When Faith's husband is transferred from Texas to Minnesota, a "stupid godforsaken frozen tundra," as Faith describes her new home, she feels overwhelmed by her twin toddlers and lonely for friendship. All that changes when she meets four unique friends and they begin the Freesia Court Book Club, soon to be renamed Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. This fast paced novel spans four decades and touches on everything from the everyday issues of raising children and recipe swapping to the more serious issues of spousal abuse and family secrets. A wonderful story of five friends that will make you laugh out loud in one chapter and want to cry in the next. Landvik captures the essence of female friendship in this heartwarming novel.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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I really enjoyed this book. I couldn`t put it down; I am looking forward to more from this author.
-Kellie, Charlotte, NC

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When Martin Grace walks into the cafe where Cornelia Brown works, she feels instantly that her life has changed forever. This may seem overly dramatic, but Cornelia believes Martin could be the love of her life. Then one day Martin reveals a big surprise, he has a daughter. And not only that, but his mentally unstable ex-wife has left Clare alone, which means she is now in his care. This is much more than Cornelia was expecting, but somehow she feels a connection with Clare and wants to help her. As time passes Cornelia must decide how involved she will be with both Martin and Clare. Love Walked In is a thought-provoking and wonderfully written novel about the various forms of love.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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What is happiness and how is it achieved? Traditional literature would reflect that perhaps happiness does not always make for the best endings or for the most interesting read. For English professor Tracy Farber this question is not only one of scholarship, but also one of life. Thirty-three, single, professionally successful and not at all looking, she is taken aback when she meets what seems to be the perfect man. But can a man mean happiness for her? Or would her life be a better page-turner filled with tragic mistakes and sad farewells? A wonderful work for anyone who ever questioned traditional molds of happiness while still yearning for them deep within, delightfully humorous and yet poignantly truthful at the same time.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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When Mary Baxter's only child dies suddenly, she is completely lost. She feels like she can't do anything to ease her grief. When her mother suggests knitting, Mary thinks there is no way she could concentrate enough to learn how to knit. But, reluctantly she joins a knitting circle and starts learning. As Mary learns various knitting techniques, she also gets to know the members of the knitting circle. As she spends time with the other members Mary begins to realize that she is not the only person suffering. Finally Mary begins to open up to the group about her own loss and realizes that knitting helped save her from her grief. The Knitting Circle is a heart-warming book about the power of relationships.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Lizbet and her sister Cassie are complete opposites, but they have always been great friends. Of course they fought and tormented each other growing up just like any siblings, but in spite of all that, or maybe because of it, as adults they became very close. Until a series of misunderstandings, tragedy and family drama threaten to tear them apart forever. A Tale of Two Sisters is told alternately by each sister so that the reader gets both sides of the story. This is a heartwarming tale about family, love and all the complications that come with both.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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When Abby meets Jake, a single father to six-year-old Emma, she completely falls in love with both of them and actually looks forward to being a stepmother. When she and Jake get engaged they decide to tell Emma after Jake returns from a weekend trip. This is the first time that Abby takes care of Emma by herself for a whole weekend. But, then the unthinkable happens – Emma disappears from a San Francisco beach. After a huge search unfolds, the authorities and Jake are convinced that Emma drowned. Only Abby remains certain that Emma has been kidnapped and continues to look for clues. Will Abby find Emma or is she chasing a ghost? The Year of Fog is a gripping novel that will keep you guessing until the end.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Grace Connolly seems to have it all from the outside – a wonderful marriage of almost fifteen years, three kids and a nice home. But, her youngest son Jack is dying of a rare mitochondrial disease and Grace is having an affair. When Grace is accused of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy her family’s world falls apart. She begins to question every decision she has made, as well as every trusted family member or friend. Her family is dragged through a Child Protective Services hearing and their time with Jack must be supervised. Can Grace and her family survive this ordeal? The Life You Longed For is a compelling novel that examines the ramifications of seemingly small decisions and how every decision shapes our lives.