The Favorite Daughter/Patti Callahan Henry/368pgs

Lena Donohue is returning to Watersend, South Carolina, after leaving her husband at

alter ten years earlier. On the day of her wedding she found out that her sister and her husband were romantically involved and left home to pursue a career in New York City.  When her brother calls her home due to the fact that her father is suffering from Alzheimer’s she knows she has no other choice but to help with the family crisis. It’s sad to read about how this disease robs people of their memories, especially since my mother is having the same issues at this time. However, I believe this is a wonderful story of forgiveness and how strong family bonds can be in difficult times. I wanted to read this book because I loved , The Bookshop at Water's End, written by this author. I would live give this a 3 out 5 star rating.

The Story Sisters/Alice Hoffman/325 pages/Four December Challenges Met

The Story sisters--Elizabeth, known as Elv, Meg, and Claire--are close in age and almost identical in looks. They are extraordinarily close. Elv has developed a new language for just the three of them and fills the youngest, Claire, with stories of another world where they truly belong. Elv and Meg grow apart and each tries to win Claire over.

This is a very strange and strangely hypnotic story. It's a story of betrayal, tragedy, forgiveness and redemption. I'm not sure I can say I liked it, but I definitely will remember it. 

There are multiple trips to France where much of the story takes place. There is a marriage and wedding. There is a pregnancy and baby born. Elv works with both horses and dogs during her times of incarceration.