Rainy Day Friends / Jill Shalvis / 384 p.

 This is the second book in the Wildstone series, however, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Lainie Jacobs is newly widowed and floundering. After her husband (Luke) died Lanie discovered he had other wives.  She decides to leave home and try something new to get her life back on track.  Her arrival at the Capriotti Wildstone Winery is not quite what she bargained for - a loud, nosy, loving Capriotti family brings her on as their web/tech designer for their winery. After feeling so betrayed by the man she thought she knew and loved, the Capriotti family shows each other and Lanie the humor, love, trust and loyalty that Lanie so desperately needs, but can't bring herself to believe. Lanie's journey to healing is the story. Mama Cora Capriotti is full of guiding wisdom, kindness and patience along the way.  An enjoyable story of family love like we hope it would be for all of us.

The Friends We Keep / Jane Green / 384 p.

Evvie, Maggie, and Topher have known each other since university. Their friendship was something they swore would last forever. Now years have passed, the friends have drifted apart, and none of them ever found the lives they wanted – the lives they dreamed of when they were young and everything seemed possible.
   Move forward to their 30th reunion when they reunite and delight in being together again.  However, there is a secret that threatens to derail their plans for a happily ever after.
    This is a story about friendship and forgiveness. 

Three Rooms in Valerie's Head/Gaffney, David/119 pages (Graphic Novel)

     Valerie is young woman with an unfortunate string of loser boyfriends.  Valerie keeps the memories of these guys "buried" in the basement of her mind and drags their corpses out every once in a while to re-visit her failures and maybe to try and see what went wrong.  The result is entertaining and oddly disturbing--you smile at a lot of the illustrations but come away with an overall feeling of loneliness and sadness.

Catnip: A Love Story/ Michael Korda/ 187 pgs

The author of this "graphic" book is a writer and former editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster. He's also a talented sketch artist and this book is full of little sketches he did for his Margaret in the year before she died. The couple were avid horsepeople and lived on a farm in New England with an assortment of indoor/outdoor/stable cats. Korda drew the sketches to amuse his wife as she dealt with cancer. They are cute, often funny, and sometimes poignant sketches of their cats (and a couple of horses). There are one-page bios on most of the cats, plus a few notes about the Kordas life.

Love Me Sweet/Tracy Brogan/294 pgs.

This is part of the Bell Harbor series, and focuses on Grant Connelly, brother of Tyler Connelly, featured in The Best Medicine. Grant has quit his job as cameraman for a reality television show, and has returned (after a long absence) to Bell Harbor to reconnect with his family. Delaney Masterson is running away from the reality show in which she and her are featured due to the release of a sex tape released by her ex-boyfriend. She ends up in Bell Harbor, assumes an alias connects with Grant under unusual circumstances, and the romance adventure begins. It's a light, fast, read--great for the beach! Recommended.

The Best Medicine/Tracy Brogan/310 pgs.

Dr. Evelyn Rhoades is new to the Bell Harbor community--a small town where everyone knows everybody, and his/her business. When it becomes apparent that Evelyn (Evie) is single, and is just beginning to think about a husband and children, her friends try to help move the process along. On her own, Evie meets Tyler Connelly, someone totally opposite what she's looking for in a husband. I enjoyed this book even though it is so unrealistic! There is humor, more depth of character than I expected, conflicts and misunderstandings--a fun summer read. Recommended!

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry/ Gabrielle Zevin/260 pgs.

A.J. Fikry, and his deceased wife, own the only bookstore on Alice Island. Once A.J.'s wife dies, he turns crotchety and isolated--even though he is only in his forties. Never very social, A.J.'s life is turned upside down when a baby (Maya) is abandoned in his bookstore, with the mother's wishes that she be raised by A.J. His life is changed, whether he wants it to be or not, the residents come to his aid in raising Maya--it's a wonderful little book. There is laughter, sadness, surprises--a wonderful read. Highly recommended!

Dune / Frank Herbert / 412 p.

