When All the Girls Have Gone

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz


Charlotte Sawyer's tedious, uneventful life takes a dramatic turn when her vibrant stepsister disappears after a dear friend's murder.

Charlotte realizes that being jilted by her fiance is trivial compared to the fact that her beautiful sibling, Jocelyn, is missing. Supposedly, she's on a rejuvenating retreat, but this is just another well-calculated deception. In pursuit of the truth, Charlotte teams up with a has-been private investigator to uncover the truth and what they find is puzzling and disturbing. Jocelyn and her inner circle of friends are involved in some dangerous dealings and now they're all in jeopardy. A sinister someone knows they are getting way too close to the truth and will stop at nothing to silence them.

With tangled plot twists and a sprinkling of romance, this new suspense thriller delivers in every way. It's fun, fast-moving, and filled with likable characters who just might find their way into future releases from this talented author.

The Mothers

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

Haunted by the suicide of her mother, a defiant seventeen-year-old African American woman makes a life-altering decision and then silently watches as cherished friendships disintegrate and burn.

Nadia Turner doesn't understand why her mother chose to leave her without a simple goodbye. Her Marine father is vacant and distant, unable to raise a daughter while mourning a spouse. But what does seem comfortable and right is her relationship with Luke Sheppard, the decorated former football star and son of the esteemed pastor of the Upper Room Chapel. He's enthralled with her "prettiness",  and soon they forge a clandestine relationship resulting in a devastating secret that follows them into adulthood and beyond.

This debut novel from a new, rising author will attract an array of audiences, including young adults.  It examines the dynamics of open dialogue in family relationships, the fragility of true friendships, and the aftermath of idle community gossip and cover-ups, in this case perpetuated,  by "The Mothers" .

The Bookshop on the Corner

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan


A quirky librarian who has the uncanny ability to match readers with that perfect book they've been looking for, discovers that taking a chance on her own life has unexpected rewards.

Nina Redmond loses the one thing she loves more than anything in the world; a job surrounded by books. She's at a crossroad in her career, short on money, and at odds with her roommate, Surinder, who's tired of housing all those books Nina has rescued from libraries that are giving them away. If only she could make her dream come true of opening her own little bookstore.

With keen ingenuity, Nina buys a lumbering old van, moves to the Scottish Highlands and opens a library on wheels, much to the delight of the locals. Just like the endless blue skies that follow the relentless rains in the village of Kirrinfief, Nina finds that deep disappointments can lead to everlasting happiness.

Fun, playful, and humorous, this feel-good novel is an ideal choice to usher in the holiday season.  Any reader who fondly remembers when the traveling "bookmobile" came to town, will enjoy this easy read.

It's like spending time with an old friend.

Faithful

Faithful by Alice Hoffman


How long do you punish yourself for living?

That's the question Shelby Richmond asks herself every day after the tragic accident on any icy road that left her best friend, Helene, in a peaceful coma, while she herself walked away with just a scratch.

So Shelby chooses to live in drug-induced darkness and despair in her parents' basement, speaking in monosyllabic sentences and shunning anyone or anything that reminds her of the past. After all that's happened, it's what she deserves.

But then the postcards arrive from an anonymous sender, each one beautifully sketched with one word of encouragement. Slowly, the armor around her broken heart begins to crack, revealing the slightest glimmer of hope. Shelby ventures outside, cautious to cover her shaved head and gaunt, waif-line appearance that makes bystanders stare at her in fear and disgust. She begins to look beyond the pain, buoyed by unlikely, newfound friends, a chance at romance, and the undying love of a mother she never understood. Secretly, she dreams of an elusive career as she remembers the girl she used to be.

This moving story from a distinguished author, examines the power of forgiving yourself and reaching deep inside your soul to believe in your own self-worth. The re-connection between mother and daughter is especially touching, revealing the possibility of redemption for the lost and lonely who dare to let go of the past and believe in a new tomorrow.

Commonwealth

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett


A blended family of six children come to know and respect one another despite their unconventional upbringing.

Beginning with a stolen kiss at a child's christening, this story chronicles fifty years in the lives of step siblings struggling to cope with one another and the chaotic circumstances that surround them. The joys and sorrow of this diverse family eventually end up on the pages of a best-selling novel, much to the chagrin of those who actually lived the words on the written pages.  Parents' indiscretions, deceit, and lies permeate the tale but then, the children have a few secrets of their own.

This gifted writer draws on her own experiences in a warm family drama filled with humor and insight into the disharmony that inevitably occurs when different personalities collide. However, Patchett also reveals the fierce sense of loyalty and love needed to make a fractured family whole once again.

You Will Know Me

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott


In the world of competitive sports, young Devon Knox is truly a gymnast extraordinaire. She lives in her own bubble, supported unconditionally by her parents and the tight-knit community of other aspiring athletes. But that bubble bursts when their world is turned upside down with the news of the brutal death of someone very close to them all.

From an early age, Katie and Eric Knox knew that their daughter had the grit and determination to become an elite gymnast. With the intense regimen of a relentless coach, they paved the road for her success, even daring to whisper the world "Olympics". Their lives revolved around Devon; endless hours of practice and second mortgages to finance the growing expense of creating a world class prodigy, while quiet son, Drew, remained uncannily aware of what was happening to his crumbling family. Even with a debilitating injury, Devon seemed to overcome every obstacle. But along the way, Katie and Eric failed to see the inevitable changes in their daughter on the brink of becoming a woman. Now, in the midst of scandal, is it too late to save her and themselves?

Author Megan Abbott paints a vivid, behind -the-scenes look at the intimate world of competitive gymnastics, while adding the spice of suspense. Are the sacrifices required of aspiring to perfection worth the pain of losing your own identity?

The Wonder

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue


Historical fiction blends beautifully with a puzzling mystery in the newest release from the Irish author of Room.

Florence Nightingale protege, nurse Lib Wright, is sent to an impoverished village in Ireland to observe and substantiate claims that despite going without food for four months, 11-year-old Anna O'Donnell continues to live. Lib has survived The Crimean War in her homeland of England and the humiliation of a failed marriage, but this assignment may be the hardest of all. Her training under the esteemed Nightingale doesn't prepare her for watching a young girl waste away, while listening to the rants of religious zealots who claim the child is on her way to sainthood. Along with the keen eyes of  devoted Sister Michael, the two women document the girl's every move. Lib's skepticism grows about this medical miracle, yet the facts seem to prove otherwise. Is Anna truly a religious phenomenon or will Lib uncover truths that expose a shameful hoax that will make her question the profession she so dearly loves?

Donoghue's insight and research into the religious mores and beliefs of Ireland in the 1800's is impeccable. Her story examines how evil can lurk in the shadow of love, how holiness becomes more important than saving the living, and how the horror of hidden family secrets seep into the very being of a young child, bent on entering the heavenly kingdom.

A  moving tale with rich characters and surprising turns, this tale about "The Fasting Girl of Ireland" will make you wonder, indeed, about the compelling power of persuasion.