Summer in a Cornish Cove

Set against the stunning backdrop of the glorious Cornish Rivieria, this summer will change their lives for ever! The book to fall in love with this summer - perfect for fans of Fern Britton, Liz Fenwick and Veronica Henry.

Oliver Foxley is an acclaimed movie star, global heartthrob and one half of Hollywood's golden couple. But under the glare of the spotlight his 'perfect' life is slowly starting to crumble.

Cara Penhaligon is a struggling young Cornish artist, and widowed mother of two children. Life has been unbearably harsh to Cara, but meeting Oliver might just give her a second chance at the happiness she deserves. As each begins to heal the other, the pieces of Oliver's frustrating jigsaw puzzle effortlessly fall into place. But as the Cornish summer draws to a close, Oliver faces the toughest of choices, and no one emerges quite as they were at the start.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Summer in a Cornish Cove by Kate Ryder is a novel of escape and new beginnings. The main characters, Cara and Oliver, each have an invisible weight on their shoulders that keeps them struggling to find happiness. Maybe one summer together can change that... 

Cara Penhaligon is a beautiful woman, wonderful mother, exemplary artist, and devastated widow. Though she finds fleeting moments of happiness with her children and her painting, Cara is still severely impacted by her husband's sudden death. Readers will connect with her through this horrible experience and feel respect for her as she moves on, feeling as if her late husband is with her, almost as a guide to finding happiness again. 

Oliver Foxley is a famous actor that suffers from deep depression. He's managed to keep this aspect of his personality a secret, but it demands constant attention, often leaving Oliver alone for days as he struggles to find his way out of the 'grey mist.' His wife tries, but she doesn't exactly understand how much it effects him. Readers will understand his suffering as they witness the depression seep in and dictate his emotions and actions. 

When Cara and Oliver meet, the attraction is instantaneous. Oliver immediately feels like he can be himself around Cara and Cara feels like she can find happiness again with him. While Oliver takes top billing in a play circling Cornwall area theaters, they spend the summer rediscovering what it feels like to be free from invisible weights. And though Ryder writes the story like a tale of happily ever after, there are a few dark moments in the book and negative aspects that caught me off guard. 

First, I didn't exactly like that Oliver was cheating on his wife who had previously supported him and his career, putting hers on hold so she could be there for him. One experience even leads Oliver to have a stalker (an overly obsessed fan) which ends in tragedy. I felt like this took away from the story of Oliver finding relief from his depression. And I know that the way the book ended was probably more realistic, I just didn't feel satisfied with how it all played out. I also am not sure (spoiler alert) that I believe Cara was okay with how Oliver left her after the summer was over. Finding happiness again equals happiness in my book while finding happiness for a few months and then losing it again does not. 

Because of these negative aspects of the book, I felt unsatisfied when it was all said and done. I thought the story was going to be about a summer of finding love and happiness, with a few trials, but nothing as serious as suicide and cheating on a spouse. Like I previously pointed out, maybe the way it's written is more realistic, but I wasn't exactly happy with it. I just had different expectations. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Fender

How far must we travel to find our way home?

Nothing could have prepared Brennan Glover for the car crash that claimed the lives of his wife and six-year-old daughter. Stricken with grief, the only things that get him through each day are breaking his sobriety and clinging to Fender—the family dog and the sole survivor of the crash.

Desperate to distance Brennan from tragedy, his two closest friends take him on the cross-country road trip they had always talked about. But what begins as an effort to mend his broken heart ends up unraveling a secret that changes everything he thought he knew about his family. Can a journey of six thousand miles lead Brennan to acceptance and new beginnings?

From finding the good in an often cruel world to learning to say goodbye to those we love most, this sophomore release from author Brent Jones is sure to leave readers longing for home, wherever that may be.

*Definitely Contains Spoilers*

Okay. So as a huge animal lover, going into this book I told myself that if the dog (Fender) died, then I don't know if I can finish it. I was wrong. Fender does die; I did finish the book. But that's thanks to Brent Jones' writing technique. Fender, the novel, is about a man who has lost everything except his beloved pet and struggles to find a way to want to keep living when his friends take him on a cross-country road trip to help him find his new beginning.