This sci-fi epic novel includes treachery and politics, love and loss, novel inventions and familiar motivations.  Having seen the 1984 movie several times, I found this novel comfortingly familiar.  The harsh desert planet of Aracus is all-encompassing, ever-present, and water always in the thoughts of its people.  The members of the House of Atreides seem to be the only honorable people in the entire universe created in Herbert's novel.  The Harkenons are a scheming people only after power and willing to do anything to get it.  The emperor plots to have any dissenters killed.  Meanwhile Duke Leto, Lady Jessica, and their son Paul have loving relationships and the respect of their people.  Unfortunately the schemes of the larger court are determined to unseat them from the newly acquired fief of Aracus.  Has Jessica's teachings prepared her son for the challenges that await him?  Will they be able to hold this fief and give its people the paradise so long prayed for? 




Dune is the first in the Dune Chronicles series.  The next book in the series is Dune Messiah.

Family Tree/Susan Wiggs/356 pgs.

Annie Harlow appears to have it all: she's a producer of popular cooking television show, and her "hunky" husband, Martin,  is the star chef of the show. Life is good, until an unfortunate accident sends Annie into a coma, turning her life upside down. She eventually returns to her old family home in Switchback, Vermont, to recuperate, and where the past catches up with present, and helps to determine her future. It's an enjoyable read with well developed characters, and a happy ending. Recommended!

All Summer Long by Dorthea Benton Frank

Olivia is a New York City interior designer with a very high-priced clientele. Her husband, Nick, is a professor who is ready to retire and move back to his beloved Southern roots. The story involves the transition from the big city to the low country and its impact on this loving couple.  We are introduced to the high-brow, jet-setting life of some of Olivia's clients and their quirky relationships and personalities.  I enjoyed listening to the story, but I didn't find the plot or characters as rich and rewarding as I had hoped.

Sweet Tomorrows/Debbie Macomber/337 pgs.

This is the concluding entry in Macomber's "Rose Harbor" series. The Rose Harbor Inn is owned and operated by the young widow, Jo Marie Rose. During her ownership, troubled people have come and gone at the Inn, and have found peace in their lives. In Sweet Tomorrows, the story revolves around Jo Marie's relationship with Mark Taylor--and its resolution. In addition, there is a budding love story between one of Jo Marie's boarders, Emily Gaffney, and Cedar Cove resident, reclusive Nick Schwartz. All-in-all, it's a satisfying ending to this five-book series. Recommended!

Because of Miss Bridgerton/Julia Quinn/291 pgs.

It's 18th century England, and the Bridgerton and Rokesby families have been not only neighbors, but close friends, for years. It has been expected that Sybilla "Billie" Bridgerton would eventually marry one of the Rokesby brothers. Billie, now 23 years old, is not your typical "genteel" daughter: she helps run her father's estate, wears britches when riding on the estate, and doesn't enjoy society life. The only thorn in her side is George Rokesby--five years older than Billie, and the oldest of the Rokesby brothers. The plot is rather typical, but Quinn's characters are entertaining, making for a fast, enjoyable read.

Vinegar Girl/Anne Tyler/237 pgs.

The subtitle of the novel tells it all: the taming of the shrew retold. This book is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project whose purpose is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's works. In Tyler's version, Kate Battista is being encouraged by her widowed, researcher father to consider marriage to his foreign research assistant, Pyotr. Pyotr is getting close to being deported--marriage to Kate would solve the problem. I really like Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," and don't feel that Anne Tyler does the original characters justice.

A Girl's Guide to Moving On/Debbie Macomber/339 pgs.

Nichole, and her soon-to-be ex-mother-in-law, Leanne, are both "moving on" after divorcing their husbands. Jake, Nichole's ex, (and Leanne's son) has followed in his father Sean's footsteps: while married to Nichole, he cheated on her with several women. Sean, with Leanne's knowledge, cheated on her throughout their 35 years of marriage. When Leanne learned that Nichole was divorcing Jake, she decided it was time for her to divorce Sean. The novel is told in alternating Nichole and Leanne chapters. They move into apartments across from each other, and support each other in this new stage of their lives. Along their journey, they each meet a new male "interest": Rocco for Nichole, and Nikolai  for Leanne. This is where the story becomes a long stretch for me: neither man seems a believable match. There are some unexpected turns, but on the whole, I don't think it's one of Macomber's best  efforts. BTW: it somewhat follows Macomber's Last One Home.

