In Sickness and In Health/ Ben Mattlin/ 238 pgs

Egads! My second non-fiction book of the year and it's only March. This is very unusual for me:-) The subtitle for this book is: Love, Disability, and a Quest to Understand the Perils and Pleasures of Interabled Romance and it takes a look at couples (either married or long-term commitment) where one of the partners has a disability and the other does not. This book is not personally relevant to me, except that it did give me more insight into what my parents are facing as they grow older, with my stepdad becoming less able to care for himself and more reliant on my mom. The book is written in a very engaging and forthright style by Ben Mattlin, who has spinal muscular atrophy. Ben has never walked and has always been dependent on others (family members and paid help). He's been married for 26 years. He weaves stories of his own marriage throughout the book but each chapter is spent on a different couple that Ben has interviewed. It's a fascinating and informative read.

The Friends We Keep/Susan Mallery/375 pgs.

Three friends--Gabby Schaefer, Hayley Batchelor, and Nicole Lord--all living in Mischief Bay, and each dealing with problems on the home front! Gabby has been looking forward to going back to work part time now that her twin daughters will be starting kindergarten. Unfortunately,  her stepdaughter, Makayla, throws a wrench into her plans. Hayley has wanted a baby of her own as long as she can remember, but some things just aren't meant to be--she's resistant to her husband's suggestion of adoption for a variety of reasons. Nicole has pretty well been raising her son, Tyler, by herself, for years. Her ex-husband has been less than stellar as a father, so Nicole has trust issues concerning men. The women's friendship ties the three "stories" together, resulting in a rather predictable ending. Recommended.

Probable Future / Alice Hoffman 322 p.

The Sparrow women unusual gifts (able to discern liars, to know other's dreams, or even to sense another’s future) bring upheaval into their lives and their relationships even to the edge of catastrophe when Stella’s father is jailed for suspicion of murder when he reported Stella’s foretelling of a young woman’s violent death giving all the Sparrow women and their loves a great shakeup in this telling of their lives and their ancestors.

Woman in the House / William E. Barrett 105 p.

Konrad was raised by Russian monks—he has no memory of his family. After escaping Communist rule, he works as an iterate art restorer, still living like a monk, when he occupies an abandoned hut near Munich where rescues a sick woman who is as alone as he is.

Cloud Nine / Luanne Rice 119 p.

Sarah Talbot brings sweet dreams to her customers of her bed and linens shop. Finishing chemo she longs to see her son and father, when she takes a airplane ride for her 37th birthday and discovers love with Will, the pilot.

The Night Circus/Erin Morgenstern/387 pages

Does love conquer all?  That question is certainly put to the test in Morgenstern's debut novel, The Night Circus.  Imagine a circus that appears out of nowhere and is only open at night - its wonders are a sight to behold and draws adoring fans and followers from all over the world.  While The Night Circus entertains and delights on the surface, few truly know what it takes to keep this circus going.  

Two young magicians are at the heart of The Night Circus.  Since childhood, they have been trained to battle each other (to the death) in a time-honored contest of magical prowess, but neither expects to fall in love.  A sticky problem, indeed...

Morgenstern combines historical fantasy and vivid imagery for a dark, complex, yet lyrical, tale that will easily transport readers to another time and and place. 





    

Breaking the Rules/Suzanne Brockmann/507 pgs.

This is Brockmann's 16 "Troubleshooter" series entry, and centers around the Gillman siblings: Eden, Ben, and Danny. The underlying story involves Eden and Danny trying to remove Ben from his abusive mother and stepfather. In addition, Ben befriends Neesha, a teen who has escaped from a brothel she has been imprisoned in for years. So, there is enough action, suspense, romance, and family dynamics to keep the reader entertained during the entire crazy ride!

Too Good to Be True / Kristan Higgins 379 p.

Grace Emerson, high school history teacher, manufacturers the perfect boyfriend to keep everyone from fixating on her love life especial since her ex-fiancé starts dating her sister. But what about a real Mr. Right? She tries an on-line dating service and attends a class on meeting how to meet Mr. Right. He can’t be the guy next door, ex-con, carpenter, who happens to have a great sense of humor and good-looking to boot. Told with humor and wit.

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Single Title