The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne


Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

Family reconciliation is a major part of the storyline in THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne, but you also get two love stories for the price of one!  Cousins Meredith and Tori both get second chances at love in this clean romance. The small beach town setting will draw you in and the characters will make you want to hang around.

The Cafe at Beach End book coverBackground

Tori and Meredith were best friends when they were younger, more like sisters than cousins. As adults, their relationship is non-existent.

At age 19, Tori got pregnant and married, keeping her in Cape Sanctuary and helping her grandmother at The Beach End Cafe. But when Tori’s husband died making her a single mom to their six-year-old daughter, Tori’s life wasn’t easy. When her grandmother became ill, Tori balanced being a caregiver, a single mother, and the manager of the cafe.

Meredith, on the other hand, graduated with an art degree, married a wealthy man, and opened her own art gallery in the city. She didn’t help emotionally support Tori when her husband died, and she wasn’t around to help care for Grandma or run the cafe. Tori felt ignored and left behind while Meredith enjoyed a perfect life.

Tori didn’t know what Meredith’s marriage looked like behind closed doors. Bad led to worse when Meredith’s husband was convicted of cheating investors out of millions of dollars. The FBI made her life even more miserable after her husband died in prison. They believe she knew about the scheme and knows where the money is hidden. The FBI finally drop the case against her since they couldn’t prove her involvement. Meredith has a hard time feeling sorry for herself and what she’s lost when so many people lost money to her husband. 

Grandma never held a grudge against Meredith, believing she had good reasons for not coming around. When Grandma died , Tori was dismayed that she left Meredith a cottage and 49% ownership of the cafe. Tori has the other 51%. It didn’t matter much until Meredith returned to Cape Sanctuary to start over. 

Summary

The book opens with Meredith — shamed, depressed, broke, and without a job. She returns to Cape Sanctuary to hide away, distancing herself from her ex-husband’s scandal. Tori isn’t happy to see her. She’s bitter. And she certainly doesn’t want Meredith to suddenly have a say in “her” cafe after she’s spent so much time and energy running it. Much of the story is the gradual rebuilding of their relationship.

Liam, who is renting out the house next door to Meredith, says he came to the quiet town to write a book, but he’s hiding his real identity and motives. Liam shows interest in Meredith, and she opens up to him. As they develop feelings for one another, his secret could ruin everything.

Tori’s divorced brother-in-law Sam moves back to Cape Sanctuary with his daughter, Cristina. When Tori’s daughter Emilia and her cousin get into trouble at school, Tori and Sam work together to guide the girls onto the right path, hopefully including passing the eighth grade. Tori and Sam are drawn to each other, but Tori holds back. Even though her husband passed years ago, being interested in her husband’s brother doesn’t feel right.

Photo of author RaeAnne ThayneMy Thoughts

THE CAFE AT BEACH END by RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful feel-good book to pick up for your summer reading. It came out in 2023. When I started reading it, I didn’t realize this was book five in the Cape Sanctuary series. I didn’t matter one bit that I hadn’t read the others. Each book in the series is a standalone, following different characters and situations, all in the small fictional California beach town of Cape Sanctuary. I’ll be returning to the Cape Sanctuary series another time. RaeAnne Thayne just may become one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. This book is well written, and RaeAnne respects her reader’s IQ by not repeating details like some romance authors do.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve reviewed and recommend: Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman, The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith, The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews, and The Beach House and The Beach House series by Mary Alice Monroe. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

Thinking about your reading list for this summer? If you’re looking for a good older book you may have missed, try THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand. THE ISLAND came out in 2010, so it should be easy to find at the library and at bookstores.

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand book cover

 

THE ISLAND is a story of familial and romantic love, recovery from tragedy, sibling rivalry, and family support. The story reveals the individual paths four women have taken for love and the course each path set for their futures.

Summary

Shortly after Chess called off her wedding, her ex-fiancé tragically dies rock climbing. To help her through this dark time, her mother Birdie, her aunt India and her sister Tate take Chess to their family vacation home for a full month. They haven’t been back to the house on Tuckernuck Island near Nantucket in over a decade. They hope the family memories and serenity of the location will be healing.