At the beginning of the novel, Brennan is a complete mess, and understandably so. His wife and daughter have just died in a car accident, an accident in which Fender, the family dog, survived. Brennan is wallowing in depression, an abundance of alcohol, and a cloud of cigarette smoke with no will to do anything. This immediately creates a connection with readers both sympathetically and empathetically. And it's when hope starts to creep into Brennen's inebriated mind that readers really push for him to find a way past this. 

Brennan is written as a very human, realistic character. He has positive and negative qualities that make him seem like an everyman type of character. These qualities are also gender neutral. I can definitely see these characteristics popping up in any person, not just men, and therefore I think the connection between readers and Brennan expands a little more. Brennan suffers from loss and the unknown. He turns to alcohol for relief and escape from reality. He's also a very caring human being. He's a dog lover who saved a stray. He's a parent who loved his child more than words. And he's reached a point where his life has become unrecognizable because he's experienced something that anyone could experience at any time: the loss of something he loved. This not only connects him to readers, but he sort of becomes representative of what readers could become. The path that we all pray our lives don't take. And that makes this book powerful, relatable, understandable, and scary. 

The plot of Fender revolves around the cross-country road trip. I agree with Jones when he says, if you've never driven across the country, you should do it. I have, a couple times. And it's different each time. It does seem to change your perspective a little bit and brings out what's important to you. It's also a great experience. However, Brennan's journey is about finding a way to start over with those he has left in his life: his two best friends and his dog. Yet, when his dog starts showing signs of being sick, the road trip shifts to a story about moving forward even when the past threatens to swallow you whole. I think readers who choose to pick up this book will gain a sense of inspiration and hope from Jones' story, but it wasn't exactly an easy read. It was a hard book to put down after I started it though. There's a sense of hope within the tragedy that kept me turning pages and I think a lot of readers will see that hope and gain a little something from the story. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Bonus: The author, Brent Jones, did actually take the road trip he writes about. He shared his photo experience on Twitter and you can view it here: Brent Jones Website! 

Marlena

Everything about fifteen-year-old Cat’s new town in rural Michigan is lonely and off-kilter, until she meets her neighbor, the manic, beautiful, pill-popping Marlena. Cat, inexperienced and desperate for connection, is quickly lured into Marlena’s orbit by little more than an arched eyebrow and a shake of white-blond hair. As the two girls turn the untamed landscape of their desolate small town into a kind of playground, Cat catalogues a litany of firsts—first drink, first cigarette, first kiss—while Marlena’s habits harden and calcify. Within the year, Marlena is dead, drowned in six inches of icy water in the woods nearby. Now, decades later, when a ghost from that pivotal year surfaces unexpectedly, Cat must try to forgive herself and move on, even as the memory of Marlena keeps her tangled in the past.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Life as a teenager is nearly always rough. A time of self-exploration, a time of mistakes, and sometimes the beginning of something that stays with us forever. Marlena, by Julie Buntin, explores these themes, coupled with addiction, alcoholism, and the haunting nature of memory. As Cat recounts a year of her life with imperfect hindsight, readers are taken down a horrifying, blunt, and, at times, crude memory lane where the end result is always the same: Marlena is dead.

The aspect of Cat's character that struck me as the most important in regard to the story is her unreliable nature. After her parents' divorce and her move to rural Silver Lake, Cat met Marlena and started drinking at the age of fifteen. She openly admits repeatedly throughout the novel that her memory isn't perfect, it's scarred and blurred with drugs and alcohol. At one point, she even admits to omitting things, casting Marlena in an ethereal, angelic light, even though she was a bad influence as well as a suffering young woman. One paragraph hit me in particular, blatantly telling me that Cat as a narrator is not to be trusted: 

The truth is both a vast wilderness and the tiniest space you can imagine. It's between me and her, what I saw and what she saw and how I see it now and how she has no now. Divide it further---between what I mean and what I say, who I am and who I appear to be, who she said she was and acted like she was and also, of course, who she really was... Imagine all these perspectives like circles in a Venn diagram, a tiny period in the middle... Maybe that is the truth. But my version of the story is all we f*cking get (Buntin 231). 