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Alice, Riley and Paul grew up together during their summers spent on Fire Island. Alice and Riley are sisters and Paul is their summer next-door neighbor, but practically a brother to the girls. Now all in their twenties, Paul hasn’t been back to Fire Island for a few years; when he returns for the summer his relationship with Alice and Riley will change forever. Over the course of this momentous summer one of the sisters will fall in love and the other will face a life-threatening illness. All three have to grow up and move into adulthood with all the complications and decisions that brings. The Last Summer (of You & Me) is a beautiful and moving story about family and the enduring power of love.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Being a sister means lots of things, but being a Waverly sister means even more in Bascom, North Carolina where the Waverly family has resided for generations. Eccentric and somewhat shunned, they are shrouded in the legends of their garden with its magical plants and temperamental apple tree. Claire has spent her adult life surrounding herself with the comforts of her family home to make up for a turbulent transient childhood while her sister Sydney fled the small town as soon as she was able. However, when Sydney returns with a small daughter rumors abound and the sisters must learn just what is involved in truly being a Waverly as North Carolina writer Sarah Addison Allen dazzles us with her storytelling ability and southern charm.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Emily Haxby’s life looks perfect from the outside – she’s got a successful career as a lawyer and a wonderful boyfriend who’s about to propose. But, within a matter of weeks Emily breaks up with her boyfriend and abruptly quits her job. Even she doesn’t really understand what she is doing; she just knows that something has to change. Slowly Emily begins to realize that she has been sleepwalking through her life ever since her mother passed away when Emily was a teenager. Can Emily pull herself together and restart her life? The Opposite of Love is a thought-provoking novel that explores issues of family and love.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Friendship can bring people together and tear people apart. For Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey friendship becomes both a blessing and curse. Best friends since their teen years they find comfort, laughter and pain in their pact to be best friends forever. Through careers, family and love they find solace in their commitment to always be there for one another. However, a single betrayal may prove that while the bonds of friendship are strong they can be broken. Spanning thirty years of friendship between two unforgettable women, Hannah provides the perfect work for rainy day reading. Readers will laugh and cry as they follow this story of friendship and ultimate forgiveness. For any woman with a best friend it is a book to be shared.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Leigh Churchill always wanted to be a better mother than her own mother was to her. But, when Leigh's daughter Kara accidentally kills a pedestrian in a car accident Leigh has no idea how to be what her daughter needs. Kara was about to graduate from high school and go on to college, but now her future is clouded with uncertainty. The Rest of Her Life is told from Leigh's perspective and follows the Churchill family as they all try to deal with the aftermath of the accident. This is a thought-provoking novel that explores the issues of family, guilt and consequences.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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In the perfect blend of sweet imagination and simple southern magic, Sarah Addison Allen has once again entranced readers with her latest, The Sugar Queen. In her feast of deliciously believable characters, we meet three women haunted by the past. The well known Josey Cirrini is living her life in seclusion to make up for her past behavior. The troubled Della Lee Baker is running away from her past and straight into Josey’s closet. Meanwhile, Chloe Finley finds there are some events she would like to put in the past. As the lives of these women weave together, the past is revealed in ways that even they could never have imagined. Sarah Addison Allen has done it again.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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We live in a society where we are often judged by what we do. Our chosen career is apparently equivocal to some measurement of who we are and what we are worth. The modern mother knows this truth all too well and faces a paradox of astounding proportions. Women must choose between the biological desire to care for and raise children versus the societal and monetary desire to carve a niche in the world beyond that of family. Exploring the possibilities available, emotions felt and decisions made, The Ten Year Nap, creates a dazzling portrait of the modern woman as it follows the lives of a group of mothers from New York City presenting an honest and modern outlook not to be missed.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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In the follow up to her debut novel Love Walked In, de los Santos reacquaints readers with Cornelia and Teo as they adapt to life as a married couple living in upscale suburbia. Will Cornelia be satisfied with the quiet and stability she craves after the thrill of life in Manhattan? How does the couple learn to navigate the challenging terrain of modern day marriage? Narrated in the voices of three major characters – free spirited Cornelia, society “viper” Piper and child genius Dev - the author expertly weaves themes of friendship, trust, motherhood and love. The poetic language will appeal to fans of literary fiction, while authentic, well-developed characters and a compelling plotline will have those looking for a good story reading into the night.

