Meg's Picks: February 2019, part 2

Need something different to keep you company? I have a few suggestions!

The Last Romantics, by Tara Conklin. Conklin, whose 2013 debut, The House Girl, was a huge reader favorite, returns here with a new novel. Celebrated poet Fiona Skinner, when asked about the poem that made her famous, The Love Poem, recounts a summer of her youth that she shared with her three older siblings. This summer, after Fiona's father passed away unexpectedly and her mother sank into a crippling depression, is known as the Pause, and while it created a shared bond among the siblings, it also  affected each of them differently as they grow up. Also available in Large Print. 

The Lost Girls of Paris, by Pam Jenoff. Jenoff (The Orphan's Tale, etc.) returns to World War II fiction, this time with the story of Grace Healy, who in 1946 finds a suitcase in Grand Central terminal. In it are the photos of  dozens of women, all of whom turn out to have been spies deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of them, however, never returned home, and Grace cannot help but pick up their trail, eager to learn more about what happened to them. For fans of Jenoff's other work and of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, this should be a on your to-read list.

Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts. In 1938 Hollywood, Maud Baum, widow of author Frank Baum, has been trying to find a way onto the set for The Wizard of Oz since she found out about the film. She's the only one who can keep the producers true to the spirit of the book, now nineteen years after Frank's passing, since she's the only one who knows its secrets. When she hears Judy Garland sing, Maud realizes that Judy is perfect for the role and vows to protect her, just as she tried to protect the real Dorothy. Written as fiction but deeply researched and holding closely to the fact, this is perfect for any who loved the iconic book and/or film.

Meg's Picks: February 2019, part 1

Fiction is full of history and high-rises next month. Here are a few of my picks!

The Age of Light, by Whitney Scharer. Part love story, part coming of age tale, Scharer's debut it set across the backdrop of glamorous 1930's Paris and later, the devastation of World War II. Vogue model turned photographer Lee Miller moves to Paris to reinvent herself. There she meets surrealist artist and photographer Man Ray, where she becomes his student, his lover and his muse. Even as they mingle through the opium dens and smoky bars that cater to the day's art-world elite, Miller slowly begins to pull away, making a name for herself, much to her lover's jealous rage. Historical fiction fans are already beginning to line up for this, myself among them.

More Than Words, by Jill Santopolo. Santopolo's bestselling 2017 novel, The Light We Lost, has been a reader favorite, and is in development for film. So it's only natural that her newest novel is generating buzz already. Heiress Nina Gregory grieves for the perfect and successful father she idolized, but in the aftermath of his death, Nina begins to uncover the disastrous secrets he had been keeping from her. Knowing that she was meant to carry on the family business running luxury hotels, she finds herself torn between duty and desire, expectations and aspirations. How can she trust anything or anyone when the man she trusted most has let her down so completely? I'm recommending this to readers who like romance and drama with some substance.

The Huntress, by Kate Quinn. Recommended for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Quinn's previous book, The Alice Network. In post-war Europe, Nazi hunters and a former Russian bomber pilot search for Nazi war criminal Lorelei Vogt,aka The Huntress, who committed unspeakable atrocities during the last days of World War II before vanishing. The trail leads from Poland to the United States, where in Boston a young woman welcomes her widowed father's new bride, an Austrian refugee named Annelise, with more than a little suspicion. How long will it take to track down the Huntress? And what will happen when they do? Also available in Large Print.

Reading Ahead: February 2019, part 3

There's more than one way to warm up in the midst of winter. Humor, family, warmer climes and comfort food are all on the menu!

I Owe You One, by Sophie Kinsella. Youngest sibling Fixie Farr has always believed in her father's motto: "Family first." So after her father passes and leaves his family with his home goods store legacy, Fixie spends most of her time working and picking up the slack for her mother, brother, and sister. But when her mother takes a much-deserved vacation, everything goes hilariously awry for Fixie and her siblings. Add some romantic interests diverting her attentions further and Fixie is in a fix and a half. Those looking for a light, funny read for a chilly evening should definitely reach for this.