With this admission, readers see Cat as not only unreliable but self-deprecating. Cat doesn't trust herself, therefore she doesn't inspire much trust from her readers. And yet, we believe her. The story is so intoxicating and absorbing that we ignore her misgivings. We ignore her warnings and try to see the truth behind the inconsistency of her memory. Cat plays to the reader so that we both understand her and Marlena. We see the struggle Cat has with her parent's divorce and how she loses interest in success and all she can think about is escape. I even think we recognize that as a feeling we've experienced. And in this, Marlena becomes a myth-like figure, a warning, an inspiration. Chaotically beautiful in her own destruction. All of this culminates in a pulling, a luring, in of the reader. Fed by the storyline and the prematurely revealed ending that Marlena is dead.

Through these recognizable, understandable, and emotional characteristics of Cat, readers are immediately drawn to her. She's a struggling adult who suffered physically and emotionally as a teenager, though much of it was self-inflicted. However, there are no feelings of blame elicited from the book. I didn't blame Cat's parents, Marlena, or Cat herself, which I found very interesting. Well, maybe I blamed Cat's dad a little bit... but still. The writing style of Buntin leaves room for reader interpretation and I love when a book does that.

The real hook for me in regard to the plot is that Cat has no idea what really happened with Marlena's death. The storyline follows Cat's family moving to Silver Lake, Cat meeting Marlena, the next door neighbor, and then falling down this rabbit hole of destruction that led to Marlena's death. The whole book seems to revolve around a promise Cat made to never forget Marlena and that has haunted her for the past fifteen plus years. Readers truly see how much Marlena's friendship and death affected Cat so that Marlena's memory became her albatross. Marlena is truly a book that haunts, a book that forces a change of perspective, a jaunt down memory lane that scars and blurs the surrounding landscape and especially a book that questions the reliability of memory. I would recommend Marlena to readers who enjoy unsolved mysteries, the exploration of friendship and relationships and those who don't inch away from danger and dirty secrets.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

The Thing Is

Meredith Mancuso is depressed. Ever since the death of her fiancé, she has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she's not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she’s ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac.

Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an independent living facility, where he visits each week.

Prozac and the community of resilient older folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith, often against her will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns that most people carry some sort of burden, but it's still possible to find meaning, purpose, and joy—and sometimes, even love—along the way.

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Dogs have always seemed like part of the family to me. I've had at least one pet dog since I was a little girl and my parents bred Dalmatians. However, I tend to stay away from pet focused novels because they seem to end in tragedy and tears. The Thing Is by Kathleen Gerard may certainly bring tears to a few readers, hopefully the reaction will be caused by the uplifting and heartfelt storyline.

 

Meredith and Prozac are the main characters of this novel. Meredith is a woman who lost the love of her life to a one-in-a-million situation and now she can't move on. She's incredibly depressed, has no idea who she is anymore, and hides herself from the world. Readers will sympathize with Meredith undoubtedly. It's heartbreaking to hear about those things happening, even more so when you get all the details. Readers will definitely be praying for Meredith to find peace with what has happened and move back into the world of the living. And Prozac will certainly help with that.

 

Prozac is a cute little terrier who works as a Therapy Dog and some of the book is written from his point of view, which was quite a new perspective for me. Prozac is an intelligent dog who has been around the block for the last thousand years or more. He's been reincarnated so many times it's hard to keep track, but he works hard to complete his missions, even if he doesn't know what those missions are exactly. Readers will certainly like Prozac's personality, they may even laugh a little at his antics. They'll also see how much good Meredith is getting from Prozac, though she doesn't know it herself.

 

The novel begins with the night Kyle is killed and then jumps forward a few years to Meredith's depression. When Prozac's owner hurts her foot, Meredith is inadvertently volunteered for the job of taking care of him. Though she doesn't like dogs and is much too busy, Meredith does end up taking care of Prozac, who guides her back to her life. The book as a whole is quite inspirational and an easy one to read. The only thing I didn't like was how a few of the characters treated each other, especially Judge Thea. Though, I suppose the story has to have a villain. The ending was also a little sad, but with more focus on the good than the bad. It definitely made me hug my dog a little tighter afterwards and made me want to share a picture of her with all of you.