Reviewed by Staci F., South County Regional

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David is everything Emily Ross could ever have wished for. He’s dark, handsome and mysterious with that something about him that attracts her like a moth to a light. When they are together the passion between them is undeniable and completely unforgettable. Not to mention he’s smart, witty and in sync with her personality. He is the man of her dreams. The one she was made for. Only one problem; David is not Emily’s husband, Kevin is. In this engagingly humorous book, Lauren Fox offers a glimpse into a woman who feels like she is waking into a life that has been living itself. A feeling we can all relate to luckily via Emily without personally going through the drama of Still Life with Husband.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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When Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett and Ally meet in Palo Alto, California in the late 1960’s, they are all housewives taking their children to the park. Over the next few years they begin writing and critiquing each other’s work – some even getting published. As the country changes radically over the next few years, dealing with Vietnam, the women’s movement and putting a man on the moon, The Wednesday Sisters, as they began calling themselves, deal with life changes as well. Each woman is changed by their friendship and each finds themselves somewhere in their life they never expected to be. This is a wonderful story that celebrates the power of friendship.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Lillian's restaurant is as unique as it's owner; a quaint, homey place where people want to linger. On Monday nights when the restaurant is closed Lillian teaches cooking classes. These classes are not about strict recipe following; each class has it's own flavor and personality. As Claire, Tom, Ian, Antonia, Isabella, Chloe, Helen and Carl all learn new techniques in the kitchen they are also learning about themselves and each other. Even Lillian might learn something new in the kitchen this time. This book is uniquely written by giving each character their own chapter that not only gives a little of their background, but also continues the main thread of the cooking class. A very well written and beautiful novel.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Lacey Brennan feels like her life is perfectly falling into place – on her 30th birthday her boyfriend Toby proposes and they are starting their life together in L.A. But, from the very start of their marriage things begin to sour and Lacey wonders if she made a mistake. She is still surprised though when Toby moves out and asks for a divorce after less than a year of marriage. Lacey now feels like a total failure in every aspect of her life. How did things go so wrong in such a short time? As Lacey re-examines her life she begins to create what she wants for herself. A wonderfully written novel about love, loss and moving on.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Pell’s mother left her and her sister ten years ago. Now that their father has died, Pell worries that her sister will be lonely when she starts college. Pell decides to travel to the island of Capri, where her mother has been living for all of these years, to convince her to come home. Lyra has created a new life for herself, and although she has missed her daughters terribly, the past still looms over her. As Pell begins to uncover the real reason behind her mother’s leaving, she discovers that her life is not what it seemed to be. Can she find a way to bring their family back together? Luanne Rice offers an emotional story with a lush setting and relatable characters that draw the reader in.

