Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

By  Anton DiSclafani

This is the author’s debut book, and has received a lot of attention from the press. The setting is 1930, the midst of the Great Depression. After her mysterious role in a family tragedy, passionate, strong-willed Thea Atwell, age fifteen, has been cast out of her Florida home, exiled to an equestrienne boarding school for Southern debutantes located in the mountains of North Carolina. The story weaves between home and school, revealing the true story behind Thea’s expulsion from her family.   Thea comes across as a complicated, imperfect, totally screwed up character who still manages, at times, to be loving, brave and kind. I did not appreciate the change-up from a coming of age story of innocence, to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ graphic descriptions of Thea’s encounters both at home and at her exclusive boarding school  In the end, I had the sense that the author wanted to write something bold and empowering but ended up with something strange and sad.  

~ Sally

A Week in Winter

By Maeve Binchy

Stoneybridge is a small town on the west coast of Ireland where everyone knows one another. Chicky Starr moves back to Ireland and decides to turn an old decaying mansion into a restful place for a holiday by the sea. Everyone thinks that this business venture will fail miserably, but Chicky, helped by Rigger the handyman and Orla, her niece, welcomes her first guests to Stone House’s big warm kitchen, log fires, and understated bedrooms.

Once again Maeve Binchy creates a delightfully quirky cast of characters whose lives intersect in one moment in time.

This is Maeve Binchy's final book as she passed away in July 2012.
~ Paula

The Kill Room

By Jeffrey Deaver

The murder takes place in the Bahamas and the police there aren’t sharing any information. The accused is a secret government agency set up to take out the bad guys other agencies don’t want to touch. Their assassin uses a knife in unique and deadly ways.There’s no evidence to examine and the investigation has to keep a low profile so the secret agency doesn’t get wind of it.This gets the reclusive Rhyme out of his apartment to the Bahamas to wrestle some information from the police.

Another wonderful Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs thriller!

~ Rochelle

Nowhere But Home

By Liza Palmer

Queenie grew up in a small Texas town and couldn't wait to get out. She left for life in the big city as soon as she was able. Anywhere sounded better than living in a town where it seemed no one would ever forgive her and her family 's past.
Ten years later, after being fired from her job as a chef and with no other options, Queenie returns home. She finds herself still unaccepted by the town, and still in love with Everett, her high school flame. She learns to put the past where it belongs, in the past, so she can live the life she wants and deserves.
Nowhere but Home is full of quirky, engaging characters. This is one of those stories that is funny and moving and satisfying. It is perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach.

~ Kathy

Not by Sight

By: Kathy Herman

The Cummings family is still in limbo five years after the disappearance of Micah and Riley Jo, Abby’s Dad and little sister. They still don’t know what happened and long to have closure and move on with their lives.

When Abby sees a little girl in town that looks so much like her sister Riley Jo, she snaps a picture and can’t get the girl out of her mind. The connection to this girl feels so real. Her mother and brothers are skeptical however, since this is not the first time this has happened. Despite the doubt from everyone, Abby
and her best friend Jay team up to find this girl and hopefully solve the five year old mystery. Before long, there are warnings from a mysterious stranger and they are in too deep to stop. All Abby has is her “blind faith” to see this through and hopefully find the answers she is looking for.

~ Dixie

Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home

by Nina Wanat

 

If you've ever thought you'd like to make your own marshmallows or caramel one day but thought it sounded difficult, this book is for you!  The photographs inspire you to try them all, and the instructions are written so simply you can't believe it will turn out right--but it does.  There is a very good section on how to correctly temper chocolate, and recipes with fantastic instructions for cookie dough fudge, Turkish delights, meringues, bark, making your own vanilla extract from scratch, even how to roll truffles.  The author also has a blog  which has great stories and helpful tips.

Happy candy making!
~ Becky

Between Heaven and Texas

Marie Bostwick has done it again. Her books are always a delight to read. She has taken us back in time to learn about Mary Dell's background. Mary Dell has always been a strong willed character in her earlier books and you see that again in this book. I loved this book, if you like Marie Bostwick you will, too.
-Beckie