Falling for You by Julie Ortolon

★★★★☆

What happens when Mr. Slow and Steady…

The forecast is smooth sailing for Oliver Chancellor, scion of Galveston’s premier financier. Destined to take his place in the hallowed marble corridors of his family’s bank, Chance is content with the future that’s been mapped out for him, right down to his upcoming engagement to a prim debutante enthusiastically approved by his socialite mother.

Finds himself on a collision course…

But when beautiful Rory St. Claire crosses his path, Chance recklessly plunges into uncharted territory with nothing but his heart to guide him-and a beautiful woman to tempt him…

With Ms. Full-Speed-Ahead?

Propelled by a lifelong goal to buy the island home reportedly haunted by her colorful ancestors, Rory desperately needs Chance’s help in securing a business loan, and she won’t take no for an answer. In the midst of convincing the hesitant blue blood to take a chance on her dream, Rory unexpectedly lands in Chance’s arms, stunned by his red-blooded passion-and her own awakened desire. Now, the mismatched pair can’t keep their hands off one another, and something tells Rory she’s headed for trouble-trouble in the name of love… 

I have to admit... I usually choose (or don't choose) books partially based on their covers.  So shallow, I know!  :)  The cover of this book made me think of 'corny romance novel,' but it had a ton of good reviews over at bn.com.  Plus, it said "USA Today Bestselling Author"... so I decided to give it a try.  I really, really liked Falling for You!  It wasn't a corny romance novel at all!!  The setting is awesome, an old historic home on Galveston island that Rory wants to convert to a bed & breakfast.  Both the setting and the storyline are unique.  I love Rory and Chance.  :)  This book is part of a trilogy, and I most definitely would read the other books in the series.  Recommended!

Hired by the Cowboy by Donna Alward

★★★★☆

Alexis Grayson is good at looking after herself—she's been doing it all her life. So what if she's alone and pregnant? She'll cope! But gorgeous cowboy Connor Madsen seems determined to take care of her. And Alexis can help him—he needs a temporary wife; she needs somewhere to live until the baby's born. A short-term marriage will solve all their difficulties!

As Alexis gets to know the courageous, honorable Connor, she realizes that she might have made the biggest mistake of her life. Because all this wife-for-hire wants is a marriage for real!

Hired by the Cowboy was another freebie I picked up, and I'm not sure why!  I don't think I've ever read a 'Harlequin Romance' and wasn't quite sure what to expect!!  I decided before I started reading that if it was corny and smutty, I wasn't going to keep reading it.  I'm glad I read it... it was far from either!  Like probably most romance novels, there was an element of predictability about it, being that you know it is a love story.  However, I thought the author developed the characters very well and developed their love story over time.  It is a relatively short book (145 pages on my Nook anyways), but I was really pleasantly surprised with this story!!  I guess I might keep my eye out for more Harlequin Romances in the future.  :)

Jenna's Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater

★★★★☆

Jenna Callahan Colby thought she was content. A partner on her father's successful ranch, she is surrounded by family and friends. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town--the first guy she ever noticed, the one her father sent away all those years ago.

And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever.

Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do, though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With the help of good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the horrors of the past behind him--and become the man Jenna deserves.

I really enjoyed Jenna's Cowboy!!  It was a freebie, so I decided to give it a try and really ended up liking it!  It's a love story - of course.  :)  Jenna and Nate knew each other in high school, and although neither knew it, they had been attracted to one another back then.  Jenna has since married and had a baby, only to be walked out on by her husband.  Nate returns from the armed forces as the hometown hero, but he's struggling with the effects of war - PTSD.  This element definitely adds an aspect of depth and realism to the story.  Of course Jenna and Nate fall for each other, and that's where the love story happens!  Before reading this book, I never realized the impact of PTSD on a person's life... the author herself became well-educated on the subject before writing this story, so it's role in the story feels very real.  I really enjoyed this book!!

The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs

★★★★☆

From the bestselling author of The Know-It-All comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible.

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.

The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes.