Reviewed by Christine B., South County Regional

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Greg and Tess, Ed and Andrea, Delilah and Jeffrey, and Addison and Phoebe are four couples all living in Nantucket and have dubbed their tight-knit group The Castaways. They do everything together from group vacations to their children’s sleepovers. But, when Greg and Tess go out for an anniversary sail and both end up dead their friends all react differently. And as their deaths are investigated, secrets that each member of the Castaways kept will come to light. Told in turn by each member of the group this story is part mystery, part friendship saga and part summer beach read.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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When Ellie Lerner’s best friend Lucy Stafford is murdered Ellie drops everything and goes to London to help Lucy’s husband Greg and their daughter Sophie cope. What was intended to be a short visit to help out becomes the entire summer picking up the pieces of the Stafford family life. Ellie’s own marriage and career begin to suffer, but she just can’t seem to leave London and go back home. While Ellie helps Greg and Sophie heal she is also examining her own life and trying to figure out what she wants for her future. A wonderfully written novel that explores the complex issues of love, family and friendship.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Lila and Billy have always been extremely close, but then twins usually are. So, when Billy kills himself Lila falls into a tailspin and cannot even function. As her husband desperately tries to help her, they begin to realize that many painful secrets and lies have surfaced because of Billy’s death. Lila must find the strength within herself to sort out the truth from the lies of her life and their childhood. The Promised World explores the extraordinary love of siblings and the power of family. This is an unforgettable novel that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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From the outside Tessa Russo's life looks perfect, she is married to Nick, a renowned pediatric surgeon; they have two beautiful children, and live in an affluent Boston suburb. But, sometimes Tessa regrets her decision to be a stay-at-home mom and when Nick becomes overly involved with a patient and the patient's mother, their perfect family starts to fall apart. Can Tessa and Nick reconnect and save their marriage or will they become another divorce statistic? Told from each woman's perspective, Heart of the Matter honestly explores the complexities of marriage and shows that in relationships nothing is only black or white.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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The Cookbook Collector follows the story of two polar-opposite sisters, Emily and Jessamine. Emily is the CEO of a dot com industry that is about to go public, while Jess is a perpetual grad student and tree activist who works random jobs to make ends meet. While Emily’s company goes public and launches her career through the roof; Jess starts working for a rare book collector and seller. Both women’s lives will be changed in unimaginable ways through their jobs. Allegra Goodman does an incredible job of weaving together the stories of two sisters, the dot com boom, rare books, mystic Judaism, and family secrets in this beautifully written novel.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Callie Perry’s life seems perfect – she is still in love with her husband of eleven years, they have two beautiful children, she has a fulfilling career, and she even beat breast cancer five years ago. So, when Callie gets sick and even the doctors don’t know what it is her family believes that whatever it is Callie can beat it. Promises to Keep follows Callie, her sister Steffi, and her best friend Lila as they all deal with Callie’s mysterious illness. Their relationships change and grow as they all cope with this unexpected road block. A wonderfully written novel about relationships, family, and the love that holds people together.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Sylvie Woodruff knows how to play the role of Senator’s wife – perfect hair, trim body, appropriate clothes, charity work, etc. But, she didn’t know how to react when she finds out her husband had an affair and it is splashed all over the media. Sylvie and her two grown daughters, Diana and Lizzie, all react to this scandal differently, but they will all need to be there for each other. This unfortunate situation could be the catalyst for all three women to change their lives for the better. Told from each woman’s perspective Fly Away Home explores issues of love, fidelity and what it means to be a family.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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For some of us from afar, following the history of Jerusalem in the twentieth century is difficult and seemingly pointless; peace never seems like a possibility. Miral is an eye-opening story that follows the creation of an orphanage in Jerusalem necessitated by the military attacks on civilians in 1948. From there we see its leader, Hind Husseini, shape and save young lives. Miral is a product of this school that teaches deep thought and recognition of compromise, but her youthful passion is blinding. All of the characters create a picture of the real citizens of this conflict who were, and are, torn between pride and loss, and the need to feel peace again. This is a quick read with real meaning.

Reviewed by Sally W., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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Sarah Nickerson is the Vice President of HR for a Boston consulting firm, as well as mother to three young children. Her days were typically a blur of traffic, meetings, and trying to see her kids before bed. All that changes when she crashes her car. She survives, but with a brain injury that causes "left neglect," basically her brain doesn’t recognize anything on her left side. At first Sarah wants to work as hard as she can to get well enough to go back to work, but after months of slow progress she is starting to realize her life has changed forever. Left Neglected is a very interesting novel that looks at the career woman’s life from a very different perspective.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Life in Walls of Water, North Carolina is about to change with the renovation of the Blue Ridge Madam. Suddenly the past and present collide when the old peach tree is dug up and a skeleton is uncovered. Tucker Devlin was killed in 1936. But who murdered him? Paxton Osgood is terrified the scandal will ruin the Women's Society Club gala. And Willa Jackson begins to unearth the truth about her family and herself. Love seeps into their intertwined lives as the women discover what happened. Sarah Addison Allen delivers a beautifully crafted novel about the strength of friendship and discovering your true identity. The Peach Keeper is a wonderful read with charismatic characters and a mysterious undertone that will keep you entranced.

