The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate

Imagine growing up wanting a sister. What would you do if that childhood wish suddenly came true? How would you respond if your father confessed to a summer affair as he lay dying? And so begins The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate.

Rebecca Strand is a twenty-something woman living and working in New York City. She’s a paralegal for Whitman, Goldman & Whitman. She’s dating (and living with) Michael, her lawyer boyfriend, and she's contemplating their future together. A future that comes to a screeching halt when her father is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given weeks to live. Having lost her mother at nineteen and being the only child, Rebecca is extremely close to her father and cannot begin to envision what her life will be like without him.

During one of her hospital visits, her father discloses a summer affair with Pia Jayhawk. An affair that occurred during one of their family vacations in Maine. The affair was over before it started and Daniel Strand returned home and stepped back into his life. Out of the blue Pia calls him to tell him she’s pregnant. She calls again to tell him he has a daughter. He never returned her call and remained silent about his newborn daughter and his relationship with Pia. Now that he’s dying, he wants Rebecca to know the truth. A truth that may complicated her life and cause her to view him differently.

After her father’s death, Rebecca begins to question her life and the direction she’s headed. Is Michael the one? Is New York really her home? What about her job? The job she loathes. Does she have the courage to pursue her dream of becoming a therapist? As she ponders these questions, she begins to wonder about her half-sister. She sets off to Maine to find Joy Jayhawk, not really sure what to expect when she meets her for the first time.

When I first read the title of the book, I assumed it meant her father’s secret affair and his secret daughter, Joy. But, as I continued to read about Rebecca's life and the lives of the supporting characters, I realized the title was about the secret of. . . well. . . joy. The characters are all struggling with an issue in their lives that is causing them pain and turmoil. As each comes to the fork in the road where they either move towards a resolution or continue down the same hurtful path, the author illustrates the difficult, but necessary, truths we must face in order to experience the peace we want in life. Rebecca struggles with the loss of her parents, the impact of her father’s affair, not only on her, but Joy and Joy’s mother. While Joy struggles with growing up without her father which resulted in her being emotionally detached from her husband.

To make amends with his decision, Daniel Strand writes a letter to Joy every year on her birthday. As Rebecca reads these letters, she begins to have insight about her father as a man and a husband. It's not until she reads the last letter he wrote to Joy that she truly understands the love he felt for Joy and how his decision kept two innocent sisters from knowing each other.

The reader will feel compassion for Rebecca as she loses the only family she knows and gains a sister she has always wanted. The Secret of Joy is a great read, with a likable main character and a great supporting cast. Pick it up. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Sarah Reidy, of Pocket Books, for providing this review copy.

Random tidbits: If you're interested in The Secret of Joy for your next book club selection, there's a reading discussion guide included (there's also a Q&A with Ms. Senate, which I recommend you read as well).

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-0717-1
Pages: 330
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher provided this copy for a blog tour
Date Finished: November 15

Other blogs participating in this blog tour:

http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://frugalplus.com/
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.psychoticstate.blogspot.com/
http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com
http://booknaround.blogspot.com
http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
http://www.crazy-for-books.com
http://www.bellasnovella.com/
http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com
http://ilratb.blogspot.com/
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/
http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.jeannesramblings.com
http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com
http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com
http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/
http://molcotw.blogspot.com/
http://litandlife.blogspot.com
http://entertainmentrealm.com/

The New Girl by Meg Cabot

Book synopsis:
When you are starting at a brand-new school, you have to wear something good.

Allie Finkle's starting her first day of school at Pine Heights Elementary! Plus, she's getting a new kitten, the first pick of show cat Lady Serena Archibald's letter!

But being the New Girl is turning out to be scary, too, especially since one of the girls in Allie's new class -- Rosemary -- doesn't like her. In fact, Rosemary says she's going to beat Allie up after school.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on how Allie should handle the situation. How can Allie tell who's right? Who knew it was going to be so hard being the New Girl?

My review:
Allie Finkle is starting a new school. It's her first day and she is nervous! Luckily for Allie she's in Mrs. Hunter's class with her new friends Erica, Caroline and Sophie. Her first day starts out well until she meets Rosemary. For whatever reason, Rosemary doesn't like Allie and wants to beat her up! Allie's not sure what to do, but thank goodness she has her rules for girls.

The New Girl is book two of the Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series. Allie is adapting to her new home, new school and trying to make new friends. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Allie is very likable and the reader will root for her as she finds her way being the new girl in fourth grade.

