How to Walk Away by Katherine Center.

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. St. Martin's Press, 2018. 
Contemporary adult fiction.

Lovely young Margaret is engaged to her handsome fiance Chip. Life looks amazing. 

Until it's not...and the life that Margaret expected is pulled from underneath her.

This novel is probably not one that you would read if you heard the basic premise, but try it. It is funny, poignant, and life affirming. 

Margaret's parents, her estranged sister Kit, and her physical therapist, a Scotsman named Ian who seems moody and silent all contrive to take care of Margaret and motivate her to be a better person.
Just keep reading. I promise you will have to smile at this brave woman's adventures!

When the Men Were Gone: A Novel by Marjorie Herrera Lewis

 When the Men Were Gone: A Novel by Marjorie Herrera Lewis. William Morrow, 2018. Adult fiction.

1944, Brownwood, Texas, in the midst of World War II. Local men have already left for war. Some have come home wounded; others have been killed. When it seems that no one is left to coach the high school football team, Tylene Wilson steps up. Can she do it? Will  the players, the community, the refs, the opposing teams, and just about anyone accept her? Or will the season have to be cancelled in this small community where fall is football and football is hope? 

Well written and at times poignant, this debut novel gets to the core of loyalty, acceptance, love, and leadership. Characters are lifelike, believable, and charming in their own ways. A great read for any football fan or just for those who like books about strong women! 

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

  Black-Eyed Susans: A Novel of Suspense by Julia Heaberlin. Ballantine Books, 2015. Adult fiction/mystery. 

At 16, Tessa was left for dead in a ditch of black-eyed Susan flowers with bodies of other girls. She survived. The man convicted of the crimes is on death row. But, is he really the one guilty? Now, as an adult, Tessa has a teenaged daughter of her own and has tried hard to forget her past. Even with lots of counseling, she still hears those other "Susans" in her head. Tessa must deal with someone who seems to be planting black-eyed susan flowers in strategic places. Is someone after her?  Estranged from her childhood friend, Lydia, Tessa works with a handsome attorney, a smart forensic investigator, and others to find the truth so that she will be able to live her future and maybe prove who is the truly evil criminal.

(I started out reading Julia Heaberlin because she writes about Texas. It's hard now to explain to friends who have daughters with teenaged daughters that I am on a kick reading novels about teenage girls who disappear!)

Good as Gone by Amy Gentry

  Good as Gone: A Novel of Suspense by Amy Gentry. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. Adult fiction/mystery.

Julie's parents and sister Jane have lived years after eight year old Julie was apparently abducted from their home. At age 21, Julie appears on the doorstep. Is this really Julie? Where has she been?

Set in Houston, the settings ring true. Mom is an English professor and her drive to work is one that you could practically follow along the freeway as described in the book. A megachurch set in the Astrodome in many ways mirrors a real church set in another abandoned sports' venue. Different chapters about young women seem disconnected, but mesh together as the suspense builds.  The story will make readers think twice about abductions, kidnappings, sexual predators, and how families who experience any of these can continue to function and find ways to heal. 

How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny

  How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny. Minotaur Books, 2013. Adult mystery.

In case you have not become hooked on this series, you might like to start with the first ones and read in order. I just found this title and jumped in. I now plan to go back and read all of them. While I did not recognize any of the characters or have background knowledge, the plot was easy to follow. The writing is exquisite; details of the people and places make it easy to imagine them. Read slowly and savor the details with your own cup of hot chocolate.

Set in Quebec in the Christmas season, Gamache finds refuge in the tiny village of Three Pines. The quaint place has no Internet, no wifi, and little to recommend it except the quirky residents and the local pub. Providing a "time out" for Gamache and several others who are embroiled in a mystery surrounding a national scandal and a dangerous plot that will kill hundreds, Three Pines is truly a character in its own right.  One of the most famous women in the world has disappeared and Gamache must find out what has happened. The woman's connections to Three Pines and its residents provide the basis for much of the story.

Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes

 Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes. Scholastic, 2018. Children's chapter book. Middle grade fiction.