Reviewed by Carrie M., Myers Park Branch

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This is the first book I have read by this author, but definitely not my last. It seems that an old murderer has come alive again. Detective Mike Coletti is just about to retire and this unsolved murder is taunting him. He`s been given the job to train a new detective. The two of them have to learn to work together, find the killer and save a wrongly convicted priest all at the same time. The background is South Philly, art galleries and churches. The murderer is taunting Coletti with the biggest failure of his career. Coletti is also falling in love rather reluctantly. Jones mixes these plot strands together for a wonderful story. I`ll have to go back to earlier titles soon.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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Often parents may joke that their children will “drive them to drink”, but what if that was actually your reality? Cadence really struggles with being a single parent after her divorce. At first she starts drinking a glass of wine at night to wind down and help her sleep, but soon one glass isn’t enough and she starts to go downhill quickly into addiction. Like most alcoholics she thinks no one knows about her secret – especially her son Charlie. But soon everyone knows and Cadence’s ex-husband is suing for full custody. Amy Hatvany does an excellent job exploring this sensitive issue; readers will feel for Cadence even as she struggles to admit the extent of her addiction.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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David and Kyra Winter know all too well the dangers that are lurking in the world. That’s why they do everything they can to make sure their son Michael is not exposed to anything harmful. But, despite all their precautions Michael is kidnapped from their own backyard. While the police try to find Michael, David and Kyra both reflect back on their troubled pasts and try to figure out if someone from their past could have kidnapped Michael. When the kidnapper’s identity is discovered, both Kyra and David must reveal the secrets of their pasts that they kept from each other. The Winters in Bloom explores issues of family, secrets, and a parent’s love for their child.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Jane lives in Paris, has her dream job in a boutique architecture firm, and is dating real life American Prince Charming, Malcolm Doran. When Malcolm proposes after only a short time of dating, Jane immediately says yes to marrying him and moving her entire life to New York. Before leaving, Jane visits her grandmother, from whom she has been estranged for six years, only to find her dead. After the funeral, Jane moves to New York with Malcolm, where to her dismay, she is living with Malcolm’s mother, a sociopath bent on stealing Jane’s magic. Jane never knew she had magic, but now she has to keep two steps ahead of her crazy future mother-in-law, learn how to use magic, and rebuild her life.

Reviewed by Jessica W., University City Regional

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Ella loved her life in Northern California. She was married to Joe and loved being a stepmother to his two children Annie and Zach. In fact Ella was the only mother they’d ever known since Joe’s ex-wife Paige walked out on the family when Zach was only 2 months old. But when Joe dies suddenly in a freak accident, Paige shows up at the funeral and wants custody of the kids. Then Ella finds out that the family store Joe runs is about to go under. Ella has to pull herself together to deal with the custody battle, the failing family store, and the shock of Joe’s secrets. A wonderfully written novel that explores love, secrets, and what it really means to be a family.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Nicole Hunter moved away from her dysfunctional family and disabled sister Jenny 10 years ago and rarely has contact with them. But, one day Nicole just has a gut feeling that something terrible has happened to Jenny. When she calls her mother she finds out that Jenny was raped and is now pregnant. Nicole immediately goes home to help take care of her sister, but once there she has to confront her past and her guilt at leaving her sister in the first place. While home taking care of Jenny, Nicole also begins to examine her own life and why she made some of the choices she did. A very thoughtful novel that explores the serious issue of families coping with a special needs child.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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