They Left Us Everything

They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson


In this poignant, moving memoir, Canadian author Plum Johnson writes how her mother's death didn't bring the relief she so often longed for; instead, she's left with the pain of regret over what might have been.

The novel chronicles Plum's life as the only daughter of a staid, strict, and proper British father and a flamboyant, eccentric, outspoken American mother. Along with her brothers, Plum grew up with parents remarkably different in temperaments, separated for months on end, yet bound to one another with a resolute belief in their Christian faith and commitment to family. While Plum's father slowly succumbed to the agonizing effects of Alzheimer's, her mother remained spirited to the end, finally surrendering to the effects of old age, never revealing the deep, enduring love she had for her child

After her death, Plum discovers many treasures revealing the person behind the woman she never really knew or understood. As she and her brothers prepare to sell their beloved family home on a picturesque lake in Ontario, they begin the daunting task of sifting through the "pocket litter" left behind. They discover over 2000 personal letters, mementos, and keepsakes from the past that offer a snapshot into the complicated lives of parents who loved one another in spite of the extraordinary obstacles they faced.

Anyone who has cared for an elderly parent will relate to this inspirational story, written with warmth and humor. Candid and reflective, this well-written narrative will undoubtedly bring the reader to tears as the author describes her feelings of grief and remorse about the impasse she and her mother faced in telling one another their true feelings. So often we wait until tomorrow to ask questions about the past, to express love, to forgive.

Sometimes tomorrow never comes.

Arrowood

Arrowood by Laura McHugh


Wistful and nostalgic, Arden Arrowood returns to Keokuk, Iowa, a sleepy little town along the Mississippi River, to claim the family home that bears her name. Bequeathed to her by her paternal grandfather, Arden is happy to leave behind the shambles of the life she's created. This unexpected gift may give her the chance to finally discover what really happened on that fateful afternoon so many years ago when her precious, tow-headed twin sisters vanished from sight. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance are foggy. All she knows is that she was somehow responsible.

Soon after that horrific day, Arden was whisked away by her despondent, pill-popping mother and her fast-talking shyster of a father, to begin a new life as a vagabond, traveling from town to town. Now she's back home in a  place filled with memories. Maybe somehow, in these familiar surroundings, she can relive that agonizing summer and truly remember what she thinks she witnessed. This town, its people, and a resplendent, once awe-inspiring home, may very well hold the answers.

 Readers will enjoy dissecting and examining clues to discover the answer to a complicated puzzle. Much like her first novel (The Weight of Blood suspense/ thriller) the author draws upon her childhood days spent in the Heartland of America and masterfully conveys images of the serenity of the Midwest.

 "Memory is a slippery thing". This theme is reiterated over and over throughout the novel as much as the mystery itself.  Along with nostalgia..."the bittersweet longing for a time and place left behind",  the reader will fully understand by the end of the book, how fragile our minds really are.

The Wicked Boy

The Wicked Boy
The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale

In the summer of 1895, thirteen-year-old Robert Coombes murdered his mother, Emily, with casual coldness. His younger brother, Nattie, conspired with him, apparently aware of his brother's intentions. After executing their plan, they went about their usual daily lives, while their mother's body began to decompose and rot in a locked upstairs bedroom. Only when relatives began to question Emily's whereabouts, and an unbearable stench permeated the home, was the gruesome scene discovered.

In this true, incredibly well-researched novel, the author examines the lives of the brothers at home and in school before the crime. With a father often absent at sea, the boys appeared to have a love/ hate relationship with their mother. Nattie often followed the lead of his older brother, blindly succumbing to the great influence his sibling had over him. Robert was a peculiar, highly intelligent boy, prone to painful, persistent headaches. He was obsessed with "penny dreadfuls" (small, pocket books, popular during that period ) that  encouraged adventure and glorified crime. They spoke to the wanderlust within him.

The remainder of the book focuses on Robert's trial, Nattie's plea bargain, and the role a man by the name of John Fox played in the days following the murder. He was an older, somewhat feeble-minded dock worker whom Robert befriended and invited to stay at the family home, even with a decaying body close at hand.

Beyond the murder itself, this book sheds light on the social mores of England during the late 1800s. It's enlightening to learn how patients with psychological problems were diagnosed and treated during those years. Pages of photographs are intermittently added to enhance the story, as are the interviews with acquaintances and experts that share theories behind the perpetrator of this violent deed.

I encourage reading the epilogue at the end of the novel. The subsequent outcome of Robert's trial and life thereafter will surprise and mystify you.

Nine Women, One Dress

Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen


In this winsome, beguiling story, nine women discover that the proverbial little black dress has the power to dramatically change their lives forever.

Beginning with the creative genius who escaped the Holocaust and years later, designs the must-have dress of the season, this tale follows the path of a perfect little piece of fabric as it's passed from one woman to another, resulting in transformations they never thought possible.

Meet Natalie, a lovely Bloomingdale's salesgirl, lamenting over her failed romance. There's Felicia, fiercely loyal to her boss whom she's loved from afar for years, and Andie, the private investigator, who knows all too well the pain of a cheating spouse. Meet two Muslim sisters who privately shed their burkas for a moment in time, and a naive Southern beauty whose walk down the runway in a dress that's the talk of the town, leads to a welcome acceptance of her Alabama roots. A vast array of supporting characters join these women in discovering that the future may not be so bleak after all.

