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Eve, Catherine, Zoe, and Willow. Grandmother, mother, daughters, and granddaughter all caught up in family secrets. All four women had a lot going on over the years that made today difficult for each one of them. Join in the suspense as well as the family saga that will pull at your heart strings and make you want to be with the characters. CHANCE HARBOR takes us through the years with Eve, Catherine, Zoe, and Willow. Willow was my favorite. She is sweet but wise. Zoe made me crazy. Eve and Catherine were characters that held the story together as secrets unraveled and brought the characters closer, made them more understanding, or simply helped them find themselves. Ms. Robinson has crafted a beautiful story with unforgettable characters and descriptions of Prince Edward Island that have you right there sharing the experiences and pain as well as the little bit of the characters' happiness. All four women had wonderful stories to tell and secrets to reveal. Secrets both good and bad. I couldn’t decide whose secret I liked the most. :) I truly enjoyed CHANCE HARBOR, and any women's fiction fan which includes me will fall in love with this book and its characters. The setting as well as the warmth and the vividness of the characters pull you in and keep you turning the pages. This was my first book by this author even though this isn't her first book. Ms. Robinson has a way with words that has you not wanting the characters' stories or the book to end. Absolutely recommend this book. Read it and ENJOY. 5/5 This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

GRIP....the perfect title for this beautifully and very well-written memoir. The intense situations also add meaning and clarification to the title. Nina Hamburg allows you into her life letting you feel her desires, her trepidation, her decisions, and her retrospect. You will follow her through all the good and bad of her life feeling her pain and wondering what you would do in similar circumstances. The intensity of the novel will keep your interest, and you will respect Nina for her resiliency and strength. It is a powerful story of a life spent looking for love. She had to look hard for love and usually found it, but the love she found was usually a struggle. The day of her wedding to Lee seemed to be the time she did find love...her wedding and her vows were very touching and beautiful, but that didn't last long. I admire Nina for her strength and her determination at finding love and releasing the lifetime demons she struggled with. I also admire her for her commitment to David and the happiness they share. I enjoyed the book......the writing was absolutely phenomenal even though the subject matter was quite intense. 4/5

silversolara.blogspot.com What a heartwarming, cozy, feel good read.....a sweet, nostalgic book...but with all good things there usually are regrets, heartbreak, and secrets. I really enjoyed this book...you will be surprised at who/what the "good daughters" turn out to be and will also learn some fun agricultural facts about fruits and vegetables. Dana and Ruth were born on the same day, but they came from two completely different backgrounds. Dana Dickerson had a childhood that wasn't stable, and Ruth Plank had one that was totally what a childhood should be. Dana's parents were flighty, moved around, and their father never held a job for too long...her mother was an artist and acted as though she didn't even have any children. Dana actually never even called her parents Mom and Dad. Ruth's parents were very down to earth, had a farm to take care of, made sure their children were taken care of, and were called Mom and Dad. Ruth's mother felt some sort of kinship with Dana's mother since their children were both born on the same day, even though Dana's mother laughed at Ruth. Ruth's mother would make a point of visiting the Dickersons each year even though it was a long trip and as usual an uneventful, uncomfortable, and unfriendly occasion. The book continued by describing the lives of the two families during the 1950's with the focus on the girls and their choices of careers and partners that of course had been affected by their family and childhood. I really enjoyed the book...it was during the time I was a child, and I could relate to some of the situations...if you liked The Glass Castle, you will like this as well. My rating is a 5/5. Great story.

silversolara.blogspot.com Flying dishes, prom gowns, red high-heeled shoes, embarrassing school days....what more could a child take. Cee Cee Honeycutt lived with her parents who consisted of a mother who thought she missed out on life since she left her home town in Georgia to marry an older man and her father, an absent traveling salesman. Life didn't really turn out very well for anyone in the family, but once Cee Cee met Great Aunt Tootie, her life was something she never would have imagined. Here is how she happened to be with Aunt Tootie.....one day as Cee Cee's mother was coming back from the Goodwill store wearing her newest prom gown, she absentmindedly ran into the street and was hit by an ice cream truck and died. Cee Cee was then moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her Great Aunt Tootie, but not before her loving neighbor, Mrs. Odell, told her about the Life Book we all have with pages that need to be turned when the time comes. And what a page in Cee Cee's life was turned when she arrived in Savannah....loving people to surround her and protect her, especially Oletta, Aunt Tootie's cook, and of course Aunt Tootie who showered Cee Cee with hugs and affection that had been lacking in the previous twelve years of her life. Cee Cee’s unconventional neighbors and a beautiful home also helped add pages to her Life Book. You will absolutely LOVE this book especially if you like sweet, nostalgic, heartwarming reads with a Southern charm...some of the scenes were laugh-out-loud and others brought tears to your eyes with the tenderness. The characters were lovable and genuine. It is a beautiful, touching read...just like a BIG hug. Going to end my review with a quote from Oletta, my favorite character: "Don’t go wastin’ all them bright tomorrows you ain’t even seen by hangin’ on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go.” Page 290 Cee Cee definitely had “bright” tomorrows to put in her Life Book thanks to all the loving women in her life. Thanks, Miss Hoffman… This is going to be one of my all-time favorite books.