 

 

 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

After Dad, A Novel

"He was always there for me," Jenny Kovacek says in the opening of the novel After Dad, and indeed, her father is such a charismatic force in the family that despite his untimely passing, he continues to have a dynamic impact on his survivors. Set mostly in Southern California during the tumultuous 1960s, Ralph Cohen's debut novel tells the stories of the man's three children and widow as they cope with their loss. Though missing, the father is never far from their minds, and during critical moments in their lives, he seems to reach out in various ways, from simple memories of touch and voice to artifacts left behind to a sense of his ongoing existence. How each of the family members responds to his lingering presence leads to results that are by turn comic, tragic and transformative.

*Contains Spoilers*

 

Ralph Cohen writes a real and raw story of what happens to a family in the 1960s after the father dies unexpectedly from a heart attack in his novel, After Dad. Interpreting this title, a reader would think that it literally means "after Dad" died, but there is another way to see it. For a few characters it seems to mean following "after Dad." Or even, going "after Dad." Readers will witness this family's struggle and be entertained, appalled, afraid, worried, and hopeful for the Kovaceks.

 

The family consists of Ruth, the mother, and Jenny, Margot, and Toby, the three children. Frank Kovacek, the father who dies, was always imaginative and inspiring to his children. He'd tell them tall tales of his younger years, his soldier years, and how he fell in love with their mother. The three children undoubtedly loved their father and so did Ruth, even though it wasn't always easy.

 

Jenny is the most imaginative of the children. She dreams herself to other places and believes that Frank is with her, everywhere. She isn't the best student and struggles after high school ends. Readers will connect with her sympathetically after a horrifying (and inappropriate) encounter with an older man. Her family believes that her behavior stems from not going to her father's funeral and that's probably true, along with a few other things. She's picked on at school through a long duration of specifically targeted pranks. However, she survives. It isn't easy for her, discovering herself and her place in the world, but she goes on to win a scholarship to the same college her dad attended, following in his nearly forgotten footsteps.

 

Toby is the second most imaginative child and was quite young when Frank passed. He becomes a pretty troubled young man. Beginning with an unfortunate accident with a chain saw, leaving him with a disfigured hand and the status of an outsider. Readers will understand his outbursts and misguided sense of morality. Though he seems to be a good kid, his life becomes increasingly hard. Toby turns to breaking and entering to make him feel like he has a father. He disappears into homes, hiding, pretending, dreaming of a different world. Often, leaving with a small memento, which gets him caught by the police. He ends up in a juvenile detention center and hope slowly erodes to fear. Readers will be appalled at what happens to Toby. I know my jaw dropped open for a full minute. A difficult ending for a difficult young boy. 

 

Margot is the least imaginative of the children, but still feels her father with her at times. She turns from her family, needing to escape the darkness. But without a guiding light, Margot stumbles upon tough times as well. She's a smart girl who dabbles in acting, like her father. She chooses this path to be close to him again and finds that the feeling of connection is fleeting. Margot attends a community college and is reconnected with a girl from high school. This situation leads to her meeting Art and consequently getting married, though I'm not sure if she loves him or just felt like it was the next step. Margot then has a baby and experiences post-partum depression. Readers will connect with Margot through these struggles. I think out of all the characters, Margot is the only one that achieves happiness within the novel's confines.

 

Ruth doesn't garner much attention throughout the novel. She dates a bit after Frank passes, but her love is for him. It's obvious that she misses him and struggles to make enough money to provide for her children after he's gone. The novel ends with a dreamed conversation between Ruth and Frank, after the children have all reached their final places. These shared words will truly touch the hearts of readers, solidifying their connection with the family as a whole. After Dad is an account of one family's history without apologies, without a sweet dusting of sugar. It's real and uncertain. It's simultaneously sad and hopeful. And it isn't for everyone. The level of emotion and certain situations are only for the mature reader though the connection created between characters and readers is definitely one of strength.

 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Let Me Lead

A young ballroom dance instructor is the focus of two women who have very different plans for him: love and control.

Jared is caught between a student who loves him enough to help him question his life’s purpose and a brutal seductress who callously plays with his emotions.

Living through the pain of losing her husband and daughter is testing Christine’s faith, but this gentle woman is willing to put her heart in harm’s way one more time for her young instructor.