When Paloma's mother receives funding to go to Mexico for several weeks, Paloma becomes the heroine of her own mystery ala Nancy Drew! A typical middle schooler, Paloma is feisty, smart, and makes new friends. Gael and his sister, Lizzie, a female mariachi musician, need to find enough clues to help their father. Handsome Tavo and his wealthy parents are the ones who have funded the trip. As Paloma takes language and culture classes and visits the home of the famous artist Frida Kahlo, she is intrigued by a locked room, a missing ring, and the strange fortune teller and Limping Man who seem to appear at the most impossible times. Who can Paloma really trust? Will her curiosity get her into real trouble in Mexico? A perfect blend of cultures, mystery, and friendship!

The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

 The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Illustrated by Ryan Andrews. Candlewick, 2018. Children's chapter book, fiction.

Lowen, age 12, carries around a lot of guilt about the death of his friend, Abe. Lowen is a budding cartoon illustrator. He has an older brother and sister, a mom and a dad. They live in Flintlock until the family applies to "win" a house for a dollar in Millville. The mill is gone, the houses are in terrible shape, and the town wants families with children who can work there and help revitalize the community. Lowen and his older brother, Clem, are enthusiastic, but their sister does not want to leave her friends. When the family sees the house, they realize what a job lies in store for them in order to get it habitable and make it a true home. Is the family up to it? Can Lower find a new life and friends to help him come to terms with his grief and loneliness? 

I read a lot of children's books. It's unusual to find a new plot with captivating characters, distinct setting, and so much heart. This book will win over the most jaded reader! The illustrations, black and white, are marvelous, but few. The narrative is so well written that readers will be able to picture the characters and towns, but some readers will no doubt draw their own accompanying illustrations as they read. 

Playing Dead, A Novel by Julia Heaberlin

 Playing Dead, A Novel by Julia Heaberlin. Random House, 2012. Mystery.

With her father now dead and her mother slipping into dementia, Tommie McCloud faces a dilemma that life on a Texas ranch with her sister and brother and parents never prepared her to experience. A letter arrives that asks, "Do you really know who you are?" It claims to be from a woman in Chicago who thinks she is Tommie's mother. Her real father, supposedly, is a Mafia crime boss! Tommie assembles a diverse cast of her own and her father's friends to help her find out the truth. Is she really the little kidnapped girl, Adriana, from over thirty years ago?

Racing through Texas and drinking Dr. Pepper, Tommie is as Texan a heroine as can be imagined. Readers will enjoy the ride as they follow clues and sort through for the truth as Tommie becomes more and more involved in danger. What can she believe? Whom can she trust?

This is the debut novel of  Julia Heaberlin. She has written several other titles now, but catch her as she began with this one.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13.

 Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13. Written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2018. Children's picture book.

A childlike retelling of the complicated work and the life of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, this colorful picture book will enchant both children and adults. Known for her accuracy and leadership, Johnson calculated the numbers for the Friendship 7 that took John Glenn into space. She worked on the Apollo 11 where men first walked on the moon. But, when Apollo 13 had an explosion, everyone come to know the famous words by astronaut Jim Lovell, "Houston, we have a problem." Katherine Johnson redid the flight pattern to one that would take the astronauts around the far side of the moon and require them to burn off fuel at certain intervals. With her instructions, they were able to return safely to Earth. A humble person, she did not want to take credit and always said that she worked on a team. But, readers will agree that Katherine Johnson was really a star herself.

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

 Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. Candlewick Press, 2018. Children's picture book.

When Julian and his abuelita come home from their weekly swim, they see several people on the subway. These beautiful people have foofy hair, long dresses, jewelry and Julian delights in that he thinks they are mermaids. While Abuelita takes a bath, Julian finds his own mermaid costume. What a surprise when Abuelita sees him!  But, like the loving grandmother that she is, she gives him a necklace and takes him to the beach to participate in the mermaid parade where he can be as confident as any of the mermaids.

