"The Newcomer"

"The Newcomer" by Mary Kay Andrews 

Letty Carnahan feels like a fugitive on the run, and that's 

exactly what she is.

It was just hours ago, that Letty found the body of her sister, Tanya,

sprawled on the floor of her swanky New York City townhouse, dead 

from a brutal blow to the head. Panic and fear sets in as Letty vividly

recalls Tanya's recent, uncanny instructions, "if something happens

to me, promise me you'll take Maya and run". Tanya implied that her 

demise would be at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, Evan Wingfield, an

unsavory character with tons of money and power, a man Letty knows 

all too well. 

Wary of Evan's retaliation, and scared that she could be considered 

a suspect, Letty hurriedly leaves NYC with her innocent, precious 

cargo in tow, four-year-old, niece Maya. Letty's eyes are constantly 

checking the rear-view mirror of the battered, cramped Kia that's

taking them to a far away destination where anonymity might save their

lives. 

The duo are headed South, to sunny Florida, after finding a tattered

magazine article featuring The Murmuring Surf Motel, a place Letty thinks

holds the clues to Tanya's former life. Armed with Tanya's hidden "go-bag" 

of cash, and her sister's monstrous, diamond ring, Letty sets out on a 

risky, perilous trip, hoping to stay one step ahead of those who are determined

to find her. 

Despite the yellow "No Vacancy" sign outside the dated motel that surely 

has seen better days, Letty pulls into the parking lot, and manages to talk

her way into staying. At first, the snow-bird regulars find the newcomer to be 

mysterious and offbeat. But in a matter of time, Letty and Maya ingratiate 

themselves with the senior citizens, and become part of this lovable, motley

community.

And all the while, Letty continues to investigate the agonizing murder of her sister,

hoping to find enough evidence to uncover the real killer, before her own world

comes crashing down. Complications arise when Letty finds herself fiercely 

attracted to Joe, a local cop, who just happens to be the son of the motel owner. 

His mission is to find out the real story behind Letty's puzzling arrival, and the

truth about what she's clearly hiding from the authorities. 

Will Joe betray her confidence and turn her in, or will he find it impossible to

deny the growing chemistry he feels when he's around Letty?

A summer without a Mary Kay Andrews beach read is hard to imagine. Luckily, 

her fans won't have to wait long, until this May 4th intriguing, romantic escapade 

is released, just in time for those balmy, leisurely days of relaxation we've all

been waiting for.....

 

  

"Lost in Paris"

"Lost in Paris" by Elizabeth Thompson

Hannah Bond cherishes the quiet, sedate life she's created for herself in

London. Her expertise as a guide for Jane Austen-themed tours in the 

picturesque countryside, is the ideal career to showcase her love of books. 

After a chaotic childhood in Florida, with her flamboyant, alcoholic mother, 

this calm, peaceful life suits her just fine. 

So imagine Hannah's surprise and dismay, when she finds her estranged

mother, Marla, at her flat on New Year's Eve, making easy, casual 

conversation with two affable roommates hanging on her every word.

Other than sporting a beauty of a black eye from her latest boyfriend, 

Marla hasn't changed at all. With her gorgeous, auburn hair, and glittering 

knock-off jewelry, that magnetic charisma is on full display. 

How can Hannah begin to explain that her often absent mother was the

reason she fled the United States to start anew? It was the stabilizing 

influence of her grandmother and great-grandmother, that molded her 

into the woman she is today, and those memories can never be erased.  

Marla soon reveals her compelling reason for showing up unannounced

at her daughter's doorstep. She has uncovered a long-lost, mysterious deed

to an apartment in Paris, an eclectic, valuable piece of real estate the duo 

has unexpectedly inherited. Along with an ancient key, and an assortment

of yellowed, newspaper clippings, Marla and Hannah have quite suddenly

become part of a mystery just waiting to enfold.

With meticulous research, Hannah and Marla begin to piece together the 

secret, unabashedly exciting, and sometimes dangerous life, of Hannah's

great-grandmother, Ivy. Fascinating, diary entries starting in the 1920s, 

speak of raucous, bygone years that are a window into the feisty matriarch's 

life in Paris as a young girl. She writes of keeping company with literary, 

eccentric giants like Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and her undying

devotion to a famous writer. 

Why then, was she so intent on never revealing this bold and enticing part of 

her life, and how did she become the epitome of decorum in Florida, after 

experiencing the exhilaration of Paris? 

Perhaps you've visited the City of Lights in person, or just closed your eyes

and envisioned the thrill of seeing the beauty of vibrant Paris in your dreams. 

This mellow, debut novel, will take you there by simply turning the pages.  

Set to be released on April 13th, it's a romantic, historical fiction story about 

a mother and daughter putting aside the bitter past to seize upon an amazing

gift bestowed upon them, from a heart filled with love.