I really struggled with the characters and their decisions in this book, but I really enjoyed the story itself, along with the writing. Rachel has a whirlwind romance with Dhruv and after eloping, moves to Mumbai (from New York.) While there, she experiences culture shock to the extreme, and even more so when her mother-in-law Swati arrives unexpectedly to move in with them, and Dhruv doesn’t stop her even though Rachel has absolutely no interest … Read More “Mother Land by Leah Franqui” »
Category: Women’s Fiction
I hate to admit that this was the first novel I’ve read by Katherine Center, but it won’t be my last. Sam (short for Samantha) is the librarian at a private elementary school known for top teachers and a lot of heart. Unfortunately, the founder, principal, and essence of the school, Max, dies suddenly and is replaced by uber-safety focused Duncan Carpenter. But Sam knows Duncan from her last teaching job — a job she … Read More “What You Wish For by Katherine Center” »
This was a really good book, but make sure you pack the tissues (and you’ll need them almost immediately.) Natalie Harper inherits her late mother’s failing bookshop and the care of her grandfather, suffering from dementia. With the bookshop (and her family home) falling down around them, will she be able to convince her grandfather to sell or lose everything? Owning a bookstore, in theory, sounds wonderful — an excuse to read all the time, … Read More “The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs” »
What a heartwarming, bittersweet book, based on the true story of the author’s family. In the first chapter of the book, we learn about two sisters, Fanny, 27, and Florence, 20, daughters of Joseph and Esther. Fanny is 7-months pregnant and on bedrest after an earlier stillbirth with her previous pregnancy. Florence is training to swim across the English Channel. Unfortunately, there is a freak accident and Florence drowns, and their mother decides that no … Read More “Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland” »
Liza, Maggie, and Tricia are the Sweeney Sisters, very different adult sisters dealing with the unexpected death of their father, famous author William Sweeney. While dealing with the memorial and estate, they are shocked to discover they have a fourth sister, Serena, who lived next door while they were growing up and is now an accomplished reporter. Their father not only left a surprise daughter but a contract guaranteeing his publisher a tell-all memoir, which … Read More “The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan” »