Reconstructing Amelia: Week 4 Questions/Discussion

We’re almost done! Today, you should begin reading the last section. If you’ve already finished- that’s great, too.

I Have 1 more little surprise that will be revealed today- so get ready for that!

June 28th- next Friday will be the last posting about Reconstructing Amelia in the Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club. Overall thoughts and feelings of the books will be discussed that week- I urge you to stop by and let me know how you felt about Reconstructing Amelia.

For today’s questions (Section 4 the last section of reading):

1. #nospoilers: Did anything that was revealed in the last section surprise you?

2. Amelia is accused of cheating at the first of the book. Knowing things we know- should the teacher have suspected anything? Did she suspect anything?

3. There’s a lot of guilt and blame to go around. Many people were acting with their own selfish intentions- instead of Amelia’s best intentions in mind. Is there anyone who does not need to take some blame? Amelia perhaps? Or does she even need to take blame for her part in this role- even though she def played the ultimate price?

4. What, ultimately lead to Amelia’s downfall? Loving Dylan or trying to be a good friend? #nospoilers, please.

5. What, if anything, should happen to Grace Hall? Note: I’ve always held the thought they were liable for at least some of this- But, should Kate sue them? Or should Kate concentrate on moving on & finding some peace?

6. Zadie/Dylan- we’ve talked for some time about their weird relationship. Now, when the book is closed, and you’ve had some time to think: Who actually is the worst person: Zadie because she’s upfront with her b*tchy attitude and hateful ways or Dylan, because she acts 1 way and is another (or perhaps because she really does not who she is- she only knows how to act when told how to act?)

Beth Albright: Author Spotlight

Ready to find out about Beth Albright- her #literarycrush, her #literaryconfessions, Southern writers that she just gushes over? Grab a salty margarita and get ready to find out all that and so much more!

Author Spotlight with Beth Albright

Beth, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

I love to take pictures! I am never without my camera and literally have thousands of photos, many of my son, but also so many of nature! Living in California, the dramatic scenery beckons and I am always trying to capture it! If not taking pics or writing, you can find me at the movies! I am a movie fanatic!

Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

I love Mary Kay Andrews! Also Dorothea Benton Frank and Patti Callahan Henry. I read them regularly. And who doesn’t LOVE Janet Evanovich? Early on, when I sent the book to family and friends, so many of them told me I sounded just like a Stephanie Plum novel!! One of my best compliments ever!! I was reading Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank when I scribbled my first words down. She was an inspiration. Also, I have nearly all of Mary Kay’s books. Hissy Fit was an early inspiration as well. I also love Emily Giffin’s novels. Also, I just LOVE humorist Celia Rivenbark! Have every one of her books—sidesplitting, I swear- you will wet your pants!

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

The classics, so I can look at them and pretend I read them ALL!

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I have so many! I always wanted to read ALL the classics– alas, when I am in the ever- after, I will have time.

(See question above 🙂 )

Do you have a #literarycrush? (Joe Morelli from Stephanie Plum series is one of mine!)

OMYGOSH, he is mine! But then there’s Ranger…MMMMMM! I like those mysterious chivalrous types. But truly, I love my own hero of Sonny Bartholomew so much. I found myself flying when I was writing about him…getting out 5000 words a day! He makes me very excited!

What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

Just bought the new Dorothea Benton Frank novel, The Last Original Wife, just finished Patti Callahan Henry’s new novel, And Then I Found You. Adding Mary Kay’s new one, Ladies’ Night. And oh yeah, I’ll be working on my next trilogy, first one due in the fall.

What was your favorite childhood book?

Loved Charlotte’s Web. So emotional. I read it several times, over and over.

Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

I would say it was Dorothea Benton Frank and all her Low Country tales. I wanted to be just like her. I was not a big reader till I stopped talking…for a living! Haha. When I left talk radio, I started reading and I wanted to read Southern books. I began with hers and migrated to include Mary Kay Andrews. Now my first review, from Booklist, May 1^st, actually compares me to Mary Kay Andrews! I nearly had a fit!!!

If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

Okay, I know this is crazy, but if I had anything to choose from, I would love to be one of the professional dancers on Dancing With The Stars! Also, I would go nuts to act on Broadway…which I could soooo do, if I wasn’t in a musical. Nobody wants to hear me sing!

