August Books

 The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher -- Sometimes after reading a couple of thriller/mysteries dealing with murders, you need something light and uncomplicated. This first book in the Cape Cod Creamery series talks a lot about ice cream, one of my favorite foods. After Dawn's wedding is called off, she takes her mom with her to Cape Cod where her impulsive mother, Marnie, decides to buy a filthy, run-down ice cream shop. Pretty cute story! 

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox -- It's Sophie's sweet 16 birthday party, and her dad and stepmom are hosting it at their huge house known to the locals as the haunted house. This follows the perspectives of Sophie's mom and stepmom, the nanny, and her best friend. Pretty good. 

Retreat by Krysten Ritter -- When Liz is hired to oversee the installation of a painting in Mexico, she is grateful for the week away where she can take a break from the con jobs that have her a bit worried. When she gets there, she decides for just one week she can be the owner - they resemble each other enough. Therefore, Liz becomes the ultra-wealthy Isabelle. What could go wrong? 

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day -- Three friends met at their lake houses when they were kids. Now that they are adults, they return each summer for two weeks - and they bring along their families. This year marks 30 years since a young lady disappeared. This happened before and the local lore is that the lake takes them. Will the pattern repeat? 

The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher -- This is the second book in the Cape Cod Creamery series which I started earlier this month. Callie visits Cape Cod to live with her Aunt Marnie and cousin Dawn for a few weeks. I really liked the reminder of looking for the good in every day, and how we can rewire our thoughts and outlooks on life. Chapter 21 had some meaningful things to me: good reminders about God being with us in the scary places and times, Him not leaving us alone, and how He is completely faithful. The "confident peace" we can have because we can rest our minds on His presence. That chapter also challenged us about fear and its consequences. This was actually quite a light-reading book, but Callie had some deep-seated fears that were impacting her life, and a friend was helping her through this. 

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline -- Not too long after Julia's husband is killed, she decides to go to Italy because she inherited a villa. This book had a bit too much astrology for my tastes, but it was OK. I prefer some of her other books. 

Don't Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine -- Only one of the Constantine sisters wrote this book (Lynne)....they use this name (Liv) as a pseudonym.  Anyway, Annabelle starts having these disturbing, vivid dreams and aspects of her dreams keep coming true so much that she tries to alter her days so that such and such won't happen. When she goes on a work trip with a new client, she tells him about this aspect of her life, and finds a willing listener who takes her seriously.  Pretty good story...fast read. 

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell -- After her father Paddy dies, Ash's mom receives a lovely condolence card and gift from Nick. She gradually gets to messaging him and he comes to visit. While he's charming and kind, Ash is suspicious. Meanwhile Martha is wondering why her husband Alistair keeps disappearing for days on his business trips. And Tara, too, wonders about Jonathan's work schedule. Pretty good. 

She Didn't See it Coming by Shari Lapena -- Sam is called at work when his wife is late picking up their daughter from daycare. He goes home and her purse, cell phone, and car are still in their condo, but where is Bryden? 

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner -- This book features Frankie Elkin, the lady who looks for lost people. She's in other books by this author.  This book had a different twist in that she was asked to locate a missing Afghan refugee. The book alternates between Frankie's search and the refugee, Sabera's, story. Fun bit is Frankie's pet-sitting gig with Petunia, an iguana; Marge, the ball python; and the baby pythons...yay. 

Love on a Whim by Suzanne Woods Fisher -- the last of the Cape Cod Creamery series. In this book Dawn's best friend, Brynn, comes to stay with them after she makes a rash decision and needs to think through things. While there she helps at the Creamery and also helps the Dixon family prepare for Linc's daughter's wedding. Linc's ex-wife is in charge and keeps changing things; that makes it all so challenging. 

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones -- Nicole lives in California where she advocates for seals, and is shocked when a lady comes to visit asking to interview her about her life in England. She often thought that her past would catch up with her, but is unprepared for it finally happening. Back then she was friends with Ben, the lead singer of a rock group.

A Lesson In Propriety by Jen Turano -- First in the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies series; it's not terrible, but a DNF for me after about 90 pages. It has nearly 350 pages, and I just didn't find it all that interesting and wanted to start something new. 

Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey -- In between new library books that I had on hold, I'm still reading about Maeve Kerrigan and her team as they solve crimes in London. This one starts with Chloe arriving home and finding blood everywhere, but her mom is missing. Maeve, Josh, and the team try to piece together where Kate could be (or where her body is if she's been killed.) 

Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding -- While 76 year old Linda Davidson is visiting her best friend Carol in a memory care home, an older lady calls her over. She introduces herself as Jenny Cooper and tells Linda that she has a secret: she has killed people. Linda isn't sure whether or not to believe someone in a memory care home, but during subsequent visits to see Carol, she also talks with Jenny to hear more of her story. 

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose -- Sarah and Bob are at odds: Sarah wants to divorce him for cheating on her, and Bob is trying to reconcile. You get to read both of their perspectives, and also the sheriff and a few other characters. A pretty fast read. Although this is listed as one of her standalone novels in the front of the book,  I realized  later that this is a sequel to another book which I now have on hold. 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans -- This book features 70-something Sybil and letters and emails to and from friends, authors, and so forth. Through emails, Sybil becomes friends with a customer service rep at a DNA website; she corresponds with a troubled teen; she writes to her best friend who is also her ex-sister in law. It sounds a bit complicated to keep straight perhaps (and I did flip back pages a few times to remind myself of something), but it was a really cute book which I greatly enjoyed reading on this pretty afternoon - unseasonably cool with low humidity -  in late August!