Book details:
Series: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #2
ISBN-13: 978-0-545-04049-5
Pages: 222
Year Published: 2008
Genre: Children's Fiction (Series)
Source: Library
Date Finished: October 24

The New Girl by Nancy Krulik

My review:
It's time for the school carnival! Jenny McAfee has several good ideas for a booth, however Addie, her former BFF now a Pop, makes fun of her ideas. Addie believes she will raise more money from her carnival booth. So much so, she challenges Jenny to a bet: whichever girl doesn't raise the most money will have to wear their pajamas to school!

Jenny's friends want to help Jenny win this bet. Jenny cannot lose to a Pop! They will NEVER stop teasing her about it. As the school carnival draws near, Addie and the Pops mock Jenny about the pajamas she will have to wear because after all, Addie's idea is better than Jenny's. There's just one thing that could jeopardize Addie's certain win: the new girl.

Samantha "Sam" recently moved from England. Soon Sam is befriended by the Pops. The girls imitate her style and begin using faux English accents. Addie is jealous with all the attention her friends are now showing Sam. Addie wonders if Sam will replace her as "Queen Bee". To make sure this doesn't happen, she has a plan. A plan that will ruin Sam's reputation and make sure Jenny doesn't win their bet.

Book details:
Series: How I Survived Middle School #4
ISBN-13: 978-0-545-01303-1
Pages: 100
Year Published: 2007
Genre: Children's Fiction (Series)
Source: Library
Date Finished: October 24

3 Mini-Reviews

Well, once again I find myself behind in writing my book reviews. For the last week or so, I've been debating whether or not to write them or not write them. Decisions, decisions...

I finally decided to end my stress and post a mini-summary for each book. I hate getting behind on my reviews, but worse than that, I hate the stress that I feel when I get behind. I'm brainstorming ways to stay on top of reviews moving forward (especially in the new year). Hopefully I can find something that will work for me.


Title: After You
Author: Julie Buxbaum
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: September 16

Summary: When Ellie learns of her best friend’s, Lucy, tragic death, she puts her life on hold (including her own marital problems) to be with Lucy’s husband, Greg and daughter Sophie. As Ellie tries to cope with Lucy’s shortened life, she discovers Lucy’s hidden secrets that cause Ellie to question their friendship. After You is a book about personal healing after a loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, end of a relationship or the loss of innocence. After You explores the necessary steps to move forward and begin again where you are.


Title: The Neighbor
Author: Lisa Gardner
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Date Finished: October 7

Summary: From a distance Jason and Sandra Jones appear to be the perfect couple. They have a beautiful daughter, a new house and are in the beginning stages of building a life together. Their perfect façade slowly begins to crumble with Sandra goes missing shortly after putting their daughter to bed. Jason immediately turns into the prime suspect when he’s aloof and uncooperative with the police. What exactly is he hiding? Does he want his wife to be found? If he didn't kill her, does he know who did? These questions are what Detective Sergeant D.D. Warren is determined to find out.


Title: Dying for Mercy
Author: Mary Jane Clark
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Date Finished: October 17

Summary: Following the kidnapping of her daughter, Janie, Eliza Blake decides to rent a house in prestigious Tuxedo Park, New York. She’s invited to a party and before the night ends, the host commits suicide by stigmata. As Eliza and her colleagues, AKA the Sunshine Suspense Society, begin to investigate, they realize he left clues behind that will piece together a cover-up that happened years ago. Can Eliza and her friends find the killer’s identity before they become the next victims?

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Book Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Three yeas later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, particularly her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest i she and her younger brother spent the summer with him in North Carolina.

Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will be the centerpiece of a local church. Resentful and rebellious, Ronnie rejects all of his attempts to reach out to her and threatens to return to New York before the summer's end. But soon Ronnie meets Will, the town's local heartthrob, and the last person she thought she'd ever be attracted to. As Ronnie slowly lets her guard down, she finds herself falling deeply in love, opening herself up to the greatest happiness⎯and pain⎯that she has ever known.

An unforgettable story of love in all its myriad forms⎯first love, love between parents and children⎯THE LAST SONG demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

My thoughts:
When Miriam Parker, Hachette Book Group USA, offered me the chance to receive an ARC of The Last Song, I immediately accepted. I've only read A Walk to Remember and The Notebook by this author, however I've heard and read glowing reviews about his books. After reading the last page (and wiping away my tears), I knew I had to add his remaining books to my TBR List.

