“Light Over London” by Julia Kelly

“Light Over London” by Julia Kelly

Although another book about strong women in WWII, this one has fairly good writing, a decent, if somewhat predictable story line, an interesting mystery, a modern-day story line, and maybe a little more romance than usual, but it was nonetheless a good read.  Recently divorced, antiques dealer Cara finds a poignant WWII diary of wartime romance by a woman in a military unit that aims antiaircraft guns, and as it resonates with Cara’s own questions about her grandmother’s role in WWII, Cara goes on a quest to discover more details by enlisting the help of a handsome history professor who has just moved in next door.  3 Stars

“The Bookshop on the Corner” by Jenny Colgan

If you are looking for light entertainment with a little romance thrown in, this story was a fluffy little diversion and reminded me a bit of the Amy Adam’s rom-com “Leap Year, but set in scenic Scotland rather than Ireland. A shy, young, city librarian, Nina Redmond with a knack for recommending just the right book to her patrons, is pushed out of her job by technology, and moves to rural Scotland to run a mobile bookshop while of course, finding her happily ever after. 3 Stars

( Important note: this book was sold in the UK and USA under 2 different titles – “The Bookshop of Happily Ever After” is the same book.)

“Evvie Drake Starts Over: A Novel” by Linda Holmes

I think I read this book because it was recommended for me based on previous books I had ordered, but it really isn’t my type of book, since it is basically a romance novel with some other twists thrown in and might be best described as a “beach read.” Evvie is a young, emotionally abused woman with a troubled past who, through her male best friend, Andy, meets an ex-baseball player who also has a troubled past, and the book is about their romance and how they each work out their issues. 2 1/2 stars (for me) 3 Stars if you like to read love stories. lol

“The Gilded Hour” by Sara Donati

I loved so much of this book including the descriptive writing, the historical setting of 1883 New York City, the plight of Italian, immigrant children, the Comstock Laws banning birth control information for women, and the difficulties faced by women working as doctors in an era when most people did not believe women should be doing such a job, and yet……..there was so much left unresolved in the end of the story that it left me confused and frustrated to the point that I went back and re-read the last few chapters thinking that I had missed something (and later found out it’s a series and the the answers will be in the next book!) Part romance and part historical mystery, the story follows two cousins, Drs. Anna and Sophie Savard, as they work to treat the poor and ill, help Italian immigrant children, and become involved in a murder case where illegal abortions might be the work of a serial killer, but the story also offers romance as Sophie marries her long-time love Cap, and Anna meets a policeman named Jack Mezzanote who stirs passions she thought she would never experience.   3 1/2 stars

“Secrets of Midwives” by Sally Hepworth

“Secrets of Midwives” is a light read about three generations of midwives who each harbor a secret, and although the story is pretty predictable and romantic, it is nonetheless interesting and gives some insight into the work of midwives past and present as well as exploring  the ins and outs of mother-daughter relationships. While young midwife Neva becomes pregnant and refuses to name the father, her mother Grace has legal issues in her practice of midwifery, and her grandmother, Floss, is haunted by secrets and memories linked to her time as a midwife in England.  3 1/2 Stars

“Garden Spells” by Sarah Addison Allen

It’s not that this book was horrible, but rather, it’s that frothy, chick-lit romance with bits of magic thrown in for good measure just isn’t my usual cup of tea –maybe for a fluffy beach-read? The story revolves around the peculiar Waverly family whose apple tree yields fruit that shows the eater a glimpse of an important future event, and in particular the Waverly girls: shy, vulnerable Claire, who affects people’s feelings by the herbs she uses in her cooking, and her prodigal sister Sydney with a sordid past, who has a magic touch with hairstyles and recently returned to town hoping to reconcile with her sister even as both of them find love and happiness with hunky men.

“Summer Rental” by Mary Kay Andrews

I should have read this book lying on a beach chair smothered in coconut sunscreen while the sun beat down on my shoulders and I wiggled my toes down to find a cooler layer of sand,  because it was an archetypal “chick lit” beach read (and engaging enough if you like that kind of thing.)  While it’s not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, it moved along fairly well as three old school friends with various personal problems rent a cottage at Nags Head for a month and get involved with a fourth girl who is running away from an abusive husband.

“Engaging Father Christmas” by Robin Jones Gunn

It’s tradition for me to read at least one cozy, sappy, romantic, warm and fuzzy Christmas story around this time of the year.  This one is a Christmas novella which is actually a sequel to “Finding Father Christmas” and tells the story of Miranda Carson’s return to England to spend time with her boyfriend Ian and eventually find a place, a family, and a life to call her own.

“The Fixer Upper” by Mary Kay Andrews

A great little beach read, I enjoyed this light novel about a young, naive Washington lobbyist who escapes from scandal to a small town in Georgia.  She embarks on a project to refurbish the old family homestead and finds a new way of life.

The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore

If you are drawn to romantic novels of authors like Rosamunde Pilcher or Maeve Binchy (not deep with  literary merit but a predictably enjoyable read),  then you also might like this story of the difficulties in adjustment and relationship experienced by a young woman and her family who move from London to a country estate.  Her own problems in love and life are interwoven with those of others in the town and also with the past when a handsome and somewhat mysterious French Gardener agrees to transform the gardens back to the beauty of their reknowned  and well-loved previous owner.