Flat Water

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

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Book Summary:  On a road trip to Flat Water, the home he fled years before, Monty Marinnis must confront the complex and painful loss that drove him away and now demands his family. Called back to California for his sister’s wedding, Monty’s journey from the Midwest to the California Coast is also a journey through memory, one complicated by the presence of his adoring, but increasingly frustrated wife Charlotte, from whom Monty has concealed the horrifying details of his family’s fracture and how he remains haunted by what he witnessed as a teenager. 

The Marinnis family lost their eldest son in a shocking attack, while Monty watched, helpless. Since that day, he has been obsessed with finding an answer to a question that has why do bad things happen to some people but not others? Why were they selected to suffer? In Flat Water, Monty will be confronted by brutal truths that rise like sharks from the depths. Faced with such realities, Monty will have to choose between acceptance and self-destruction.

“Jeremy Broyles’s Flat Water is a sensorial and emotionally rich exploration of guilt, shame, the burden of secrets, and the possibility of redemption.”
-Jenny Irish, author of I Am Faithful

"Flat Water is an honest and empathetic depiction of grief. Propelled by the energy of Broyles' wit and sparkling prose, Monty's story, like the waves he used to chase, is equal parts surprising and inevitable, brilliant and heartbreaking."

-Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs

"Jeremy Broyles' Flat Water will rock you in oceanic waves, both literal and emotional. Flat Water gives us a clear-eyed look at what it means to suffer great pain, to navigate the murky waters of self-blame, and, ultimately, to find the possibility of self-forgiveness in grief's wake."

-Ann Cummins, author of Red Ant House and Yellowcake

Purchase Flat Water on Amazon 

Jeremy Broyles is an Arizona native, originally from the Cottonwood-Jerome-Sedona high desert. He is a professor with nearly twenty years of experience teaching in higher education, and he currently serves as the creative writing program director at Mesa Community College where he has taught since 2017. His stories have appeared in The MacGuffin, Santa Clara Review, Pigeon Review, Pembroke Magazine, Suburbia Journal, and Reckon Review amongst many others. His novella, What Becomes of Ours, was published in 2014 by ELJ Publications. He is an aging rider of bicycles, a talentless surfer of waves, and a happily mediocre player of guitars.

Visit Jeremy at his website, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Bird Hotel

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Synopsis (from Amazon):  Enter the magical world of La Llorona with New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
 
After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano. 
 
The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magical realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a leading voice of her generation.
 
The Bird Hotel is a big, sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy. While the world New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard brings to life on the page is rendered from her imagination, it’s one informed by the more than twenty years of which she has spent a significant amount of her time in a small Mayan indigenous village in Guatemala. 
 
As the New York Times said, "[Maynard] has an unswerving eye, a sharply perked ear, and the ability to keep her readers hanging on her words." People Magazine said of her: "Maynard’s spare prose packs a rich emotional punch.” 

One (or more) Sentence Summary: Wow!  This was my first Joyce Maynard book (thanks to my sister who recommended it) and it will not be my last.  The Bird Hotel is such an unusual book and I couldn't put it down. It is like Forest Gump (the movie) -  was one story woven into another, into another, into another, throughout Irene's life.  Oh the things Irene has seen and been through made her a super strong female. So much growth in a character in one book - just amazing!

Irene goes through so many phases in her life with all sorts of people.  It isn't until she settles at the Bird Hotel that she feels at home.  However, not everyone can be trusted, just because you have found your place. The Bird Hotel has it all: amazing characters, strong leading lady(s), exploring different cultures, growth in a character, tears, laughter, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, and a quick read (even for 457 pages - because you can't put it down).

The Bird Hotel must be in your beach bag this summer. 

A native of New Hampshire, Joyce Maynard began publishing her stories in magazines when she was thirteen years old. She first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story, “An Eighteen Year Old Looks Back on Life”, in 1972, when she was a freshman at Yale. 

Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, a syndicated newspaper columnist whose “Domestic Affairs” column appeared in over fifty papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR and national magazines including Vogue, The New York Times Magazine, and many more, and a longtime performer with The Moth. 

Maynard is the author of seventeen books, including the novel To Die For and the best-selling memoir, At Home in the World—translated into sixteen languages. Her novel, To Die For was adapted for the screen by Buck Henry for a film directed by Gus Van Sant , in which Joyce can be seen in the role of Nicole Kidman’s lawyer.. Her novel Labor Day was adapted and directed by Jason Reitman for a film starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, to whom Joyce offered instruction for making the pie that appeared in a crucial scene in the film. 

The mother of three grown children, Maynard runs workshops in memoir at her home in Lafayette California. In 2002 she founded The Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala, where she hosts a weeklong workshop in personal storytelling every winter. 