My first thought when I started reading The Last Song, was this is the perfect book to read to finish out the summer. I thought it would be light, but an enjoyable read. To my delight, it became so much more as I read more of Ronnie's story.

Ronnie and her brother Jonah are sent to North Carolina to spend the summer with their estranged father. Their father left his prestigious position at Julliard to pursue his dream of being a concert pianist. His time away put a strain on his family and eventually ended his marriage. He now calls Wrightville Beach, NC home.

Ronnie never forgave her father for ruining their family. In fact, she hasn't spoken to him in three years. She's livid that her mother is forcing her to do this. As soon as she sets foot in her father's house, she's determined to plan her return back to New York. As soon as she enters her father's house, she puts distance between them by spending her first night away from his home. It's on this night that she first meets Will followed by Blaze. It's this night that will change her summer.

The Last Song is told in four differing points of view: Ronnie, Steve, Will and Marcus. Through each perspective, Mr. Sparks reveals more of the story and at times flashing back to the past to provide more history. Each character has something to add to the events of that summer and reading it in his or her own voice adds to the realness of the story.

Early on I had a hint of how the novel would end. As I realized my assumption was right, it didn't prepare me for the emotions I felt as I continued to read. The Last Song isn't only about love. It's also about learning how to forgive yourself for your past mistakes so you can move forward. This is evident as Ronnie struggles to forgive herself for allowing her anger and hurt to prevent her from having a relationship with her father. During this summer, Ronnie realizes despite her behavior, her father's love remained unconditional.

Steve, Ronnie's and Jonah's father, spends time quietly reading his Bible. It's during these devotionals, that Steve has forgiven himself and draws closer to God. Mr. Sparks did a fantastic job of using Steve's devotions to illustrate that through God, new beginnings are possible, despite your past, if you have faith, believe and put your trust in God. He continues to illustrate new beginnings by restoring broken relationships between a parent and child, the destroying and reconstruction of a church and learning to love and respect yourself.

The Last Song is an emotionally charged novel, one that I highly recommend. I suggest you read with tissues nearby. It will grabbed the reader and won't let go until the very last page. I want to thank Miriam for the opportunity to review this book.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-54756-7
Pages: 390
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: September 6
Rating: A+

The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer

Book Synopsis:
A timely (and recession-proof) treat about the things money can⎯and can't⎯buy.

Living in New Jersey⎯the state that boasts the most malls per capita⎯Kat's favorite recreational activity is a no-brainer: shopping. But when she discovers that her husband, Griff, has been hiding a secret bank account and exchanging dubious e-mails with his attractive young assistant, her joyful consumerism suddenly loses its appeal. Are their fights about money more serious than she understood? Is he, as her friends suggest, preparing for a divorce? Just in case, Kat decides it's time to start saving. Unfortunately, having racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt (of course she needed those tiki torches from Pier 1!), Kat finds herself in way over her head.

Drastic times call for drastic measures: Kat starts by canceling cable and kicking her $240 monthly Starbucks habit. But what starts out as a simple effort to cut costs soon becomes an over-the-top obsession when Kat joins an eclectic but lovable group of savers called the Penny Pinchers Club. Soon she is pumping her gas at dawn (when it is thicker) and serving dinner made from food she retrieved at the grocery store Dumpster. Kat is saving money, to be sure, but what she's really saving is time⎯time she spends with Griff, their daughter . . . and an old flame, who resurfaces at precisely the wrong moment, offering Kat a life where money is no object.

An irresistible and wonderfully warmhearted novel about the unexpected ways hardship can lead to happiness, The Penny Pinchers Club is the perfect pick-me-up for these troubled times.

My thoughts:
Kat loves to shop. She shops and shops and doesn't pay much attention to the bills. In fact, she's afraid of her bills. Luckily, (or maybe not) her husband handles their finances. Kat believes she has a good marriage with Griff. Well, that's until she finds condom wrappers in his suitcase when he comes home from a business trip. To make matters worse, she learns he has a secret credit card and a bank account (in his name only) that he has kept from her. So, what does she think? He's preparing to divorce her.

