This book is a mystery/thriller. Two sisters, Beatrice and Tess, have always been close after living through the trauma of losing their brother to cystic fibrosis when they were young and then their father walking out on the family soon after. As the story begins, a very pregnant Tess is missing, and Bea flies from the U.S. to London to help look for her. When Tess's body is found in a filthy park bathroom, the police believe she committed suicide, but Bea refuses to go along with that theory and continues with her own investigation right up to the shocking conclusion. I did find this book somewhat difficult to read. The narrator jumped back and forth between time periods, and I couldn't always tell immediately which time period she was speaking of. Also, even considering that her sister has just died, Beatrice has some fairly abrupt personality changes that didn't ring true. The author did do an excellent job of setting the scene and describing the surroundings for a real "you are there" feel to the book.

Glory Solomon is a grieving widow whose life is changed forever by Juniper and Joseph, who both enter her life in rather dramatic ways. I would have liked more explanation for the characters' motivations, but the author wrote vivid descriptions of the physical surroundings and the animal-human interaction, and there was a heartwarming ending. No surprises but an enjoyable read.

Cary and Kate - Luke and Cressida. Two marriages. Everyone seems to be happy. Then one person from each of those marriages begins an affair, with each other. The story of the affair and the subsequent fall-out is told from the viewpoint of each of the four and also Luke's friend Tim. I found I liked that style and it helps to move things along quickly. The first third of the book was excellent, getting to know the players and their motivations. The middle third dragged somewhat as the affair kicked into high gear. The selfishness and conceit of the two having the affair was mind-boggling. Then the last third, dealing with the feelings and subsequent decisions to be made, was realistic with no pat answers. So overall, a good book that definitely kept my attention.

The story of Rachel, daughter of a black GI and a Danish mother, and her family revolves around a bizarre tragedy that happens near the beginning of the book. Don't be put off by the quick reveal of that, though, because the the rest of the book is a slow unfolding of the "why" and the events leading up to that tragedy from the viewpoint of Rachel; Jamie/Brick, who is a witness to what happened; Rachel's mother's supervisor; and Rachel's father. Very different perspectives from each narrator adds a richness to the story, and the mystery of "why" isn't solved until the very end of the book. The author deals with themes of race, alcoholism, love, and forgiveness, among others, which brings me to my only complaint about the book: too many issues and too many plot points. But overall, an original story and a good read.

Serena takes place during the Depression in the western mountains of North Carolina. Serena and George Pemberton are newlyweds obsessed with each other and with creating a lumber dynasty. Rachel is a young, poor country girl who was seduced by George before he went to Boston and met Serena. What follows is a story of greed, selfishness, and destruction. Excellent writing. My only complaint: I felt the book was not long enough and detailed enough to do justice to the huge storyline and the many colorful characters; therefore, it was good, not great.

Told through the eyes of 8-year-old Ruba, this is the story of one family trying to survive in 1980s Lebanon while the country is being attacked by Israel. This is a story of lost innocence, religious prejudice, violence, and family ties. The book starts out a little slow, but if the reader is patient, the pace picks up about a fourth of the way through, and you come to care about this family and are rooting for them to survive. The descriptions of the war-torn countryside of Lebanon are very vivid and realistic. Recommended for fiction lovers.

This is a beautifully written memoir of Asha Bandele's journey through "single" motherhood in NYC. (Technically, Asha is not single, but her husband is in prison.) I admire the author's honesty, which is sometimes almost painful to read. There are no fairy-tale endings here; in other words, real life.

This is a memoir of the lives of the author's grandmother and mother and, to a lesser extent, the author herself. The story of what the grandmother went through pre-World War II and post-World War II in China and Hong Kong is amazing. The choices she had to make are heartbreaking. Parts of the book are like a history lesson but in a good way. The historical details are woven seamlessly into the narration. The author gives a very honest portrayal - the good and the bad, the strengths and the weaknesses - of her family. Would definitely recommend this book for book clubs.

Resistance is one of the best books I have read in the past year. Its premise is, what if Germany had won World War II and occupied Great Britain. At first, I thought, interesting but I'm not really into books about war. I read the first few pages, a little slow, hoped I would be able to finish it. Next thing I knew, I was on page 75! Then I had a hard time putting it down. The story is told from many points of view, so you truly are left wondering, who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. Would definitely recommend it for book clubs, men, and women.

Wonderful story! The characters are fully developed, and the descriptions of time and place make you feel like you are there. It is a story of family but also one of suspense and with a little bit of history thrown in. I would recommend this book for men and women and for book clubs.