Jacobs's quest transforms his life even more radically than the year spent reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica for The Know-It-All. His beard grows so unruly that he is regularly mistaken for a member of ZZ Top. He immerses himself in prayer, tends sheep in the Israeli desert, battles idolatry, and tells the absolute truth in all situations - much to his wife's chagrin.

Throughout the book, Jacobs also embeds himself in a cross-section of communities that take the Bible literally. He tours a Kentucky-based creationist museum and sings hymns with Pennsylvania Amish. He dances with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and does Scripture study with Jehovah's Witnesses. He discovers ancient biblical wisdom of startling relevance. And he wrestles with seemingly archaic rules that baffle the twenty-first-century brain. Jacobs's extraordinary undertaking yields unexpected epiphanies and challenges. A book that will charm readers both secular and religious, The Year of Living Biblically is part Cliff Notes to the Bible, part memoir, and part look into worlds unimaginable. Thou shalt not be able to put it down.

My sister lent me her copy of The Year of Living Biblically, so technically I didn't read it on my Nook!  (I will say, it takes me much longer to finish a paper book than when I'm reading on my Nook.  :)  )  Anyways, I really enjoyed this book!  The author, who was born Jewish but is an agnostic, decides that he will immerse himself in the Bible for an entire year, and that he will follow it as literally as possible.  This book recounts his experiences.  I liked that he was coming into this 'project' with no preconceived notions about religion or what the Bible says.  He was really reading it for the first time and interpreting it without many outside influences.  Along the way, he meets with many members of the Jewish and Christian faith, some of them extremists.  Some of his experiences are hilarious, and it's funny to read about his wife's reactions to some of the stuff he does over the course of the year.  He came away from this experience a different person than the guy he started as.  This was really an enjoyable, funny, and insightful read!

Bluegrass State of Mind by Kathleen Brooks

★★★★☆

McKenna Mason, a New York City attorney with a love of all things Prada, is on the run from a group of powerful, dangerous men. McKenna turns to a teenage crush, Will Ashton, for help in starting a new life in beautiful horse country. She finds that Will is now a handsome, successful race horse farm owner. As the old flame is ignited, complications are aplenty in the form of a nasty ex-wife, an ex-boyfriend intent on killing her, and a feisty race horse who refuses to race without a kiss. Can Will and McKenna cross the finish line together, and more importantly, alive?

I loved Bluegrass State of Mind!  What's not to love about a hunky but kind and humble main character!!  Kenna experiences almost a cultural shift as she moves from hectic NYC to down-home Kentucky.  The people of the town are so loving and friendly, although they all know your business!  I loved the cast of characters in this book, and it was a fresh storyline.  There is a love story along with some mystery and drama.  Great new story!

Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

★★★★☆
Ever wonder how Italian sounds with a Southern drawl? Bella Rossi's life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding-planning business, Bella quickly books a Boot-Scootin' wedding that would make any Texan proud. 

There's only one catch—she doesn't know a thing about country music. 

Where will she find a deejay on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his George Strait? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding? Fun, fresh, and full of surprises, this flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex highlights the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash. 

Fools Rush In was a really cute book!  It started off a little slow, but I really grew to love the characters.  There is such a sweet little love story between DJ and Bella.  I loved reading about their interactions with each other.  This book is a Christian fiction book, and the author did a really great job handling the characters' reactions when something drastic went wrong.  It makes me think, "Oh!  I would have probably never handled that situation in a good way, but here is an example of someone who did!  Next time something happens, I can do better!"  It's funny that a fiction story can make you do that, but it's true!! 

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

★★★★☆

Every Once in a Blue Moon Your Heart Waits at a Crossroads.

For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas, is hardly in the plan. Yet because a promotion hinges on the sale of the family farmland, Heather heads to the last place she ever wanted to go. She's determined to return home, signed contract in hand, the next day.

But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. As Heather's stay lengthens, she discovers a family steeped in secrets and an unexpected connection to local banker Blaine Underhill, despite his opposition to Heather's project. With each new revelation and question, Heather can't help but wonder if the handsome banker—and the family she has come to know again—are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she's found on the shores of Moses Lake.

