Nice Girls

Catherine Dang
William Morrow
September 14, 2021
10-0063027550

“Nice Girls is a thoroughly gripping novel from a debut author.”

Mary was constantly bullied while growing up in Liberty Lake, Minnesota. Being overweight and an A student caused her to bear the brunt of cruel comments from her peers. The last to be picked for anything, her only friend was Madison Nguyen, a Vietnamese girl also considered an outcast. Mary studied hard to make good grades, for she dreamed of getting away from her hometown. Her life started going downhill when her beloved mother died young, and as an only child, her father more or less withdrew away from her.

Mary’s dream came true when she got accepted to Cornell University, miles away from home. She breaks her old habits, is friendly to everyone, loses weight, and now as a senior, she is an RA (resident advisor) in her dorm.

As the new freshman arrives, one of the students she mentors, Carly, strikes up a friendship with Mary. She is happy, for she never really had anyone want to be her friend, except Olivia, who dumped her after grammar school and then, Madison in high school. They spend time together until Mary gets expelled. Offering no excuse, her father picks her up to return home with her tail tucked between her knees. Her life and prospects are now over.

Back home, Mary faces the facts—she needs a job to cover her student loans. Living with her father is not what she wants, but where else can she go, and what kind of employment can she gain? She is hired at the local market, and for minimum wage, she sees her education wasted and has no friends. Madison resides in California, and her dad barely speaks to her. Could her life be any worse?

Mary is shocked to learn Dwayne Turner, the star football player from her high school class, is the assistant manager. Calling her “Ivy League Mary,” which embarrasses her, she wonders why he is not in college, for he too had a promising future ahead of him. Though they chat, he is reticent about his past.When he invites her to attend his cousin’s birthday party, she is happy to go having nothing else to do. Yet when they arrive (at the seedy part of town), they witness Dwayne’s cousin Jayden punch a guy till he’s unconscious. Deciding to take off before the cops show up, Mary, Dwayne, Jayden, and his girlfriend Charice hop into Mary’s car and head for Dwayne’s apartment, surprised to see he lives in a luxury complex. How can he afford to live here on a grocery store paycheck? Even though it’s a studio, it still is an expensive residence.

Olivia Willand, Mary’s childhood best friend, goes missing. She is well-liked, with a popular Instagram account, and is home for a visit. Mary carries a great deal of angst, especially after learning 19-year-old DeMaria Jackson disappeared not long ago. When walking along the lake with Dwayne, a couple stumble upon a body part, later identified as one of DeMaria’s arms. Where is the rest of her body, and who killed her?

A widespread search commences for Olivia. Mary gets involved though hesitant, but her gut tells her DeMaria and Olivia’s disappearance are connected. Passing herself off as a journalist, she interviews DeMaria’s mom Leticia. She is unsettled seeing her holding DeMaria’s infant son, whom she now cares for. Leticia is angry at the police, stating more effort had been spent looking for Olivia. Still, no one seemed to care about DeMaria, alleging it was due to her being black and not from a well-to-do family.

Mary does not tell anyone why she got expelled, leaving the reader to wonder what happened. After being home a short time, Mary digs more into the two missing women, she receives a text, and it shows her police report from school, and it not only went to her and her job too.

When she arrives at work, Jim, her boss, confronts her:

“After I opened the checkout lane, Jim came by. I could hear it in the way he walked, each step halting for a slight second too long.

“I tried to smile so hard that my cheeks hurt.

“‘How’s it going, Jim?’

“‘You have a criminal record?’ he asked.

“I froze mid-smile.

“Jim was frowning, his arms folded across his chest. He was wary, as if he were looking at a bomb instead of a person.

“‘So it’s true?’ Jim asked. ‘The fourth-degree assault charge?”

“‘It was dropped,’ I blurted out. My mind was focused on the email. Jim had received it. ‘It’s not . . . it’s not real.’

“‘You lied, Mary. On the paperwork, you said you had no criminal record.’ Jim didn’t blink. ‘And you’re got a whole article. That’s something you should’ve told us.’

“I was watching myself slip away, my hands slackening off the rope, gravity tugging me down. There was no stopping it. . . .

. . . “People were fired every day. They were let go because of budget issues or a lack of skills. Sometimes the boss was in a bad mood. Other times they deserved it.

“But I wasn’t like them. I was boring and smart, and I had busted my ass off to get into Cornell. I was nice. I wasn’t someone who got fired.”

Things turn depressing for Mary. Her father is disappointed in her. With no employment, no friends, things keep going downhill.

When parts of Olivia’s body are discovered, Mary becomes more concerned about a serial killer in town. Both women’s deaths are connected. But who will believe her?

One cannot help but pity Mary for all the pain she faced during her life, and a hoped-for future goes down the drain. But between the many subplots and backstories included, this tale is complex, with a lot of fodder to whet a mystery lover’s appetite. There are so many suspects, it’s challenging to discern who the perpetrator is in these crimes. In addition, the ending is unexpected. Nice Girls is a thoroughly gripping novel from a debut author. Will there be a sequel?

PUG ACTUALLY

Pug Actually by Matt Dunn
MIRA
June 29, 2021
10-0778311236
320 pages
Contemporary Women’s Fiction


For dog lovers and even those who aren’t too fond of canines, Pug Actually offers readers a delightful change of pace. This novel is written from the point of view of Doug, an enchanting, rescued pug who has found his forever home with Julie Newman. As Doug recalls:

“Long story short, one morning, my original human didn’t wake up, and it took three days for anyone to notice. You’d have thought I killed her, given the home they sent me to after that. But at least I got fed there regularly, was walked a few times a day; had all my basic needs met, until the day Julie and Julie’s day Jim took me somewhere much better. A real home. Julie’s home.

