The Glass Kitchen

The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Portia Cuthcart was only seven years old when she got the knowing. Thoughts and scents of food would come to her, like magic, filling her with the urge to cook or bake like crazy. Living with her two sisters and Gram, Portia grew up learning the mechanics in her grandmother's cafe, The Glass Kitchen. But Portia also learned that her food could help heal, begin, or even end a journey. It was a single meal of cherry tomatoes stuffed with chile, cheese and bacon, pulled pork, endive slaw, and potato pancakes the foretold her Gram's death. And with that Portia promised herself she wouldn't cook again. Years later, after a nasty divorce and living in New York City, Portia again prepares to cook once again and bring back The Glass Kitchen to keep herself sane and financially afloat.

Such a great book about family, magic, interesting characters, and food - great summer read!

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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 Vacationers

The Vacationers by Emma Straub
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Character driven, The Vacationers takes a look at a dysfunctional family on a long vaca trip to Mallorca. (Are there any other types of family?)Seemingly having it all together, a few members are too tightly wound. Each seems to be at a very pivotal point in their life and being thrown together day after day will either make them or break them.

Touted as witty and wise I had trouble finding all the humor. Perhaps I was in the wrong state of mind....

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Through the Deep Waters

Through the Deep Waters by Kim Vogel Sawyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A story of grace and forgiveness: When Dinah's mother dies in the brothel where she worked, the owner of the "hotel" offers Dinah a one shot deal to cover the burial plans. Dinah feels forever branded, even as she tries to secure a position as a Harvey Girl, a respectable serving job in hotels. But her plans falls through because of her young age and Dinah settles for working as a chambermaid until she reaches 18. Can Dinah ever feel forgiven for doing something against her will?

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For Such a Time

For Such a Time by Kate Breslin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The bible story of Esther saving her people retold in a new way....Hadassah, a beautiful Jewish woman who looks Aryan, has been saved from immediate death by a high-ranking SS Kommandant to be stationed at Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. Hadassah, who goes by the fake identity of Stella Muller, will be the Kommandant's new secretary at the transit camp. According to her Uncle Morty, who she finds at the camp barely alive, Hadassah will somehow save her people. But how can she do that when death dogs her every step?

Difficult to read of the suffering of many but beautifully written to align with the bible story of Esther and Mordecai...

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