The homes on Tuckernuck have no electricity, no heat or air conditioning, no hot water, no internet, and no cell service. A vacation home caretaker whom Birdie hired years ago has been checking on the house. When he retired, his son Barrett Lee took over the business. Birdie sent Barrett money to make the place livable for their visit since it had been neglected for so long. Upon their arrival, Barrett supplies their transportation by boat between Nantucket and Tuckernuck. He also brings them mail and groceries. Barrett, who is a widow with a child, focuses on keeping all of his clients happy, but one client, Nantucket socialite Anita Fullin, is jealous. She doesn’t want to share Barrett’s time and attention with the other family. Tate’s focus is also on Barrett, hoping this could be the summer he finally notices her.

The characters each have their own story and baggage. Birdie, the mom, is still recovering from her divorce. Free-spirited, artsy India is rediscovering herself after her husband’s death. Computer geek Tate thinks her sister has always had the advantage, but she still wants to support her. Chess, who is dealing with her grief and guilt, is also hiding a deeper secret.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this novel. The island/beach setting is right up my alley. I love a good book about love and family relationships. Birdie’s journey was a bit too predictable for me, but I did like that each character’s journey and personality was unique and had depth. Elin Hilderbrand has a way of breathing life into complex, distinctive characters.

My favorite character storylines were India and Tate. India is a widow, but her reflections on her marriage with a famous artist husband felt realistic, and her free-spirit was interesting. Tate has a successful career, but love hasn’t been in the picture. She has always felt she was in her sister’s shadow. With memories of Barrett from their summer trips years ago, she wonders if she might have a shot with him. Her same old fear rears its head – Is he more interested in Chess?

If you’re considering your summer reading list, THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand is a great addition. If you like this book, check out my review on The Identicals, another Hilderbrand book here.

 

Note About My Book Reviews This Year

Although I love reading books close to when they’re published, I have so many older books on my TBR (To Be Read) pile! I want to catch up on some of them. This year I promised myself I’d work on those more than new releases. My blog will reflect that. Sure, you’ll still see some newer books or ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) because I automatically say yes to certain authors’ books, but you’ll see some older outstanding books here as well. Hope you enjoy the mix of older and newer in my reviews this year!

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Netgalley Professional Reader

 

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 5 Stars

What a treat to read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews book coverThis book is just fabulous! I love it so much that I did a thing. I wrote to the author directly! Although I write a lot of reviews, I seldom write to the author personally. Even after decades of writing, Mary Kay Andrews just keeps getting better and better! She makes something so difficult (writing a book that hooks the reader) look so easy.

So let’s talk about SUMMERS AT THE SAINT!

Summary

Summertime, beach resort, romance, mystery…and murder.

The St. Cecelia resort, nicknamed “The Saint,” welcomes the rich who vacation there year after year on the Georgia coast. The people who can afford to stay here are called the Saints. Locals are the Ain’ts.

Traci, one of the Ain’ts who worked as a teenage lifeguard at the hotel, ended up marrying one of the owner’s sons. Now widowed, she’s the owner of the hotel. Her ruthless brother-in-law Ric is appalled that his brother’s death left Traci as the owner of the hotel part of the business. He is a constant thorn in her side while she’s trying to bring The Saint back to a 5-star hotel after Covid caused financial troubles and staffing issues. 

Those aren’t Traci’s only troubles. An accidental drowning from years ago comes back to haunt her. She and her friend Shannon were the lifeguards on duty when it happened. Now, when another tragic death occurs on the grounds, Traci is barely holding it all together. She’s also beginning to realize so much more is going on behind the scenes at the hotel. However, the possibility of romance adds some relief to the craziness in Traci’s life.

My Thoughts

I expected SUMMERS AT THE SAINT to be a women’s fiction/romance/ beach read. It is, but it’s so much more! Cozy mystery readers will also love this one.