As Kat allows this one (and only one) conclusion to consume her (I mean it is obvious he's divorcing her, right?), she realizes maybe it's time for her to do a little growing up of her own and prepare for the inevitable: being a 40ish newly, divorced mother. To get ready for this new chapter in her life, she agrees to meet with a divorce lawyer and quickly learns she has a lot to do before Griff tells her he wants out. Step one: find money to pay for the lawyer, which also means she needs to get out of debt and start saving money fast!

She reluctantly attends The Penny Pinchers Club meeting with her housekeeper, Libby and meets an unique set of people. All have had financial woes in the past and have managed to overcome them. Now they buy in bulk, dumpster-drive and use coupons whenever possible. As Kat learns to do away with excess, she also learns an important lesson about herself and her marriage.

The Penny Pinchers Club is a great read. Yes, it deals with marital problems and how money can drive two people apart, but it's much more than that. As I continued to read, the more I focused on how things aren't always what they appear. We tend to see what we want to see and come to one (and only one) conclusion based on what is presented to us. It's so obvious, that if we choose to see it any differently, we will be in denial. But, that's not always the case. Sometimes we focus on what we know is right, that we tend to misread the clues.

Here I was looking for a light, fun read (which in a way it is), but was also given something to think about: the obvious isn't necessarily so obvious. I highly recommend this novel. Readers will cheer Kat on as she learns to save money and salvage what's left of her marriage.

Book details:
Series:
ISBN-13: 978-0-525-95117-9
Pages: 288
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: August 30
Rating: A-

The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie

Book Synopsis:
Sarah McConnell's husband had been dead for three months when she saw him in the grocery store...

What does a woman do when she's thirty-nine, childless, and completely alone for the first time in her life? Does it mean she's crazy to think she sees her late husband beside a display of pumpkins? Or is it just what people do, a natural response to grief that will fade in time? That's what Sarah McConnell's friends told her, that it was natural, would last a season, and then fade away.

But what if there was another answer? What if he was really there? They never found the body, after all. What if he is still here somehow, and about to walk back into her life?

My thoughts:
What would you do if you saw your dead husband while grocery shopping? Would you chase after him demanding answers? Would you silently think you're losing your mind due to your grief? Or would you shake off the image as simply wishing it to be your husband, but knowing it is just a complete stranger?

Having read glowing reviews about The Widow's Season, I was eager to read it. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. As I read Sarah's story, I realized I didn't feel anything for her...nothing. Here's a story about a woman who recently lost her husband and thinks she sees him and I don't feel any sympathy? Compassion?

The characters in The Widow's Season were hard to connect to. Sarah and her brother-in-law, Nate, seemed to be somewhat aloof. Perhaps it was their reaction to losing David and the events (which I won't share to avoid spoilers) that occurred after his death. Or maybe it was Ms. Brodie's intent to write the characters this way. To be honest, this was the third consecutive book I read dealing with the death of a love one. It's possible I just felt numb after reading two previous tragic stories.

I think The Widow's Season would be an excellent selection for a book club. I figured out the ending pretty early in the book and wondered what other readers thought as the story unfolded. I wanted a chance to speak with other readers about my feelings (or lack thereof) for these characters and hear their thoughts as well. Perhaps speaking with other readers would challenge my opinion about the novel. (If you're interested, the author provides a reader guide that could be used for a book club discussion.)

Despite my disappointment with this novel, I would recommend it to other readers. I enjoyed Ms. Brodie's ability to write in such a way that I could instantly see the scenes in my mind. I plan to read Ms. Brodie's future novels.

Recommended for: book clubs

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-22765-7
Pages: 303
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: August 28
Rating: B

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Book Synopsis:

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

My thoughts:
I read great reviews about Ms. Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer. As a result, I had high expectations for this novel. I'm happy to say, it did not disappoint.

It's a year after Matt's death. Anna is joining her best friend and Matt's sister, Frankie, on her family vacation. Frankie wants this to be their Absolute Best Summer Ever (A.B.S.E.) and forms the plan of meeting twenty boys that summer.

Prior to Matt's death, Anna and Matt become more than friends. As they are establishing their new relationship, Matt makes Anna promise not to tell Frankie just yet. He wants to tell her in his own time. Anna agrees to this. Unfortunately Matt dies prior to telling Frankie and Anna is uncertain how to handle her promise to Matt.

Twenty Boy Summer is about the process of grief and how one chooses to handle his/her grief. Frankie and Anna both love Matt in different ways and struggle to continue living with the void Matt has left in their lives. Anna knows Frankie is hurting, but is afraid to show Frankie her grief in order to protect her secret relationship with Matt. It's not until Frankie learns the truth about her brother and Anna, that both girls can openly discuss their loss.