I really ended up liking Blue Moon Bay.  It was something a little different than what I usually read... it had some suspense and a little mystery, but thankfully there was also a love story.  :)  There were some depressing undertones at the beginning of the book, as the main character is trapped in a life where she is glued to her job and gets her satisfaction from her lifestyle... where she lives, what she wears, etc.  For her job, she has to go back to a town she hates, where she spent a year of her life in high school and where terrible tragedy had fallen on her family.  She is dreading the trip back, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets once she gets there.

Overall I enjoyed this book.  It definitely got good near the end, even though I wasn't positive it was going to!  It was a freebie for me, and I'm glad that I ended up reading it.  It turned out to be a really good book!

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

★★★★☆

God is love.  Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love.  Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?

It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Crazy Love is a really good book to put our time here on Earth in perspective.  We aren't here strictly to be comfortable, happy, and occupied.  We are here to love others.  The author argues that the 'American Dream' most people strive for is the exact thing that can keep us away from God.  He talks about the fact that the lukewarm Christian isn't a Christian at all, and what God promises to do those that are lukewarm.  He argues that there is plenty of grace for us when we fall down and sin, but that having a relationship with Him simply does not allow us to be lukewarm.  This really is a great book!

Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate

★★★★☆

In this compelling tale by Lisa Wingate-award winning author of the national best-seller Lone Star Café-the associate producer of TV's hottest show fears Amber Amberson's tiny Texas hometown already knows its Amber is an American Megastar finalist. But after several hilarious culture clashes, the Hollywood pro enlists the help of the quirky townsfolk when the sweet and naïve Amber goes missing.

I was excited to read Talk of the Town because there were lots of good reviews on it (it was a freebie when I got it).  I have to say, though, this book did not capture my attention right off the bat.  I was about 60 or so pages into it, and I thought I might abandon ship.  It just seemed kind of trite, cutesy, and predictable.  It definitely didn't draw me in from the get-go.

I went back to make sure I really did see some good reviews on this book, and I decided to keep reading.  I'm so glad I did!  :)  This ended up being such a cute story.  The main character, Mandalay, is really sweet, and I loved reading about her interactions with Carter.  He is gentle, kind, and reserved, and I found myself not wanting to put this book down after a while.  I'm glad I stuck with it, it's a feel-good book.

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

★★★★☆
Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life-- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies--he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him . . . and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heart wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

I really enjoyed The Choice!  I wouldn't say it was one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks novels, but it was a page-turner nonetheless.  I don't want to say too much to give away any of the plot!  But you really grow to love Travis' character, and Sparks weaves a great love story between him and Gabby. 

Also, as a sidenote, since I've read Sparks' memoir Three Weeks with My Brother, I am convinced that Travis was based off his brother Micah!! 

Both are great reads.

Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle

★★★★☆
An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited 1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small town of Capitola, California.There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.

Claire James, age twenty-three, is ready to make it on her own. When she's fired from her job as a waitress and subsequently kicked out of her sister's home, she sees it as an opportunity to start over. But even before moving, a thirty-five-year-old love letter written to her mother keeps Claire stuck in the past. Michael Thompson, a middle-aged real estate agent, wants to keep the past where it belongs—at least until his grown daughter is married. But, then a young woman comes to town . . .

To be honest, I read this book because it was a freebie, and I debated whether to give it 3- or 4-stars.  It was better than a 3 but not as good as a 4.  :)  Delivered with Love is a sweet, Christian fiction book.  I felt at times like some of the characters were not extremely well-developed.  There are several instances where the book is very predictable as well.  But the overall story is sweet, and there is a really cute love story, so I ultimately decided to give it 4-stars.  :)  I probably would have been disappointed had I paid full price for it, but it made for a good freebie read.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
In the fall of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.


Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for a funeral. Neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers soon realize that everything they thought they knew-about themselves and the dreams they held dear-was not as it seemed. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

I was so excited to read The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks.  After reading 3 not-so-great books in a row, I was ready for something good and knew Sparks wouldn't disappoint!  Of course he did not.  This book is definitely a page turner and of course includes a great love story (actually 2 of them).  Sparks has such a knack for creating these stories that make you feel the emotion of his characters.  He did a great job with this novel.