If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

I can’t even narrow it down. All the typical ones come to mind, but I like some of the female characters in Emily Giffin’s novels too. I like strong women but I like really feminine women who are ok with being a woman and letting the man be the man, like Stephanie Plum! Oh, too many to choose from.

Being a former Days of Our Lives actress and now an author- how different are the worlds? Did your Days experience give you insight into writing? Into meeting fans and other people?

The worlds are very, very different. While I did love acting, I missed the live audience of talk radio. That’s why I love stage acting so much! The audience is right there and I love the live element of both the stage and talk radio! Days Of Our Lives didn’t really give me any insight into novel writing, but it did help with script writing—two very different things.

Talk radio best prepared me to meet the readers as I did so many live broadcasts in malls and everywhere from local to remote shows broadcast live from Hollywood, CA. I loved those Hollywood shows where I would do my show live with, who else…Soap Opera stars! I loved the idea of playing a bad girl and never messing up my make-up!

#Giveaway time! A copy of The Sassy Belles could be headed your way (perfect for that beach vacation or just lounging by the pool!) To win a copy of The Sassy Belles– tell me one thing you love about Southern Belles! The #giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) and you MUST provide your email in the comment section. You may use (AT) and (DOT) (example: iheartbooks (AT) gmail (DOT) com) as you write your email in the comment section. Comments without an email will not be considered in the #giveaway.

The #giveaway will run from Friday June 21- through Friday, June 28th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified by email on Monday, July 1.

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, can be found tweeting to her fans on Twitter, talking on her Facebook page, or hanging out at her website. The next 2 books in the series are Wedding Belles (out July 30th) and Sleigh Belles (to be released later in 2013).

Marybeth Whalen: Author Spotlight

Marybeth Whalen stopped by today to tell Traveling With T about #literaryconfessions, #literarycrush, and much more. Enjoy getting to know a bit more about Marybeth Whalen, author of The Wishing Tree.

Author Spotlight

Marybeth, when you are not writing- what are some of your favorite things to do?

Read. Watch movies or crime shows. Go on dates with my husband. Hang out with friends.

Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?
Elizabeth Berg, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Addison Allen, Joshilyn Jackson, Lee Smith

What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

Just one shelf? 🙂

I have a collection of all of Lee Smith’s work, dating back to the first book of hers I ever got—when my father had some people move out of his rental house and leave boxes of books behind. (Can you imagine?) Before he donated them, he let me go through them because he knew how much I loved books. I was 14 years old and plucked a book called Black Mountain Breakdown out of the box. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the beginning of something. I fell in love with southern writing from that moment on, and realized that not all writers have to live in and write about New York City. It gave me hope.

Sometimes I go to my shelves just to run my hands across the book spines, visiting with them like the old friends they are.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

So many great works of literature I’ve never read. <Hangs head in shame.> Seriously. It’s sad.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Ah, Finny from A Separate Peace. I just loved his wildness and his tragic death broke my heart. (Spoiler alert!)

What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?

Take a look at our June books at She Reads—that’s my reading list for this summer!

The Books of Summer

There is truly a glut of wonderful titles out this summer. None of us have any excuse to not be reading every minute!

What was your favorite childhood book?

Just one? 🙂

Harriet The Spy taught me what it meant to be an observer and cataloguer. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards taught me that there were other little girls who existed on the outside of things and longed for a space of their own. From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankwiler taught me that other kids longed to run away and live on their own terms. Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl taught me that parents are just doing the best they can, and sometimes that’s enough. And The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe made me fall in love with the mighty and amazing Aslan.

Was there a person or a book series that helped start your love of reading?

My mom tells me that when I was old enough to walk, I would toddle across the room and bring her a book to read. When she was done with that one, I would go get another. This would go on as long as she would keep reading. I credit her for continuing to read the books I brought her for hours on end. I really did come with a powerful, voracious hunger for words and she had the wisdom to feed it early on.
If you were not an author, what would you want to be?

A Food Network star a la Pioneer Woman. Me, my husband and kids, my wild and crazy house, and easy dinners served up with southern flair.

If you could be a character in a book, who would you be? Why?

Pippi Longstocking. I love her spunk, her daring, and her refusal to live on anyone else’s terms

ICYMI: Interview with Marybeth Whalen author of The Wishing Tree and Traveling With T’s review of The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen.