silversolara.blogspot.com Wow...another remarkable read by Laura Lipmann. Ms. Lippman has excellent portrayals of the characters, a great storyline, and vivid descriptions of situations and gripping scenes. You can just feel the emotions of each character. A perfect family, a tranquil life and then......after 20 years a letter arrives in the mail. Not a friendly letter, but one from someone you would not want to remember. Eliza lives with her husband and two children in Maryland and has a secret from her teenage years that she wants to forget, but the letter brings the nightmare back and also brings a decision about whether to reply or just ignore the communication. After she makes a decision, a phone call from the sender, along with his continued, manipulative influence further complicates the situation. We, the readers, relive Eliza's nightmare of the terror and control she had to endure as we also follow Eliza in her present life. “There was a bond. He could make her do anything. Wasn’t that proof of something between them? He had granted her life.” Page 276 My rating is 5/5 �" you won’t want to put it down. It is pretty intense and frightening how someone could have such power over another human being.

silversolara.blogspot.com "The chapel had been Dan's final project. One summer morning over his oatmeal he'd said, "I've got a bug to build myself a chapel. Nothing fancy, just a place to worship out of the rain." Page 9 Thanksgiving day, the oldest white oak tree on the Solomon property, a chapel built by Dan Solomon, a wedding, and now a foster child dealing with grief just like Glory Solomon. Glory had to do something since Dan died...her savings was gone, and her part-time job didn't really pay the bills. One day she was asked/begged if a wedding and a reception could be held in the chapel that Dan had built. Glory hesitated and then decided the $3,000 she would get would definitely help pay the bills that were mounting. The wedding party wanted a Thanksgiving dinner and also a reception with a pirate theme and a sword fight. The wedding was a huge success and brought a few surprises as well.....a former policeman who happened to be photographing the oak tree and a new foster child that unknown to Glory had some connection to her family dog. The connection was too close to home, and Juniper wasn't going to be too bad to have around or so she thought, so Glory told Caroline she would keep the new foster child. Joseph the policeman was also pretty interesting...his grandmother had lived a few miles down the road from Glory when Joseph was a child, and he remembered the oak trees of California and especially the one on the Solomon property. Solomon's Oak told the life stories of the three main characters who definitely fit and worked well together even though the connection was through their misfortunes. The book was a cozy read for me...family life, real-life situations, talents we all have hiding inside and waiting to emerge, and just plain heartfelt warmth in the book. You will fall in love with Glory, Juniper will drive you crazy, and Joseph's patience will amaze you. Enjoy the book....I definitely did. Solomon’s Oak was very touching….it will make you smile, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will restore your faith in mankind’s goodness. 5/5

Guatemala, a mother's love, summer, painting, having fun, fear, daily life, superstitions...... A summer in Guatemala....this definitely sounded exciting to Isaac and much better than spending it in summer school in Iowa. Isaac accompanied his mother to Guatemala and stayed with his aunt while his mother made a trip to Todos Santos to do some painting. While his mother was away, Issac met another American boy who was bad news, but whom Isaac continued to befriend. The boys planned a trip of their own without actually telling anyone the truth about their destination. Their adventures as well as the adventures of Catherine made up most of the book...Catherine found things she wasn't expecting and Isaac did as well. The trip Issac and Bernie took was frightening to me....seeing the risks they took in a foreign country made my heart race. Meanwhile, Catherine was enjoying herself and learning many things about the culture of Guatemala...both good and bad aspects. The book had vivid descriptions of the beautiful landscape of Guatemala and the lifestyles of its people. The characters were interesting and colorful. The book took me a while to read not because it was difficult, but because I was afraid to see what was going to happen to Catherine and her son. It also was heart wrenching to learn how the citizens of Guatemala actually lived on a daily basis and how the leaders were so self-centered, corrupt, controlling, and superstitious. Deborah Clearman is a very talented author...she has fantastic descriptions of characters, scenery, and emotions. You could feel the emotions of each character as they were dealing with the situation occurring at the moment......the well-described scenes and emotions made the book unique for me. I truly enjoyed the book except for the fear factor that I brought on myself. :) Also stop at Black Lawrence Press to view Ms. Clearman's video of the background for her novel...quite intriguing. blacklawrencepress.com - go to the side bar and choose Authors.