“At the time, it never occurred to me that there was a grander life out there than the one I had. I didn’t realize the situation I was in wasn’t healthy. Had no idea I needed to be rescued. A little, I suspect, like Julie feels right now.”

Doug is so happy in his new home, but he worries about his “mom” Julie, who definitely is not content. She loves her job and is having an affair with her boss, Luke, but she is anxiously waiting for their relationship to become permanent. Unfortunately, Luke is married, a fact he did not disclose until after sucking in Julie hook, line, and sinker, making her fall deeply in love with him. Though he promises to leave his wife, Julie wonders if it will happen.

Jim, Julie’s friends Priya, her husband, Sanji, and even Doug cannot understand why Julie is so set on being with Luke. He is a scoundrel of the top order, but Julie seems to like wallowing in self-pity. She receives the sympathy she seeks at first, but soon it becomes tiring to those listening. Doug decides it’s up to him to get her away from this two-timer as no one else is doing so. He loves Julie but hates seeing her so bereft and what’s worse is, he can see right through Luke.

Though Jim listens patiently to Julie’s tale of woe, she won’t take his advice. Instead, Julie wants Jim to start dating, though Julie’s mother passed away five years prior, Jim is not ready, nor does he feel he ever will be. Dot, a waitress at the local café they patronize shows interest in Jim, and when Julie suggests he starts seeing her, he is stunned but tells Julie to do the same and seek a new relationship.

Somewhat fearfully, Jim seeks out Dot who invites him, (and Doug, of course) for a barbecue. Mentioning her son, Tom is now living with her after divorcing his wife, they plot to get Julie and Tom together, believing they would not only be perfect for each other, but this would lure Julie away from Luke and give Tom a new chance at love.

Unfortunately, Julie and Tom’s first meeting doesn’t go as expected for Tom chastises Julie for having an affair with a married man. Though they clash, Doug detects an attraction between them, albeit a faint one. Now he has the incentive to try harder to make Julie realize Tom is a good guy. But, when Doug learns Tom is a vet, he has misgivings. Doug does not like veterinarians, yet meeting Tom changes his mind as Tom is completely captivating, not only to Julie but to him as well. Not only that but to spare Doug’s feelings, every time Tom’s name comes up, he’s mentioned as the “V-E-T” not realizing Doug is smart and can spell.

One day Julie is in the park with Doug and spots Tom trying to catch a dog who is running loose. Doug runs over to make friends, but this errant canine wants bites Doug on the ear, shocking both him and Julie. Though Doug hopes to get the two together, this isn’t the way. Tom rescues Doug then takes him to his office to get stitches. This is where Doug and Julie observe how compassionate he is and the frost between Julie and Tom is thawing.

To bolster Julie’s spirits, Priya gives her a certificate for a makeover for both her and Doug. His thoughts on this are:

“She may not be particularly keen to go given how she feels Luke’s rejected her and, to tell the truth, I can understand that. When you’re a rescue dog, you’ve been rejected too in a way, which means you’re naturally very suspicious of anyone who comes along to rescue you. Partly it’s the unsettled feeling–you’ve been in one place, then another, now you’re going to be taken to a third, with no guarantee you’re not going to be returned if things don’t work out. Also, it’s the worry that you might just be going to more of the same—after all, you don’t need qualifications to own a dog. Or a license. You can just . . . get one. And the same is true for relationships.

“It took me months of living with Julie before I was sure I wasn’t going back to that place. Ages before I stopped thinking every trip in the car was the last one I’d be taking with her. The best part of a year until I could finally relax.

“And this is why I identify with Julie, sympathize with her situation, feel for her dilemma—because I’d be exactly the same. Her concept of a relationship has come from her time with Luck. She’s used to playing second fiddle. Always being an afterthought. Never being taken out for walks, if you like, because that just wasn’t an option.”

Meanwhile, Tom is skittish about getting together with Julie, even with a spark between them. His ex-wife cheated on him, so how can he trust another? Julie needing to realize Luke is a deadbeat, wonders if all guys are like him. Even a deadbeat who shows her some attention is better than being alone, isn’t it?

As Julie rescued Doug, he is determined to rescue her using his whimsical and imaginative antics proving the intelligence he possesses. This tale takes place in the U.K. describing the loveliness of the area and the friendliness of its populous. Matt Dunn’s cleverness of delving into the mind and personality of a canine by giving him a “human” voice demonstrates the insight and love our pets can offer which makes a heartwarming and delightful read.

Knife River

by Justine Champine

The Dial Press

May 28, 2024

10:0593447201

Jess, somewhat of a wanderer, lives with her girlfriend, Sarah, 11 years her senior. Never one to settle down in one place or stay in one relationship too long, she is comfortable living with Sarah, though they really aren’t compatible. She receives a phone call from her sister, Liz, stating that bodily remains have been found and believed to be those of their mother, who went missing many years ago. Jess packs up what little she owns and heads home to Knife River, near the Canadian border.  

Liz and Jess are estranged, though they had been close as kids, but after their mother went out for an alleged walk when Jess was 13 and never returned, Liz found herself with the obligation of taking care of Jess. Then, when Jess became of age, she left home and went out on her own. Liz has never approved of Jess’ lesbian lifestyle and has lets her feelings be known, so why should Jess stay with her and deal with her hostility?

Now, with little choice, and realizing her relationship with Sarah is at a dead end, Jess returns to her childhood home. She is amazed to see nothing has changed. The house still looks like it did 15 years ago, yet now with mounds of trash, dust, and the same worn-out furniture. The town and the locals haven’t changed, either, and her return causes a bit of controversy for the highly conservative residents who deride Jess’s lifestyle.

“On the corner, a middle-aged couple idling at the stoplight stared at me from inside their car, their two heads swiveling slowly as I passed . . .