California Girls, by Susan Mallery. Three California sisters lean on one another as life hands each of them lemons. Talkshow host Finola is blindsided by her husband's confession of infidelity just before she's to go on air for a live interview with a country-music superstar...who happens to be her husband's lover. Ali finds herself flabbergasted when her fiance sends his brother to Ali with news he's breaking off their engagement. And surfer-girl Zennie agrees to act as her best friend's surrogate, which turns out to be more complicated than she'd anticipated. Mallery fans will swoon!

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder, by Joanne Fluke. When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting for a televised special, owner Hannah Swensen hopes the focus will be on her bakery, with her personal life pushed safely out of the spotlight. But a visit from an ex and a murdered body found in her bedroom cause more drama than she could have imagined. Suspects emerge and secrets are uncovered, but how long can Hannah stay safe?

Reading Ahead: February 2019, part 2

Thrillers, mysteries, big cities, small towns--we have a bit of something for everyone today.

The Next to Die, by Sophie Hannah. Bill Dead Mates is the new serial killer making headlines: he picks of pairs of best friends, one at a time, presenting them with a little white handmade book before each murder. People are scared, especially comedian Kim Trebbick, who was handed one such book at a recent gig. Only Kim hasn't got any friends to be murdered with, so was that stranger really the killer? Or is there something even more nefarious at stake?

Connections in Death, by J.D. Robb. This latest entry in Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) long-running Eve Dallas series finds the lieutenant's old friend, night-club owner Crack, dating Roarke's latest hire, Dr. Rochelle Pickering. When Rochelle's brother is found dead of an apparent overdose in her apartment, Eve and her team of detectives delve into the dirty underground of NYC sex clubs, drug dealers, and gang wars, a world where double-crosses and dirty deals reign supreme. A fast-paced plot and a familiar cast of characters make this series a fan favorite. 

A Justified Murder, by Jude Deveraux. In this sequel to Deveraux's 2018 A Willing Murder, amateur sleuths Sara Medlar, her niece Kate, and friend Jack Wyatt find themselves reluctantly drawn into a new murder investigation, this one of a sweet older woman, Janet Beeson. Janet, it appears, has been shot, stabbed, and poisoned. In a small town where gossip moves quickly, the trio are quickly embroiled, searching for a killer among their friends and neighbors. Who knows more than they're saying? Almost everyone, it seems. Deveraux's delve into the mystery genre seems to be paying off!

Reading Ahead: February 2019, part 1

There's so much great fiction being published next month, I'm going to have to work hard to fit all the reviews into January! Ready to see what's on the horizon?


Never Tell, by Lisa Gardner. Sgt. Detective D.D. Warren and victim advocate Flora Dane are back working together on a third case(following 2018's Look For Me), and they have a sense of deja vu when Conrad Carter is shot dead...and his wife Evie is found holding the gun. D.D. is familiar with Evie from an investigation 16 years earlier, when Evie's father was found dead in a shooting death that was ruled an accident. But two accidental shootings is too much of a coincidence for D.D. And Flora is familiar with Conrad from her time as a hostage--her captor knew Conrad. Each determined to find the truth, D.D. and Flora begin to strip away lies and half-truths, making them wonder: just how many secrets can one family have? Also available in Large Print. 

The Lost Man, by Jane Harper. Harper, author of The Dry and Force of Nature, brings readers a new standalone novel set in the furthest reaches of the Australian outback. Two brothers, Nathan and Bub, meet at the fence-line that divides their two ranches--their third brother, Cameron, lies dead at their feet. In this lonely part of the outback, the brothers were one another's nearest neighbors, a three-hour's drive apart, with Cameron running the family homestead. But as the family grieves, they also begin to suspect one another--the isolation makes for a short suspect list. What might have driven one of their own to such an end?

The Girl in the Glass Box, by James Grippando. Julia Rodriguez and her teenage daughter have fled El Salvador for Miami, escaping violence both gang-related and domestic. They're hoping for a fresh start, but an anonymous tip leaves Julia awaiting deportation. Attorney Jack Swyteck battles her case for asylum, to reunite her with her daughter, and to help her escape her abusive husband one and for all. Also available in Large Print.