What a lovely, lovely book...I thoroughly enjoyed it. Widowed at 40, lonely, wondering what to do now after she had let years pass by since the death of her husband, "Angel" Dawn Marie decided to vacation in Scotland. Her car trip through the Highlands and towns was calming for her. She found the town of Port Scarnose to be magical, and instead of continuing to other places, she decided to remain there for the rest of her vacation. She chose Port Scarnose because of its quaintness and mainly because of a bench overlooking the sea where she first played her harp on Scottish soil...this is where the magic began for her. All too soon, though, her three-week vacation was coming to a close. She had fallen in love with Scotland and its people, but she had to make a decision about extending her stay or heading back to Canada...what should she do? Should she stay or leave? Her decision was definitely affected by circumstances and the people she met. Her dinner with Iain Barclay and her new-found friendship with 12-year-old Gwendolyn undeniably made the decision a little easier. She decided she "had" to stay for sweet Gwendolyn's sake....Gwendolyn loved to play the harp and had a natural talent. What she didn't know, though, was that her decision may have been more complicated than she realized because of a connection between Iain, Gwendolyn, and the Duke, who invited her to his castle to play the harp. The secrets of the relationships among these three interesting characters unravel as the story continues. Marie's adventures continued with these characters and others, and she felt she was finding herself spiritually as well as becoming happy in the midst of the magic of Scotland's people and its landscape. To the extent that Scotland was making her blossom and was good for her, Marie was good for the town of Port Scarnose and its citizens. Everyone she came in contact with became a happier person and found things in themselves they didn't know existed. If you enjoy Scottish history and listening/reading the written Gaelic brogue, you will fall in love with the book and definitely the characters. The characters were amazing and made you wish you could actually sit with them for the day and enjoy chatting and working along with them. Hearing the author mention different places in Scotland was also a treat knowing that I had been there as well. The Gaelic brogue used by the town's people was the only, but minor drawback.…it was a little difficult to read and understand, but you could get the gist of the exchange. Nonetheless, it did add an authentic touch to the characters during their conversations with Marie. The religious theme throughout the story will have you examining your own personal beliefs. 5/5

Three sisters, three different outlooks on life, three different opinions about working, three different attitudes concerning just about everything, but they all had the same reason for coming home.....their mother needed help because of her breast cancer. Rose was the practical, organized sister, Bean was the attorney turned thief, and Cordy was still the spoiled child she always was. They all had some secret or concern as they returned to their childhood home. Their childhood home was one of love, of books, and Shakespearean quotes....the entire family quoted Shakespeare as they spoke and thought nothing of doing so. None of the girls was ever without a book in her hands. Just as in childhood, the adult lives of each sister went opposite ways in terms of interest and responsibility, but their love and concern for each other was evident. The emotions of the characters and the descriptions of situations especially during childhood flashbacks was perfectly depicted allowing the reader to experience the hominess of small town connections and the nostalgia of coming back to your roots. You will enjoy each sister for her strengths and shortcomings, and you will admire their parents for their love of each other and for the love of reading they instilled in their daughters. I really enjoyed this book...if you have sisters, you will cherish it, and you will most likely be comparing these characters to see which sister you are!! If you don't have sisters, the bond between all the characters will "warm your heart" and have you thinking about your own family and sibling relationships. 5/5

Three murders in a small town....Scotland yard is involved....all the same method of murder, but no weapon and no clues. The townspeople are terrified about who will be next especially since there is really no connection between the men who were murdered. The only similar thread is the victims were alone or in an isolated area and had been officers in the armed forces during WWI, and they all had identification discs in their mouths from other dead soldiers. Scotland Yard's, Ian Rutledge, was coming up short with all clues and interviews. Everything turned up a dead end. Mrs. Saunders, the ever-present lady in the window, can't even help him even though she said she sees everything no matter what time of the day or night. As events begin to unfold, and the characters become alive from all the great detail, the story turns to page-turning status with its twists and turns and sub plots. This was my first Ian Rutledge Mystery....Rutledge is a character you want to know better. The beginning pages were a little confusing trying to get all the characters straight....especially figuring out who Hamish was, but once you had everyone sorted out and the plot continued...wham...it was difficult to put down. I definitely will be reading more of these mysteries....superb author. Ohhhhhhhhhhh....I did enjoy it a lot. 5/5