In this, her author-illustrator debut, Jessica Love shines a spotlight on the loving relationship of a small boy and his grandmother. The illustrations are lovely, even the endpapers with the diversely sized women in their swimsuits at the beginning and then, as mermaids, at the end. The story will start conversations among children and among adults and provide much to think about, wherever you live. It is a celebration of being yourself.

Marilla of Green Gables, A Novel by Sarah McCoy

  Marilla of Green Gables, A Novel by Sarah McCoy. William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2018. Adult fiction.

If you are a lover of all things Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea, run to the nearest bookshop for this glorious prequel! Marilla and Matthew are growing up on the island with their parents, Hugh and Clara.  Faithful readers of Anne's story will enjoy McCoy's story of life on the island, the little school, Aunt Izzy's visit to help care for the family during Clara's pregnancy and its aftermath, and the blossoming of Marilla into the woman she becomes. This new story answers some of the questions left unanswered in the Anne stories. All the sites are there with gorgeous descriptions and the novel makes a wonderful armchair vacation. 

The Dying of the Light: A Novel by Robert Goolrick

 The Dying of the Light: A Novel by Robert Goolrick. Harper, 2018. Adult fiction. Advanced Reading Copy, publication July, 2018.

Author of The Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick has written another fascinating novel with a mysterious woman as its main character. Diana Cooke has lived among luxury her whole life. Her education and upbringing have been spared nothing. The goal is for her to marry an incredibly wealthy husband who can save the largest and most beautiful estate in Virginia, Saratoga. The truth is that the money has run out and Diana is her parents' best and last hope.

Diana marries Captain Copperton, a shady character who has money, but no manners, no education, and is cruel and mean spirited. Years go by and the novel really heats up when their son, Ashton, comes home from college with his roommate, Gibby. (Gibson Fitzgerald Cavenaugh, got to love all these Southern names!) Secondary characters like librarian Lucius Walter and decorator Rose de Lisle add spice to the story as they move in to complete restoration projects.  Nothing is as it seems as Ashton spends his father's fortune trying to make Saratoga the showplace it has been the past. An only child herself, Diana is the focus of past, present, and future. While details like coddled eggs, Zuber wallpaper, and Murano chandeliers paint a gorgeous picture, the novel is character driven and well worth the time readers will invest in it. Goolrick mastefully foreshadows the conclusion, but readers will enjoy getting there. Pack this one in your bag for summer vacation!

The Jane Austen Project: A Novel by Kathleen A. Flynn

 The Jane Austen Project: A Novel by Kathleen A. Flynn. Harper Perennial, 2017. Time Travel/Historical Fiction.

   When Rachel and Liam go back in time to try and retrieve documents that will help modern researchers know more about Jane Austen, things get out of hand. Rachel is a medical doctor who diagnoses Jane's illness and suggests treatment. She rescues a small chimney sweeper's helper. She and Liam are posing as brother and sister, but her feelings are far more than sisterly. They have been well trained about the era, people, and events, but who can really be ready for such an adventure? Will their actions change time? What if they can't get back to their own time? What if Jane Austen finds out their secrets? A rip roaring fantasy with authentic details and believable characters, the novel will delight fans of Austen and time travelers alike.

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick, 2018. Review from Advanced Reading Copy. Children's fiction.

With the publication of Raymie Nightingale, DiCamillo introduced readers to Louisiana Elefante, daughter of a trapeze duo, who lives with her grandmother. This new novel is Louisiana's story. When her grandmother rushes her into the car and takes off, Louisiana is hurt, puzzled, and angry. Along the way, however, kind strangers help and Louisiana finds new strengths within herself. A new friend, Burke Allen, and his family in a small Georgia town open their hearts to Louisiana. Told with humor, ever unique plot twists, and the types of quirky characters that readers have come to expect from Kate DiCamillo, the novel will touch readers' hearts AND their funny bones.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

 The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware. Scout Press, 2018. Review of Advanced Reader Copy. Adult mystery.

