Review originally published in Library Journal, July 2020. The determined daughter of Jewish bakery owners in Atlantic City, Florence Adler, 20, starts the summer of 1934 swimming, as she trains for an upcoming trip to France to swim the English Channel. When the siren of the sea's life is cut short in tragedy, Esther and Joseph… Continue reading Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Tag: Family Secrets
The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Originally published in Library Journal, January 2019. Loigman's second novel follows Jewish sisters Ruth and Millie Kaplan from their childhood in Brooklyn to adulthood living at an armory base in Springfield, MA. The eldest by three years, Ruth is held to almost impossible standards, while Millie, with her striking looks and pleasing manner, gets away… Continue reading The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman
The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross
Originally published in Library Journal, October 15, 2018. In her third novel, Ross (What Was Mine; Making It) weaves a tale of the wealthy Hollingworth family and a secret that spans five generations. Rich historical details bring time periods to life from early 1900 wartime to the Great Depression and all the way up to September… Continue reading The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross
Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
Winter in Paradise will be released on October 9, 2018. The start to her new Winter series, Winter in Paradise is a not a Holiday novel (like the Winter Street series), but it takes place in January, hence the "Winter" series. Most of the novel takes place on the island of St. John in the Virgin… Continue reading Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
Little Big Love by Katy Regan
Originally published in Library Journal, March 2018 A modern family drama unfolds in alternating points of view of authentic voices between a 10 year old named Zac who likes to collect facts and cook, his single mother, Juliet, and her father, Mick. Juliet and Zac live on Harlequin Estate in Grimsby, a seaside town in… Continue reading Little Big Love by Katy Regan
One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline
One Perfect Lie is due for publication from Macmillan on April 11, 2017. I always enjoy Scottoline's stand-alone novels. They are quick reads because they are hard to put down, with just enough mystery mixed into the story line to keep readers guessing until the very end. The topics of her novels are varied so… Continue reading One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline
Starr Fall by Kim Briggs (Book Review & Giveaway)
As a thank-you to readers, author Kim Briggs, has generously donated a copy of Starr Fall to giveaway to one lucky person. To be entered in the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post by Friday, March 24th, 2017. Winner will be notified by email. ***** Preparing to take an entrance test for the… Continue reading Starr Fall by Kim Briggs (Book Review & Giveaway)
A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell
A Simple Favor will be released on March 21, 2017. The story unfolds through the points of view of three separate unreliable narrators. One is Emily, a woman who goes missing and is presumed dead. Two is Emily's loving, devoted, and distraught husband, Sean. The third is Stephanie, Emily's best friend, and the mother to… Continue reading A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell
The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
The Darkest Corners offers fast-paced thrills and suspense. The main character, Tessa, is sort of an unreliable narrator, causing readers to wonder whether she can truly be trusted, or if she is in on some secret herself. As more of Tessa's family history and past is revealed, readers may start to feel sorry for her, rooting for… Continue reading The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter
This is a heartbreaking, raw story of mental illness and how it can systematically unravel the bonds between a family. I wasn't sure what to expect from the story, but it was so much more than a young adult coming-of-age story. Of course, there is some young romance and dating involved, but poor Cassie was forced… Continue reading The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter
Librarian Laura 