Ms. Ockler did a fantastic job with Anna's friendship with Frankie. Anna is quiet, smart and cautious, while Frankie is out-going, boy crazy and a bit self-centered. Anna is very protective of Frankie as she watched her friend quietly withdraw after Matt's death and emerge as someone she doesn't know. When Frankie discloses to Anna what the loss of Matt has meant to her, Anna begins to see moving forward after someone has died is terrifying as one tries to not forget the person who has died while moving forward is also necessary in order to heal.

Readers will enjoy Twenty Boy Summer. I was immediately hooked and read it in a few hours. Ms. Ockler's debut is an emotional read. One that readers will not forget.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-05159-0
Pages: 290
Year Published:2009
Genre: YA Fiction
Date Finished: August 27
Rating: A-

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

Book Synopsis:

The circumstances of Molly Marx’s death may be suspicious, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.

As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City’s Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.

More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel–and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments–and take responsibility for the choices in her life.

Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart.

My Thoughts:

Molly Marx dies at the young age of 35. Proceeding her death, she finds herself in the Duration. While here, she helplessly watches her family and friends mourn her passing. The Duration allows her to hear their inner most thoughts (some she wishes she knew while still alive). It’s here where Molly is truly able to make amends with herself, her marriage and the events leading to her death.

Molly is not perfect, by any means. In fact, it’s her flaws that make her seem so real, so honest. She's married to Barry, mother to Annabel and twin sister to Lucy. Molly attempts to be all to everyone and tries to please them, so much so that she loses herself in the process.

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, to me, isn't a book about death. It's about the choices we make and the consequences that occur from those choices. As Molly watches the police piece together the events that led to her death, the reader hears Molly's story from her perspective and is able to understand the conflicted life she lead. One cannot help but to empathize with Molly and hopes she will find peace within herself.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-345-50620-7
Pages: 303
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Women's Fiction
Date Finished: July 24
Rating: A

The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven

Synopsis:

The beach house is a peaceful haven, a place to escape everyday problems. Here, three families find their feelings intensified and their lives transformed each summer.

When thirty-year-old Julia, mourning the death of her husband, decides to sell the Santa Cruz beach house they owned together, she sets in motion a final summer that will change the lives of all the families who rent it year after year. Teenaged Chris discovers the bittersweet joy of first love. Maggie and Joe, married sixty-five years, courageously face a separation that even their devotion cannot prevent. The married woman Peter yearns for suddenly comes within his reach. And Julia ultimately finds the strength to rebuild her life—something she once thought impossible.

With equal measures of heartbreak and happiness, bestselling author Georgia Bockoven's unforgettable novel tells of the beauty of life and the power of love, and speaks to every woman who has ever clung to a child or loved a man.

My review:

I liked how the author wrote this book. The book is divided into parts; each part represents a summer month. During the month, different renters reside in the beach house and the reader is allowed a glimpse into their lives. Near month's end, the current renters prepare the house for the new renters, as everyone knows one another.

It was though I was reading three short stories in one book, however the author did a fantastic job of tying the renters' stories together. The Beach House is about picking up the pieces after a loss and beginning again.

Recommended for: anyone looking for a great read.

Book details:
ISBN-10: 0061727644
Pages: 379
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: July 5
Rating: A

The Lost Recipe for Happiness

Title: The Lost Recipe for Happiness
Author: Barbara O’Neal
ISBN-13: 9780553385519
Pages: 450
Year Published: 2008
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Date Finished: June 14

From the back cover: It’s the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for—the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor, Elena knows better than anyone how to defy the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother’s recipes, Elena arrives in Colorado to find a restaurant in as desperate need of a fresh start as she is—and a man whose passionate approach to food and life rivals her own. Owner Julian Liswood is a name many people know but a man few do. He’s come to Aspen with a trouble teenage daughter and a dream of the kind of stability and love only a family can provide. But for Elena, old ghosts don’t die quietly, yet a chance to find happiness at last is worth the risk.

First sentence: Elena had been expecting Dmitri for more than an hour when he finally stormed through the back door of the Blue Turtle, the Vancouver restaurant where they both worked.

