Pretty Baby

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica


A sincere act of kindness goes terribly, terribly wrong......

Chris Wood calls his wife a bleeding heart; "Every neglected, mistreated, overlooked, ignored, abandoned, forgotten, emaciated, abused, derelict creature on God's earth is Heidi's concern". This time, however, she's gone too far...this time she's put her family in grave danger.

Relentless, pounding rain drenches the young teenage girl and the tiny baby cradled in her arms. As Heidi waits for the train at Fullerton Station in Chicago, her eyes are drawn to the girl's thin, bony frame, sallow skin, and vacant expression. Commuters intent on getting home, eye the pair with pity and disgust. But not Heidi. She decides to extend a helping hand, not realizing what's about to enfold.

Chris and self-centered daughter, Zoe, are angry and perplexed to see a homeless, bedraggled teenager and infant taking up residence in their home. Heidi becomes increasingly obsessed with this girl named Willow and baby Ruby. What is supposed to be a  temporary situation, drags on and on. Chris begins to have serious misgivings about this stranger who has invaded their lives. Without Heidi's  knowledge, he begins an investigation of his own. Constant travels related to his job keep him unaware of how bizarre the attachment between his wife and these outsiders has become. When he finally realizes the extent of their involvement, it may be too late to salvage the life they've created.

Kubica presents the reader with three narrators, Chris, Willow, and Heidi, each one telling a part of the story from their own perspective. Even though it may seem complicated, the timelines and characters are easy to follow. After the success of the author's first novel ( The Good Girl, reviewed in July 2014) Mary Kubica is a name that suspense lovers will remember. A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she  makes the Buckeye State proud.

A guaranteed pulse-pounding thriller that hooks you from page one with unexpected plot twists and a surprising ending .

Eight Hundred Grapes

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave


"You have to grow about eight hundred grapes to get just one bottle of wine. If that isn't an argument to finish the bottle, I don't know what  is."

Wearing a tattered and torn wedding dress, Georgia Ford walks into The Brothers' Tavern, sits down at the bar, and stares at the two choices set in front of her; a shot of bourbon or a glass of smooth, fruity Pinot Noir. She chooses the wine. Her whole life has always centered around her father's award-winning wines and vineyard, so the choice comes naturally. She willingly left that life years ago. Now, despondent and confused, she's back where it all started. Coming home to her childhood roots means she can count on her family to offer guidance and support. However, Georgia soon discovers  that assumption couldn't be farther from the truth.

It's harvest week at The Last Straw Vineyard. A flurry of traditional events are scheduled, not the least of which is Georgia's wedding to Ben. No one knows that the bride recently uncovered a catastrophic secret that the love of her life has been conveniently hiding. That secret is named Maddie, his adorable five-year-old daughter with a stunning Hollywood actress. And he's known about the child for far longer than he cares to admit. The couple's anticipated move to London with Ben's ready-made family nearby, now seems premature and risky. Georgia retreats to the arms of her parents, hoping to find comfort and guidance while she makes life-altering decisions. Much to her dismay, what she envisions at home isn't reality anymore. Her mother is involved with another man, her father is selling the treasured  family vineyard, and her brothers are at odds with one another over a woman they both love. Georgia's once idyllic life is now a messy conglomeration of problems.

From the author of The First Husband and The Divorce Party (both highly recommended) this is an entertaining look at the power and strength of family bonds, the acceptance of harsh truths, and the realization that following our hearts may be the recipe for happiness. Laura Dave writes with honesty and humor which make her books so appealing.

So grab a Chardonnay, Merlot, or whatever suits your mood, and get ready to enjoy a visit to Sonoma County. In addition to a delightful story, you'll learn a great deal about the fascinating process that goes into making each and every mellow, satisfying bottle of wine.

