​A remote island cut off by unforgiving seas is just the place for a reclusive artist to thrive.  Vanessa lives on the island alone after dumping her cheating husband and the stress of the art world.  Her one local friend Grace took care of her until her recent death.  Vanessa left Grace the island but gave her art collection to a foundation.  Grace has always been overprotective and she is not happy that Beck , the curator, is coming to the island to claim background notes and sketchbooks after a human bone was found in one of the artist's pieces that some feel might be that of her ex-husband who went missing.  Perfect tension and misdirection marks a story that, just like the unpredictable sea and indirect blue light, the reader is never sure who is telling the truth.  This modern gothic thriller includes characters whose moods shift faster than the tide on an island that harbors many secrets and an undercurrent of jealousy and obsession that feels quietly menacing. Readalikes would include the tense mysteries of Tana French as well as mysteries of reclusive artists like THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR and obsessive love stories like Stephen King's MISERY.   4 1/2 stars

Libby is at her best surrounded by the book characters in her beloved children's books and her dog. But she has just been given an alarming death sentence and life has become a complicated puzzle she can't unravel. Her editors don't care because she is overdue to hand over the final chapter in the book series, the fans are getting restless and Libby is at a loss as to how to continue it. She finds help in super fan Peanut who offers her spin on how the book should proceed. Of course the path to the town and what happens after is not without potholes. She just might find that in order to save the book children she might have to save herself and a few others along the way. A heartbreaker of a story with wonderful broken characters who, along with Libby, fit like perfect puzzle pieces so beautifully. All those obsessive Harry Potter fans might be looking into a mirror and it touches on how high we place some authors atop a pedestal they can't help but fall off of. For book fans of THE WISHING GAME, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY and the tragic characters of ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK - this is your kind of book. ​ 4 1/2 stars

Many single women found themselves on the doorstep of hotels like the Biedermeier in the 60's New York. Safe, somewhat affordable and respectable they allowed many women their first taste of being on their own in a room to call their own. Welcome to The Biedermeier where a diverse group of women gather, each trying to live up to high expectations of what the modern independent woman looks like with a few who just want a rich husband! The montage of characters from the woman who tries to keep the hotel financially afloat , to the floor managers who try to keep half an eye on all the little chicks to the residents themselves - are all funny, tragic and tough as nails. This slim novel packs a lot of history of the hotels and the changing society of 60's New York written in a slice of life approach that will charm and delight. Readers of Fiona Davis THE DOLLHOUSE or fans of MAD MEN will find much to love. ​  4 stars

This book serves two purposes - the first looks at examples of famous author's failed attempts from an anecdotal viewpoint and the second helps to inspire the writing community to hang in there. There is a reason sometimes when a lost or unfinished manuscript from these revered authors it should remain lost - it is bad. Does it make us feel better to know that they slipped off the pedestal once or twice - Yes! 
This would make a great gift for aspiring writers. ​ 3 1/2 stars

"What goes around, comes around"
In the far future the Earth is in distress and signs of a non-tech back to the land way of life is everywhere. Humans do all the labor with simple tools, food is harvested or hunted and neighboring cities and villages are at war with each other. Even though it is the future we have returned to ancient solutions where the wealthy use the poor or slaves to do all the labor, the best of the resources go to those in power and there are a few who study the past to find the future. I found some aspects of this new world like plastic gems are treasured and the religious symbols like the worshipping the sun or building the escape ark that will house a select lucky few very interesting. We follow several groups including siblings who become separated from their mom and each other who come together at the end. It is not a quick read but the characters and their plight feel real. Readers of STATION ELEVEN and THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD will enjoy this. ​ 4 stars