Liza consider the cost to their relationship, a small white sailboat flounders off the shore near the inn and the sailor is thrown into the churning water, nearly drowning - if not for Daniel's quick reactions, with Liza and Claire's help. Who is this sailor that reportedly has no family except for a huge friend named Edison?

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Where Courage Calls

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started visiting our new library branch, the librarian led me Janette Oke and Snelling. Both authors have become my two of my favorites.

Beth, born into a wealthy family, is following in her aunt's footsteps - heading west to a small impoverished coal town to teach. After a very long, demanding train ride and lost luggage woes, her trip ends in a row of small shanties and a saloon. To her shock, there is no school building - the saloon is her daytime classroom. Follow Beth as she falls in love with her students and Coal Valley residents.

A follow-up to When Calls the Heart and special companion story to the Hallmark Channel series.

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The Time of My Life

The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lucy, who once had the good life, great job, handsome fella, posh digs, has fell in to such lowly living that she has been sent an appointment card to meet, with of all people, her LIFE (in person). But Lucy doesn't have time for such shenanigans - she's too busy pretending to be someone else, rather than face the truth. For since her BF has left her, Lucy has built her new life on one lie after another, including the lie that no, her BF didn't leave, it was Lucy who walked out on him. A funny, funny, unusual book that will make you giggle out-loud about facing up to the truth, whether it hurts or not, and getting on with your life.


Cecelia Ahern, a great author with a special style...

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Stella Bain

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A woman wakes up in an outside French hospital, set near the front lines of a battle during World War I. She has been injured but has no recollection of her name or her past. As something stirs in her mind, she grabs onto the name of Stella Bain and claims it as her own.


This book provided a look at women who suffered from shell shock, unheard of before World War I, men called it female hysteria - even for those women who worked near the front lines, nurses, and female ambulance drivers. Freud was just discovering that talking and feedback would help those who complained of what we now call Post Traumatic Distress Disorder.

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