It was a light, easy-read story with twists and turns you won’t see coming. Filled with juicy secrets, family discord, shady deals, murder, past indiscretions, strong females, misplaced trust, new employees with all their “baggage,” and a side dish of romance, you’ll need to set aside time for this one. Once you start it,  you’ll put everything else on hold.

Right when I thought I understood everything that was going on at The Saint, MKA threw in a new detail or twist. I kept wondering how deep she would go! Could she possibly come up with another unexpected turn?

At first I was concerned about the large cast of characters and keeping them straight. Silly me. The writing was in the hands of a master. Not only could I keep them straight, they were all necessary to the story. Every time I thought I had the whole picture of how all the characters were intertwined, Mary Kay would throw in another twist. Don’t let the introduction of all the characters discourage you from reading on.

Reserve your spot at The Saint and put SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews on your 2024 summer reading list. The pub date is coming up — May 7, 2024. Did you know it REALLY helps an author if you pre-order? You can pre-order from any bookstore, but I like to support independent bookstores here through bookshop.org. 

Book Tour

If you live in NE Ohio like me, register to meet MKA in person and have her sign your book. She’ll be at the Parma-Powers Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 PM. I’ll be there! Register here. For other tour stops, click here.

 

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Netgalley Professional Reader

Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2023

 

Step into nostalgic comfort in Good Hart, Michigan with FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman. Your summer pace will slow as you relax by the shores of Lake Michigan with BFFs Becky and Q. When you tire of the lake, take a drive through the picturesque Tunnel of Trees. Then head to the Very Cherry General Store to send a postcard. Or better yet, pick up a bakery goody or a sandwich . While there, say hello to Mary, the feisty octogenarian owner. And you don’t want to miss the annual Cherry Festival and Cherry Pit Spittin’ Championship. Did I mention Mary won when she was 15, back when women had never entered such an unladylike activity? In these parts she’s known as Cherry Mary, and no one has broken her record since 1958. Up for a try?

Summary

Cherry Mary is the third-generation woman to own the general store, but she doesn’t have a daughter to pass it down to. Her son and grandson aren’t particularly interested, either. But Cherry Mary still holds onto a prediction given to her in childhood – that another woman is destined to join the female line of store owners. Mary repeatedly sees a vision of four women in the distance walking toward her over the lake, reinforcing the prediction. Or is it simply a mirage? Mary was told it will take a lifetime to be fulfilled.

Becky just turned 40, the same day her long-time relationship crashed and burned. She feels unfulfilled in life after always making safe choices. Becky and her friend Q go on a Michigan vacation reminiscent of childhood summers with Becky’s grandparents. Becky sees herself fitting in at this lakeshore community. Just as Cherry Mary takes her under her wing, Mary’s grandson Ollie shows up. He’s changed his mind about the quirky town and old-fashioned general store, and he feels threatened by Becky.  He wants to protect his grandmother from this stranger “taking advantage” of her.

FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is about love, friendship, family (by blood and by choice), destiny, and the choices we make. It’s a story with heart and soul. Be prepared. You’ll want to book a trip to Michigan after you read it!

 

I only review books I would give a 4 or 5 star rating, for well-written, enjoyable books I would recommend. Just keep in mind, if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea from the description, then move on to my next book review. Perhaps this book is too slow paced for you, but that’s part of its charm. The author does a fabulous job conveying a small lake town struggling to keep life simple in a crazy world. The slow-paced summer days, the quirky people in the community, the general store as the hub of community life, the small-town festival – it’s cherry pie Americana at its best.

Interesting fact

Viola Shipman is a pen-name. The books are written by Wade Rouse, but he writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor her.  He writes stories that take place in Michigan, his home state. I had the joy of meeting Wade at an author event back in June through the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beyond the Book Jacket Speaker Series.

Check out review I did a few years back on another Viola Shipman book, The Heirloom Garden.

 

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Netgalley Professional Reader

Spells for Forgetting By Adrienne Young

As fall descends upon us, I wonder – do the types of books you choose change with the seasons? Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a dark, romantic tale with mysterious atmosphere just right for this time of year! It’s a perfect choice for when you want to curl up with a good book, a blanket and a hot beverage of choice.