. . . ”It was a stare I knew well; they registered me first, just peripherally, as a grungy young man. Then when I came into clearer focus and the subtleties of my body revealed themselves, their eyes sharpened. These were stares laced with discomfort, even displeasure, that I not only existed but was walking in public so brazenly as myself.”

Though Jess only plans to stay until she and Liz get definitive answers as to their mother’s death, she ends up staying much longer. While Liz fixates on their mother’s murder and other unsolved cases, Jess reunites with Eva, her old high school girlfriend, slipping away to spend nights with her, which causes more tension between her and Liz.

Her intended week’s stay turns longer, and she wonders where she’ll end up next. She doesn’t like being alone.

“All my possessions fit in the trunk of a car. I had nothing. No attachments, no dependents, and still I hadn’t managed to take charge of my own dreams. I was afraid of the sound of my own breath, my own heartbeat, alone in a room. Afraid enough to live with women I often felt nothing for, and to keep living with them even after I’d come to almost despise them, just to have a body next to me in the dark.”

As Jess wrestles with her emotions concerning her mother’s death and the alienation with her sister, one can’t help but wonder where life will lead her. She wants nothing more than to belong and have someone to love.

Liz is also stuck. She’s in a time warp, living in the same house, afraid to leave, believing, even after all these years, her mother will return, and in the years that have passed, she has given up the life she envisioned. Now that her mother’s remains have been located, what will she do? Will she follow the dreams she once had for her life, or will she remain stagnant and stuck in the past?

The big question for the sisters now is to find the killer and get justice for their mother. Though they believe they know the identity of the murderer, they are surprised when they finally do learn the truth.

As this tale comes to its climax, Jess and Liz are able to come together, air their grievances, and learn acceptance. This novel is written in the first person with Jess relating the differing scenarios she has dealt with, making this read more involving and relatable. The plot is well fleshed out, offering mystery and suspense along with the portrayal of human frailty, giving intensity to the story. 

The Seaside Sisters

Pamela Kelley

Brooklyn, NY, resident, Hannah Brewster and author of women’s romantic comedies has a deadline to meet for her second book, and she is dealing with writer’s block. Grieving over the recent loss of her beloved mom, she is also in a funk after breaking up with a guy she’d been dating for two years. He wanted to take their relationship further, but her feelings for him are different from his, and she’s not about to settle. 

Hannah is close to her Aunt Maddie, her mom’s sister. Maddie is also her literary agent, so Hannah calls her and drops her woes on her, hoping to gain inspiration. Maddie lives in Chatham on Cape Cod, MA, where Hannah grew up, though she often works remotely from there when she’s not in New York City. 

The summer is approaching, so Maddie suggests Hannah “come home” to stay with her where the sounds of the beach can do wonders for the muse. This way, she will be able to spend time with her older sister, Sara, and her three nephews, whom she hasn’t seen in a while. Hannah figures she has nothing to lose, so she packs up and heads to the Cape for three months. 

It is bittersweet to be back in her hometown. Though she loves it there, she knows Brooklyn is now her home and this break will be good for her. Who could pass up spending the summer in a lovely home on the beach? 

Sara is happy to have her little sister around, and they decide to spend more time together. Sara confides to Hannah that she is tired of being taken for granted by her husband Tom and her sons. Once a librarian, she now is eager to find a job since the kids are in school. But Tom is not too thrilled about her going to work and lets his displeasure be known. Sara knows something must give. She needs something of her own to keep her happy and not to be a slave to Tom and the kids. Luckily, she is thrilled to be offered a job at a local bookstore.

While Sara is at work, Hannah keeps herself busy by taking early morning walks on the beach, then heading to the coffee shop in the afternoons where she works on her current manuscript. She is finally getting the inspiration to finish the book she needs to submit to her publisher. In addition to enjoying her stomping grounds, she befriends Maggie’s next-door neighbors, Joy, and Ben. Joy holds Monday afternoon workshops for writers where the group can focus on ideas, read things they’ve written for advice, and enjoy a nice social time with like-minded folks. 

Joy and Ben are grandparents to Spencer, a guy a bit older than Hannah whom she knew slightly in high school. She finds him more attractive now than he was when they were younger, yet she finds him aloof. When she talks to him about her writing and the block she has, he suggests she shadow him at his job, where he is an attorney. Her impression of him changes when she sees how compassionate he is toward his clients and how he deals with his colleagues.

Though Hannah is happy to be “home” it is a bit bittersweet for her as she drives by her mom’s house. She knows that before long, she and Sara are going to have to decide what to do with the property. She cannot stay there as it brings back too many painful memories, yet she doesn’t know if she’s ready to part with the place, either. 

As time passes, Hannah gets back in the groove, not only with her writing, but with her sister, aunt, and friends—especially Spencer. She sees him in a new light and likes what she sees, and it turns out he is warming toward her, too. But Hannah isn’t out for a fling and knows she’ll be returning to NY in the Fall. Will she change her mind? Will she and Spencer become a couple? 

The Seaside Sisters is a sweet and charming tale of romance and family bonding. Though the prose tends to be somewhat pedestrian, and offers more telling than showing, the author’s description of the locale and the differing characters make this a fast and fun read. 

Bonus Time

by Claire Cook

December 11, 2023

Marshbury Beach Books

978-1942671350

Claire@ClaiareCook.com

269 Pages

Women’s Contemporary Fiction

Senior citizen Glenda Gardner is starting a new chapter in her life. Retired and with nothing holding her down, she decides to leave the cold New England climate and move to St. Simons Island, GA. Accompanied by her chihuahua-Pitbull rescue named Chickpea, Glenda manages the long drive in Evie, her electric “beach” vehicle. Her spirits roar as she drives, while she belts out “Bonus Time,” a theme song she concocted. She doesn’t care if she’s in tune or not. She is excited about her future. 

