The Promise: A Novel by Ann Weisgarber

                           

The Promise: A Novel by Ann Weisgarber. Skyhorse Publishing,

                            2013, 2014.  Fiction

Talented young pianist Catherine Wainwright of Dayton, Ohio has been                    seen at the theatre in Columbus with her cousin's husband. Her

reputation is ruined.  She is uncertain what to do until she writes to                           childhood friend, Oscar Williams, who is now a widower with a small son and living in Galveston, Texas. It's 1900, and Catherine  jumps at the chance to start over when Oscar proposes.  Nan Ogden, a neighbor on the island, promised Oscar's first wife that  she would take care of little Andre. She now keeps house and cooks for the newly formed family, but does not understand the city ways of Catherine. Of course, readers know that a storm is coming. Who will survive? What will happen?

Starry Night by Isabel Gillies

 Starry Night: A Novel by Isabel Gillies. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2014.
                             Young Adult, Fiction


While young adults may love this story of wealthy teens in New York City, some adults will quake at the sex and drug opportunities presented to the characters. The novel reads smoothly and builds slowly. Central to the first half of the story is the big opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that will be curated by the father of Wren, an artistic, smart teen. Wren's family and her friends are the players in the book. The teens are invited to the opening and what happens that night sets the stage for the rest of the tale. Wren thinks she has met the boy of her dreams.  Nolan, the heartthrob guy, is a little older, plays in a band, and may not be as wonderful as he seems. Her friend Farah thinks it's cool when a grown-up artist singles her out for his attention. Girls meet boys, boys breaks girls' hearts, life goes on...but this will be a book that teens will want to read!

The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin.

            

          The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin. St. Martin's Press, an imprint of Headline Publishing Group, 2014. Fiction   

What a refreshing twist in that the fortune hunter is a man, not a woman! Set in 1875 and beyond, this tale will satisfy Downton Abbeyish fans and those who like a well written romantic novel. Bay Middleton is the handsome, but untitled, military horseman of the title.  Will plain, but wealthy, young Charlotte Baird capture his heart or is he only after her money? When the Empress of Austria, Elizabeth (Sisi), comes to England, her expert riding skills require an equally talented riding partner. Bay is suggested by none other than Earl Spencer himself. (Queen Victoria also makes an appearance as herself.) Of course, she is married, has grown children, and is definitely several social notches above even Charlotte and her friends. Lush details of fancy balls and elegant hunts  provide the backdrops for the emotional ebb and flow.  When Bay enters the Grand National race, both women show up to watch and the adventure is neatly tied up in a satisfying conclusion.     

                    

Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal

  Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal.
                              Pamela Dorman Books, Viking, 2014.


For many years Queenie and her family have helped Miss Fannie run a household and learn the very proper ways of doing things in New Orleans. But, it's 1964, and times are changing. Dollbaby and her own daughter Birdelia have new ideas. When Miss Fannie's estranged son dies, his widow Vidrine drops off tween Ibby to live with her grandmother. Fannie, Queenie, Dollbaby, and Ibby form solid family bonds and navigate both the past and the future up to 1972.


Full of believable characters, interesting happenings, and a vivid setting, this tale is truly a masterful debut novel. The title character could be argued as integral to the story, but it is through young Ibby's eyes that readers see and come to understand the truths about her family and the times. This will be the talk of your next book group!

Charleston by Margaret Bradham Thornton

 Charleston by Margaret Bradham Thornton. HarperCollins, 2014.


When Eliza Poinsett visits her home in the South after college and a dream stint in London that includes art and a dashingly handsome Etonian, it's been ten years. Her old flame, Henry, awaits. "Will she?" or "Won't she?" stay and reconcile with her past?


While this could be the plot of a fluffy romance, this fiction debut is a real heart breaker! The lush descriptions of the South are gorgeous and worthy of armchair travel. The slowly paced plot allows for enjoyment of both settings and actions. Readers will root for Eliza and her quirky neighbors and friends as they learn to appreciate every single minute of Life itself.  All will be resolved, but probably not in the way that readers expect!

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

  Rain Reign. By Ann M. Martin. Feiwel and Friends, an                              imprint  of  Macmillan, 2014. Middle Grade fiction. 




Although she is known for her wildly popular Babysitter Club series of books, Ann M. Martin has also won a Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe. The woman is an insightful writer of stories about children and dogs. This one book, Rain Reign, is a masterpiece of understatement, reality, and insight.




Rose Howard's diagnosis is high functioning autism. Rose lives with her father in a cabin near Hatford, New York. She struggles with life both at school and at home. Things change for the better when a dog comes into Rose's life. When Hurricane Susan turns inland and Rose's town is in its cross-hairs, Rose loses Rain. In the course of events, Rose learns that true love and bravery go hand in hand. Martin chose not to just end with a happy reunion, but throws curves that force Rose and readers to dig deep within themselves and ponder heart-rending decisions. While the ending is resolved and is really the best ending possible for Rain, and for Rose, this upbeat, but melancholy, story will start conversations among many readers about dogs, parents, families, and hurricanes, too.




Curriculum tie-ins are a natural with this title. Getting along with others, following rules, and even cafeteria manners are addressed. Rose loves homonyms and prime numbers so don't be surprised if students start their own lists! But, please don't be put off by the difficulty of reading these words aloud. Maybe just keep a running list on the chalkboard for students to see. This book is meant to be shared and will definitely be loved by a wide variety of readers!                          

The Visitors by Sally Beauman

The Visitors: A Novel by Sally Beauman. Harper, 2014.
                                  Adult fiction.


Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and archaeologist Howard Carter are well known for their discovery of King Tut's tomb. Sally Beauman has taken real characters and interspersed them among just as riveting fictional ones. The main characters are the fictional eleven-year-old Lucy and her friend Frances, a real girl who was the daughter of an archaeologist. Readers follow Lucy throughout her lifetime and in the end it is Lucy who looks back to tell what happened to all of the imagined and real characters. Beauman weaves the tales of families, discoveries, secrets, and love masterfully into this 529 page book. Beauman is clear about fact and fantasy with charts to explain who's who and includes endpaper maps of the Valley of the Kings. She does not tie up all loose ends though as with Poppy or exactly the relationship between Nicola and Clair or even if anyone besides Lucy ever got to read Miss Mackenzie's memoir.  But, if readers are willing to forgive a few minor points, they will love the story and the atmospheric descriptions.


After a hot ALA in Las Vegas and summer heat in Houston, I somehow took refuge in this book's Egyptian settings and English manners. I could not decide whether to read it quickly to find out what happened or just savor a few pages a day and enjoy the ride. I chose the latter and looked forward to being with Lucy and Frances for a little while each night. What a great way to spend some air-conditioned moments in armchair travel! The book will make readers run to learn more about the 1920's, King Tut, and the Carnarvons. Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize the class system, clothing, and food described.