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Save What's Left

 ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

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Synopsis (from Amazon):  GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • ONE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S BEST BOOKS OF SUMMER • An outrageously funny debut novel about a woman who moves to a small beach town looking for peace, only to find herself in an all-out war with her neighbors.

“Irreverent and unexpectedly tender, this story takes neighborhood feuding to new heights and finds beauty and reinvention in unlikely places." —Oprah Daily

"Brings a tongue-in-cheek tone to the beach read genre."—TIME

When Kathleen Deane’s husband, Tom, tells her he's no longer happy with his life and their marriage, Kathleen is confused. They live in Kansas. They’ve been married thirty years. Who said anything about being happy? But with Tom off finding himself, Kathleen starts to think about what she wants. And her thoughts lead her to a small beach community on the east coast, a town called Whitbey that has always looked lovely in the Christmas letters her childhood friend Josie sends every year.

It turns out, though, that life in Whitbey is nothing like Josie’s letters. Kathleen’s new neighbor, Rosemary, is cantankerous, and the town’s supervisor won't return Kathleen’s emails, but worst of all is the Sugar Cube, the monstrosity masquerading as a holiday home that Kathleen’s absentee neighbors are building next door to her quaint (read: tiny) cottage. As Kathleen gets more and more involved in the fight against the Sugar Cube and town politics overall, she realizes that Whitbey may not be a fairytale, but it just might be exactly what she needed.

Save What’s Left can best be described as the “un-beach read.” It pulls back the curtain on life in a beach town, revealing the true cost of a pretty view. Told from the candid and irreverent perspective of a newcomer turned local, this is a story of forgiveness, fortitude, and second chances.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  This is a laugh-out-loud amazing book.  I absolutely loved it. All the quirky things that happened to Kathleen, were just too funny.  Loved Rosemary and Josie too and they made the book even more fun to read.  I would love to meet them and be part of their dysfunctional community. 

Save What's Life is a well-written book and I highly recommend it to everyone! I can't wait for Casetllano's next book

ELIZABETH CASTELLANO grew up in a beach town. She lives in New York. Save What’s Left is her debut novel.

www.elizabethcastellano.com

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2024 What's In Your Beach Bag?

With Summer 2024 officially kicked off, it is the perfect time to determine what books I will put in my beach bag!  

This is where I list 10 (sometimes more) books that I want to read over the summer.  I seem to get the reading done most years but have lagged in getting all the reviews posted.  My list for 2023 did not get completed.  I have been working on a project at work for the past 13 months and it has taken everything out of me and then some. Hoping the summer of 2024 is back to normal and I can get the books read and reviewed. 

Books that made the previous lists:

  2019 - What's in Your Bag?

  2020 - What's in Your Bag?

  2021 - What's in Your Bag?

2022 - new job, twins graduated high school, my son finished his junior hockey career and all three kids were starting college - it slipped my mind.

 2023 - What's in Your Bag?

1. The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard 

2. Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston 

3. Love Painted in Lies by Holly Denham 

4. Tales From the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 

5. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley 

6. Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Holland 

7. The Space Between Us by Melanie Summers 

8. Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner 

9. Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday 

10. It's All Sun and Games by Portia Macintosh 

Looking back at the titles, I don't seem to have many "beachy-themed" books.  I am sure they will all take me on an adventure. 

Happy Summer Reading and please don't forget to post a comment with recommendations!

Annie in Paris

 ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis:  

Personal shopper Annie Valentine is back! Older and bolder!

Fashion guru Annie is struggling to cope with her hectic life. With the demands of two older children, plus four-year-old twins, her marriage to Ed is in a romance-free rut and she’s clinging by a couture thread to her job as the nation’s favourite fashion fixer.

And where is Svetlana, her multi-millionaire friend, when Annie needs her? Busy with an expensive mid-life crisis, that's where!

When Ed gets the chance to teach in Paris, Annie thinks time apart could be the answer. Wrong!

In Paris, Ed transforms into a debonair silver fox, attracting the attentions of stylish siren Sylvie.

Annie can’t lose her man or the job she loves, so bundling her bags, her babies and a reluctant Svetlana onto the Eurostar, she sets off to the rescue. But can the City of Love deliver the ooh la la that her marriage, and her fashion series, so desperately needs?

Another brilliant laugh out loud emotional read, perfect for fans of Fiona Gibson, Tracy Bloom and Sophie Ranald!

Purchase:  https://mybook.to/AnnieinParisSocial

One (or more) Sentence Summary: Emily in Paris for adults! I didn't realize until after I finished the book and went to look for other books by Carmen Reid that this was actually book 7 of a series.  It is 100% a stand-alone, but now I can't wait to read other books in the series. Get book 1 for free here. Books 2- 7 are free with Kindle Unlimited!