YA author Adrienne Young’s first adult novel takes us to the Pacific Northwest to a mystical island off the coast of Washington. Residents of the island’s small village have lived there for generations and are deeply steeped in folklore, superstitions, and traditions. Tourists visiting their apple orchard generate most of the islander’s revenue. 

Synopsis

After fourteen years away, August returns to bury his mother’s ashes. His presence re-ignites suspicion and hatred from most of the island’s residents. For Emery, the high school sweetheart he left behind, August’s presence opens old wounds and brings conflicting feelings.

“There are spells for breaking and spells for mending. But there are no spells for forgetting.”

Fourteen years earlier, August and Emery are in love and secretly plan on leaving the island together the day after graduation. That is until the night Emery’s best friend Lily is found dead, and the apple orchard is set on fire. August is the suspect in the murder, but when no proof is produced, he and his mother leave the island.

Through multiple POV’s, we experience what happens between Emery and August now that he’s returned and see glimpses of the past that led up to that fateful night.

My Thoughts

After a few slow opening chapters, I found myself deeply invested in the characters. I wanted to follow this unresolved love story and murder mystery. It kept me guessing what really happened the night of the fire and Lily’s death, and the twists and turns kept me quickly turning the pages.

Magic and folklore is an underlying thread in the story, adding mystery and atmosphere; however, it felt underplayed. I wanted the book of magic spells and the ancient traditions to be a bigger part of the story.

This book is categorized as general fiction because it doesn’t fit neatly into only one genre. It’s part mystery/thriller, part fantasy/magic, and part romance. The publication date is set for Sept. 27, 2022. I rate Spells for Forgetting 4 stars since I really enjoyed this book. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Netgalley Member Professional Reader

If Spells for Forgetting sounds like a book you’d like, check out my reviews on these novels: Valley of the Moon , The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Gallant, and a lighter novel, The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

 

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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Robin’s Rave Reviews

If you’ve been putting off reading Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, now is the perfect time to pick it up. The surfing scene in Malibu makes for a perfect backdrop for a great summer read. It’s a nostalgic, fictional story of rich and famous people behaving badly.

The Riva children, offspring of a famous father, are introduced as young adults in the novel: Nina, a surf model married to a tennis phenom; Jay, a world-renowned surfer; Hud, a surfer photographer; and Kit, the youngest, just finding her way into adulthood.

It’s 1983, and Nina is preparing to host an annual party in her Malibu home. Each year the party attracts movie stars, producers and directors, sports figures, tv anchors and other famous people. By page two, we already know this notorious party will lead to a fire that engulfs the Malibu coastline.

As we work toward that party in the story, we get glimpses into the current problems and secrets in the lives of the Riva children. We also dip into their past to see their parents’ rocky relationship, including their father’s abandonment of the family and their mother’s alcoholism. These kids had an all-around tough childhood, often leaving Nina, the oldest, to take adult responsibilities for her siblings while still a child herself. Hobnobbing with the rich and famous, having a famous dad, and living in Malibu doesn’t necessarily make for a happy, or easy, life. Readers will want to see these flawed, lovable characters find success and happiness.

Not only was I interested in the characters, but I was caught up in the increasing tension. Since the author dropped hints of all the drama that would find its way to the party, I couldn’t wait to get to that part. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the characters introduced at the party, but they also added to understanding this Hollywood culture. It was fun to see some names dropped of real people showing up for this fictional party.

Just as “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” is the environment of Reid’s book Daisy Jones and the Six (see my blog review here), it is in full force in this novel as well. Many of the characters are having (mildly described) sex, drinking heavily and doing lines of coke. (Giving you a heads up on that just in case that isn’t something you want to read.)

I really liked Daisy Jones and the Six, but I have to say, I liked Malibu Rising even more. The story flowed easily and naturally, and the characters came alive. I wanted to know how they would deal with the family drama between siblings and with their distant father.

Fun side note: If you’re a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid books, you may have noticed that Mick Riva, the famous father in Malibu Rising, also appears in two of Reid’s other books, Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

 

Happy reading this summer!

