Desire Lines by Christina Baker Kline

In Desire Lines, Jennifer walks away from a post-graduation bonfire and is never seen again. Years later, her friend Kathryn, now a recently-divorced journalist finds herself back in her hometown where memories of Jennifer's disappearance come back to haunt her.

I adored this book. I've been reading lots of gritty mysteries and this one, while it did contain a mystery, stood in stark contrast because it was tamer (for want of a better word). It was a welcome respite and a wonderful read.

Over the years, there have been only a few characters with whom I really identified with from all of the books that I've read. That's probably not that unusual, but it sure is nice to run into a kindred spirit every now and then, even if they are fictional. Imagine my surprise when I saw myself (well, at least partially) in two of the characters in this book! Both Kathryn and Jennifer had traits that I possess or had thoughts that I've had.

By coming home and dealing with Jennifer's disappearance, Kathryn learned more about herself and dealt with some issues that were causing her pain. Because I had seen parts of me in Kathryn (as I explained above), I too learned more about myself and gained some insight into my behaviours and thoughts that I hadn't had before. I think that's probably why I loved the book so much.

There were two other things about the book that I loved. The overall sad tone of the book really appealed to me. I don't know why, but I really like books where the characters are miserable. I don't think of myself as a morose person, but I guess in some ways I am. The book is also about memories, especially those haunting ones. How memories work and how people remember things is another one of my favourite subjects.

One of my favourite passages in the book explains the title of the book.

...this is what I call a desire line. Strictly speaking, it's a landscape-architecture term for the paths people create when they cut across the grass instead of taking a prescribed route--people who follow their desires, if you want to be literal. But I just use it to describe any foot trails that's relatively new and hasn't been formalized by markers or maps. (page 323)

This edition of the book contains a P.S. section, which features more about the author, a reading group guide and excerpts of her other books. It was definitely worth the read, but I didn't find it as interesting or informative as other P.S. sections in other books. I would have loved more insight into this story and/or an interview with the author.

Highly recommended. I'd love to read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

Desire Lines by Christina Baker Kline, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©1999. ISBN 9780060566944(Trade paperback), 343p.

The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

The Girl Who Came Home tells the story of Maggie Murphy, a young Irish girl who set out from Ireland with 13 other members of her town to sail on the Titanic to a better life in America. Much later in life, Maggie finally opens up to her great-granddaughter about that ill-fated trip.

I loved this book. Told from two different time frames: 1912 and 1982, the book is based on true events using fictional characters. I especially love how the story unfolded, but I admit that it was really hard for me to read at times because it was so incredibly sad. I had to put the book down a number of times in order to compose myself before continuing.

Gaynor, the author, used entries from Maggie's journal as well as a few letters from Seamus, the boy Maggie left behind in Ireland, to tell parts of the story. I loved how restrained she was in doing so. It definitely wasn't overdone. She also included some real Marconigrams from the time period, some from the Titanic itself, at the beginning of different story parts.

I also loved the lovely little twist at the end about Maggie. I didn't see that coming, but it definitely made the ending a bit more uplifting. I don't want to say more than that for fear of giving too much away.

Although I hadn't seen any of the Titanic movies/TV specials/etc., I did see an exhibit of Titanic memorabilia. I loved the exhibit, but I don't think I truly appreciated the magnitude of the event or the suffering of everyone on board. Hearing/reading the personal account a survivor, albeit fictional, really accentuated all of that.

This edition of the book contains a P.S. section, which features information about the author, the story behind the book, a glossary of Irish terms, and some reading group discussion questions. The whole thing was worth the read, but I especially loved the story behind the story. It explained which parts of the book were based on real life events.

Highly recommended. I probably could go on and on about this book, but I'll leave it there. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic by Hazel Gaynor, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2014. ISBN 9780062316868(Trade paperback), 359p.