Reconstructing Amelia: Food Ideas for IRL Book Clubs

The only bad thing about having an online book club is the inability to meet up, have a good meal, maybe a glass of wine and hang out with some literary friends.

But just because Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club can’t meet up and eat good food, doesn’t mean you should suffer. Each month, when I host Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club- I’ll be providing a recipe. An idea for a food for the book club. Is this stuff I’ve created? Oh heck no- listen, honestly, the dishes in the kitchen quake with fear as I walk through. I’m terrible. I make messes. I drop things. I need SIMPLE.

However, some people’s dishes positively sing when they walk in the kitchen (I’m giving you the stink eye, people!) So, my recipes will be easy. Simple. Possibly even allowed to be prepared ahead. You kitchen goddesses, though, feel free to fancy up the recipe as much as you can!

I just finished Reconstructing Amelia this morning. And Amelia and Kate needed some comfort food. Something to stick on their ribs and make them feel full. Something they could linger over.

Spaghetti. They NEEDED spaghetti.

Fancy Spaghetti:

Here is the fancier Paula Deen recipe for Baked Spaghetti. The picture and description sounds pretty good (regardless of your feelings about ole Paula.)

Here is how my mother, S, makes spaghetti (it ain’t any kind of fancy, folks!):

Brown hamburger meat (whatever type you prefer). Pour Del Monte Spaghetti sauce on it and let it simmer. Cook your noodles (she prefers thin, I prefer penne). After everything is cooked- bring to table and dig in ( we usually have garlic bread and a salad as side items). Got meat and noodles left over? Mix them together in a bowl- stick them in the fridge and re-heat for next day.

This is how I made spaghetti in college:

Cooked noodles (penne, usually) and either warmed Del Monte sauce or Ragu Meat sauce up- mixed together and boom! There was a version of spaghetti that was cheap, easy, and could feel a bunch of us!

Drinks:

I drink Moscato generally (most do not prefer it as they say it is too sweet- but to me, it’s exactly what I like). Usually in my IRL book club- we have a couple of wines (a white and a red) and have a glass while people are arriving. Dinner is usually served with non-alcoholic beverages.

Dessert:

Tiramisu would make my day- HERE is a recipe that looks pretty interesting. If that does not work, I suggest something easy: Chocolate Chip cookies with a big glass of milk ( in the whole comforting food thing- chocolate chip cookies and milk go hand in hand.)

Have a happy book club meeting 🙂

Thursday Mashup

#giveaways, reviews, another place to buy books, and interviews. Plus news for Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club.

#giveaways:

My blog (Traveling With T) is giving away The Guest House by Erika Marks. Ends Thursday night 11:59PMEST.

Book-alicious Mama is giving away A Hundred Summers.

Great New Books is giving away Sarah Jio’s latest The Last Camellia and Sarah Jio talks about Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

Joshilyn Jackson is giving away Susan Rebecca White’s latest, A Place at the Table.

Bermudaonion is giving away an autographed copy of Mary Kay Andrews Ladies’ Night.

Anita Loves Books is giving away THE YONAHLOSEE RIDING CAMP FOR GIRLS by Anton DiScalafani.

Read Alongs

Can’t find anyone to read and discuss A Hundred Summer by Beatriz Williams with? Let Literate Housewife save you. During month of July she’s leading a discussion. Check her blog out (all the details you need to know are there!)

Have you been reading with Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club? Our inaugural pick, Reconstructing Amelia, has been a blast. It’s not too late to join in- we still have 2 weeks left & I have a super-duper surprise lined up! So grab those copies of Reconstructing Amelia and join in!

Jen, my co-host, at Book-alicious Mama has picked the July book for Book Lovers United- The Painted Girls! Reading schedule and other info to be announced later.

Other Places To Buy Books

Crossroads Press! – You can purchase e-books (for multiple devices) and paperback books have a discount automatically applied. Right now, there are several e-books for 99 cents. Consider giving them a look- you might find something you like at a good price.

Interviews

Interview with Marybeth Whalen

Interview with Beth Albright

Reviews

Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow

Interview with Marybeth Whalen author of The Wishing Tree

Marybeth Whalen took some time from her busy writing, cooking and taking care of her gorgeous family schedule to answer a few questions about The Wishing Tree, her latest book. On Friday, she’ll be back with answers about her favorite books, #literaryconfessions and more!

What was the inspiration for The Wishing Tree?