Netgalley Professional Reader

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 @author.robin.shelley

Christmas Time

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer.

Ok, be honest. Did the song from the Charlie Brown Christmas animation start swirling through your head? If not, slow down. Go back and read the first line again.

You can thank me for the earworm. Maybe you need to put on some holiday music in the background while you read this. Go ahead. I’ll wait….

I love the Christmas season, especially the reason for the season. I love how we spend so much time and energy in welcoming the birth of one special child. The lights go up inside and out. The tree gets decked out. (We have a tradition of putting a shiny red present under the tree as soon as the tree is up.  It’s really an empty box, but seeing it under the tree every year is a reminder that Jesus is the most precious gift.)

We set up our special Christmas village in the family room. I get to send Christmas cards, often to people I haven’t see lately. It’s nice to reconnect. Christmas music streams through the house and in the car. (Not too early, please. I’m in the ‘It’s ok after Thanksgiving’ camp.)

Gifts get wrapped. Cookies are baked and decorated. Plans are made with friends and family to get together. So much to do, but it really is the most wonderful time of the year! Maybe all the prepping is why I haven’t posted a blog recently. Well, that and I’m deep into editing my second book. (More on that another day.)

Traditions

If you take a moment to think about it, most families have traditions during the Christmas season. Another special one for us is the chocolate cake.   In the one pictured here, it was my daughter-in-law’s idea to use the mini candy canes and to sprinkle crushed peppermint. Doesn’t it look cute? (You won’t tell about my secret mishap, right Amber?)

I know. As if all the cookies and candy aren’t enough! But this cake is special. It’s a birthday cake for Jesus. We light candles and sing happy birthday to Jesus. We started this tradition when our children were little. Now we have grandkids joining in on our tradition.

What’s a favorite holiday tradition in your family? Let me know in the comments!

Christmas time is here! I wish a merry Christmas to you and all those you love.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Robin’s Rave Reviews – Christmas 2021 Edition

Lucy wanders into a wardrobe and walks out into the wintery forest of Narnia. Here, at the lamppost, a faun named Mr. Tumnus invites her to tea.

Lamppost in middle of wintery Narnia forest

Does this bring back fond memories of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Then check out Once Upon a Wardrobe coming out tomorrow, Oct. 19, 2021. Patti Callahan dives into the early life of C. S. Lewis through her new fictional story.

Once Upon a Wardrobe book coverThe world knows Lewis as the author of the Narnia series (starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and many others. Callahan’s interest in C. S. Lewis and his wife Joy Davidman led her to research and write her 2018 book, Becoming Mrs. Lewis. (Click link to go to my book review.) Callahan returns to her expert knowledge of C. S. Lewis’ life in her new book, Once Upon a WardrobeLewis fans will enjoy learning more about his early life – of family, boarding schools, college, and military service. Through this new novel, Callahan questions where an author’s idea comes from, the same question I’m sure many of us have had.

 

Once Upon a Wardrobe

Shortly after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’s release, it captivates George, a young boy with a terminal heart condition. Megs, his sister studying physics at Oxford, would do anything to make George’s life better. When George wants Megs to ask Mr. Lewis where Narnia came from, she musters up the courage to approach the famous author. Lewis doesn’t give her a straight answer. Instead, he tells Megs stories about his life. Soon she is visiting C. S. (Jack) and his brother (Warnie) regularly, each time listening to stories to report back to her brother. Although there are shadows of potential connections in Jack’s experiences, can even the author pinpoint where his creative idea came from?

Photo of Patti Callahan, authorCallahan brilliantly weaves the fiction (of George and Megs) with the facts (of Jack and Warnie). She creates such a magical connection between Lewis, Megs, and George, readers will begin believing Megs really talked to Jack. Once Upon a Wardrobe challenges us to wonder at the spark of creativity, open our minds to both the logical and the fanciful, and see how the power of a story can transform us.

*Note: You will have a better reading experience if you’ve read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from the Narnia series at some point in your life, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.