The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas

In The Keeper of Secrets, child violin prodigy Daniel Horowitz has decided that he's not going to play the violin anymore unless his parents also allow him to play baseball with his friends. World renowned conductor, Rafael Gomez, who understands Daniel's feelings, develops a plan to inspire Daniel. He's determined to find a violin that once belonged to the Horowitz family. It's not just any violin. It's a precious Guarneri del Gesú violin, which was lost to the Germans during WWII. His plan takes the reader on a heartbreaking trip from modern-day Chicago, to the horrors of Dachau, and to the leaders and rules in communist Russia.

I loved this book. The story was absolutely wonderful. It was filled with details about music, politics, families, secrets, survival and courage. The characters were fantastic, even the ones that were hard to read about. I especially loved how the story looped back and came full circle.

The book also contained a fascinating look into Russia, the Party and its leaders. All stuff that was pretty new to me, but I found it intriguing. The information about the concentration camps during WWII was horrific, while the details about the violins, how they are made, and how they sounded was all wonderful. I loved all of the references to music and keep thinking about how magnificent the soundtrack would be should the book be made into a movie.

There was one particular passage from the book that resonated with me. There was a conversation between Daniel and the maestro that talked about learning a new piece of music.

...it's in two languages, first the language of the brain, all the notes in the right order and the timing and the key and so on and so on. Then second, the language of the heart. This distinction, it is what separates all musicians. (page 20)

As a very mediocre flutist, I related to this passage.  I could learn all of the notes and such, but relating a "feeling" or learning that second "language" as a musician eluded me.  

I had reservations about reading this book at first because I thought that some of the details would be too hard for me to handle. And indeed, some of them were. Near the end of the book, I had to put it down for a few days before reading the ending. It was just too much. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but the ending made the whole book worth the read. I was glad that I didn't shy away from it despite the extremely heartbreaking parts.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062240309 (Trade paperback), 358p.

The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey

In The Widows of Braxton County, Kate marries Joe Krause and moves to the family farm in Iowa. It's not like she pictured or hoped it would be. For one thing, she didn't know that Joe's mother, Trudy, would be living with them. It didn't help that Trudy didn't like Kate at all. Eventually, she learns of a long kept secret in the Krause family about a death long ago that still has the town gossiping.

I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it. I really liked the story format. It jumps back and forth between the past (1890) and the present (2012). I thought this was a perfect way to present these two part to the story that were in many ways quite similar. The author was able to reveal little bits and pieces in each, which made it all the more suspenseful.

The problems I had were mainly with Kate. She said she wanted her own life and get away from her grandmother. However, she also said she couldn't wait for her husband to take care of her. That didn't sound right to me, not when it was supposed to be 2012. Also, I wanted to give Kate a shake at her reaction after suffering mental and physical abuse at the hands of Joe. She said it was all her fault for approaching him at the wrong time. *big sigh* Again, that sounds like someone who's terribly naïve or someone who's from a previous time period where women had fewer options.

On the plus side, I really liked Will from the hardware store, and the neighbour, Rose. Both of them were good strong characters. I also liked Hannah, the first widow, from 1890.

The suspense about long kept secret was really good. However, I want there to be more to it. I felt a bit underwhelmed by it all. It wasn't that I didn't like the ending it was just that I wanted something more. It did, however, keep me interested and rapidly turning pages until the very end.

Jess McConkey is also known as Shirley Damsgaard.

This edition of the book contains a P.S. section, which features an article about the author, the story behind the book, a reading group guide, and information on her other books. It's well worth the read.

This is the first book I've read from McConkey. I do, however, have a few of her mysteries on my to-be-read shelf. I had no idea McConkey and Damsgaard were the same person.

Recommended.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Jess McConkey's website or Shirley Damsgaard's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Widows of Braxton County by Jess McConkey, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062188267(Trade paperback), 358p.