Annie is one of those characters that makes you laugh out loud and can only imagine how crazy her life really is.  She takes care of everyone - two older children and young twins, her husband, and friends. I absolutely love how she just packs up the twins and off she goes to Paris where her husband is spending the summer on sabbatical. I think the funniest part was getting locked in a courtyard (no spoiler here).  

Both Annie and her friend (Annie used to be a personal shopper for her) Svetlana grew a lot during the journey. I really liked how Svetlana went from wanting to have more plastic surgery to selling her designer clothes for charity and converting a plot of land into a community garden. She really grew a lot throughout the book. 

Very enjoyable read!

Carmen Reid is the bestselling author of numerous woman’s fiction titles including the Personal Shopper series starring Annie Valentine. After taking a break from writing she is back, introducing her hallmark feisty women characters to a new generation of readers. She lives in Glasgow with her husband and children.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmenreidwrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thiscarmenreid

Instagram; Carmen Reid (@carmenreidwrites) • Instagram photos and videos

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/CarmenReidNews

Bookbub profile: Carmen Reid Books - BookBub

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett

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Synopsis (from Amazon):  It's never too late to start living.

Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world - all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At 85, she isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion. 

Then she meets 10-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley - afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties. 

While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose’s new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood - of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead. 

But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye? 

"One adorably British odd couple ... Charming." (People)

“An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death ... heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting .. Everyone should read this book.” (Ruth Hogan, author of Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel)

Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live.

One (or more) Sentence Summary: ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I fell in love with Rose and the impact she had on Eudora's life.  A beautiful story of innocent children and those that have lost hope. The book reminded me of Fredrick Baackman's Britt-Marie Was Here, which I loved (this is meant to be a huge compliment to Annie Lyons).

I couldn't put it down and want a sequel of Rose as young adult! I can't wait to read Annie Lyons' other novels. 

Caution: reading The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett at the beach and wiping tears away can cause you to get sand and sunscreen in your eyes!

Annie Lyons has written several books since her first book was published in July 2013.  Not Quite Perfect reached number one in the Kindle bestsellers. Her latest book is The Air Raid Book Club, which is on my TBR list. Okay, all other books are now on my TBR list and I can't wait to read them.

Instagram: @annielyonsauthor

Twitter: @1AnnieLyons

Facebook: www.facebook.com/annielyonswriter

Website: www.annielyons.com

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Not Another Roman Holiday

 ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon):  In the novella NOT ANOTHER ROMAN HOLIDAY, an American blogger meets a European Prince in Italy. She needs a story. He needs an escape from the paparazzi. Neither thought love would hit them in the eye like a grande pizza pie – but that's Rome for ya. (And, okay, it might also be amore.)

______

A modern, role-reversing twist on the classic film Roman Holiday by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Marilyn Brant!

American entertainment blogger and aspiring poet, Jenna Bradley, is spending the summer in Rome, visiting her grandparents and working remotely for the online magazine/ezine WORLD VIBE. She's assigned to write a feature on the latest Goodwill Tour of an Eastern European royal – handsome and wealthy, perhaps, but aloof and surely dull. Definitely not her type.

The night before the big meet and greet, however, she comes face to face with an incredibly attractive man who surprises her and quickly wins her over with his wittiness, depth, and charm. He couldn't be more different from the royal stiff she's supposed to interview...or could he?

On the eve of his 26th birthday, Prince Andrei of Saragovia has had a long day of official duties followed by a little too much Grappa and some unexpected paparazzi stalking him at his hotel. While making his escape, the Prince inadvertently crosses paths with a cute American named Jenna and her friends, and he finds himself caught up in an action-packed 36-hour spree through the Italian capital.

Adventurous, fun, and romantic, Andrei is given a birthday celebration he never would have imagined, and Jenna gets the scoop of a lifetime. But the clock is ticking... What if they could spend more than just a day and two nights together in Rome?

One (or more) Sentence Summary: I have always been a big fan of Marilyn Brant's books and Not Another Roman Holiday didn't let me down.  I loved it!  Great story, fast read, fun characters, rom-com, laugh out loud while reading, and royals! All of my favorite things. Not Another Roman Holiday is a MUST READ!

Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award® in 2007 and she was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She wrote ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen, FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, and A SUMMER IN EUROPE, all women's fiction releases from Kensington Books.

She's also a #1 Kindle & #1 Nook Bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, such as ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH, along with a bestselling coming-of-age romantic mystery (THE ROAD TO YOU), a sweet holiday romance (THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS), and the 7-book "Mirabelle Harbor" contemporary romance series. Look for her latest release, THE SECRET LIFE OF MAGGIE BLAKE, a light romantic suspense/fantasy/action & adventure tale, in May 2022!

Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family, analyzing novels for the storytelling website Save the Cat! and working on her own writing projects. When she isn't rereading Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her author friends, she's daydreaming plot ideas for her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.

Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com

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