we always want what we can't have...

Wendy and her sister, Robin, always knew their home life, and especially their mother, was not normal.  But they always hoped that their mom would "get better" and find something in life that made her happy.  Georgann, their mom, wasn't into what normal moms were.  She always wanted to be at the best parties, wear the best clothes and travel to the best places.  However, through Georgann's life of suicide attempts and mental breakdowns, all Wendy wants to do is be a good daughter and try to hide the life she lives.

old or new...

"The Innocents" by Francesca Segal is about Adam and Rachel.  They have been together since they were sixteen and are now engaged.  Everything is perfect and going in the right direction.  Then Rachel's cousin, Ellie, returns home and throws their life, especially Adam's, out of balance.

what is hiding in the shadows...

"Shadow Creek" by Joy Fielding follows an unlikely group of travelers who end up in the Adirondacks.  What they do not realize that in the same area are some killers preying on people who cannot defend themselves.  It is a fight for survival when someone from the group goes missing.

starting from scratch...

"The Perfect Hope" by Nora Roberts follows Hope, the manager/innkeeper of a bed and breakfast and Ryder.  Ryder is hard to manage and unsociable, but there is something about Hope that just draws him out.

Hope's past from her last hotel management job is about to blow up in her face.  She misses the big-city glamorous life but is so happy to have slowed down and appreciates where she is now, excite for her love life.

do you see what I see...?

Aaron Wolcott is mourning the death of his wife in the book, "The Beginner's Goodbye" by Anne Tyler.  Aaron is trying hard to deal with his wife being gone and starts to heal by her frequent appearances in the strangest places; the grocery store, their house and on the sidewalk.  His wife, Dorothy, is killed in a freak accident when a tree falls on their house.  Aaron works in his family's publishing business by putting out books that are to help beginners through life.  It is through all these books that lead Aaron to believe he can say goodbye to his wife afterall.

keeps going and going and going...

The stories by James Patterson in the recurring character of Alex Cross are always interesting.   In this one, "Merry Christmas, Alex Cross", Alex is called to deal with a hostage crisis during Christmas.  This happens right after Alex has returned home  after leaving on Christmas Eve to help catch the person who is stealing from the donation box at church. The hostage crisis makes his family upset and Alex has to decide what his priorities are...his work or his family.

you can go back...

Jen Lancaster wrote "Here I Go Again."  It is twenty years after her high school graduation and Lissy Ryder doesn't remember what happened to the "good old days."  She has been dumped and fired.  All she wants is to remember the days in high school when she was loved, worshipped and feared.  And before she realizes what is happening, Lissy is back in high school and has the chance to remake herself and do things right this time around.