“Told in a series of e-mails, blog posts, online therapy submissions, text messages, legal correspondence, home-rental bookings, and other snippets of our virtual lives, When You Read This is a deft, captivating romantic comedy–funny, tragic, surprising, and bittersweet–that candidly reveals how we find new beginnings after loss.” Seriously, I didn’t know how else to explain it. The book is terrific, honest!

Ian Graham, who, for reasons of his own, is a journalist with a desire to bring Nazis to justice. Nina Markova is a young Russian woman who dreams of being a pilot. Jordan McBride is a 17 year old who is trying to come to terms with the woman her widowed father has married. What these three people have in common is a woman known as the Huntress. Another well written, engrossing story by Kate Quinn.

“When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path. But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened. Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?” I couldn’t have put it better myself! A great mystery!

Nine perfect strangers gather at Tranquility House, a retreat centre that promises to change their lives. Frances, the main character, wonders whether she should stay or run for her life. It doesn’t take long before the other participants (and the reader) are wondering the same thing. Another hilarious, wise novel by one of my favourites!

This sequel to Beartown (you really want to read Beartown first) tells us what happens in the aftermath of the town’s split over the act that sent it spiralling. Take heart, redemption is possible!

Beartown is in the middle of a forest which is in the middle of nowhere. Yet, at the heart of the town is the junior hockey team which promises to haul Beartown out of ignominy and place it amongst the elite of the hockey world. When a young girl is traumatized by a violent act the town is thrown into turmoil and the promise of glory is threatened. A beautifully written book – you need not love hockey to love Beartown and reap the lessons it has to offer.

Willa Knox has lost her job and decides, with her husband and daughter, to move into the dilapidated home she has inherited. Her son, Zeke, moves in with his baby and without prospects. She wonders how she has done everything right and ended up with everything going wrong. She delves into the history of the house and town in the hope of finding that her house may be a heritage building for which she can get funding to repair. In the process she uncovers a story that captures her heart. Kingsolver at her best!

Kya has grown up on her on in the marshes of North Carolina. Known as the “marsh girl” she is shunned by the town for her wild and eccentric behaviour. She is befriended by Tate, a sensitive, kind young boy who treats Kya with respect. When Tate heads off to college, Kya is bereft and allows herself to be approached by handsome but not-so-nice Andrew Chase (doesn’t his name say it all). Chase is murdered and guess who gets the blame? I loved the story of this intelligent, sensitive young woman who finds a way to flourish in spite of her hardships.

Frannie Langton is accused of murdering her employer, George Benham and his wife Marguerite in London. She was found with blood on her hands and stubbornly maintains that she has no recollection of what happened. We do find out about her life on a slave plantation in Jamaica and the trail leaves us wondering who the real culprits are in this story. A great read!

Michael and Francis are brothers growing up in a housing project in Scarborough, Ontario in the 1990’s. This is story looks at racism, gang and police violence and the despair that comes from lack of opportunity and poverty. Not for the faint of heart but definitely a timely and beautiful book.