"When We Left Cuba" by Chanel Cleeton suffers from a lack of direction. This novel can't decide if it is a romance or a history lesson and is renders the story weak as a result. Having been raised in South Florida near these historical times, I can tell you that the facts were stretched as the initial wave of Cuban immigrants (although wealthy) were not always welcomed with open arms in Palm Beach society. Beside the liberties with historical facts, I found the writing painful with too much emphasis on terraces, clothing, jewels, and long soulful glances between the lead protagonist and her one true love…usually across multiple dance floors in different countries. For a book that revolves around passion, this one was simply lacking in chemistry compounded by an unbelievable story. It's a no for me.

Jane Harper is a master at setting a scene. With her new book, The Lost Man, you will want to be prepared and ready to settle into living in the stark, endless and solitary desert region of Australia. You are deep in dry red dust which settles into everything including your desolate soul. This story revolves around the unexplained death of one brother at a remote desert grave marker. The lead protagonist, Nathan, is unable to accept the ruling of his brother's suicide because they were raised to survive brutal terrain and Nathan doesn't believe his brother was suicidal. Options for what occurred are limited because the only people close are family members or employees who are incapable of doing the unthinkable. However, as the story unravels, Nathan finds out there is little he knows about his brother's character and has missed a lot of clues. Although ruled a suicide, Nathan soldiers on to a shocking conclusion to this mystery. This is a well-told story so be prepared to wander in this wilderness. Jane Harper only tells her story in detail and I love it. No shortcuts, not many clues, and great character development, Ms. Harper really deserves credit for building suspense. Atmospheric, anxious, ghostly, foreboding, and fulfilling…this story checks a lot of boxes. The desert backdrop is a metaphor for people who are dried up and ready to quit, hot and bothered about daily trials and tribulations, parched for life's joys, living on the edge until they drop off. Bravo to Jane Harper for another excellent tome. 5 stars.

What a dazzlingly yet wonderful cast of characters we meet in Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen. The one thing united them is grief and loss. A widow loses her husband to a sudden brain aneurysm, a husband loses his wife in a freak accident, and people all around this world wake up to loss and grief every day. Sometimes life is simply too hard. Here we have a magical story about finding yourself in the midst of despair and learning to let those we love go while simultaneously believing in the magic of a future. A future filled with love. The magical part is both metaphorical and literal in this story revolving around a little girl who believes her dead father is directing her future as a reincarnated winged bird, and her future hinges on a man falling for her widowed mother who climbs trees to restore his soul. Trees, after all, are powerful and have deep roots that make them strong and stable. Sometimes when all hope is lost…hope arrives and life begins anew. As one character states, “By its very nature, though, love is tragic. You can’t protect it.” because “That’s what life is, loving and letting go.” This is an enchanted story full of wit, wisdom, loss, and love. I also want you to know that this book made me cry and I rarely cry. I guarantee that you need to read this sweet novel; it is a book you can’t afford to pass by. Read it and weep.