After an exceedingly long journey and stopping for groceries, Glenda arrives at her new home anticipating the chance to relax. Opening her front door, she spies four college-age females sprawled out in her living room which is strewn with potato chips and odors of alcohol and vomit, along with a sugary vanilla air freshener. Are they trying to camouflage the obnoxious scents? Why haven’t her tenants checked out? 

Glenda purchased this townhouse ten years ago and used it as a rental, but now, this is her home, and she must evict the young ladies. These sassy gals harass Glenda, so she unceremoniously kicks them out, phones the property manager to have her unit cleaned, and to charge her guests extra. 

Anxious to settle in and meet up with her best friends, Jan, and Harmony, she changes clothes and heads out. The trio connected after college, and they all bought units in the development planning for their retirement. When they meet at the pool, they stop at the sign saying the pool doesn’t open till 8:00 a.m. and, no dogs are allowed! They love being up before dawn when no one is around, and how can anyone ban Chickpea admittance? 

Paige, a young homeowner, watches them enter. A member of the homeowner’s association board and tells them, quite unkindly, to leave because of the canine. This ruffles their feathers, making them decide it is up to them to amend the rules.  

Unable to access the pool at their preferred time, they head across the street to the beach and work on their yoga exercises. Later, at the pool they meet the HOA president—a sixty-something guy, who struts around the deck flirting with the younger women in attendance. When he observes the retirees, he gives them a huge wink which only grosses them out. This is how their introduction goes: 

“‘Beaufort K. Butts, the third,’ he said. ‘Fourth-term HOA president.’ He threw his arms open wide. ‘I’m a hugger.’

“‘Aaaand we’re not,’ I said.

“All three of us took a step back.”

“He laughed. ‘Love me some hard to get. You little ladies can just call me Beau. Or Mr. President. Up to you.’

“‘Or Butt,’ Jan said under her breath. ‘Butt could work.’

“‘What can I do for you?’ Butt said. ‘Or was one of you lookers just working up the courage to ask me out on a date? Spoiler alert: answer’s yes.’

“Harmony battered her eyes. ‘We’d just like to ask you for an itsy-bitsy teensy-weensy favor, Beau.’

“‘Anything for you, Doll,’ Butt said, speaking directly to her breasts.

“‘We’d be tickled pink,’ Harmony said, ‘if you’d reprogram the remote keyless entry thingamagig on the pool gate to open at 5 AM, just for little ol’ us.’

“‘So,’ Butt said, ‘You’re the dog ladies.’

“Jan pointed to me. ‘She is. The two of us barely know that dog lady. So, if you can do us a solid and get this pool open early for us—’

“‘No can do,’ Butt said.”

Butt further goes on with a litany of excuses why rules are rules. Arguing with him proves to be less than constructive, though he does offer ways he can “be bought!” Argh!!! He proves to be totally obnoxious.

What happens next? The ladies decide the heck with the rules and decide to scale the pool fence early in the morning! As they sit dangling their feet in the water, they reminisce about their past, giving background information about how things were decades ago when they were young; the times and their lives have changed dramatically, yet their memories are mostly happy ones. 

One day as they sit by the pool before dawn, a man unlocks the gate and heads toward them, introducing himself as Dash. A fellow resident comments about the stepladder by the fence, and he asks if their pool keys aren’t working. Then he offers them one of his spare keys so they can use it at any time. He tells them he works for “FLETC,” and their key fobs are programmed to work 24/7.

They decide to bring him cookies and to ask about FLETC. He says FLETC stands for Federal Law Enforcement Training Center where they train several enforcement agencies in a college-like campus. They ask about taking a tour, and he suggests they could work there, to be used in training exercises as bystanders, shopkeepers, etc. Some of the “agents” work for their townhouse development, so they decide to check it out. Glenda questions how being a FLETC member can help to kick Butt’s Butt. That odious man who robs the development and causes the ladies chaos needs to be brought down a peg or two. Jan says they can pick up new skills, and get admittance to the pool whenever they like. The biggest bonus would be to make Butt learn to play by the rules and enjoy teaching him a lesson. 

Bonus Time is a novel filled with nostalgia and humor, giving those younger readers a look into how things were decades ago while giving life to three feisty older women who are making the most of their retirement years while reinventing their lives. 

Little Monsters

Adrienne Brodeur

June 27, 2023

Little Monsters tells the story of a dysfunctional family living on Cape Cod. Adam Gardner, an oceanographer, has raised his two children, Ken and Abby, practically independently after his wife, Emily, passed away shortly after Abby’s birth. Dealing with bipolar disorder, Adam has immersed himself in his work, hoping to claim fame as a scientist before he dies. He has more or less left his kids to fend for themselves.

It is now 2016, and Ken and Abby have grown into adulthood with their own lives. Still, the two siblings have shared an inseparable and unconventional connection since childhood. Ken is married, showing an all-to-perfect family, and is trying to work his way to attain a political career. Abby lives and works in a small cottage Ken owns while she works as a teacher and creates her artwork, though Ken actually supports her. Before long, the sibling’s closeness cools as Ken becomes domineering and demands everyone to be like him, causing friction with his wife and children. Also, he’s angry with Abby over a childhood fault and believes she is trying to outdo him. Essentially, Abby wants to have her own life and explore her creativity. Yet, the chasm between her and Ken widens.

Nearing his seventieth birthday, Adam is frantic in his research. He stops taking his medication and becomes even more estranged from his children. Meanwhile, Ken and Abby’s relationship tends to cool off as both hope to inherit the family property.