I ran across the concept of a wishing tree when I was doing some research on the history of guest books for my last novel (appropriately titled), The Guest Book. As I read about this idea, the story elements began to emerge and I knew this would be my next Sunset Beach novel. I love creating stories set at Sunset, with a unique element serving as a connection point between people, a la The Mailbox, The Guest Book and now, The Wishing Tree.

From the beginning to end, how long did The Wishing Tree take to write?

I wrote it from January to May. That’s pretty typical.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

My writing space is SO unglamorous. I write sitting on my bed with my laptop balanced on my lap. Sometimes I get really wild and move to the couch in the den. I have six children so there really is nowhere in the house for a “writing space.” As for a routine, I try to confine my writing time to when the kids are in school. When they’re home, I want to focus on them. I love that I can make writing fit around my family.

Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

Elements of real people are always woven into my characters based on my own observations and interactions. In this book, the character of April is based on my real-life friend April. The rest are all hodge-podged together.

Will you be going on a book signing tour? If so, what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

Not this time, though I have a few events I will be doing with book clubs and groups. I love meeting readers and hearing from them. It is a full-circle moment, to see your book in someone’s hands.

Do you want The Wishing Tree to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

I’d love that! I actually have a Pinterest board and there are pictures of the actors I had in mind as I wrote. I always have to have someone in mind since writing, for me, is like transcribing a movie playing in my head. You can take a peek here: The Wishing Tree Pinterest Page

Marybeth- how do you find time to sleep?! You have 6 kids, you are an author, you are a co-founder of She Reads and you still find time to bake desserts that are homemade- seriously, how do you do it all? Do you feel struggle between mom life vs author life?

My first priority is being a mom. I work hard to make sure nothing impinges on that. Jacqueline Kennedy said “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.” I think about that often and try to live that way. Not that life always stays neat and in order—it gets messy! But the baked goods and the carpooling and the listening ear and the meeting needs—that’s what I try to do first and best. After that, it just somehow falls into place and what needs to happen, happens. I’ve had to learn to let a LOT go and to know I’m not in control. Not even close. God fills my gaps. My life is a series of little miracles. The trick, for me, is managing to remember that every day.

The Guest House and now The Wishing Tree are both set in beach areas- what is about this type of area that makes it the setting you choose for the books?

I was just joking about this with a friend! I don’t have the time to go research anywhere else so I have to depend on a place I know well in order to render the sense of place I like to create in a story. So that means I can write about where I live in the suburbs or I can write about where I vacation each year. Where I vacation is much better so that makes it the obvious choice. And also, I truly love it there. It’s where my heart lives. Every time I’m there, I feel like I can really breathe. What better thing to share with others than that sense of your soul expanding? I try to create that on the page.

Are you working on a new book? If so, can you reveal anything yet?

I am just finishing my fifth novel which will be out, Lord willing, this time next year! I don’t want to say the title yet because I’m not sure the publisher will keep it. I will say it’s another Sunset Beach NC story with a unique element that serves to connect people. This one has been great fun to write and I can’t wait to share it!

*Thank you Marybeth Whalen for the interview.

To find out more about Marybeth Whalen, please visit her website, Twitter or Pinterest page. When Marybeth is not writing, or cooking or at the grocery store- she can be found at She Reads– helping women find great books to read.

The Wishing Tree by Marybeth Whalen

Ivy Marshall’s life is falling to pieces the same day she learns her younger sister’s life is coming together with a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. Ivy, while happy for her sister, cannot help wonder “what if” about her own life. What if she’d married the man her family wanted her to marry instead of Elliot? “What if” is a dangerous question, at times……

Ivy leaves Elliot to head back to Sunset Beach. Partly to help with her sister’s wedding, partly to get away from Elliot, and partly to think about life. Back in Sunset Beach, she does not want her family to know about Elliot- since they did not want her to marry him- they wanted her to marry Michael. Ivy figures she’ll see Michael at the wedding since his cousin is marrying her sister- but is surprised (and secretly pleased) to see that Michael is around for the summer.

Elliot is not taking Ivy leaving lightly- he takes to Twitter, one of her favorite social media sites, and begins tweeting to get Ivy’s attention. As the weeks go by, Ivy begins to see that Elliot is trying- he’s paying more attention- but what broke between them; she is unsure if can ever be fixed.

Ivy also has some hard truths of her own to deal with- her role in what lead to her family being hurt about her broken engagement, Michael, and the others she hurt in her past.

