The Other Mrs.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

The old house Will and Sadie Foust inherited on
a tiny island off the rocky coast of Maine, is cold,
drafty, and dated. So different from the one
they once occupied in vibrant, bustling Chicago.

The dramatic move is probably for the best, considering
Sadie's shaky, controversial exit as an ER doctor from
the hospital where she once saved lives, and 14-year-old
Otto's violent past with school bullies who terrorized
him until the breaking point.

Along with the unexpected gift of a home desperately
in need of repair, comes guardianship of niece, Imogen,
a dark, brooding teenager who witnessed the unthinkable
tragedy of her mother's apparent suicide in the dusty attic
of a home now occupied by relatives she barely knows.
Imogen's mission is to make Sadie's life miserable, and she
seems to be succeeding in every way.

It's going to take a while to acclimate to their new
surroundings, but Will handles it all with ease and
finesse, working part-time as a human ecology professor,
cooking, cleaning, and entertaining rambunctious
7-year-old, Tate.

Life takes a dramatic turn for the Foust family when
neighbor, Morgan Baines, is brutally murdered. Sadie
hears the whispers and innuendos about Will's friendly,
flirtatious sightings with Morgan, and can't help but feel
the pain of his past affair. The police don't take kindly to
the new doctor in town, and when they question Sadie's
alibi at the time of the murder, panic sets in, with the
realization she's a prime suspect.

Suddenly, everything becomes murky and convoluted,
secrets and little white lies surface, and fear that a
killer is loose, permeates this otherwise quiet neighborhood.

Author Mary Kubica, a Miami University, Oxford, Ohio grad,
weaves an eerie web of mystery and deceit in her latest psychological
thriller. Alternating chapters introduce the reader to an array of
questionable characters in a complicated plot. Think you have the
puzzle solved? Don't be fooled....think again.

In these troubling, unprecedented times, reading an enticing book
can fill endless hours in a day. The libraries may be closed, but
ebooks, and audio books are still a resource. Better yet, splurge on
a purchase at a struggling bookstore. Since face-to-face gatherings
are not on the horizon, be creative in sharing with friends, family,
and book clubs.

This tantalizing gem is a good way to start.

The Sun Down Motel

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

In 1982, twenty-year-old Vivian Delaney vanished
without a trace from the Sun Down Motel, a desolate
stop off a lonely stretch of highway near Fell, New York.

Viv never intended to stay. This was supposed to
be a short break on the way to the glamour of New York
City, and her dream of becoming an actress. But when
she's offered a job as the night clerk at this forlorn
cluster of dusty rooms, she accepts the chance to make
some quick cash.

Viv soon realizes something's terribly wrong at the Sun
Down....locked doors that mysteriously open, shuffling
footsteps and the smell of smoke when no one's there,
the feeling of being watched from the shadows, the
flickering blue and yellow neon sign that suddenly
plunges everything into darkness, and the mysterious
woman who appears in a haze with words of warning to
run away.

Yet, Viv is inexplicably drawn to this dismal place where
time stands still. With fear and apprehension, she becomes
obsessed with a string of unsolved murders in this tiny town
in upstate New York, knowing that The Sun Down may hold
the answers. Dabbling in a dangerous game with some
very unsavory players, may prove to be deadly.

Thirty-five years later, Carly Kirk arrives in the bleak
town of  Fell, determined to find out what happened to her
Aunt Viv. What better place to start her search, than the
Sun Down Motel. Carly begins reenacting her aunt's life,
following the trail Viv left behind. Beckoned by the strange
aura that surrounds the motel, she makes a shocking
discovery about her aunt's past that puts her own life in
jeopardy.

Fans of spooky, ghost stories will delight in this eerie,
suspenseful mystery. Filled with complex characters,
unexpected twists and turns, and macabre imagery,
this spine-tingling page-turner is perfect for
those readers who revel in the supernatural.

Recipe for a Perfect Wife

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown

Alice Hale's wan smile and feigned enthusiasm
disguise her unhappiness as she walks through
the run-down house in the suburbs she and
husband, Nate, now call home.

Alice misses their tiny place in New York City, but
struggled to come up with a reason not to move when
she told Nate she quit her bustling PR job. Soon they'll be
able to start the family they've talked about, and Alice can
finally begin turning her dream of writing a best-selling novel
into reality, away from the stress and turmoil of urban life.

But there are a few things Nate doesn't know, like the real
reason his wife is unemployed, or how far she'll go to prevent
a pregnancy; secrets that can't stay hidden forever.

Alice finds a purpose in her new surroundings when unopened
letters surface, written in the 1950s, by Nellie Murdoch,
the spirited young woman who owned the Hale house many
years ago. The letters, along with a splattered, vintage cookbook,
reveal details of a new wife struggling to appease a demanding
husband, while fitting into a neighborhood filled with gossip,
back-stabbers, and Tupperware parties.

Alice looks forward to reading Nellie's fascinating letters that
give her the much-needed inspiration to write her novel based
on this mysterious lady. And as each letter reveals more, it's clear that
Nellie took dangerous secrets of her own to her grave.

Start the year with this riveting, page-turner about how one restless
woman in 2018, finds the courage to speak her mind, encouraged by
a woman she only knows from the pages of faded letters; one
Nellie Murdoch, a smart, calculating lady who endured unspeakable
travesties behind closed doors.

This is a story ideal for lively discussions at book clubs about how
far women have come, and how far they have to go. It's filled with
some interesting (and amusing) advice from the past, and a
treasure trove of delicious recipes, tested over time, when the
expectation of a delicious meal each and every night, was part of a wife's
duties.