Meanwhile, Steph, married to Toni, lives together in South Boston, and Steph gives birth to a son. During her pregnancy, she learns she has a genetic disease, which makes her search for her biological father, who is no other than Adam Gardner. They decide to rent a place on the Cape so she can learn more about her father and her half-siblings and father, but she remains incognito when they visit Abby’s shop. Striking up a friendship with Abby, they click, and Steph wants to know how she can connect with the Gardners.

Secrets run amok within the family, and the added appearance of a newcomer adds more questions. There is a great divide between the sexes, with the men believing they know everything and trying to control every situation. There are inferences to specific events, which are left to the reader to presume, leaving some parts of the tale unfinished yet speculative. Though the back story is somewhat drawn out, making this an intense family study, it all ties in. The complex characters show their individuality, showing how their uniqueness adds to the flavor of the story. However, the conclusion more or less ties the mysteries of this complex family together.

The Water Tower

Amy Young

Level Best Books

June 20, 2023

Crime Thriller

290 Pages

It is the middle of a chilly October night, and Amber Oldham is up on the water tower near her high school. She is contemplating her life and where it will lead when the next thing that happens, she is on the ground—dead.

That evening Josie Ashbury, unable to sleep again, gets up to make a cup of tea, hoping that will help her insomnia. She looks out her kitchen window and sees what she believes is someone up on the water tower. The water tower is an icon in a small Ohio town. Off limits, there are stories of kids going up there to drink or as a prank, and it’s been a controversy with the townspeople wanting it town down.

After having a meltdown as an actress in a popular TV show, Josie Ashbury is back in her hometown. She had been having an affair with her co-star, James Bleeker,  and she believed they had a future together, only to realize it was a farce. Needing time to recoup and put her life back together,  she returns to where she feels safe and loved. Though she wants to blend into the background, she is still considered a celebrity.

Josie bought a small house that backs up to Lakeview High School, where she was once a student, and now has a job teaching acting to the student. She loves the convenience so she can walk to work, and she is athletic and manages to run every morning either through the town or at the high school track.

She feels content with her two felines while figuring out what will become the rest of her life. At the same time, she sorts out all her anxieties and why she is having trouble sleeping which causes her to forget things.

So, Josie bushes off her sighting of someone on the tower as a form of insomnia. Still, the following day on her run, she heads home by the tower and discovers the body of one of her students splayed out on the ground by the tower. The student is Amber Oldham, one of her favorites and a kid she’s gotten close to. What happened? Did she jump? Was she pushed? In talks with Amber, Josie didn’t notice anything untoward going on, so it seems improbable she jumped, and if so, who pushed her?

Amber is the only child of Senator Clinton Oldham, a prominent member of society and one of the upper class. Josie calls the authorities, and Officer Sean Sullivan, Josie’s high school crush, shows up at the scene. This is big news, and answers must be found immediately.

Because Josie has found Amber’s body, she feels she needs to help in the investigation, even against Sean’s instructions to let the police handle things.

Meanwhile, the town is in an uproar, and when it is found out Amber had drugs in her system and was also pregnant, thoughts lead to murder. The first suspect is Amber’s boyfriend, Tony Burgess.

As this is happening, Josie starts dating another teacher, a handsome guy named Jake Johnson. They see each other often, and Josie wonders if their relationship could actually be going somewhere. After her fiasco with James, she’s afraid to trust again. Struggling through insomnia, the fear that there is a killer loose, worries about her future, and trying to calm the demons from her past, Josie has her plate full. Will the truth come out about Amber’s demise? Will Tony be charged? As the plot thickens, more unexpected things come to light, which are shocking and unbelievable. This novel, filled with suspense and terror, is a page-turner, sure to raise the hair on the back of your n

Fear the Silence

Robert Bryndza

Raven Street Publishing

July 6, 2023

10:1914547144

A head trauma surgeon at St. Thomas Hospital in London, Maggie Kendall, leaves her home for work one morning after saying goodbye to her husband, Will. Once a forensic pathologist, thrown into that career by his overbearing mother, Will left this high-pressure position to be a property developer. Knowing Will was unhappy as a physician, Maggie is proud of him for standing up for himself and following a path he enjoys.

Will is from a wealthy family, which is not the case with Maggie, and Marelle, her mother-in-law, often looks down her nose at Maggie. Though she and Will—married 24 years—you’d think Marelle would realize their marriage is meant to last. 

Will’s family puts a great deal of emphasis on leaving a legacy. Maggie loves her career and doesn’t want children, which has made this a bone of contention with Marelle. However, now at age 47, Maggie is happy her time to conceive has more or less passed. 

Maggie is faced with a stressful job, and when a gunshot patient is admitted to the emergency department, she is shocked to see it is Will. The authorities state that Will’s death is a suicide, but Maggie does not believe it. He is happy and has finally gotten his life back on track, so why would he kill himself? Devastated and lost, Maggie resolves to look deeper into Will’s death. Still, she has many questions about the man she loves. 

Depression hits hard, so Maggie takes time off work and heads to the island of Tisina in Croatia, where she and Will have been building their dream vacation home. One reason is to reclaim some items Marelle wants, but she also needs time away to put things in perspective.

Tisina is a small, sparsely inhabited island. When she and Will were there together, it had proved to be idyllic. Now she is alone, and after landing in Dubrovnik, she is met by a man named Branko, who lives on the mainland but oversees their home on the island. They take the ferry to Tisina, and Branko escorts her to her home. It is out of season, so the island is deserted, and the huge hotel on a cliff is empty and looks menacing. 

Alighting from the ferry, they encounter Dragan, the island caretaker and one of the few island residents who lives there with his son Luka. He is escorting a middle-aged priest and an elderly nun to the church, who visits every few weeks.

Dragan states to Maggie:

“‘Mass in one hour. You want to come?’ He asked, fixing me with a stare. “I think it good for you. Yes?” Something was irritating in the way he said it. Like I should go. I debated making an excuse but opted to tell the truth. 