I certainly don't want to ruin the book, so I'm not going to say too much - but there are reasons I enjoyed some of his other books better.  But trust me, this book is most definitely worth the read!

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

★★★★☆
Like I did for the last Maya Davis Series book, Latte Daze, I am not going to post the summary for Double Shot because it will be a spoiler since this is the third book in the series!  (The first is Cool Beans).

This book is just a continuation on in Maya's story.  It is so sweet.  I was so very sad when this book was over because it was the last in the series.  I honestly felt a little down for a few days because it felt like I had lost a few friends!  Pathetic, I know.  But these books are so cute and sweet, I would definitely recommend them for something light and semi-romantic!

Latte Daze by Erynn Mangum

★★★★☆
I'm not going to post they summary of Latte Daze because, since it's the second in the Maya Davis series (Cool Beans is the first), there are some spoilers in the summary!

And I'm not going to post much about what happens in this book, either, because there is a third book in the series! (Double Shot).

But like Erynn's other books, this was a great read.  You wish you were actually hanging out with her group of friends.  Such a cute, sweet story.  I was sad when it was over, but at least there is a 3rd book in the series!

Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum

★★★★☆
Everything seems to be going perfectly for Maya Davis: She has a great job at a coffee shop, gets along with her parents, and is happily single. That is until her best friend starts dating Maya’s high school sweetheart.
 
This funny, heartwarming fiction story by best-selling author Erynn Mangum uses the power of story to challenge teens to discover the relevance of faith in their relationships and their lives.

Okay, so I know the summary for Cool Beans says for "teens," but I am clearly not a teen and still really enjoyed this book!  Like Erynn's other books, her main character (Maya in this book), has a great group of friends.  You just want to hang out with them all.  Such a cute, sweet story.  This is the first book in the Maya Davis Series, the second is Latte Daze and the third is Double Shot.  Highly recommended for a light, semi-romantic read!

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

★★★★☆
Heather Wells Rocks!

Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two — and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12hape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student from Heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls . . . and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen — not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives — even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective!

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong . . .

I really enjoyed Size 12 is Not Fat!  It is a funny, chick-lit story, but it is also a mystery that keeps you guessing.  Heather, the main character, is funny and self-deprecating.  There are some hilarious scenes in the book.  It is a pretty quick read as well, the mystery aspect of it makes it a page-turner.  It is the first book in a series, so if you like it, there are more!!

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell

★★★★☆
Now a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

Miranda's track record with men is horrible.
Her most recent catastrophe is Greg. He seems perfect—gorgeous, witty, exciting. And he and Miranda are in love… until Miranda discovers he left his wife when he found out she was pregnant.

With the help of her friends, Miranda plans the sweetest and most public revenge a heartbroken girl can get. But will Miranda learn from her mistake, or move on to the next "perfect" man and ignore the love of her life waiting in the wings…

Even the worst mistake of your life can lead to true love in the end…

I really enjoyed Miranda's Big Mistake!  It's the second book I've read by Jill Mansell (the first was Millie's Fling).  Mansell is a British author, and I love how you can just 'hear' her characters speaking with British accents while you are reading!  This book was a fun, enjoyable read.  The characters are loveable and quirky.  One thing I loved about this book (as well as Mansell's other) is that it is a longer book.  A point comes in the story where many other authors would have chosen to end the novel, but Mansell continues with the rest of the story.  Many times when I finish a book, I feel like, "Yes, it was a good story, but what happened later?"  Mansell continues her stories to the point where all the loose ends are wrapped up and you feel satisfied with the ending.  I love that about her books, and this book is no different.  I would recommend Miranda's Big Mistake if you are looking for something light, fun, funny, and witty!

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

★★★★☆
#1 bestselling author Karen Kingsbury tells the heartwrenching story of Cody Gunner, a widower fighting for stability, and the woman who wants to help him trust again--even when trust is the most terrifying thing of all.