This quick read is a delight, combining humor and heartwarming scenarios into a story that will bring a smile to your face.

"A beautiful dress holds a little bit of magic in it".

The Woman in Cabin 10

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware


The dark, frigid, menacing waters of the North Sea are the perfect backdrop for a cold-blooded, calculated murder.

Travel writer, Lo Blacklock, is still reeling from her terrifying confrontation with an intruder who burglarized her apartment only nights ago. It's bad timing, and even though she's still shaken, she can't turn down the coveted assignment for her magazine to cover the maiden voyage of the Aurora, a small, exclusive, luxury cruise ship.  Perhaps, at last, her career as a journalist will earn the respect of her peers.

Lo is in awe of the sheer opulence that surrounds her on this elite ship; shimmering chandeliers, rich, polished mahogany, sumptuous culinary delights, and engaging, distinguished fellow passengers. The serenity of her luxurious surroundings is shattered, however, when she awakens one night to a loud splash emanating from outside Cabin 10 next door. When she rushes to her veranda overlooking the inky, ominous water, she sees a body slip silently into the deep, deep abyss of nothingness.

 Lo alerts security that she believes the striking, dark-haired beauty she met the night before in Cabin 10, has been murdered. Panic quickly dissolves into alarming fear when she's told that Cabin 10 is unoccupied, that the woman she believes she met only hours earlier, doesn't even exist. Suddenly, her past paranoia, anxiety, and history of hysteria, come back with a vengeance. Could she be going mad? Or is this an evil palatial palace on water?

Author Ruth Ware spins her own version of an often used tried-and-true plot, reminiscent of the famed Agatha Christie. The result is a satisfying murder mystery, much like her first suspense thriller,  In a Dark, Dark Wood (reviewed in October, 2015).  At times, some burdensome details seem to slow the story down, but overall, Ware infuses just the right amount of  terror and misleading smoke screens into another successful thriller her ever-growing group of fans will thoroughly enjoy.

First Comes Love

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Two sisters discover that time can't erase the secrets surrounding the tragic death of their "perfect" brother over fifteen years ago.

First grade teacher, Josie, is single, restless, and all too aware of the biological clock ticking inside her brain. She wants a child, and since the traditional way hasn't fit into her plans, she decides to follow her heart and choose a sperm donor. Should it be her best friend, Gabe, or Pete, a blind date with surprisingly admirable qualities?

Younger sister, Meredith, is a hot-shot  attorney, unhappy with her career choice and struggling in her lukewarm marriage to Nolan, her deceased brother's best friend. The shining star in her life is four-year-old daughter, Harper. Feeling the pressure of  Nolan's desire for another child, Meredith must make dire choices that may tear her family apart.

When Meredith learns of an appalling secret her husband and sister have hidden from her for years about what really happened the night her brother died, the fragile sister relationship shatters. A family is forced to examine the grief they never shared, the blame they harbor towards one another, and the realization that no one has the  "perfect" life, even the brother they cherished and loved.

Emily Giffin's command of family drama storytelling is once again evident in this latest novel. At the heart of this one, she examines the need to face overwhelming grief for what it is, a raw emotion that can destroy one's ability to move on and find peace long after a loved one is gone. Lies and deceit have a way of bubbling to the surface, and in the case of these two sisters, it's up to them to decide if love really does come first.

Here's to Us

Here's to Us by Elin Hilderbrand


Here's to one of many addictive beach reads kicking off  the summer of 2016!

Three battling ex-wives unite on the dreamy island of Nantucket to spread the ashes and celebrate the life of a man they all once loved, the irrepressible, Deacon Thorpe.

Deacon's meteoric rise to fame as one of the best known chefs and restaurateurs in the country, is nothing short of astonishing, Considering his renegade childhood days, few people could have imagined this kind of success .But notoriety leaves Deacon restless and alone. He's filled with memories of the father he loved unconditionally; a father who walked out on him years ago after spending"one perfect day" with his son in paradise.

Summoned to the dilapidated island home Duncan loved, the former wives reluctantly agree to meet in order to settle their ex-husband's messy financial affairs. There's first love, Laurel, an idealistic social worker with such natural beauty, Belinda, a conniving Hollywood prima donna and award-winning actress, and Scarlett, the alluring Southern beauty and former nanny.  All so different. But they are soon to find out that they have far more in common with one another than they'd like to admit, including the shocking secrets they never thought they would share. A long weekend in a crowded home, filled with antagonism and distrust...who knows what can happen?

It wouldn't be summer without a visit to the trendy, tranquil island of Nantucket that author Elin Hilderbrand knows so well. This one is perhaps a bit edgier and raw, detailing the pitfalls that often accompany money and fame.

Choosing a high-profile celebrity chef as the protagonist of this novel, is a stroke of genius.The author actually commissioned new recipes from a food writer and blogger, which are sprinkled throughout the novel, making for a unique addition to a satisfying story that ushers in the mellow, lazy days of summer.