A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb

In A Half Forgotten Song, 14-year old Dimity "Mitzy" Hatcher has been raised by her wild and aloof mother. She's lonely and is desperate to belong. When Charles Aubrey, a famous artist and his family visit the area for the summer, Mitzy befriends his daughters. As Aubrey becomes interested in drawing Mitzy, she becomes obsessed with him. Many years later, Zach descends upon the village in search of information about the artist and a particular drawing that has caught his interest. As he searches for answers, he uncovers long buried secrets of those long ago summers.

I adored this book! Webb is definitely one of my favourite authors and I think this is my favourite book of hers to date. The descriptions of the works of art as well as the setting of the story were fantastic. I loved it all.

Like Webb's other books, this one alternates between the past and the present. In the past, Mitzy is a young girl; in the present Dimity is an old, reclusive woman. I really felt sorry for Mitzy as a child, but it's her life in her later years that had me in tears a number of times. This alone kept me glued to the pages. I had to know what happened to this woman in her life that left her so isolated and alone as she got older. The story was more incredible than I ever could have imagined. It definitely took a teenage crush and an obsession to a whole new level.

The story is very relatable, at least for women. I think most teenage girls have at least one intense crush in their adolescence. Thankfully, very few of them (us) take it to this level.

The ending and its implications were haunting. It still gives me shivers to think about it.

This edition of the book includes a PS section, which features notes about the author, a Q&A, the story behind the book, a Reading Group Guide, suggested further reading, and other books by Webb. I love these additions to books and always find them worth a read.

I've also read two other books by Webb: The Legacy and The Unseen. I loved them both.

Highly recommended. I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm definitely looking forward to her next book, The Misbegotten.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

A Half Forgotten Song by Katherine Webb, HarperCollins, ©2013. ISBN 9780062234520(Uncorrected Proof), 469p.

The Original 1982 by Lori Carson

In The Original 1982, Lisa, a 24-year old waitress and wannabe singer, makes a life-altering decision. Years later she wonders what her life would have been like if she had chosen differently. Her journey takes her back to the original 1982 as well as an alternate one.

I was a bit disappointed in this book. I love the concept of this novel, but I didn't love the execution or the writing. Because the writing was a bit choppy, it took me awhile to get used to it. Also, I didn't love that both "years" weren't given equal billing. At first, Carson spent a lot of time exploring the alternate one, while the original 1982 was just left with a sentence or two. Of course, there were exceptions throughout the book and by the end she abandoned the alternate one all together. It just felt lopsided and I couldn't always tell what was going on. I think there were a few times where she didn't give enough clues to tell which "year" she was talking about.

The novel is written in the first person and is directed to her daughter, Minnow. That all fine and good until she gets to the sex parts where she leaves very little to the imagination. When you consider she's talking to her daughter (at times quite young), that's just icky. It could be just me, but I don't think any child wants to know how much sex or what kind of sex his/her parents engaged in.

Having said all of that, the story does contain some touching moments that were quite good. I don't have children and have never had to make the decision that Lisa did. However, I do know a few people who were in a similar position and this book made me see a side of their circumstances that I hadn't considered. In that way, I guess it opened my eyes a little and for that I'm grateful.

Because of Lisa's choices in her life, this book might not be for everyone.

I'm sorry, but I won't be recommending this book.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more about the author, please visit Lori Carson's blog.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Original 1982 by Lori Carson, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062245298(Trade paperback), 228p.

Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu

In Aunty Lee's Delights, Rosie Lee, whom everyone calls "Aunty Lee", has recently lost her husband. Instead of becoming another widow who plays mah-jongg and goes shopping, she decides to open a restaurant, Auntie Lee's Delights. When a body is found in a tourist area and one of her dinner guests fails to show up one night, Auntie Lee dons her amateur sleuth hat and springs into action to get to the bottom of things.

I really enjoyed this book. However, I didn't quite love Aunty Lee in the beginning. I couldn't get a handle on her or the other characters. However, about halfway through it all clicked for me. After that I couldn't get enough of them and the book ended too soon.

The mystery was set in Singapore, which was something new for me. It was what originally peaked my interesting in the book. The story really gave me a taste of what the country was like. It's especially wonderful that the author is from Singapore. That way I knew I'd likely be immersed in the real Singapore.

