The Seaside Sisters

 

Hannah is an author who lives in Brooklyn and writes romantic comedy books.  Her hometown is Chatham on Cape Cod.  She is experiencing writer's block and her next book is due at the end of summer.  Her mother recently died and she recently ended a 2 year romantic relationship. She's not looking for love at this time.  She decides a change of scenery would help her writer's block and will spend the summer in Chatham at the oceanfront home of her aunt.  Her sister, Sara, husband and 4 children also live in Chatham.  Sara was a librarian but is now a full time wife and mother.  She longs for a return to the world of literature and the company of others during the day.  

Hannah has a great summer in Cape Cod.  She makes friends, renews old friendships and begins to write again.  This story follows the lives of not only Hannah, but also her sister and her aunt.  The characters are so well-developed that you wish you were one of the sisters in this family.  I didn't want this story to end!  It is a lovely story filled with family love and connections, the life of an author, the legal profession and what makes life meaningful.  Don't miss this wonderful story!  A perfect summer read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wait

 

Elise grew up on Nantucket Island, an ideal setting, but in a dysfunctional family. Her father left the family early on and her Brazilian mother struggled to provide for the family. She went away to college and did not return home for 4 years. The night before graduation, her younger sister calls to say their mother disappeared. Where has she gone? Against her will?
Elise and her younger sister work to pay the rent and survive. When they are evicted, they move into the guest house of her college friend, Sheba. Will their friendship survive when there is such disparity between being poor and super rich? Will the girls every find their mother?
This is a story of survival, friendship and struggles in life. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Summers at the Saint

 

Summer doesn't begin until we have a new Mary Kay Andrews book and Summer at the Saint is no exception! The Saint Cecelia is a destination resort off of the coast of Georgia. The family who owns the resort is a dysfunctional family with many secrets while trying to keep The Saint resort profitable and open. The main character is Traci, who married that "good brother". He was tragically killed in a plane crash leaving Traci as the hotel President. Her brother-in-law, Ric, is the CEO of Saint Holdings managing the company's real estate. There is always animosity between Traci and Ric. Traci has no children, Ric has a daughter named Parrish. She is the future of The Saint. Traci's best friend growing up is Shannon who has a daughter, Olivia. Olivia comes to work at The Saint. Traci and Shannon have not been close since a young boy died while they were teenage lifeguards at The Saint. Will they repair their relationship?
Something nefarious is going on that is affecting profits. Who will uncover what is really happening? Will it result in their demise?
This is one of those "I just can't put it down" books. You will want to just keep reading so that you can find out what happens next! This book is a great way to begin the summer. Don't miss this one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Only the Brave

 

This book is set in Berlin, Germany at the beginning of WW2.  Hitler has begun his ethnic cleansing of Germany by removing Jews.  Sophia and Theresa's father is a prominent surgeon with his own private hospital.  A Nazi officer visits him and asks him to participate in eliminating Jews.  He refuses.  Theresa marries into a wealthy family.  She and her husband ended up fleeing to Switzerland after it's discovered he has a small amount of Jewish blood.  Sophia cannot leave her father as the destruction of Berlin continues.  Sophia becomes even more of an activist.  After her father is taken to a concentration camp, she enters a convent of nuns.

Will Sophia remain a nun?  Will she every find love?  This is an intriguing story, one of the WW2 stories I have not yet heard.  It is a very intriguing story.  Don't miss this one!

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.