A seven-drawer locked dresser....one for each day of the week. What is in each drawer?....well, all the things Georgia needs to make her nightly lovers believe they are the only one....pictures of their mother, their favorite clothes, anything to make them feel "special." When one of the lovers' wives finds out about the affair, nothing to do but empty that drawer....oh well......done. Georgia had enough of this worry for now...she had her September luncheon to think of. She couldn't disappoint the ladies...they looked forward to this luncheon each year, and she certainly couldn't let them know how poor she really was. She hadn't always been poor, and she hadn’t always been the pillar of society either….but then a letter arrived from someone who was keeping a secret for 20 years and who she told there was NO contact allowed whether it was in writing or through a phone call….this definitely wouldn’t work for her. Things were not turning out the way Georgia had planned. Everything ALWAYS went her way...she couldn't have this happen. She will just send more money this time....yes…send more money and it would be taken care of, but then she found another letter as she was cleaning and that changed everything even more. What will she do now? She knew…she always had a plan….and what a great plan. You will love the book....it was funny and had everyday situations that at times we all have to deal with. This book had me laughing from the first page....I knew she was another Scarlet O'Hara even before the author commented about it. I really enjoyed the book, and will definitely be reading his other books. 5/

American servicemen and women, New Guinea, and WW II, are the backdrops for Lost in Shangri-La. Margaret Hastings' life as a WAC in New Guinea is the main focus. Margaret and the other servicemen and women on site longed to see Shangri-La, so their captain arranged for a day trip. Little did the twenty-four passengers realize that their dream to see the hidden villages in the jungle would not turn out to be what they expected. When something went wrong during the flight, it crashed into a mountain, and the nightmare began. Out of the twenty-four passengers only three survived, and these three were burned, hurt, and starving. They painfully made their way to a clearing and were spotted by an American plane, but they were also spotted by hundreds of the island's inhabitants who approached with spears. Luckily continual smiling at the island's people assured them that the strangers were not a cause for alarm. No way of communication other than hand gestures and smiles made it difficult, but at least they were still alive, and the indigenous people were friendly. As the three survivors waited out each day in pain and in hopes of being saved, their rescue team was simultaneously in the process of being organized. Being accepted by the island's inhabitants became somewhat better each day, but their wounds were increasingly becoming more infected and painful. Margaret and Decker were in the most pain, and thankfully McCollum was somewhat strong and alert. When the rescue medics finally arrived, it hadn't been too soon...gangrene was starting to set in, and a few more days without medical treatment may have meant death. The other half of the rescue team landed a few days later, but getting to the survivors was being hampered by the foliage and continuous rain. They finally arrived, and everyone waited for the flight team that would take them off the inaccessible island. The rescue from the island was every bit as eventful and fascinating as the time spent there. The book is a marvelous read, beautifully written, and an outstanding re-creation of events. Mr. Zuckoff should be commended for his research, and Ms. Hastings and Mr. Walter should also be commended for keeping a daily journal so that their tale could be told all these years later. You will love hearing about the lives of the natives and their legends and also of the lives of those who survived and who took part in the rescue....wonderful facts and information. The photos greatly enhanced the book. To me it was another not well-known part of history coming alive. World War II enthusiasts should not miss reading this book. 5/5

If you want to laugh and perhaps compare your family to the Thompson family, I would highly recommend this book. It is a really fun read and also about love. "My family made him nervous. Being a highly disciplined sort, he did not view my family as a vibrant force but as a disorganized mess that needed cleaning up." Page 99 "The entire town is buzzing about us. If this family ever moves out of town, no one will have anything to talk about." Page 148 The Thompson family made everyone nervous...they had four daughters, one son, many dramatic events, hilarious things happening to them all the time, and they were the talk of the town.....ALWAYS. One sister was the organizer and one was the never-finish anything you started, but they all had a fun childhood and shared one bathroom and one mirror....this mirror was the scene for much of the fun that went on. The sisters were in predicaments over the years, but their mother and father took everything in stride. The current predicament was that Evan and Anna were getting married on Saturday...it was a planned one...and Lucy and Chuck were getting married on Sunday.....this was a wedding put together in a week. Lucy and Chuck didn't know about the wedding, and you can just imagine how that went. No wedding dress, no veil, no tuxedos, no caterer, and no flowers until the last minute. Last minute organizing seemed to be order of the day for the Thompsons, and most of the situations they got themselves in were funny. Things just seemed to happen to them. I laughed out loud at some parts of the book. The book is a perfect summer read....it gets you thinking about your relationship with your siblings and your entire family. The characters were a very loving, caring, but crazy family. They were always there supporting each other. "The more love you give, the more you create." Page 393 Funny things happened most of the time, but as in all families some bad situations occur as well. If this is the author's actual life's story, she is a lucky gal. It is a wonderful, fun read. I truly enjoyed it. You will also find out how to "shake things out" when you have a worry. 5/5 ENJOY!!! I hope you love it too.