Those Girls

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens


As Jess and Dani watch in horror, their drunken, glassy-eyed father attempts to drown their sister Courtney. They listen to his malicious, cruel comments, see his lips curl into a leering smirk on his distorted face. He doesn't realize that the years of abuse and abandonment on his part are about to end. At her breaking point, fourteen-year-old Jess feels the cool metal of the rifle in her hands as she pulls the trigger.

In an instant, she murders "Dad".

The three sisters bury their father's body in a pig pen reeking of foul waste and debris. They hide crucial evidence, then begin a journey on the run to Vancouver where they hope to start over. They don't count on their dilapidated truck breaking down in the creepy little town of Cash Creek. Here they meet brothers Brian and Gavin, two locals from a nearby ranch who offer to help them fix the truck in exchange for a hard day's work on the land they call home. But it's all a ploy by a bully and a deviant psychopath. The boys have a sick and twisted plan for the vulnerable teens. After five days of torture, the girls mange to escape from their captors and with the help of an ex-con, finally make it to Vancouver with new identities. Then Jess learns she is pregnant with Brian's child. Determined to never reveal the truth of her daughter's conception, she and her sisters begin a new life, praying no one will ever learn of  their dirty little secrets.

The second half of the story begins eighteen years later, narrated by Skylar, the daughter Jamie (Jess) vows to protect at all costs. The young woman's curiosity about her family's past takes a perilous turn when Crystal (Courtney) decides to avenge the unthinkable deeds of two evil men she and her sisters foolishly trusted years ago. Crystal sets off for Cash Creek with Skylar not far behind. They find themselves in dangerous territory when Brian and Gavin recognize Crystal as one of  "those girls" they victimized years ago. Older, but still callous and ruthless, the men swear to make them disappear once and for all.

Intense, brutal, and graphic, readers will cringe at many of the descriptive passages in this novel, while feeling the gripping fear endured by the characters.  It's a story of ultimate survival, mind over matter, and being "so scared that if I stopped being angry, there'd be nothing left of me".

Another winner from the master of suspense, author Chevy Stevens.









   

The Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers by Davis McCullough

They wanted to fly. This is a stirring account of how two determined brothers from Dayton, Ohio succeeded in their quest to do what so many regarded as unrealistic and foolish. In spite of their awe-inspiring accomplishments, the Wright brothers remained humble and unassuming, an inspiration to the common man that perseverance and dedication to a cause prevails over adversity.

"For all they had seen and done, the unprecedented glory bestowed on them, it had by all signs neither changed them nor turned their heads in the least. There was no boasting, no preening, no getting too big for their britches, as said, and it was this, almost as much as their phenomenal achievements, that was so greatly admired. As one writer on the scene put it, "They are the imperturbable 'men from home' as always".

And until the end, that home was Dayton, Ohio.

This Pulitzer-Prize author's research is incredibly extensive starting with the "boys" humble beginnings to their historic experimental flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They were relentless in the pursuit of a dream, knowing that each attempt to soar like the birds they envied,  put their lives in danger. The moving personal diaries and documented Wright Papers give the reader a true look into the minds and lives of these pioneers.

However, the truly inspiring part of this book is the author's insight into the personal lives of these two humble men. They didn't have indoor plumbing growing up, they didn't travel in the "right" social circles, they didn't worry about being recognized to enhance swollen egos. What they did have was a devoted mother who died too young, and a preacher father who surrounded his sons with books that encouraged his children to reach for heights others would never even considered. The reader learns how much sister Katherine influenced them in their journey to success, while remaining in the shadows. An Oberlin (Ohio) graduate, she too excelled in her dreams of excellence and offered encouragement every step of the way.

On March 12, 1906, Wilbur and Orville Wright wrote, "The best dividends on the labor invested have invariably come from seeking more knowledge rather than more power".

This book is a testament to those words.

The Summer's End

The Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe

Summer is here. Sunny days are sure to follow this wave of endless rain, so relax and enjoy some delicious beach reads. Written by the queens of this genre, they're guaranteed to take you away....you'll savor these new releases rain or shine.