And Tracy? Well, to Tracy, people are merely tools to get what she wants--and what this sensuous young woman wants is complete control over handsome Jared.

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

Kathleen Sutton writes a harrowing yet hopeful tale of recovery, retribution, and sociopathic chaos in Let Me Lead. Three main characters take very different roads in their search for happiness as their lives intersect byway of a dance studio in Indianapolis. And though the intersection will direct them forward, it will certainly upset their normal routine.

 

Christine O'Garra, Jaden Gregory (who also goes by Jared), and Tracy Martin are the main players in this dance routine of life. Christine is an older woman who has experienced the loss of her husband to cancer, her daughter to fibromyalgia, and her son to the world. She feels completely alone in the world, with only her guardian angel and cat to keep her company. Christine is a motherly woman who thinks the best of everyone. Though she has a scar from her past, Christine doesn't let that interfere with how she sees the world. However, she does hold a bit of anger against fate and God and herself. She hopes that one day she'll earn her right to peace after all she's been through. Readers will connect with her sympathetically, and those readers who have experienced similar situations will connect on a much deeper level. Loss is a universal affliction and all readers will undoubtedly form a bond with Christine as they watch her try to rebuild her life after all is lost.

 

Jaden Gregory is a dance instructor with a past riddled with mistakes. His divorce. His son. Old drug habits. Drinking problems. But now, he's cleaned himself up and given himself a new name in order to move forward. All he really wants from life is a family with a wife who loves him and children he can take care of. Readers will be proud of Jaden for changing his life and bettering himself. He's a sweet thirty-year-old man who is ever polite and caring. Though he doesn't connect easily with others based on his unfortunate tries in the past. Jaden struggles to let people in, let people see the real him. However, when Tracy Martin steps into the picture, she threatens to ruin his newly built life.

 

Tracy Martin is a terrifying sociopath who enjoys creating misery for others. She's the very focused villain in this novel and readers will shrink back in fear of this woman. Some readers will be able to understand what is wrong with Tracy and therefore, be sympathetic to her plight, but she enjoyed her evil nature too much for me to even feel sorry for her. She's manipulative, mean, and readers will surely dislike her.

 

Let Me Lead begins with the death of Christine's daughter and husband, eliciting a strong initial emotional response. Then Christine is selected as a celebrity dance partner for an upcoming fundraiser. During her lessons, she meets Jaden Gregory. She immediately feels a connection to this man who reminds her so much of the son who ran away. As the gala grows close, Jaden develops feelings for Christine. Meanwhile, Tracy Martin takes over the bookstore next door to the dance studio for her Aunt in hopes that she can use the store as a front for her drug dealing business. When Tracy decides that Jaden is the perfect target to start a new side business she sets her sights on controlling him. The plot of Let Me Lead is incredibly engaging and with three different points of view, readers really get the whole story. Kathleen Sutton does an amazing job in crafting a story that involves such different characters and making it believable and understandable.

 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Seeking the Star

One December night, in the sleepy Cotswold village of Chilton Crosse, a drifter named Ben collapses on George and Mary Cartwright’s snow-covered doorstep. As Christmas cheer spreads throughout the village with a Dickens-themed festival, Mary nurses Ben back to health, but she becomes curious about the secrets he seems to carry.

On Christmas Eve, one of Ben’s secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past and to rediscover the faith he once knew.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Looking for a book to help you into the holiday spirit? Traci Borum introduces a new face to the Chilton Crosse community in her latest book, Seeking the Star. A man who has lost everything he ever wanted stumbles into the Chilton Crosse village and collapses on the doorstep of George and Mary Cartwright. They take him in, determined to save a young man's life, but they do so much more than that. 

Ben, George, and Mary are the three main characters of this novel. Ben Granger crawls into Chilton Crosse, barely hanging on to life. He couldn't guess the date or say when he ate his last meal. In fact, it's more like life is hanging on to him. All Ben knows is that there's a chance that if he never stops running, then maybe his memories won't catch up to him. He's wrong of course, but Ben is a man who has been beaten down and you can't blame someone for trying. He's at his lowest point. And for a very understandable reason, though I'll let Ben tell you himself after you get your hands on this book. Readers will be intrigued by the mystery surrounding Ben and it will form the initial connection. Once their curiosity is piqued, readers won't be able to stop until all hidden pasts have been revealed. I read this entire novel in less than a day. The emotional bond I felt with each of the main characters was substantial and I couldn't relax until I knew every detail. 