Mission Critical, by Mark Greaney. Eighth in Greaney's popular Gray Man series following 2018's Agent in Place, Mission Critical finds Court Gentry's place on a CIA transport plane compromised when a hooded prisoner is escorted on board. CIA headquarters intervenes on Gentry's behalf and the transport heads for the UK, where the prisoner will be interrogated jointly by a team comprised of CIA and MI6 members. Upon landing, however, they are attacked by hostile forces who kidnap the prisoner and only Gentry escapes. His handlers send him after the attackers. One man against an elite force? If that man is the Gray Man, anything is possible.

What I've Been Reading, 2018 wrap-up

By the very skin of my teeth, I finished my 100th book of 2018 on December 30th! I should note that a few of these (the first title and the last three) are all books I have in my personal collection and are not currently available in the Trumbull Library collection. Links for these go to Amazon instead of the regular Library catalog links.

Reunion at Red Paint Bay, by George Harrar. Simon Howe is a native resident of quiet Red Paint Bay, Maine, a place that advertises as "the friendliest town in Maine". He's the editor of the local paper, a stable husband and father. And then he starts to receive anonymous postcards, each increasingly menacing in tone, alluding to a pending threat not just to Simon, but to his family as well. It's a story of guilt, denial, and the secrets that haunt us, all with an unexpected twist ending. A fast read and something a bit off the beaten path, definitely more than your average psychological suspense novel. This title is also available to Trumbull residents via Overdrive.

Nine Perfect Strangers, by Liane Moriarty. Nine people gather at a remote health resort for a ten day retreat. Some are here to lose weight, or to jump start a life transition, or to deal with life's stressors. Most of the guests don't really seem to "need" a health resort, and yet, here they are at Tranquility House. The most intriguing person there, however, is the enigmatic guru who runs the place and who will test each of her guests to their limit, and possibly beyond, during the course of their stay. This was absolutely a page-turner, and if the story lines were not all of equal strength, I really didn't care. It was just what I needed it to be. Also available in Large Print and Audio. 

Merry Ex-Mas, by Sheila Roberts. I was advised that I'd been a little grinchy this holiday season and should consider a holiday novel to get me in the proper spirit. While the advice might have been good, I'm not sure this particular title was the best choice for me. Three friends in picturesque Icicle Falls are dealing with some serious relationship issues. Ella, newly divorced, is still living with her ex-husband while they try and sell their house, which is super awkward. Bakery owner Cass is having to try and make her daughter's dream wedding happen, on a budget, while dealing with the holiday rush AND the presence of her ex and his trophy wife...in her house. And Charlene's ex-husband resurfaces wanting to kiss and make up after the ultimate betrayal, but does he have ulterior motives? It was okay, but not my favorite thing ever.

The Reckoning, by John Grisham. I haven't read Grisham in years and years, but the subject matter of this new novel really intrigued me. Clanton, Mississippi's favorite son Pete Banning returned from World War II a decorated hero, having survived hell during his years stationed in the Philippines. Then, not long after returning home, this family patriarch drives into town one cool autumn morning and commits an act that shocks and horrifies his family and his community. Regardless of who asks or how many times they ask him why, Pete refuses to give any explanation for his actions, resigned to taking his secret to his very grave. Tremendously fascinating. Also available in Large Print and Audio.

The Songbirds of Darling Bay Trilogy, by Rachael Herron. (The Darling Songbirds, The Songbird's Call, The Songbird Sisters) Sisters Adele, Molly and Lana Darling were once a country music sensation who poised to hit the big time when a family tragedy causes the band to break up...and their family ties to fracture. A decade later, Adele comes back to the town they'd called home as girls, feeling the need to leave Nashville behind and put down real roots. As she finds a place and a purpose, she gradually reaches out and pulls middle sister Molly back, too. Molly has ended a long stint working for a cruise line and is, essentially, without a place to go. And once she's back in Darling Bay and finding her life's work, it seems like only a matter of time before Lana makes her way home, too. In the end, the trilogy is obviously about family, but also about love and friendship, about letting go of the past and moving forward, starting over. I'm a huge fan of Herron's characters, who are very flawed and that much more endearing for it.

And that rounds out 2018! I'm going to try for another 100 in 2019, and will be tracking over on Goodreads.com. I hope you'll join me!