Girl on the Train/ Paula Hawkins/ 323 pages

The Girl on the Train is a debut novel for reporter Paula Hawkins.  Rachel rides the train into London on a daily basis.  At one stop she has created a fantasy couple that she watches daily.  Just a few houses away is Rachel's former house, now inhabited by Tom and Anna and their baby girl.  One day Rachel sees something that does not fit with her fantasy and the next day Megan, the female half of the fantasy couple, disappears.  Who hurt Megan?  Did she leave on her own, was it Scott, her husband?  Or did Rachel have something to do with it?  Drinking and blackouts hinder Rachel as she tries to solve the riddle.  This book would appeal to readers of 'Gone Girl' and similar psycho-dramas.  For more information see the SCCCLD website.

Silver Linings/Debbie Macomber/331 pgs.

This is the newest "Rose Harbor" novel. Jo Marie Rose is the owner of Rose Harbor Inn in Cedar Cove. This entry follows Jo Marie's relationship with mysterious handyman Mark Taylor. The novel also focuses on best friends Kellie Crenshaw and Katie Gilroy, who are staying at the inn in order to attend their 10 high school reunion. Both girls have unresolved issues from their high school days, and are hoping to get them settled in order to move on with their lives. It's pretty standard Macomber--a fast read, misunderstandings, and romance. Recommended.

The Dance: A Novel (The Restoration Series) / Gary Smalley and Dan Walsh/ 352 pages

The Dance is the first book in the Restoration Series by Gary Smalley and Dan Walsh.  Jim and Marilyn Anderson have been married for 27 years.  Jim cannot understand why Marilyn would move out just weeks before their daughter's wedding.  A new mutual friend who teaches dance classes also teaches Jim about himself and Marilyn.  Meanwhile, Marilyn must contend with a dance instructor who offers her private lessons and a chance to compete.  Toss in two sons and a hurricane to the mix for an interesting story about the dance that couples dance together.  For more information see the SCCCLD website.

The Third Wife/Lisa Jewell/328 pages

Adrian Wolfe is a man addicted to love. When the love wanes in a marriage, he happily moves on to the next woman leaving behind an ex-wife and kids. Miraculously, the families all get along, even to the extent of vacationing together. When wife number 3, Maya, dies in a tragic accident leaving Adrian by himself for the first time, his grief is all consuming. A year later, a mysterious woman comes into his wife and makes him start questioning Maya death and the true relationship he has with two ex-wives and five children.

An interesting page turner with a slightly disappointing ending. I (as always) was hoping for more of a mystery. Overall, it was a good read. Blogging has been fun, but it's time to pursue other projects. Happy Reading!

A Small Indiscretion/Jan Ellison/323 pages

Annie Black sits down to write a letter to her son to explain everything that led up to his tragic accident and how life has changed since. Her story goes back to the year before she met her husband when she was living in London trying to save money to study in France. She had fled her colorless life in the States looking for adventure. Her memory of what happened may be skewed by time and guilt. Ultimately, she has to face what happened all those years ago and how it effects the present.

A very good first novel. This is our book club selection for the month, and I look forward to the discussion.

The Hurricane Sisters/Dorothea Benton Frank/326 pages

Maisie, Liz and Ashley represent three generations of an old Charleston family. Maisie is the 80-year-old, fun-loving grandmother who is in a relationship with the 65-year-old chauffer her daughter Liz hired when it became apparent that Maisie was  a threat to anyone else on the road. Liz is the wife of very successful (she doesn't even realize how successful) businessman who stays in New York City every week and comes home on the weekends. She's consumed by her charitable work for abused women and hurt by the lack of interest her family shows in her efforts. Ashley is an aspiring painter working in a gallery and living in the family beach house with her friend Mary Beth on Sullivan Island. These women, along with the men in their lives, tell the story from alternating points of view.


Overall, this was a satisfying story about a family and their secrets. I love the Charleston setting and hope to visit there sometime soon. There is a twist I didn't see coming--a small mystery that gives the story some unexpected depth.