The book was billed as "witty", however, I didn't know if that was going to translate well across cultures. Humour is hard to pinpoint sometimes. What's funny to some people isn't funny to others. Add in different cultures and it could have come across as dull or anything but funny. Thankfully, this wasn't the case. It wasn't always laugh-out-loud funny, but it did have some rather amusing parts, mostly due to its wonderful cast of characters.

Speaking of characters, I especially loved this eclectic group. There was the odd pairing of Lee's stepson and his wife, a gay couple (their togetherness is still illegal in Singapore), and an older Australian couple, whose trip may not be as it seems. Then, of course, there's Aunty Lee herself, who has tons of smarts and more spunk than someone half her age.

I'm particularly fond of the following quote from the book:

...people ought to go through the ideas they carried around in their heads as regularly as they turned out their store cupboards. ... Aunty Lee believed everything inside a head or cupboard could affect everything else in it by going bad or just taking up more space than it was worth. (page 229)

Recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

Aunty Lee's Delights, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062227157(Uncorrected Proof), 260p.

The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen

In The Butterfly Sister, Ruby Rousseau is haunted by her college years. When a suitcase belonging to a former classmate, Beth, shows up on Ruby's doorstep, Ruby is taken aback. It turns out that Beth is missing and Ruby, despite many reservations, is drawn into the mystery and back to Tarble, her old college where the ghosts of her past await.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I absolutely adored the first half of the book and didn't want to put it down. However, halfway through the book something changed. It's almost like the author had a great idea for the beginning of the story, but didn't carry it through or didn't know how to end it. The second half was a major disappointment. One the bright side, if you can call it that, is that I didn't see those twists or ending coming.

I really liked Ruby. I admired her bravery in returning to a place that had so many bad memories for her. I'm not sure I would have done it. I was fascinated by her tendency (and frame of mind) to be drawn to books by women authors who committed suicide. I didn't realize that so many famous ones had taken their own lives. It's quite amazing actually.

I also loved Professor Barnard, at first. Her advice and guidance were awesome. I was so hoping that she'd become a ally of Ruby's and help her solve the mystery. There was one part that I didn't find at all believable. Apparently, Ruby and Professor Barnard had met before. The fact that Ruby didn't remember her didn't ring true. Even that little tidbit might be considered a spoiler to some, so I won't say more on the subject.

There were a few passages in the book that I made note of:

They say time heals all wounds. but I beg to differ. It seems time only deepens the scars.(page 96)

Anger isn't such a bad thing.... It moves obstacles. Nothing would happen without anger. It's a catalyst for change. (page 174)

There were a few more, but they didn't make sense out of context and I don't want to quote whole pages.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous and while I loved the title, I didn't quite understand the references to it in the book.

This edition of the book contains a section at the back that has information about the author and the book as well as a Q&A with the author and questions for a reading group. I always find these sections enlightening. It's definitely worth reading.

I'm not sure that I'd recommend this book. If the author writes another book, I might give it a try based solely on how much I enjoyed the first half of the book.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Butterfly Sister by Amy Gail Hansen, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062234629(Trade paperback), 298p.

The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

In The Blood Gospel, three investigators are on the search for a gospel written in Christ's own hand, The Blood Gospel. Those investigators are: Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert, Rhun Korza, a priest, and Erin Granger, an archaeologist. They start their journey underground by finding the crucified body of a mummified girl and are soon trying to outrun the evil forces who are also trying to get hold of the book. As they travel on their search, they uncover some mysteries of the Catholic church.

This wasn't my favourite book. In fact, there's very little that I enjoyed about it. I didn't like the vampire angle at all. I've been trying to stay far away from this genre because it just doesn't interest me. Having said that, I have read and enjoyed a couple of other books featuring vampires/immortals, so there are exceptions, but as a whole the genre isn't my thing.