“‘No. Thank you. I’m not very religious,’ I said. Branko gave me a sideward glance and put the car in gear, and we drove up the hill in silence.” 

As they arrive at the walled-in property, Branko opens the gate to the house tucked into the edge of a cliff. Maggie enters her home, feeling something different about it, and it frightens her. Branko checks around and then shows her how to charge the security alarm. He offers Dragan’s phone number if she has any problems, and she reminds him to leave to arrive on time for Mass. 

Her intercom buzzes with the postman delivering a stack of mail. Going through the envelopes, she is shocked to find a letter for her in Will’s handwriting. Why would he send her a note there? The postmark showed London and was stamped seven days ago.  

With shaking hands, she opens the letter that says:

“Dear Maggie,

“If you’re reading this letter, something has happened to me. In the event of my death, I asked my solicitor, Henrich Weiss, to post this letter to you. 

“I love you more than you know. Our life together has given me the greatest happiness. I love you for your beauty, wit, and talent. A rare triple threat.

“I should have been a better husband, and I’m sorry. When I became a doctor, I wanted to do good, but I made mistakes and had to leave medicine.

“I hope that this letter never had to be sent to you and that we grow old together, happy and contented. However, if my fears come true, the ink may not be long dry.

“I know this letter poses questions. Go to our church, light a candle for me. There you will find the key to our future.

“With my love forever,

“Will”

This letter confuses her, but could it tell her something Will has been hiding? Even more suspicious is that it came from a lawyer not used by the family and was written six years prior. Why did he have it sent to her on a desolate island? 

Hearing noises in the house, she is afraid to sleep in her room and hides in the bathtub. Soon, strange things happen. She senses she is being followed. When returning home after going out, she determines someone has been inside and hears strange noises. 

She calls her friend and colleague, Diane, in London, to tell her about Will’s letter, then emails her a copy. They surmise the church Will mentioned is in London, and Diane offers to go there after work to light a candle and look around. When Diane gets hit by a car and is seriously injured, Maggie becomes more suspicious. What is going on? 

Grief and fear hit like a sledgehammer as Maggie worries for her friend, misses Will, and wonders if she is to be the next victim. Her next thought is to get off this island, but she is stuck as the ferry only runs sporadically. 

Who is after her, or what are these people looking for? This is a spine-chilling tale with more twists and turns than a country road. Though Maggie comes to the island to clear her head, figure out what’s going on, and try to put her life back together, she soon discovers that she may not have long to live. What had Will gotten himself into? Fast-paced and highly descriptive, Fear the Silence draws the reader in from the first page and leaves them breathless until the unexpected conclusion. 

The Road Towards Home

Corinne Demas

Lake Union Publishing

June 1, 2023

“Fast-paced and fun to read, this tale told from an elder’s point of view gives excellent insight into what many of us will deal with as we age.”

Not long after losing his wife, Noah Shilling finds himself in Clarion Court, an adult independent living community, thanks to his son and daughter-in-law. He does not feel ready to be “put out to pasture yet,” but he doesn’t like confrontations, nor does he want to live with his son. His living conditions are somewhat dull until Cassandra (“Sandra”) Joyce moves in. Sandy is brash and outspoken, and Noah soon discovers she is the past flame of his old college friend. But she intrigues Noah, and he vows to get to know her more.

The two begin to share their meals together. Then when they learn their facility is due for some significant renovations, meaning they’ll have to have their meals in their rooms, Noah comes up with a plan. He owns a rustic, unwinterized cottage on Cape Cod. Though he plans to head there for the summer, why not go early? Of course, this idea is against his son’s wishes, but he wants to get away and have Sandy accompany him.

Noah is a retired college professor in his seventies and settled into his life yet capable of living independently with no infirmities. He wants to enjoy the time he has left and not be under the rule of his son. Realizing there’s more to life than spending time in his room or playing cards or Scrabble with the other residents, he will not allow his son or anyone to deter him from going to the family seaside home.

Sandy, also widowed, moved to Clarian Court to escape the trappings of a big home, though she has had to deal with her two daughters to reclaim her life. One daughter, who lives locally, is upset and wants Sandy to move in with her. Still, Sandy would rather live in her car than be housed with her overbearing son-in-law. So imagine her surprise and delight when she finds Noah living here. 

Against their children’s wishes, the two and Sandy’s monstrously huge canine named Melvin go to the Cape and embark on an adventure. Noah is more of a feline person, so he is a bit put off by the dog and all of Sandy’s insect “friends,” which she carts along with her. Once an entomologist, Sandy still has a great affinity for walking sticks and tarantulas, much to Noah’s chagrin.

It’s early spring, and it is chilly in the little house though they are sure to keep the wood stove stoked to stay warm. While Noah spends his days preparing his old wooden boat to launch, Sandy and Melvin take long walks along the beach and investigate the area. Though Sandy is due to only spend a few weeks with Noah and return to her new home after the reno is complete, the two fall into an easy and compatible relationship. Sandy would love to stay, and Noah wants her to. 

Soon, Noah is pressuring Sandy to stay—even asking her to marry him—but twice divorced and having buried her last husband, she is skittish about commitment. Both carry years of baggage and are set in their ways, but will Sandy succumb to Noah’s advances? And how will their offspring react to them being together?

Then a bit of mystery enters, and Noah is ready to make a serious stand about a young neighbor teen.  

This novel describes how adult children seem to think they are to become the parent when their parents age. Most families have some dysfunction, and theirs are no different, but at Noah’s and Sandy’s age, aren’t they entitled to some happiness and/or to live as they want? Fast-paced and fun to read, this tale told from an elder’s point of view gives excellent insight into what many of us will deal with as we age. The role reversal is humorous yet endearing and proves love and companionship can be enjoyed at any age.