"Sail on Silver Girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way.” Page 341 Meredith Delinn certainly didn’t feel like any dreams were coming true after her husband was arrested for stealing millions from investors. Being the wife of an investment thief definitely was not pleasant. Freddy had cheated investors out of millions, was finally caught, and made his family's life miserable. He wouldn't talk to authorities about anything and wouldn't tell them that his wife and sons had nothing to do with his swindling of investors out of their money. Meredith and her two sons were also under investigation. So…..as Freddy was hauled off to jail for 150 years, Meredith left town with her best friend Connie. They were staying at Connie's beach house in Nantucket....beautiful Nantucket where Meredith had to remain incognito since many investors lived there. Despite her disguise, someone recognized Meredith and small assaults on Connie’s property started occurring. They were blaming Meredith for Freddy’s thievery. SILVER GIRL went from past to present describing the story behind each character and how they became the person they were today. Many themes presented themselves…..love, health issues, social issues, family and friendship connections, and most evident.....GREED, BETRAYAL, and DECEIT. All three were ruining many lives including Meredith’s. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and became involved with the characters. The characters were made of a great circle of friends tangled in situations since high school. As you read the book, you will start to ask yourself: Do I really know the people I have in my life relationships? Well….hopefully we do, but the book definitely will make you question yourself. The book title plays a major role in solving the mystery that was also woven into the book. I am giving Silver Girl an outstanding 5/5....Ms. Hilderbrand kept my interest from the first to the very last page.

Victoria knew she could identify flowers and what effect they would have on a person. She could choose flowers and know what emotion they would evoke and what the person receiving the flowers needed. Victoria had a talent, but she was a foster child moving from one home to the next and had to deal with this ordeal first......then she turned 18 and was turned out of the foster care system and on her own. Where would she go and what would she do now? After sleeping in the woods for some time, hunger and cold made her walk boldly into a flower shop and ask to help the florist. This was the beginning of a great relationship between Victoria and her talent with flowers....it had instinctively been developed in her and was a natural gift. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh....the book was absolutely wonderful and beautifully written. I totally and completely LOVED it. You could definitely connect with Victoria even though she was a mean, angry foster child until she met her loving foster mother, Elizabeth. It was amazing how Victoria changed into someone who was in tune with feelings and something as delicate as flowers because of Elizabeth. Elizabeth also had a secret, and the mystery thrown in kept you wondering what had happened in the past. The book became better with each turn of the page. It was exceptional in terms of writing and storyline. I enjoyed how smoothly the book went from Victoria's childhood to the present. To me this book stood for unconditional love, for hardship, for talent, for disappointment, and for working for what you really want. I can definitely see why it is being considered the publishing event of 2011......it is indescribably incredible.

LOVED IT…. Men leaving, women hoping, both wanting to return to normal, but.......WW II was on the verge of beginning. Millie, Grace, and Babe were the best of friends and endured the time while their husbands were gone. They passed the time writing letters to them and waiting for letters in return. Two weeks passed without any word from their husbands and that could only mean one thing. When the Telegram from the War Department arrived, it confirmed their worst nightmare. The book was nostalgic, poignant, and filled with emotions you definitely became a part of. You will be able to follow the women through their daily lives.....one with her man who came back and two who had to carry on alone. The author allows you to see what life was like family wise and economic wise during the post-war era. I always enjoy historical fiction, and Next to Love won't disappoint you in terms of feeling as if you are with the characters as they suffer, remember, love, and continue their lives after the war. My rating is a HUGE 5/5. Feldman is an extraordinary, detailed writer….I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did...it was wonderful.

This is an awesome read. Can't put anything on just now since I am on a TLC tour, and my review will be posted on my blog on August 25. Blog: silversolara.blogspot.com It is a must read. :)