Consider purchasing through bookshop.org. They help independent bookstores survive through every on-line purchase you make.

 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advance reader copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe. The opinions are my own.

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The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Robin’s Rave Reviews

Looking for a Halloween read but don’t like gory or scary? This is it! I picked up The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert when I was looking for a quick, light read.  I got so much more than I expected with this rom-com! 

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Sabrina’s job situation forces her to return to her hometown at the Wisconsin Dells.  The best job Sabrina can find is as a tour guide on the duck boats. To make her current situation worse, her boss is one of the girls who bullied her in high school who also happens to be engaged to Sabrina’s old boyfriend. 

Living back in her childhood home is bad enough, but Sabrina also has to face ghosts. Real ghosts. The women in her family are magnets for spirits who have unfinished business and need help to move on.   Whenever a ghost insists on her help, Sabrina appears to talk to herself. This was the cause of being bullied in high school.

The fun begins in the very first scene when a fight breaks out at a waterpark. A super-sized  margarita flying through the air hits Sabrina. That’s when Ryan, the love interest, enters the scene.  (How could I not be hooked with an opening like that?!) Sabrina never expects to see Ray again, but she keeps bumping into him. Ray moved to town to help his uncle with his supper club. When his uncle dies, Ray’s parents inherit the restaurant. He needs to make this restaurant work so they won’t sell it. Otherwise, he’ll have to return to NYC and his controlling parents.

Sabrina has a long-time friend in Molly, a spirit who can’t complete her unfinished business. Her presence causes awkward, humorous moments. On top of that, Sabrina is also navigating the deceased uncle who has unfinished business and his nephew who is romantically interested in her.  While Ray pursues Sabrina, she attempts to hide the odd behaviors that got her ostracized in school. Readers are entertained with humor and joy as Sabrina learns that her “curse” may actually be a gift.

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club is an enjoyable read if you need something light and fun. You may find yourself wanting to visit the Dells, take a duck boat tour, and try out the cheese curds at the supper club!

Click here to learn more about the author. If you like this book review, check out my other reviews on my blog here.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Robin’s Rave Reviews – Christmas 2021 Edition

It may seem early, but The Santa Suit, a heart-warming Christmas novel, comes out September 28.  It can be pre-ordered now. (Remember:  buying a new book through pre-order or the first week of publication is the most helpful to an author.) The Santa Suit would make a great gift – even for yourself! Too busy to read during the holidays? No problem. The Santa Suit is a light, easy read with a Hallmark movie feel (but less predictable). You might just find the holiday stress slipping away while you read.

After her divorce Ivy moves to a small town and into an old farm house she bought sight unseen. Ezra, her hunky realtor, helps her fix immediate problems in the house  leading to sparks of romantic interest. Meanwhile, when clearing out items the previous owner left behind, Ivy finds an old Santa suit with a child’s note in the pocket. Ivy wants to solve the mystery of who the girl was and if her Christmas wish was fulfilled. This curiosity connects her to the small town community and culture right at Christmas-time while she makes new friends and reconnects others who have lost touch.

I have to admit, when I got the advanced reader copy, I wasn’t really in the mood to read a Christmas story in September, but I got sucked in right away. The Santa Suit feels Christmas-y without being cliché.  Every time I read a Mary Kay Andrews book, I’m in awe at how it flows so naturally. (MKA’s writing expertise makes it look easier than it is.)  MKA’s characters always feel real and relatable. She masterfully ties up loose ends I didn’t even realize were loose, tying everything together like a pretty Christmas bow on a special package.

If you like Mary Kay Andrews, take a moment to read my review on The Newcomer, the book she wrote before The Santa Suit.

The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood

Robin’s Rave Reviews

If you like WWII historical fiction with a strong female protagonist, you should check out The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood that was just released on July 8.

