The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson
The captivating adventures of Daisy Flowers (2/20/2024)
In the summer Daisy Flowers turns fifteen years old, she finds herself dumped off at her grandmother's house in Possum Flats, Missouri. Her mother promises she will be back after she and her latest boyfriend get settled in California. Daisy's grandmother, Rose Flowers, runs and lives above a funeral home. Not every teenage girl's dream location! Daisy is made of strong stuff though, due to having been carted around by her free wheeling mother for years. Once it dawns on her that she may be stuck there for some time, Daisy finds a way to fit in. Tenacious and curious, she proposes that the local paper, The Picayune, give her a summer internship. Daisy uncovers a story that blows everyone in town away, and the lid off quite a few false stories about the fire in 1928 that burned down the local dance hall and took many people with it. Those remaining were changed forever, but when Daisy gets people to talk about the fire in her column, all hell breaks loose. Loved this book-great story, colorful characters!! Intriguing to find out that the dance hall fire is based on a true story that took place in the author's home town.
The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity
Don't Miss This book! (2/23/2023)
From the moment I started reading this book, I never wanted to put it down!! The title, The Long Ago, refers to an imaginary place where sister and brother Barbara and Ray would fantasize about when they were kids. A place with peace and harmony unlike the volatile family they grew up in. To escape that traumatic upbringing, Ray joins the army, but when he learns that Barbara is missing, he takes a leave from his deployment in Vietnam and returns home to Montana to search for her. She has hidden her tracks well. The thread of the story is Ray's search for Barbara from Montana to California.The author skillfully keeps us engaged in this mystery till the very end. It is a love story, a western, and a mystery. Don't miss this book!
Homestead: A Novel
by Melinda Moustakis
Homesteading in the Big Spaces of Alaska (1/20/2023)
I loved this book! It gave me an inside look at homesteading in the 50's in Alaska. Marie, a Texan, travels to Alaska to visit her sister . Her goal is to meet a man who will provide for her. She does that quickly. Lawrence too is looking for a partner in life who he can establish a homestead with. They want the same things :land and a family. Over time they create their home on 150 acres. The building of their cabin and getting settled while living in a bus is made even more challenging by an unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage. Their relationship is at times a bit rocky and when the next baby comes along, she is both a blessing and a curse. She has colic and cries for months so no one sleeps much and they each question their life choices. There is so much to love about this book... full of stories of wildlife encounters and connecting with nature, Lawrence and Marie's marriage, and the hard work they both put in to establishing themselves in the wild, and with each other in their marriage. Beautifully written!
Metropolis: A Novel
by B. A. Shapiro
Unique and compelling suspense novel (3/21/2022)
This is such a wonderful book! I loved how the author introduced us to the six characters who lived or worked at the Metropolis Storage Warehouse. Each of them have a unique connection to Metropolis, some of them are actually living in their storage units and we learn their reasons for doing so. When an elevator accident happens there, it is a mystery as to who is responsible . It was a very original and creative story and had me really transfixed right up until the end. Great characters and suspense!
The Last Chance Library
by Freya Sampson
Library lovers gem! (7/10/2021)
June Jones works at the local library just as her mother did. After her Mom passes, she still lives in her house surrounded by happy memories. She does not venture out beyond her comfort zones: the library and the house. She has few friends and does not date, but when the library is threatened to be closed June steps up and shows that she has some backbone. She joins the campaign to save the library and in the process she finds her self confidence to speak up, discovers that she does have friends, and finds a suitor. Uplifting story to warm any library lovers' heart! As a library volunteer I appreciated how well this book showcased the importance of libraries to the local community!!
The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman: A Novel
by Julietta Henderson
Charming and uplifting story! (2/21/2021)
I loved this book!! Norman Foreman and his Mom Sadie have a zest for life. Sadie is a dedicated mom. Even if she can't remember to buy food or do the laundry, she is always there for Norman. Norman seems to have started out from the" get go" with a can do attitude. He becomes best friends with Jax-they share a wild sense of humor. At ten years old they come up with a five year plan to do a comedy routine at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. The plan is already a stretch financially, but neither of them allowed for one of them dying. When Jax dies Norman decides he must stick with the plan and his Mom supports him. They are joined by Leonard, an old guy from Sadies' work, who, although he appears to be a sad sack, turns out to have super technical skills. Leonard, Sadie and Norman hit the road and even though they are all underdogs, and Norman is not prepared to do a solo comedy show, they forge onward. This book has many colorful characters, some real challenges, and is full of heart!!
The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington
A real page turner! (10/24/2020)
This book was hard to put down! Many interesting characters and a great peek into the secret lives of rich and powerful people. Charlie Boykin comes to join that world due to his mothers connections and his life changes totally. He becomes involved with Arch Creigh, a charismatic, wealthy and ambitious young man. Charlie learns how to operate in that well to do lifestyle and no matter how hard he tries to let go, he never falls far from Archie's spell.This book is a coming of age story and mystery set in the south. You know a book is good when you don't want it to end!
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
Compelling story (5/9/2020)
Picked up this book expecting a light domestic drama and instead found it to be a deep exploration of identity and transformation. Author has given us a well detailed view into a struggling marriage. Stella, a nurse, is married to Simon, a rock musician. They want different things, but are trying to make it work. One night, she agrees to take a pill with him to "celebrate" his up coming tour with a famous band. The meat of the story is that she goes into a long coma and their lives and marriage are turned upside down.The author beautifully decribes their struggle and what happens after she wakes up- the transformation of their individual identities and their marriage. Fascinating to learn about unusual coma outcomes. Enjoyed this book!
Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook
Engaging book! (2/18/2011)
I liked this book -- the characters make this book a good read for people who enjoy family drama/psychological fiction.... It was interesting to observe how the children adapt to their lives growing up after the loss of both parents only eight years apart. The children (Dinah, Griffin and Alice) are named after characters is their mother favorite books : Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Looking Glass. They have learned to cope in their own way with being orphans...Each has adapted their lives to be as in control as possible: Alice becomes an actress (always on stage), Dinah prefers to remain anonymous and Griffin is insecure in relationships. . As they each try their wings in careers and relationships, they are watched by their parents from "Wonderland". As they try to step out of their normal modus operandi they make mistakes and they each become more sure of who they are and what they want out of life. As their parents watch their ups and downs from heaven their mother says, "Human nature is getting in their way!!"
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