Suspenseful, enlightening, humorous, and addictive, this novel
is one you don't want to miss.

Noel Street

Noel Street by Richard Paul Evans

It's 1975, and single mother, Elle Sheen, struggles
to survive, waiting tables at a local diner in Mistletoe, Utah.

How she ended up calling this tiny community home,

is another story for another time. Maybe it was divine

intervention, or maybe just luck. In any case, it's here where
she found kind souls willing to give her, and her son, Dylan,
a chance to start over when life seemed dire and impossible.

Now six years later, Elle still barely gets by financially,
worries constantly that her bi-racial son can endure the
slurs and prejudice he will certainly face in his lifetime,
and dreams of a better tomorrow.

When Elle meets William, a troubled Vietnam War veteran,
her attraction to him goes far beyond the physical. In William
she finds a kindred spirit, maybe because the father of her child
also served in the War, or perhaps it's his ability to find joy in
the smallest things in life.

But soon Elle learns that the man she is falling in love with,
harbors deep secrets in his soul that could destroy any
chance they have for the future.

Celebrate the last days of the season with this short, feel-good
story about the power of forgiveness from the author known as
"The King of Christmas Fiction".

The Perfect Love Song

The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry

The vagabond life for brothers, Jimmy and Jack
Sullivan, is growing harder every day, now that
they are both deeply in love.

Along with their band, The Unknown Souls, the
talented musicians travel from one nondescript
town to the next, counting the days until they
are in the arms of  the women that make them
want to settle down.

But things take a dramatic turn when Jimmy
and his love, Charlotte, write a simple love
song on a back porch, that turns out to be
an immediate hit when the band sings the tune at
a local concert the next evening.

Suddenly, Jimmy finds himself in the spotlight,
without Charlotte by his side, as a manger known
for creating stars, hears the song, and decides charismatic
Jimmy has the makings of a rising entertainer.
The perfect love song turns into a Christmas wonder
that newfound fans can't seem to stop singing. In just
a few days, Jimmy is on his way to fame and fortune after
years of struggles and disappointments.

But acclaim comes at a price, as Jimmy finds out
all too soon. As the demands on his life become
overwhelming, he scrambles to find a way to make
it to his brother's wedding in Ireland, realizing
that the glitter of glory may stop him from being
with the people he loves at a memorable moment
in time.

Maybe the "The Luck of the Irish", and some very
special  people he meets along the way, will lead
Jimmy back to where he belongs.

Take a relaxing break during another busy, holiday season
to read this light, Christmas novella about hope and
forgiveness, filled with Irish lore, and a touch of magic.

The Last Affair

The Last Affair by Margot Hunt

Infatuation turns deadly when an unhappy,
restless woman starts an illicit affair with
a married man.

Nora Holliday never expects to run into a
familiar face at her out-of-town food blog
conference. So when Dr. Josh Landon walks
into the bar where she's relaxing and enjoying
time away from her husband and family obligations,
she welcomes the friendly conversation and free drinks.

Soon, innocent flirtation turns into fervent passion.
Nora and Josh return home with a dangerous secret,
one they know will ruin reputations and destroy the
lives of so many, if ever exposed.

What they don't count on is Josh's bitter daughter,
Abby, catching them in one of their clandestine moments.
Abby vows to learn the identity of her father's lover,
which sets in motion a series of events resulting in a
brutal murder.

But she's not the only one bent on retaliation in this
peaceful, seaside suburb. The list of scorned suspects
continues to grow, like an abusive, alcoholic husband,
and anyone on the wrong side of vindictive, intimidating rumors.

A riveting thriller about how out-of-control obsession,
revenge, and toxic gossip, can turn into unhinged insanity.

Fans of Margot Hunt will love it.

Nothing to See Here

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

When Lillian and Madison meet at a prestigious
boarding school, the bond is immediate, even
though highly unlikely. Lillian, the poor,
scholarship student, struggles to identify with
the likes of the poised, rich, and stunning
Madison, on just about every level.

But the young women defy the odds and become best
friends, until a juicy scandal sends Lillian back
to her lonely mother's attic, while Madison continues
to reap the rewards of  her wealthy father's influence.
They unceremoniously part ways, with the realization
that status and money really do matter.

Imagine Lillian's surprise when Madison resurfaces
ten years later with a lucrative offer for her former
friend; one that's hard to refuse. Lillian has the chance
to become" governess" to twins from Madison's husband's
previous marriage. The children's biological mother has
died, and it looks like their Senator father is now wholly
responsible for them; quite a task for a man who knows
so little about his own offspring except for one very troubling
detail that Madison finally reveals to a skeptical Lillian.

Supposedly, the twins spontaneously combust when stressed
or agitated, their little bodies aglow with flickering
flames at the most inopportune times.

Once Lillian witnesses the phenomenon herself, and
accepts the absurdity of it all, she agrees to be part
of a dysfunctional family that becomes more
challenging with each waking moment. Two confused,
sheltered children are slowly capturing Lillian's heart,
and what starts as a way out of her hapless life, turns
into a life-changing opportunity when she needs it the most.

This quirky, funny, offbeat novel with its improbable plot,
sends a clear message about the power of acceptance and belonging,
and how finding purpose in life can turn dark, meaningless days and
nights into hope for the future.

The Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager chose this one as her Book
Of The Month with good reason. It's for those who like to think
outside of the box, laugh, (or ponder) a wildly entertaining
premise, and empathize with likable characters, from an author
with a style all his own.