The Wishing Tree deals with hard issues with sensitivity and lightness: cheating, breaking hearts, growing up, disappointing family and finding yourself. Well-written, enjoyable, a story-line that is interesting and very readable.

Recommended.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Marybeth Whalen has done it again. Written a book that is light, funny; yet poignant and thoughtful. Themes of love, forgiveness, and moving on are discussed and weaved in and out of the story of Ivy and her life. Thought-provoking. Read- you will not be sorry.

*The author provided me with a review copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.

Interview with Beth Albright author of The Sassy Belles

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, found time in her busy schedule to stop by and answer some questions. Interviewing Beth was a fun experience- and if her book, The Sassy Belles, is half as fun as finding our her answers- then we are in for a delight! The Sassy Belles is part of Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List– a list that has quite a few good books- whether you are from the South or just long to read about Southern life and Southern belles.

Interview with Beth Albright:

What was the inspiration for The Sassy Belles?

Literally, I was homesick. I had had many careers from being an actress on Days of Our Lives, to being a long-time radio talk show host all over the country. After my son was born, I opened an acting school for kids and after nearly 7 years, the Enron scandal happened in Houston, TX, and my school was collateral damage. I sat in a rainy parking lot waiting for my husband to run into a grocery store, when I pulled my directors notebook from my purse and scribbled out the very first words of what would become The Sassy Belles. “My name is Blake O’Hara Heart and boy do I have a story to tell. It wouldn’t be such a story if Vivi hadn’t done what she did.” I was homesick and needed my mom and sassy girlfriends around me—with some salty margaritas!

From the beginning to end, how long did The Sassy Belles take to write?

It took many years because I wasn’t serious about it. I wrote most of it after my acting school closed and we were living in Nashville. Then we moved to LA for the third time, and my son became a competitive pairs figure skater and I put it away for three years. But my mom kept pushing me to finish, telling me I really had something, so I finished, went to the San Francisco Writers Conference, met my agent and she sold a three-book deal to Harlequin/MIRA!

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I have a favorite chair, with my cat nicely sprawled behind my head on the back of the chair. Also, I love my desk and my writing space on the fourth floor of my SF townhome, but the chair in the bedroom seems to be where I land. My routine is hard…I had only about 5 weeks each to write the last 2 books in the trilogy. We wanted to keep a tight production schedule and I wanted to get the books out, so I wrote from about 9am till about 2-3am, taking breaks of course. With the next trilogy, I will be taking more time, but I am pretty diligent and focused when I write. I get inside the story and sometimes it’s hard to get me out!

Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

All of the characters are good amalgamations of many of the people I know. I like to take traits of different people and put together new people. The character of Meridee is very much like my late maternal grandmother. She is closest to her actual character.

Will you be going on a book signing tour? If so, what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

We just did a huge launch and book party at the Barnes and Noble in Tuscaloosa Alabama, where the books are based. We sold 200 books in four hours!! It was crazy. I definitely want to go on a huge book tour and I am hoping to put one together this fall when all 3 books are out! What I look most forward to is meeting my readers! I love people and love shaking hands, and talking with them!

Do you want The Sassy Belles to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

Actually, the book is currently being packaged for a pitch for an hour long TV series!!! Vivi was written for Jessica Chastain!! I love Allison Brie as she appeared in Five Year Engagement as Blake! Betty White as Meridee for sure, Delta Burke for Kitty, Jessica Simpson (not pregnant) as Dallas. The men, oooh I love so many of them! Maybe Jon Hamm as Harry, Blake Shelton as Sonny, and Vince Vaughn as Lewis. Bonita would be played by Octavia Spencer and Arthur would be played by Denzel Washington! His character becomes huge in later books! I think that would be awesome!

The Sassy Belles is the first in the series. Can you tell us anything about the next two books, Wedding Belles and Sleigh Belles?

Wedding Belles, out July 30^th, to me, is the funniest of the three books. Here is the quote from the back of the book:

Seven months pregnant and head over heels in love, Vivi Ann McFadden is busy pulling together the final details for her wedding to Lewis Heart, famous play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide. But with two wedding-planners-gone-wild and a psychic giving her advice, a missing wedding ring and the ceremony happening on the same day as the wildly popular Crimson Tide kickoff game, chaos reigns supreme. Luckily, maid of honor Blake O’Hara Heart is on the job. She’ll tackle this wedding if it’s the last thing she does!