Mary Alice Monroe concludes her trilogy about the story of three half-sisters reconnecting with one another under the guidance of their beloved and very wise grandmother, "Mamaw".

This final chapter centers on Harper, the youngest granddaughter from New York. Independent, feisty, and beautiful, she longs to escape from the endless criticism of her intimidating mother. The family estate on Sullivan's Island known as Sea Breeze, offers her the opportunity to discover her true identity and talents. When Mawaw announces she is selling the property, Harper and her siblings must face the harsh reality that they may no longer have a place to call home. Together, with the help of a handsome Marine, sisters bond to define what it means to be a family.

Monroe fans will not be disappointed as she brings this story to a close. I suggest starting with The Summer Girls (beach read, June, 2013 on my blog), followed by the second book The Summer Wind in order to meet the array of personalities involved.  The Lowcountry of  South Carolina with  its white sand and swaying palmetto trees is a perfect setting for this rich and fulfilling trilogy about characters you'll come to know as friends. Hard to say goodbye to them.      









































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The Rumor

The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

Gossip is the norm on the tiny island of Nantucket. When it spirals out of control, there's nothing left to do but pick up the pieces.

Grace and "Fast Eddie" Panick's home and gardens are a showcase. Everyone admires and envies exquisite perfection. Grace, along with her incredibly handsome landscape architect, Benton Coe, have created an outdoor masterpiece. But people say Benton is doing a whole lot more than pruning rosebushes.....

Eddie is trying to save his crumbling real estate business. Unbeknownst to Grace, he's resorted to some very unsavory tactics....

Allegra and Hope are their identical twin daughters. That's where the similarities end.  Allegra is popular,wild and reckless. Hope is quiet, and refined. When Allegra's behavior borders on the dangerous, Hope has no choice but to watch her sister self-destruct.

Madeline Llewellyn is Grace's best friend. She is a successful writer, feeling the pressure to crank out another hit. When her writer's block seems to have no end, she panics, knowing that financially the family is in trouble. So she pressures Eddie to return the $50,000 she and her husband invested with him for a big profit that never materialized. When Eddie is seen visiting Madeline,.....people say these two obviously must be having a clandestine relationship. In the meantime, Madeline hears about a torrid adulterous affair between her best friend and a hunky landscaper, the perfect plot for her next bestseller. She can't betray a friend. Or can she?

Rumors, rumors, rumors. It's amazing how quickly they can spread, creating havoc on this little stretch of an island four miles wide by thirteen miles long. Hildebrand is at her best with this one, creating vulnerable characters who gossip about one another with ease, never stopping to think about the ramifications.

A beach read worthy of the accolades.

Beach Town

Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

Check this one out for lazy days by the pool...

Greer Hennessy is cautiously optimistic that the tranquil little town of Cypress Key, Florida, is exactly what hot shot movie director Bryce Levy has in mind for his next big-budget film. She's counting on it. Her career as a movie location scout hinges on finding the  perfect spot for his supposedly blockbuster hit. Nothing can get in her way. But then she wasn't counting on meeting Eben Thibadeaux.....

Eb Thibadeaux is the mayor of Cypress Key, the once thriving home of a now defunct paper plant. He's also the city engineer, the co-owner of a motel, proprietor of a grocery store and operator of a boat repair shop. In other words, he does it all. As a native of this small town, Eb is intent on preserving the richness and heritage of his community. That includes the old rambling casino that Bryce and Greer want to demolish in an instant with a single blast. It seems Eb and Greer are constantly at odds with one another, which makes it even harder to ignore the mutual attraction.

When you take this basic premise and add in a litany of  interesting characters, another Mary Kay Andrews novel comes to life. Greer has to deal with movie star egos, a scheming former socialite, adoring fans, and a volatile teenager. When her estranged father reaches out to her to  give him a second chance, she has some tough decisions to make about life and love.

A playful romantic story  to stow in your bag for vacation days.