Ware's latest mystery begins like an Agatha Christie tale with a young woman named Harriet and an unexpected letter about a possible inheritance. Harriet, known as Hal, works as a fortune teller and Tarot card reader in a kiosk on the Brighton pier. Her mother died in a recent car accident, the bills are mounting up, and an unscrupulous loan shark is after Hal. Hal is certain that they must have the wrong heir, but she decides to investigate and maybe even get a bit of money to help out.

But, the family that she discovers: Harding and Mitzi and their children, Harding's brothers, Abel and Ezra, and the huge house and gardens are far beyond Hal's imagination. Mrs. Westaway has died and left old Mrs. Warren, the housekeeper, in charge. Mrs. Warren makes Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca look kind! Was Maud, the only daughter really related to Hal? Why happened to Maud to make her leave years ago? How was Maud's friend, Maggie, connected to the family? Will Hal ever figure things out? Or is Hal really in danger as she has begun to believe?

As usual, Ware fills her novel with twisty happenings, people who don't always tell the truth,  and a convoluted plot.  Also, try The Woman in Cabin 10 for suspense at sea if you enjoy Ware's writing.

Becoming Madeleine by Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Lena Roy

  Becoming Madeleine: A Biography of the Author of A Wrinkle in Time by her Granddaughters by Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Lena Roy. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2018. Biography/Children's.

Using family records, diaries, photographs, and stories, the authors have put together a loving tribute to their own grandmother, the famed author of both children's and adult books. Madeleine L'Engle knew early that she wanted to be a writer and make her mark on the world with her words. She was talented and determined, practicing her craft and not taking rejection personally. Of course, these women remember a loving grandmother, but the book is really about Madeleine's younger life and is appropriate for both children's and young adult readers. It tells about Madeleine L'Engle's younger writing and follows her early successes. Madeleine's life was not all sunshine, but she used her writing to make sense of the world and to give hope to her characters and her family, too.

Maiden Voyage: A Titanic Story by Sarah Jane.

Maiden Voyage: A Titanic Story by Sarah Jane. Review of Advanced Reader Copy. Forthcoming from Scholastic, 2018. Historical fiction/Middle grade fiction.

Three young women find themselves on RMS Titanic's maiden voyage, but their situations are very different. Isabella James is rushed out of the only home she has known by people she has known as her parents with only a packed case, a letter, and instructions to read the letter only when the great ship docks. Of course, she is distraught and reads the letter. She learns that her real parents are on the ship. Lucy is on the ship with her beloved, but ill, mother and her difficult and untrustworthy father. They sail with their servant Abigail who has recently lost her own mother and assumed her mother's job with the family. All three girls have their own secrets, not the least of which is Abigail's little brother who she has sneaked onboard!

Readers familiar with the White Star line and the historical events surrounding the disaster of April, 1912 will enjoy this well written novel. In different classes, the sights and sounds, foods and rooms are as different as the brave and determined young women.  Some of the characters they meet are actual people, others are imagined characters who move the story along to its dramatic conclusion.

Blue Window by Adina Rishe Gewirtz

 Blue Window by Adina Rishe Gewirtz. Candlewick Press, 2018. Young adult/dystopian fantasy.

As thick as any Harry Potter, this novel about five siblings is one that lovers of fantasy will gladly carry in their backpacks. When the characters fall through a blue window one December night, they arrive in a very different world where it is summer. They find strange people in this world run by a weird genius. They feel the danger and want to get out. But,  they are unable to trust anyone but themselves as danger lies all around them. Max, Jean, Kate, Nell, and Susan must discover skills and gifts that they never imagined they have in order to just survive.

Keep Her Safe by Sophie Hannah

   Keep Her Safe by Sophie Hannah. William Morrow (HarperCollins), 2017. Adult Mystery/Thriller.

  Cara Burrows, a pregnant mom, escapes her family and goes to a spa resort in the Southwestern USA. When she checks in, she is sent to the wrong room. Only later does she realize that the young woman she saw in the wrong room is a teenaged Melody Chapa. Melody is America's most famous murder victim. Is Cara hallucinating? Could Melody possibly be alive? What about Melody's parents who are in prison for killing her? Thus, begins this twisty thriller. The plot is unique, the characters intriguing. With Melody's neighbors and friends all weighing in and big name reporters and lawyers involved, a lot is at stake. Where is Melody? Who is telling the truth?