The New Mother

Nora Murphy

May 30, 2023

Minotaur Books

Almost every mother acknowledges the joy of pregnancy and the impending birth of a long-awaited child. In the best cases, through the gestation period, everyone coddles the mom, offering assistance in any small matter. But no one prepares the mother for after the baby is born, and all the attention is turned to the infant. 

Natalie Fanning is overjoyed by the arrival of Oliver. Things couldn’t be much better. She has a position she is passionate about as an attorney, happy marriage to a lawyer husband, Tyler, and a brand-new dream home. Now, their family is complete with Oliver. She has 12 weeks of maternity  leave, and though she loves her child unconditionally, she misses the hustle and bustle of her job. Oliver is a cranky infant and constantly vying for Natalie and no one else. His neediness is wearing her down, and she is exhausted from lack of sleep. 

When released from the hospital, all she wants is rest:

“I wanted to unpack my things from the duffel bag. To take a shower beneath the rain shower head in the master bathroom. To pop a Midol. To lie down. But how could I do any of these things now that Oliver was here? I longed, ached, to put him back inside me. Then I could go about my business while knowing he was safe and comfortable and part of me.”

Tyler is of little help. When she pleads for him to care for their son, he reiterates that the baby only wants her, for he cries whenever Tyler takes him. 

What can Natalie do? The fatigue starts to do her in, and she wonders if she is going crazy. Overwhelmed, she states:

“I felt broken. Heavy with exhaustion. Hunger was twisting my insides into knots. Pain was ricocheting through me as I sat on the unforgiving wooden chair. I felt like a nuisance to myself. A burden. That my needs and my feeling still existed wasn’t fair. How could I possibly care for us both?” 

Natalie realizes many women return to work after their sabbatical, but she hates to leave her baby. She feels caught between two worlds. She loves her son and job, but how can she mesh the two together without problems?

She finds her employment an effort while worrying about Oliver causes a clash at her company, so she takes indefinite time off. The walls of her house start to close in on her, so she puts Oliver in his stroller and decides to walk, hoping to calm him. 

On her excursion, she meets a new neighbor from a few doors down. Paul Riley is a 40-something stay-at-home dad for his elementary-school-aged daughter Petra. Paul had been a professor at a local university when there was an indication that he was having an inappropriate relationship with one of his students, so he was asked to resign. His wife Erin has a high-powered job in finance, and she suggests Paul remain in the house and write the novel he’s always talked about. This way, he can also oversee Petra and her studies and activities. She had never been able to bond with the child, so Paul is thrilled to be a “house dad”!

Before long, Natalie and Paul become friends, and it seems Paul is the only one who can soothe the cranky Oliver. Though he’s older than she, and they’re both married, Natalie finds a true friend in Paul. They often visit until Erin learns of their friendship and orders Natalie to “stay away from my husband!” In fact, at a get-together at her house, she makes a scene over this in front of those gathered. 

Natalie and Tyler rush back home after Natalie asserts she and Paul are just friends, which causes a great deal of hostility and whispers by the neighbors. Once inside, Tyler is livid, asking what the heck is happening. Natalie again tells him she’s drowning with caring for their son; Paul has been only a friend, and she cannot understand why Erin flew off the handle. Little does she know that Paul has his own agenda.

The following day, Erin goes missing. Paul calls the police and peruses the neighbors, querying everyone if they have seen his wife. When he gets to Natalie’s house, acting oddly cool, she tells him the last she saw Erin was when she admonished her, so he leaves without another word.   

Before long, Erin’s body is discovered in the woods behind Natalie’s home, wrapped in a baby blanket Paul had given her for Oliver. Shocked at this, Natalie questions herself, wondering if she maybe did something to Erin and, in her fugue state, doesn’t remember it. Natalie becomes the prime suspect, and some neighbors can attest to Erin’s argument with Natalie.

With this situation, Natalie is bewildered. She’s lost her friend, Paul, her husband is concerned about her, and the residents of her street are wary of her. All she wanted was some companionship, as Tyler was working all day, and she needed someone to commiserate with her alleged failings as a new mom. 

But the real question is: Who killed Erin?

Overwhelmed with losing her identity and caring for a colicky baby has made Natalie extremely vulnerable. In this novel packed with powerful suspense, one can easily understand her situation, making this an electrifying read. 

The Five-Star Weekend

Elin Hilderbrand

Little, Brown, and Company

June 13, 2022

10-0316258776

Internet blogs have become popular, and Hollis Shaw, living in Wellesley, MA, is amazed by how her food blog, Hungry with Hollis, has taken off. With her physician husband Matthew, who is always working and leaving her alone, she has gained confidence by posting recipes and meeting folks from all walks of life. This pastime eases the tension between her and Matthew though she worries about their marriage. With their grown daughter Caroline away at college, her life with Matthew is much different from when they first married.

Hollis needs to meet with Matthew to talk about bringing back the romance and friendship they once shared, and after they quarrel before he leaves for work, she is adamant about patching things up. Imagine her shock when she later learns Matthew is in a car accident on an ice-slicked road while on his way to the airport—a fatal one.

With grief and remorse, Hollis sets about putting the pieces of her life together. Not only is Matthew gone, but Caroline has become more distant. Hollis is always the devoted wife and mother; but after Hollis’ website took off, Caroline believes she and her father took back seat to her mom’s new “hobby.” Now with Matthew gone, Caroline blames Hollis for her father’s death. What can Hollis do to get back into Caroline’s good graces?

Hollis has an idea to alleviate her grief. She will go to their home in Nantucket and plan what she calls a “Five-Star Weekend,” and invite her best friends from each decade of her life: her best friend growing up on the island, Tatum; her BFF from college, Dru-Ann; her Wellesley neighbor, Brook; and Gigi, a woman from her blog who reached out to her after Matthew’s death and with whom she immediately connected. She believes this is precisely what she needs to get back into life, and having her closest friends should help her through this transition. But will the five women all get along?