George and Mary form a different, yet similar connection with the reader. They're an elderly couple who have lived in Chilton Crosse for some time. Though they help and support Ben, they are living with their own tragedy, the loss of their son. Readers will sympathize with George and Mary while also feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and deep respect for them. Their struggle for happiness is a tough one, but they reach for it all the same. I can't imagine putting the pieces back together after the loss of a child, but George and Mary's story is that trial and, at times, that triumph. 

The plot of Seeking the Star is focused on the emotional journey of Ben, George, and Mary. Though it's obvious from the beginning that Ben needs the Cartwright's help, they come to need him too. The good qualities of each character make them all easy to like as readers witness their attempt at living life after tragedy. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Love and Peaches

After a not-quite-peachy year apart, three Georgia peaches come home to Darlington Orchard

When Murphy chose New York City, she left her first love behind. Now, a summer in Bridgewater means trading subway trains for pickup trucks and facing the boy she turned her back on.

Leeda expects her trip home to be over faster than her new Manhattan boyfriend can hail a cab--until a surprising inheritance saddles her with a huge responsibility.

Birdie's heart led her all the way to Mexico, and heartbreak brings her back to the orchard. But when the Darlington family decides to leave peach trees for palm trees, Birdie gets a crash course in letting go--and learning when to hold on.

Together for another juicy summer, carefree Murphy, perfect Leeda, and big-hearted Birdie return to the place that allowed them to bloom. Brimming with all the charm, humor, and heart of Peaches and The Secrets of Peaches, this satisfying conclusion to the series reunites three unlikely best friends for a final sweet farewell.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Jodi Lynn Anderson ends her tale of three Georgia peaches in the final book of the trilogy, Love and Peaches. Though it was nice to witness the end, I wanted more. I didn't feel satisfied with the way everything wrapped up. I needed more juice, more meat, more peach fuzz. Did I go too far with that analogy? Okay, I needed more details! The first two books were detail specific and Anderson gave readers every ounce of information. Disappointingly, the details in this installment skimmed the surface and disappeared before I could even get a handle on them. 

Murphy comes home to Bridgewater and the summer leads up to an absolutely life changing moment. Her mother knows who her father is and refuses to tell Murphy. Add that problem to the fact that Rex, her ex-boyfriend, is leaving town and wasn't even going to tell her and you get one emotional Murphy who struggles to show it. Readers will connect with Murphy through her uncertain feelings for her ex. She does still love him but doesn't know what to do with that love since she's always dreamed of living in NYC. Readers will also strongly empathize with Murphy in her desire to know her father. 

Leeda returns for the reading of her Grandmother's will and plans on returning to NY very quickly. But her Dear deceased Eugenie has other plans for Miss Leeda as she inherits her pet ponies. Her task is to use her $500,000 inheritance to take care of the ponies until new homes can be found for all of them. Then the rest of the money is hers. With this rather large kink in her plan, Leeda must remain and take care of the ponies and the other animals who show up on her doorstep with the help of Grey, a wandering eighteen year old who her grandmother hired. Readers will learn more about Leeda in this book, including her love for animals. She becomes more focused, dedicated, and open to the world in this final novel which will undoubtedly allow readers to make a deep connection with her. 

Birdie experiences quite a bit in this short book. She becomes engaged, runs away from her fiance, lives in a tree house, works the orchard for the summer, tries to return to her fiance and finds herself without a home. Like I said, quite a bit. Though most of the situations are briefer than they should be based on the seriousness of the action, readers will discover a deeper side to Birdie and witness her bloom into adulthood as she goes through these trials. 

The plot is well organized. All three girls return to Bridgewater on summer vacation and the story shares their summer of discoveries and loss. In the epilogue, Anderson shares what each girl goes on to do, which I highly appreciated. However, with a certain personality I had a hard time believing that her life would be like that. Maybe it's just me. I definitely enjoyed reading about what happened to the peaches but I wanted more from the third book. I expected more. And I was a little let down. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

    

Dangerous Waters

'Oh my God, what's happening to me? After all this time, please, not again!'