I also didn't like the change of point of view in the middle of the scene. When done well, stories, especially mysteries, told from different point of views, are terrific. I generally enjoy them. However, in this case because of the way it was done, it didn't work for me. The different points of view were okay, just not in the middle of a scene. I wanted the authors to focus on one main character at a time. Because that focus was divided, I didn't care much for any of the main characters. I found Father Rhun Korza the most interesting of the three, even though he was one of the vampires I said I didn't care for.

I was raised in the Roman Catholic church and am fascinated by anything (including fiction) that attempts to reveal secrets that have been long held by the Catholic church. The church appears to be so secretive, that I can't help but wonder why. I want to peak behind the curtain, so to speak. That's what first drew me to this book. Even though I wasn't enjoying the book, I kept reading because of the promised revelations. However, that didn't really happen. There are a few tidbits here and there, but overall the story was convoluted and not very clear. I guess I wanted clear-cut answers (or at least the authors guesses) to the questions posed in the synopsis: Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? I don't think I got that.

I've read two other books by Rollins: The Last Oracle and The Doomsday Key. I loved them both. I also have a few other books by Rollins on my to-be-read shelf. I'll definitely be reading those, but I'm not sure I'll be buying any others for awhile.

Sorry, but I won't be recommending this book. If you are into that whole vampire genre, you might like it. I wish I could say there was more to like, but perhaps my lack of interest in vampires clouded my judgement.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about James Rollins, please visit his website. For more information about Rebecca Cantrell, please visit her website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow for this review copy.

The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780061991042(Trade paperback), 479p.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

The House Girl, tells the story of two women. Lina Sparrow, in the present, who is working on a reparations case for the descendants of slaves. Josephine, in the past, who is a house girl for Lu Anne Bell, the mistress on a tobacco plantation. Lu Anne is an artist, but there's some speculation and controversy, in the present, that Josephine might have been the real artist. Lina's job of finding a suitable plaintiff leads her to dig into Josephine's story and discover secrets of not only Josephine's life, but her own.

I loved this book. It was well written and extremely interesting. I enjoyed both parts of the story, but I think I enjoyed the one that takes place in the past a little more, mostly for reasons I explain below. The art and the whole the art world were particularly enthralling to me. I don't know a lot about art, but I found it captivating nevertheless.

To present this story, the author jumps back and forth between the past (1852) and the present day (2004). Secrets were uncovered and the details unfolded roughly at the same time in the story showing the symmetry between them. A perfect format for this type of story.

Both of the major women characters were strong, determined and very appealing. I especially loved Josephine's determination to get away.

I really enjoyed the letters Dot wrote to her sister. I've seen letters used many times in books and quite frankly I was a bit tired of it. I really wasn't looking forward to reading them. However, these were so well done, I felt like I was reading a piece of history. They had me totally hooked.

A couple of things about the story bothered me a little. First, when Lina was looking for a descendent of Josephine, she stumbled upon one a little too readily. Something like that could have and perhaps should have taken years. Second, the reparations case "wrapped up" a little too quickly. Perhaps this happens in real life, but it felt rushed to me. Because of these two things, I didn't love the present day story as much as I could have.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow for this review copy.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062207395(Advance Reader's Edition), 368p.

Something about Sophie by Mary Kay McComas

In Something About Sophie, Sophie is summoned to the death bed of a man she doesn't know. However, she arrives too late and doesn't hear the secret he needed to tell her. With the help of Dr. Drew McCarren, she digs into her past and uncovers secrets that could destroy the whole town.

I mostly enjoyed this book, but something didn't click for me. I thought parts of it were really good, but other parts were just okay. The story was definitely suspenseful and that was good. The long buried secrets kept me turning the pages until the ever end. I really wanted to know what the fuss was about. I also liked the relationship between Sophie and Jesse and the budding romance between Sophie and Drew. However, the touching softer parts didn't seem to jive with the harsh murders and violence in the rest of the story. One of them was too extreme, but I'm not sure which.