Each guest arrives with emotional baggage. Will confiding in each other help solve their problems or destroy what is supposed to be an idyllic weekend?

Tatum needs this time to escape from her anxiety over a recent breast biopsy but hasn’t gotten the results and fears she’s inherited the cancer rampant among her family members.

Dru-Ann, a wealthy and famous sports agent, recently pulled a faux pas, which may mean the end of the career she loves.

Hollis’s Wellesley neighbor, Brooke, is married to a jackass who treats her like dirt. She’s had it with her marriage, and she discovers the truth about herself while on the island.

Finally, there’s Gigi, exuberant and fun-loving, but the one with the most significant secrets she needs to get off her chest. Though she feels a bond with Hollis, can she reveal what she is hiding in front of all these women who have been Hollis’s friends forever and still keep their respect?

The weekend progresses with many plans, including sumptuous meals created by Hollis, different excursions on the island, shopping, dining, sailing, drinking, and more. All the while, Caroline is invited for the weekend to film everything to help with her budding career as a filmmaker. Hollis is praying this will bring them back together and she’ll have fun with Hollis’ friends.

Now that Hollis is widowed, Tatum and her husband Kyle plan to hook her up with Jack, her high school crush and first love. Though the four had made plans to attend the same college, marry together, and share their lives on the island, that did not happen. So now Tatum hopes Hollis and Jack can reconnect and maybe Hollis will stay on the island.

An exciting and fun-filled summer read, The Five-Star Weekend, offers a look into the lives of the well-to-do. Expect the unexpected and prepare for the emotional, personal, joyous, and heartbreaking escapades these women face.

The prose drags somewhat with point-of-view hopping and extensive name-dropping descriptions of expensive shops and restaurants. Still, it is comforting to see that no matter one’s socioeconomic situation, we all suffer the same troubles. This read makes the reader wish to be part of Hollis’s in-crowd. But after all, this is fiction! For those who ever wanted to visit Nantucket, this novel is like a travel guide to the charming, quaint, yet expensive island.

Her Amish Patchwork Family

Winnie Griggs

Forever

April 25, 2023

10-1538735846

In the small community of Hope’s Haven, Ohio, Martha Eicher has had to grow up fast. With her mother’s passing, she’s been in charge of the household, caring for her father and her siblings while also acting as a teacher in the local Amish school. Now, it looks like her family does not need her anymore. Her sisters are grown, with husbands, and her dad has remarried. Martha wonders what she will do with the rest of her life. 

She has a reprieve when she’s summoned to Shipshewana for three weeks to care for her cousin, Brenda, before and after she gives birth to her third child. However, her three weeks away turn into three months, so now she is back home and happy. But what is she to do? Of course, she can continue living with her daed and stepmother, but she doesn’t want to be a third wheel. 

Then she hears that Asher Lantz, an old childhood friend, needs a nanny, so she can help him. But 12 years ago, they had a misunderstanding, and she wonders if Asher would even want her help. If so, would they be able to mend fences and get along?

Their first meeting does not go so well, and he is barely civil to Martha, but he cannot forget his feelings from long ago:

“When Martha had been the assistant teacher, he’d been in sixth and seventh grades. He’s watched her as she worked with the younger students and admired her patience and empathy as she helped them with their work. And somewhere along the way, he’d developed a crush on her. The fact that she was older than him by nearly four years hadn’t mattered to his adolescent self.

“Of course, it hadn’t helped that for a while that his middle bruder Ephron seemed poised to court her himself. She must have looked at him as nothing more than a kid, one of her pupils. 

“And then, the summer between seventh and eighth grades, everything changed. Not only between him and Martha but for his entire family. . . .”

Now, after Asher has lost his brother and sister-in-law, he is the guardian of his brother’s four kinner. Though he loves the young ones, it proves to be a burden. He’s never raised kids, so how should he know what to do? 

Martha is thrilled to be home and able to attend the wedding of her best friend Joan, who happens to be Asher’s cousin. And Joan lets on that her fiancé is bringing his friend Laban, the man she wants Martha to meet. The two get acquainted and seem to get along reasonably well, and they correspond when Laban returns home. Their letter-writing has him telling about how beautiful his hometown is and suggesting Martha visit to see if she would like it. The visit ends earlier than planned as Martha realizes Laban is not the man she wants to marry. 

Before the wedding, Joan had cared for Asher’s’ charges along with Oma, their grandmother. Still, with Joan getting married and moving away, he needs permanent help. Then, the children’s part-time caregiver is sidetracked and laid up after an accident; now, they really need help. So when Martha comes to the rescue, he knows that despite their animosity, he desperately needs her. And the best part for the family is that Martha can move into the house with them and be there whenever needed. 

It is an excellent match because Martha is great with children and loves these four unconditionally. Still, there is tension between Asher, his parents, and Martha. They all blame her for Asher’s brother, Ephron, leaving home several years before. Little did they know it was all Ephron’s doing and not Martha’s. She couldn’t be happier living among her kin and Amish community, but how can Asher and his parents understand this? 

Though Martha once believed she and Ephron would be a couple, his deflecting from his family and faith ended that, along with Martha’s loving feelings toward him. Will Asher trust her and realize she was not the reason for Ephron’s leaving? Will she ever find a man who loves her and have a family of her own?

When Asher’s family learns the truth about Ephron, Martha is welcomed with open arms. They all see how much Martha loves the children and how well she cares for them and Oma. Will Asher find his teenage crush for Martha blossom again, and will she learn to care for him despite their four-year age difference? Why should age matter when two people are drawn to each other with similar needs, traits, and values?