I have to admit when I first skimmed the book description, I thought the plot would be: girl breaks up with current boy, relocates to new city for a fresh start, meets new boy, not sure if she should get involved with new boy, ends up getting involved with new boy and they begin new relationship. Ok, so maybe The Lost Recipe for Happiness can be summed up that way. But honestly, it’s so much more than that.

Elena Alvarez is a complicated character, but extremely likable. She’s haunted by her past and cannot rid herself of her tragic accident. She’s left not only with physical pain from the car accident, but immense survivor’s guilt. She’s the lone survivor of a car accident that killed her high school boyfriend and two sisters.

After the accident and a long period of physical therapy and healing, she left her hometown and explored her passion for cooking. Training in the best restaurants prepared her to become chef of her kitchen. While mastering the art of cooking, Elena simultaneously distanced herself from intimate relationships. Yes, she had plenty of boyfriends, however she never allowed them in, always keeping them at arm’s reach. Of course this changes when she meets Julian.

Julian Liswood is a single father with several marriages under his belt. He’s trying to raise his teenage daughter the best he can while maintaining his professional life. He’s immediately smitten with Elena, but tries to keep their relationship purely professional. After all, he is her boss.

Ms. O’Neal did an excellent job bringing these characters to life. The chapters are told from both Elena’s and Julian’s perspectives. The secondary characters round out the story with issues of their own that only contribute to the depth of the plot.

If you’re looking for something different, I suggest you pick up The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Elena is a character that you will root for and in the end you will walk away satisfied.

This Is What I Want to Tell You

Title: This Is What I Want to Tell You
Author: Heather Duffy Stone
ISBN-13: 9780738714509
Pages: 233
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Young Adult
Date Finished: June 6

First sentence: I can't tell you exactly what happened, but I can tell you part of it.

Noelle and Nadio are twins. Noelle and Keeley are best friends. Keeley spends the summer in Europe with her family. This story is what happens after Keeley returns.

Upon her return, Keeley knows something is different with Noelle. Their friendship is not smooth anymore. There's too much space between them and no words can be used to bring them together. Noelle finds a new friend, Jessica, while Keeley is away. It's because of this friendship she meets Parker.

Parker is Noelle's secret. She doesn't speak of him with Nadio and certainly not with Keeley. As her feelings for Parker intensifies, Nadio and Keeley are starting a new love themselves. Keeley is conflicted with keeping their relationship a secret from Noelle. She's also struggling with an event that occurred during the summer that can negatively impact her relationship with Nadio.
When Noelle discovers their relationship, she reacts in such a volatile way, that all parties will begin to question the closeness of their friendship.

I have to say, I wasn't sure if I liked Noelle or not. She kept her relationship with Parker a secret, but yet was angry with Nadio and Keeley for keeping their relationship a secret. It wasn't until I saw how scared she was of not having a chance to live, that I started to warm up to her.

"I wasn't scared of being left by him, I was scared of being left behind. Of Keely living a life I couldn't see. Of not getting to do the things other people got to do. Of not getting a chance." (p. 199)

Nadio has an interesting role in the story. Not only is he the twin brother and the best friend's brother, he's the man of the house. Nadio's father left the family and Nadio isn't sure how to be. He questions his feelings, he isn't sure what to do and blames his father for this. He begins to write letters to his father as a way to figure out who he is as a son, a brother, a boyfriend and an individual. Nadio is conflicted with his new feelings for Keeley and his loyalty to his sister.

This Is What I Want to Tell You illustrates the repercussions on a relationship that is strained by jealousy and secrets.

The 8th Confession by James Patterson

Title: The 8th Confession
Authors: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Series: The Women's Murder Club #8
ISBN -10: 0316018767
Pages: 352
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Date Finished: May 21

From the dust jacket: Appearances can be deceiving.

As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching-waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

But the truth can be deadly.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed-a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls though the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

Let the confessions begin.

As the hunt for two criminals test the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly betwen Cindy and Lindsay's partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revleations as only James Patterson can. And remember, this is the only Murder Club episode of the year.

First sentence: The old chrome-yellow school bus crawled south on Market Street at half past seven that May morning.

My review: The 8th Confession begins with a bombing of a school bus. Next Cindy Thomas discovers the mutilated body of a homeless man. Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin are working both cases. Things quickly get complicated when the super-rich are being targeted. Medical examiner Claire Washburn is stomped on the cause of their deaths. To her, it's the perfect crime: no evidence has been left behind.