One thing I really disliked was the author's use the dreaded "z" (instead of an "s") in some spellings when Sophie was talking to Mike, the teenage character. (Example: skillz, page 39) I understand that it's the "in" thing, but I don't understand using it in conversation. I could understand it if she was leaving him a note, but how would he know that she was using a "z" instead of an "s" when speaking?   I'm confuzed.

I really didn't like Sophie that much. She jumped to conclusions (wrong ones at that) so often it got annoying. While I liked the romance part of the story, I didn't get the love-at-first-sight thing. I just don't think it happens like that. Of the other characters, I really liked Drew, Jesse and Mike. I don't often like teenage characters, but Mike was cool. He was so wise beyond his years.

I don't often comment about the cover of books. However, I can't help wondering about this one. While the cover is likeable, I can't figure out what it has to do with the story. There was some descriptions and discussions about the rivers, but I don't remember them (or any body of water) being a key element.

I'd probably still recommend this one even though there were things about the story I didn't like. There's a quote from Nora Roberts on the front of this edition. Perhaps her fans would like this type of book.

This edition of the book contains a P.S. section at the back of the book. It contains "insights, interviews & more...". It's definitely worth the read.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about the author and her other works, please visit Mary Kay McComas's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins/William Morrow for this review copy.

Something About Sophie by Mary Kay McComas, HarperCollins, ©2013. ISBN 9780062084804(Trade paperback), 296p.

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne

In The Guilty One, an eight-year old boy is found dead and eleven-year-old Sebastian, is accused of the crime. Daniel Hunter, a London solicitor takes the case and does his best to defend Sebastian. Daniel, too, was a troubled young man and this case reminds him of his own youth and Minnie, the woman who raised him.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is split into two parts: Daniel as a youngest with his caretaker, Minnie; Daniel, the solicitor, defending Sebastian. I enjoyed both parts, but I preferred the latter. I found it really interesting the way the court case was conducted and how it played out. I liked seeing Daniel as a young troubled kid, though, and thought it was interesting how his past affected his defence of Sebastian.

I liked Daniel. After a troubled youth he pulled his life together and became a successful young solicitor. Sebastian, the accused, was a bit scary for an eleven-year-old. I questioned his guilt all the way through the book. He definitely needed some help. The most compelling character for me was Minnie. I really felt sorry for her. She had suffered a great loss and always did what she thought was best for Daniel. The estrangement between her and Daniel and the cause of that separation brought tears to my eyes more than once. It was actually painful to read. I wished their story had a happier ending.

I’ve seen the terms “solicitor” and “barrister” before, but didn’t know what the differences were. According to what I’ve read, a barrister argues before the court, while the solicitor does not. There’s more to it than that, but that’s the gist of it. These are British terms and we do use them here in Canada, but I not sure we make these distinctions.

I think this would make an excellent book club book. I’m sure it would stir up all kinds of interesting discussions about troubled kids, the treatment of young offenders (Young Offender's Act or the newer Youth Criminal Justice Act here in Canada), and the foster child system as well as much more.

Highly recommended.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about the author, please visit Lisa Ballantyne's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2012. ISBN 9780062195517(Trade paperback), 451p.

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark

In Footprints in the Sand, Piper Donovan is in Sarasota, Florida for her cousin's wedding. Not only is she making the wedding cake, but she's also the maid of honor. When one of the bridesmaids disappears and some other incidents threaten to postpone the wedding, Piper steps in to solve the mystery and save the day. She's got her work cut out for her though, because everyone's been keeping secrets and even the most innocent actions are suspect.

I really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Wedding Cake Mystery series. Even though it's part of a series, I think it can be read as a standalone book. I'm not totally caught up on all of the books; I've only read one other one, the 2nd. In this book, I don't remember many (if any) references to previous mysteries, so anyone new to the series shouldn't have any trouble starting here.

The short chapters and the way in which Clark skipped amongst the different story lines really added to the suspense. The author had me reading as fast as I could and rapidly turning the pages, just to see what would happen next.