Sleigh Belles is much more poignant. While there are funny scenes, the story is a tale of tying to put pieces of a fragmented family back together for Christmas. You’ll need your hankies for sure. It is the most deep and emotional of the three books. Here is the back cover:

With her hair perfectly coiffed, nails freshly manicured and a heavy trail of perfume wafting behind her, local news reporter Dallas Dubois is sure she’s about to kick her career—and maybe her love life—into high gear. The director of the Tuscaloosa children’s Christmas play has fallen ill, and Dallas is ordered by her station manager to take the reins. Everyone is shocked—especially Cal Hollingsworth, who still remembers her as the Ice Queen from high school.

If nothing else, Dallas has never met a challenge that a little lip gloss and a Chanel knockoff couldn’t fix. But she has no idea how to relate to these kids, and their brutal honesty is giving her pause. Things are made even more complicated by the butterflies she gets whenever Cal is near….

But when long-lost family members reenter her life, Dallas’s icy veneer begins to melt. And with Cal by her side, she soon realizes that it’s what’s under all the hair spray that counts.

Now that you’ve read the interview- is your inner “sassy belle” just having a fit to read The Sassy Belles? If so, you are in luck! Come back on Friday- Beth will be revealing her #literarycrush, some Southern writers that she just LOVES, and more. There will also be a #giveaway of The Sassy Belles!

Beth Albright, author of The Sassy Belles, loves her sassy girlfriends and some salty margaritas ( Beth sounds like a very good person to be friends with!) For more information about Beth, please visit her website, The Sassy Belles Facebook page, or Twitter.

*Special shout-out goes to Beth for agreeing to this interview. Long live The Sassy Belles!

Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

3 girls. Sisters. Torn apart by jealousy. Family issues. Divorce. Brought together by their dad’s dying wish- he stipulates that the girls must live together in the Nantucket summer home for 3 months and then they may sell the house and split the proceeds.

Arden, Meg and Jenny- 3 girls who are as different as life can be- yet all 3 captured a piece of their father, Rory Randall’s heart. Where Rory did love his girls- his love did hurt the girls at times. Arden and Meg, Rory’s daughters from 2 previous marriages- saw firsthand how divorce can make people question love and commitment to a man. Jenny, Meg and Arden’s stepsister, lead a more charmed life with Rory- and yet finds herself questioning things as well.

The summer starts off rocky with the girls- their past misunderstandings rearing it’s head at times. Slowly, the girls forge a relationship, and attempt to be sisters. As the summer continues, memories of the last summer they were all together in Nantucket are discussed, secrets are revealed, and frustrations are aired. Will the girls make it together all summer? Will Rory get his dying wish? Read Island Girls to find out.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my 3rd Nancy Thayer book. Nancy Thayer writes a beach story very well. Island Girls is no different. It’s a book to stick in your beach or pool bag- a book that has an interesting storyline, characters that are fun, and a setting that cannot be beat. Nancy takes family secrets, weaves them with a beach setting- and shows the reader a story that can and should be enjoyed.

*This was requested through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.

The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow

Georgia Waltz has the life. 2 daughters she loves, a husband who she cannot picture life without, and an adorable little dog, Sadie. Life is pretty rosy for Georgia- till the day it isn’t.

When Ben Silver, Georgia’s husband, dies unexpectedly- Georgia and the girls are stunned. With how Ben took care of himself, they expected to have years with him. Georgia, while deeply distraught, knows this: Ben would have made plans to take care of her and the girls in the event of his untimely death. Except- the lawyer can’t find his plans. Money is missing. Georgia is beside herself- and yet knows she has to pull it together.

So Georgia makes a plan. She knows that it’s up to her- she’s got to find a way to make thing work. Cola and Luey also realize that being Daddy’s girls has been a great way to go through life- but that time is over.

With Ben dying, he left behind more questions than answers. Georgia finds that while she may not ever know all the answers to the questions- finding herself, being strong, learning to be independent- those are lessons that Ben’s death has taught her. And that is worth more than the money he should have left her.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my first Sally Koslow book. I enjoyed it. Light and fluffy at times- and poignant at others. An excellent book for a book club to discuss- where each person could identify with the different characters.

Recommended.

*This book was requested through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above opinions are mine alone.