Still aching over his wife's death, Cody Gunner can't bear the thought of also letting go of his Down's Syndrome brother, Carl Joseph. Cody wants his brother home, where he will be safe and cared for, not out on his own in a world that Cody knows all too well can be heartless and insecure. So when Carl Joseph's teacher, Elle, begins championing his independence, she finds herself at odds with Cody. But even as these two battle it out, they can't deny the instinctive connection they share, and Cody faces a crisis of the heart. What if Elle is the one woman who can teach Cody that love is still possible? If Cody can let go of his lingering anger, he might just see that sometimes the brightest hope of all lies just beyond the clouds.

I really enjoyed Just Beyond the Clouds.  What I didn't realize until after I'd read it was that it's the second book in a series! (The first is A Thousand Tomorrows, which I haven't read).  You definitely don't need to read the first book in the series to get up to speed in this book, but I may go back and read the first one anyways.  This was a really sweet and enjoyable story.  Elle works with handicapped young adults, and their personalities are so sweet and innocent.  I loved reading about Elle and Cody and how they carefully navigate their relationship.  This is the second Christian fiction book I've read by Kingsbury, and she is definitely on my list of authors to watch for.  A really enjoyable and sweet read.

(By the way, A Thousand Tomorrows and Just Beyond the clouds are available as one Nook book here!)

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

★★★★☆
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart. 

Revolution is probably not a book I'd typically pick up, but I checked it out from the library on my Nook.  I didn't have anything else I really wanted to read at the time, so I gave it a go.  I am so glad I did!  Andi is a girl with a very hard exterior, but I love how the story reveals who she really is.  Alexandrine is a girl who lived centuries ago, and Andi finds her diary and wants to learn more about her.  The author is able to weave stories of these two girls together in a captivating way.  This was definitely a unique and unpredictable story, and it was very interesting in a good way.  I also enjoyed the historical Paris setting.  I'm glad I checked it out from the library on the Nook!

The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard

★★★★☆
The bestselling author of Labor Day returns with a spellbinding novel about friendship, family secrets, and the strange twists of fate that shape our lives

The Good Daughters

They were born on the same day, in the same small New Hampshire hospital, into families that could hardly have been less alike.
Ruth Plank is an artist and a romantic with a rich, passionate, imaginative life. The last of five girls born to a gentle, caring farmer and his stolid wife, she yearns to soar beyond the confines of the land that has been her family's birthright for generations.

Dana Dickerson is a scientist and realist whose faith is firmly planted in the natural world. Raised by a pair of capricious drifters who waste their lives on failed dreams, she longs for stability and rootedness.

Different in nearly every way, Ruth and Dana share a need to make sense of who they are and to find their places in a world in which neither has ever truly felt she belonged. They also share a love for Dana's wild and beautiful older brother, Ray, who will leave an indelible mark on both their hearts.
Told in the alternating voices of Ruth and Dana, The Good Daughters follows these "birthday sisters" as they make their way from the 1950s to the present. Master storyteller Joyce Maynard chronicles the unlikely ways the two women's lives parallel and intersect—from childhood and adolescence to first loves, first sex, marriage, and parenthood; from the deaths of parents to divorce, the loss of home, and the loss of a beloved partner—until past secrets and forgotten memories unexpectedly come to light, forcing them to reevaluate themselves and each other.

Moving from rural New Hampshire to a remote island in British Columbia to the '70s Boston art-school scene, The Good Daughters is an unforgettable story about the ties of home and family, the devastating force of love, the healing power of forgiveness, and the desire to know who we are.

The Good Daughters was a good book - I did want to keep reading it to see how it would turn out.  However, I thought it had mildly depressing undertones, perhaps because of the solemn tone in which it was written.  I thought it was sort of a 'flat' novel, somehow some of the characters didn't seem very dimensional.  I waivered between giving it 3 and 4 stars and ultimately decided on 4 since I did want to see how it would end.  There are some suprising twists that occur throughout the book; some are unexpected and others are not.  Overall it was a good read - not one of my favorites, but worth reading.