As usual, Clark has put together a great mix of eclectic characters. Piper is always fun to read about. She definitely has a unique set of skills. I wasn't sure I liked her postings on Facebook, but that's individual taste. I also liked reading about Isaac, who left the Amish life behind to become a wedding planner.

The location specific details really made me feel like I was in Florida. Clark presented some fascinating information about the sea turtles and a little about the invasive Australian pine. I loved reading all of that new-to-me information. However, I'm not entirely sure the mystery itself hinged on any of it. Change a few details and the mystery could easily have taken place on another beach halfway around the world.

By having a few Amish characters, Clark is able to touch upon some Amish traditions, such as Rumspringa and shunning. She was also able to insert some charming Amish proverbs. Like the sea turtle information, it was interesting and added another dimension to the story, but I don't think it was a natural fit with the rest of the story. Clark definitely made it work, though, and I enjoyed learning a little more about the Amish.

New Word:
netsuke (page 23): a carved wooden or ivory ornamental toggle on a kimono cord.

As I said above, the author included some Amish proverbs. My favourite appears on page 289:

Even a saint is tempted by an open door.

I've read a number of other books by Clark, all of which I enjoyed. My review of The Look of Love can be found here. The first one of the series is on my eReader, but I still haven't gotten to it. Clark also writes the KEY News Thrillers series, which is also good. I've only read the last three. For those reviews (and more), visit my Reviews by Author page and scroll down to Clark, Mary Jane.

Recommended. Despite my small complaints about this story, I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062222824(Uncorrected Proof), 367p.

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle

In Keepsake, Trish is raising two kids on her own. She doesn't realize it yet, but she's become a hoarder, just like her Mother. When her young son becomes injured after some of her many possessions fall on him, Child Protective Services steps in. To get her son back, Trish enlists the help of her sister, Mary, who's basically her opposite, to clean up the mess. Together they sift through years of clutter and uncover the memories, the secrets and the pain buried beneath it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is written from alternating views, Trish, the hoarder, and Mary, her sister, both in the first person. I particularly fond of this style; it was a perfect fit for this book. I loved hearing the story from both the sisters. Trish's hoarding was definitely a problem. Her defensiveness over every little thing was quite abrasive at times. I can't believe that Mary and the others who helped stuck around. I'm not sure I would have. Even though Mary wasn't a hoarder, she wasn't without her own problems: compulsive neatness. I can see how it could be almost as psychologically damaging as hoarding.

Even though I love the style in which it was written, I found myself spending a little time at the beginning of each chapter trying to figure out who was "talking". It wasn't always clear to me until I got a little ways into the text. Perhaps a chapter heading like "Chapter 3 - Trish" or even just to have "Trish" without the chapter number at the beginning. After awhile I figured it out that it was alternating so that if I had just read about Mary, then it was Trish's turn. However, every time I picked up the book, I had to work out who I was reading about. It would have been nice to have a reminder.

My one other complaint is that the story felt a little superficial at times. I can't quite put my finger on why, though. The author gave lots of insight into the thoughts and problems of a hoarder, but perhaps she could have dug a little deeper and wrote a little more about the "professional help" Trish was getting. I wasn't entirely convinced that Trish would/could change her current behaviours even though her reasons for being a hoarder were uncovered.

I absolutely loved the cover of this book. It's beautiful, but I'm pretty partial to pearls.

On a personal note, I found it little hard to read because we had a hoarder in our family. Actually, it was more like an ill family member, who couldn't properly care for himself or his house. Unfortunately, his many possessions and clutter had to be dealt with after his death. This story stirred up lots of painful emotions and memories.

This edition contains a section at the back of the book that contains a Q&A with the author, some questions for book club discussions and a bit about the author's other books. It's well worth the read.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at William Morrow/HarperCollins for this review copy.

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2012. ISBN 9780062003072(Trade paperback), 366p.