American Gothic: The Life of Grant Woods

 American Gothic: The Life of Grant Wood by Susan Wood. Illustrations by Ross MacDonald. Abrams, 2017. Children's picture book.


Many Americans recognize the iconic images of Grant Wood's painting that typifies Midwestern farm life. In this delightful biographical tale about the artist's life, readers learn about how and where he grew up, the dedication he had to his art, the time he spent studying the world around him, and about the painting itself. Posing his sister and his dentist, Grant Wood spent months painting. Now in the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting is thought to portray the American spirit of survival during the Great Depression. Thousands of people enjoy seeing themselves or people they might know in its images. Although he became well known, Grant Wood never stopping wearing overalls and painting the people and places in his heart.


Ross MacDonald does a masterful job of creating the world of Grant Wood. The story allows him to paint maps, cities, farmland, and people. MacDonald recreates Impressionist, Gothic, and Cubist paintings. Readers will enjoy "identifying" works of famous artists.


An author's note shows the actual painting itself as well as photographs of the artist and his subjects. A time line shows major events in Grant Woods' life. Three sources are given for further exploration.

Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes. Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Candlewick, 2018. Children's picture book.

This heart warming picture book tells the story of a young girl who is injured and gets a service dog. While the girl heals, the dog is learning skills that will help her. The text is child friendly and honest, even when the girl loses most of both her legs. It alternates from the dog's point of view and the girl's point of view. By the end, the duo are happy with each other and their lives.

At the end, a note explains that this adapted tale is really the author's own story. Injured in the 2013 Boston bombing, she really does get a dog named Rescue. The illustrations are lovely and enhance the text. Check illustrator Scott Magoon's website for a video of the authors and Rescue and one with him: http://scottmagoon.com/rescue-jessica 

The Book of Polly: A Novel by Kathy Hepinstall

The Book of Polly: A Novel by Kathy Hepinstall. Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, 2017. Adult fiction.


Polly is the mother of ten-year-old Willow Havens. The duo live in a small Texas town. Polly was in her 50's when she had Willow and the girl is obsessed with the idea that her mother will die. Willow knows nothing about why Polly left her Louisiana home and she resolves to find out the answers that she longs to know. The book is funny, sad, and right on target with its wry humor. Both Willow and Polly are characters you will remember for a long time.

Lockdown: A Novel of Suspense by Laurie R. King

Lockdown: A Novel of Suspense by Laurie R. King. Bantam Books, 2017. Adult fiction.


Guadalupe Middle School is the setting for Career Day speakers. With a fairly new principal, her rather mysterious husband, a caring custodian with ties to an uncertain past, an astute female cop, and the various students, life is never dull. But, someone is planning to disrupt Career Day with violence. King, ever the keen observer and careful plotter, introduces readers to each character and gives clues to heighten anticipation and dread. Can disaster be averted?

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell

Below Stairs by Margaret Powell. The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey. St. Martin's Press, 1968.


The title really tells everything that readers need to know about this witty memoir. Written with humor, the tale of young Margaret who goes to work in an English "big house" tells the real story of life in the servants' world. Although it is not a new book, the details and conversational tone will enchant those who miss Downton Abbey.

A Talent for Murder by Andrew Wilson

A Talent for Murder by Andrew Wilson. Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2017. Adult mystery.


     In 1926, British novelist Agatha Christie disappeared for two weeks. She surfaced in Harrogate at a luxury hotel where she was registered under the name of her husband's lover. She and her husband later divorced.
     Using these real details as a starting point, Andrew Wilson has added a fictional detective and a young journalist with a talent for putting clues together. When a doctor tries to get Mrs. Christie to murder his wife, the tables are turned and Agatha is sucked into a daring and complicated scenario. Wilson does a good job of connecting the dots and alternates the different points of view so that the first person makes the person talking seem quite real. The plot is plausible. After all these years, no one really knows what happened to Agatha Christie during those mysterious two weeks.