Meanwhile, Yuki Castellano is prosecuting a woman on trial for murdering her father and the attempted murder of her mother. Yuki cannot afford to lose this case. If she does, she fears she will also be out of a job.

As much as I love JP and this series, this book was a letdown for me. About page 100 or so, I just didn't care about the killer's identity, the plot or the characters. In prior books, The Women's Murder Club played a significant role in solving the crimes. In this book, however the characters' interactions didn't flow. They appeared to be "too separate" for me. Claire was hardly mentioned at all. The storyline for Yuki was abrupt and somewhat disappointing when she met the cute doctor.

I did mange to finish it only because I think JP may be taking the characters in a new direction. I'm curious to see what will happen with Lindsay's relationship with Joe. Despite feeling disappointed, I will continue reading the rest of this series, and of course more of JP's books.

True Colors by Kristin Hannah

Title: True Colors
Author: Kristin Hannah
ISBN-13: 9780312364106
Pages: 393
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: April 5

From the dust jacket: The Grey sisters have always been close. After their mother’s death, the girls banded together, becoming best friends. Their stern, disapproving father cares less about his children than about his reputation. To Henry Grey, appearances are everything, and years later, he still demands that his daughters reflect his standing in the community.

Winona, the oldest, needs her father’s approval most of all. An overweight bookworm who never felt at home on the sprawling horse ranch that has been in her family for three generations, she knows that she doesn’t have the qualities her father values. Bu as the best lawyer in town, she’s determined to someday find a way to prove her worth to him.

Aurora, the middle sister, is the family peacemaker. She brokers every dispute and tries to keep them all happy, even as she hides her own secret pain.

Vivi Ann is the undisputed star of the family. A stunningly beautiful dreamer with a heart as big as the ocean in front of her house, she is adored by all who know her. Everything comes easily for Vivi Ann, until a stranger comes to town. . .

In a matter of moments, everything will change. The Grey sisters will be pitted against one another in ways that none could have imagined. Loyalties will be tested and secrets revealed, and a terrible, shocking crime will shatter both their family and their beloved town.

My thoughts: Overall, I thought this was a good read. It started out a bit slow, but when Dallas Raintree came to town, the story picked up quite a bit and I could not put it down. My only complaint is that I wanted Aurora’s character to be developed more. I thought the author did a good job with Winona and Viva Ann, but I didn’t feel as connected with Aurora as I did the other two.

The book begins in 1979 shortly after their mother's passing. It spans almost three decades and we see how her death still impacted them as adult women. Family loyalty and jealousy are two important themes in this book. Jealousy will cause Winona to do the unthinkable, while Vivi Ann is torn between following her heart and obeying her father’s demands.

Without giving too much away, the reader quickly comes to understand that within the Grey family, buried secrets will always find a way to resurface. Silence is not always the answer, as the past has a way of repeating itself. Living one’s life to always fit in, doesn’t mean one is doing the right thing. Be true to yourself and know that sometimes in life you may just have to stand alone.

Time of My Life - Allison Winn Scotch

Title: Time of My Life
Author: Allison Winn Scotch
Genre: Chick Lit
ISBN: 0307408574
Date Finished: January 7
Pages: 283

From the outside looking in, it appears as though Jillian Westfield has the perfect life. After marrying and moving away from New York City into the suburbs, Jillan and her husband, Henry, have a daughter, Katie, a nice home and Jillian does not have to want for anything.

For Jillian, something is missing. She feels an emptiness inside, that she is uncertain if anything will ever fill it. Then one day while walking with a friend, she learns that her old flame, Jackson, is getting married. Trying to hide her true feelings, Jillian shrugs it off and politely wishes him the best. It's not until Jillian is alone that she allows her true feelings to emerge: what if Jackson was the one who got away? How different would her life be if she and Jackson never broke up and she never met and married Henry? To Jillian's surprise, she travels back in time to have those questions answered.

Time of My Life is a book for those of us who wake up one morning thinking: How did I get here? and There has to be more to my life than just this! Jillian gets the opportunity to attempt to correct those past mistakes and live the life she thinks she wants. As Jillian desperately tries to alter her future by cleaning up her past, she fails to realize that each action will have a consequence. She also comes to understand that no matter how hard she tries to manipulate situations to transform her life into what she wants it to be, events still occur that are out of her control. Jillian realizes running back into the past isn't always the answer. Just maybe, we need to release our past so that we may be able to fully appreciate what we have in front of us.