Jeanne Le Page, gripped by fear and panic, struggles to breathe as the ferry arrives in Guernsey, the island she had fled 15 years before, traumatised by a family tragedy.

Now she has to return after her grandmother's death. Jeanne has inherited her cottage and she plans to sell it before returning to the UK. Unhappy after the recent end of a long-term relationship, she has no desire to pick up her old life on the island.

Suffering traumatic amnesia after being involved in the accident that killed her family, Jeanne has experienced nightmares for years. The return to Guernsey triggers frightening flashbacks and she undergoes hypnosis to recover her memory, reliving the tragedy as the ghosts continue to haunt her. 

But someone on the island does not want her to remember, and she faces danger from an unexpected source . . .

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen's debut novel, Dangerous Waters, is a combination of understanding loss, facing fears, and finding love. Allen gives the readers an in-depth look at the life of Jeanne, a woman who struggles to accept what's happened to her and a desire to know why. 

Throughout the novel, readers follow Jeanne's story as she moves back to her birth-place, Guernsey, and begins piecing together her past. She's a well-crafted character full of life and love. She trusts easily and shows those around her how much she cares for them. 

The connection between reader and character is slow at first, but picks up towards the middle of the book. As Jeanne begins researching her family's history, readers will see the heart of Jeanne and be able to form a friendship with her. The reaction to her discoveries creates the foundation for making her a real-life character. 

My favorite thing about the novel were the interactions Jeanne had with the people around her. Allen's supporting cast of characters is a melting pot of different personalities, making for a fantastic read. Especially when they all get together. Molly and Peter are my two chosen favorite, as they are always near by for Jeanne, offering support in any way they can. Of course, the two love interests make for an interesting triangle, though readers will choose their sides. (And perhaps switch sides as more information comes to light.) 

The plot of Dangerous Waters was incredibly in-depth. Readers will have no choice but to be impressed at the thorough research Allen has done to make this novel come to life. The various plot lines swirl together to make one hell of a story, it's incredible to see how Allen perfectly crafted them as she didn't seem to leave anything out. It's a novel that crosses the genres of mystery, cook-book, history, and romance. 

Dangerous Waters is a stunning first novel that will leave readers anticipating what Allen will produce next. 

rating: 4/5

Dangerous Waters - Mystery, loss and love on the island of Guernsey

on Amazon

Note of Source: From Author for Review

Tears of the Broken

"Lies are the shadows of betrayal...the vampire will be the light.


When you love someone, there's nothing you wouldn't forgive. But what about murder?


Ara-Rose will learn that life is fashioned from one tragedy after the next, and that sometimes, the truth people hide from you is nothing you could have imagined.


But Ara has secrets of her own, and she's willing to take them to her grave--a place David Knight will fight to keep her from." - Amazon Blurb

*May Contain Spoilers*

A.M. Hudson's novel, Tears of the Broken, isn't the everyday, expected book about vampires and teenage love. It's deeper. The entire book is more an emotional character study than a novel with a perfect plot arc. 

Ara has just lost her mother and little brother, in a car accident that should have killed her. The blame she places on her shoulders takes her to the darkest part of depression. Tears of the Broken follows Ara's journey of accepting life and facing death. 

Readers can connect with Ara through her pain and her desire to have a normal teenage life. She has suffered through a great loss - one that has taken away her love for life. Yet, she goes on living while everyone around her waits for her to break down. 

Although Ara admits that she's selfish, a little spoiled, and moody, Hudson creates a character that is emotionally aged beyond her seventeen years. And then introduces her to David, a boy that is actually aged beyond his appearance. This meeting creates a point in Ara's life that allows her to move forward. 

But with moving forward comes more pressing issues. Such as, how to be in love with a person who lives by taking human life -- a vampire. 

As Hudson presents the emotional turmoil of Ara's life, she creates a life line with David. He's determined to help Ara move on. But when something happens that neither one of the main characters ever expected -- their relationship is threatened. The possible outcomes being eternity or nothing at all. 

How far will Ara go to keep the life that David has brought her back to? 

Tears of the Broken

on Amazon

rating: 3/5 cups