The Clockmaker's Wife by Daisy WoodBig Ben, an icon known around the world, is a tourist must-see in London. During WWII Big Ben had an important job beyond telling the time. The nine o’clock chimes encouraged people to pray for peace during the Silent Minute that followed. It also rang in the BBC evening news listened to all over Nazi-occupied Europe. The author Daisy Wood stated, “The great bell represented freedom and better times to come; as long as it tolled, at least one country resisted oppression.” The Clockmaker’s Wife imagines what could have happened if Big Ben had been targeted by the enemy, but the fiction is surrounded by facts about London during WWII. Wood said, “…the loss of such a beacon of hope as the clock tower would have been a terrible blow to morale.”

DID YOU KNOW?  “Big Ben” isn’t the name of the clock nor the clock tower. It’s the name of the bell inside the clock.

This historical fiction is told through a dual timeline: 1940s in London and current day in both New York City and London.

LONDON:  In the war timeline the protagonist Nell is the wife of Arthur, one of a team of three that keeps Big Ben operational. Nell and baby Alice leave London to escape the bombings while Arthur stays behind to work. When Arthur is suddenly and inexplicably imprisoned, Nell returns to London to help get him released. Nell never questions her husband’s loyalty to his country, yet citizens were sometimes held with little proof of “working with the enemy” during the war. When Nell doesn’t make progress in helping him through traditional routes, she decides to investigate on her own. Her suspicions and questions lead her into dangerous territory.

NYC:  Baby Alice, now in her eighties, is recovering from hip surgery in a nursing home. During a visit, her daughter Ellie asks about Alice’s parents. Alice tells her that her father comes from a long line of clockmakers and that his job was working on Big Ben. Alice knows very little about her mother Nell since she was killed in the Blitz when Alice was only a baby. Since Alice’s father couldn’t bear talking about her, Nell was always a distant shadow to Alice. Ellie decides to bring the shadow into the light so her mom can know more about her mother before it’s too late. Ellie flies to London to uncover the truth about the kind of person Nell was and how she died. She discovers much more than she ever expected.

I like Nell’s character. A typical 1940s mother, perhaps, but when harsh circumstances hits her family, she steps up. She becomes a courageous woman putting her life at risk for her husband and her country. She develops into a much more interesting person than I was expecting. The story involving Nell is full of wartime intrigue.

I also like Ellie’s character. She recognizes that time passes too quickly and opportunities to learn about the past from those who lived it is limited. Also Ellie is a bridge between Alice and some broken family relationships. Doors had been closed for a long time that Ellie is able to reopen. 

Only a few things seemed weak to me. I would have liked to get deeper with Arthur’s character.  Also the love story of Ellie and Dan seemed a bit too quick, even though they’ve known each other for many years. Minor things, though.

Although this specific story is a work of fiction, I find myself wondering how many courageous stories from wars have been lost to time. I often think about the stories that get lost after just a few generations. Many of us are blessed enough to know at least some of our grandparents, but how often do we think to ask them about their younger lives? And when they pass, their stories, and the stories of their parents and grandparents, are lost. I know I regret not asking more questions of my parents and grandfather when they were still alive.

I highly recommend this book, but I also recommend that you don’t let your life events get lost. Your grandchildren and their children CAN know a bit about who you are, rather than just a shadow in an old picture. Take time to sit down with your children/grandchildren and tell them the stories. Don’t wait for them to ask. Too often they don’t see the value in those questions until it’s too late. Even if you aren’t an author, write down stories from your childhood and about your parents and grandparents along with your reflections on the significant events you’ve lived through. If you don’t want to write it, record it! Passing down a written document, video or voice recording will keep the stories more accurate rather than relying on the memory of others who didn’t live it. Everyone has experiences of value to share with the next generations. It’s your legacy.

Whether you buy or borrow, I hope you’ll come back and comment here after you’ve read The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood. And don’t forget to leave even a short review (like 5 stars) on places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, etc. If you love to read, please tell others about books and authors you love! If you like this book, check out the links to these WWII historical fiction books I’ve previously reviewed by Kristin Harmel:  The Winemaker’s Wife, The Book of Lost Names, and The Forest of Vanishing Stars.

Although I loved this book, after this review I’m taking a break from historical fiction to do some lighter reading this summer! Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC of The Clockmaker’s Wife. I have shared my honest opinion.

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