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman

In The Midwife of Hope River, Patience Murphy is a midwife in West Virginia during the Depression, just after the stock market crash in '29. She, like all of her patients, is struggling just to by, yet she helps anyone who's in need. However, she's very leery about getting to close to others fearing that her secret troubled past will one day catch up to her. After some time, she begins to soften a little to those around her and soon discovers that good things can come out of that.

Overall, I really liked this book. The story was interesting and dealt with many issues of the time including, extreme poverty, racial tension and the Ku Klux Klan. The first time I picked up the book, I wasn't sure I liked the writing. It felt clipped rather than flowing. I put the book down for a bit while I read another book. When I picked it up the second time, the writing didn't bother me as much and I really got into the book. I loved that the chapters were short. It meant that I could read a whole chapter when I got a few minutes.

I liked Patience and loved reading about her work and her varied past. However, her constant self-doubt, got a little old. I also grew a little tired of her looking over her shoulder so often. I supposed it was warranted, but even the littlest things got her wondering if her past was coming back to get her. I also really liked Bitsy and feisty attitude. I loved how quickly she picked up what Patience was teaching her about midwifery.

I learned quite a few things about midwifery and women in labour. Harman, the author and midwife, gave vivid descriptions of the birthing process. I was extremely fascinated by the details she brought into the story. I don't have any children, but I did attend the hospital birth of my niece, so I was a little familiar with the goings-on from that point of view. While I'm not at all squeamish about such things, I can see how some of the details might make others cringe a little.

I loved reading about the issues that Harman wrote about. It was interesting to see how people lived during the depression. I also enjoyed the birthing stories. Some were joyous, some were unremarkable (if there can be such a thing), while others were really sad. After awhile, I didn't really want to hear any more bad ones. It got to be a bit too much.

After reading about so much sadness in the book, I really wanted things to work out for Patience. I liked the ending of the book, but it was a little hokey and not that believable. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone, so I won't say more than that.

The P.S. section at the back of the book features some information about the author, a Q&A with her, discussion questions for book clubs as well as some interesting information about midwives and childbirth. I always find these sections well-worth the read.

Recommended.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman, HarperCollins, ©2012. ISBN 9780062198891(Advance Reader's Edition), 381p.

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

In The Map of True Places, Zee is a psychotherapist on the verge of getting married, when the suicide of one of her patients throws her for a loop. It that wasn't enough, she discovers that her father who has Parkingsons disease is a lot sicker than he's been letting on. When she becomes his caretaker, she makes discoveries that not only alter her life, but also allow her to see the past in a whole new light.

I loved this book! It took me a bit to get into it, though. I think it was a rhythm thing. Anyway, after about 50 pages, I was hooked. The book is written in short sections within somewhat short chapters and changes direction often. Great format and style! I loved the way it explained the past and present events alternatively and how it all fit together. Barry is a wonderful story teller.

The book offers lots of facts about different subjects and manages to tie them all to the story in a meaningful and entertaining way. I learned a little about Parkinson's disease (her father disease). therapy and bipolar disorder (her profession), and celestial navigation (an analogy for her new course in life). I love learning new things and I enjoyed these sections, even though they seemed a little more rigid (like a textbook) and less fluid and storytelling-like. They might not be for everyone.

The characters were outstanding, but I didn't feel a connection to Zee or her predicament. Even though she seemingly turned her life around, I had a hard time tying her troubled childhood to her adult life, where she appeared to be still somewhat unstable. Also, I'm not fond of the name "Zee", which didn't help.

The ending was outstanding with some pretty shocking twists. I didn't see any of them coming and at first confused me a bit. I had to reread a few sections to understand what was happening. Loved it!!

I love the blue tones and wonderful adorned sky on the cover.

This is the first book I've read from Brunonia Barry, but it won't be the last. I also have The Lace Reader, but haven't read it yet. I hope to rectify that soon.

Highly recommended. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2010. ISBN 9780061624780(Hardcover), 464p.