Susan Wiggs

I really like Susan Wiggs, especially the Lakeshore Chronicles.  She is very similar to Robyn Carr.  But the  Apple Orchard was phenomenal, it had more depth and meat to it.  Plus, it came out in hardcover first, which is always an indication I will like it.  I like books that involve research in some way and this one took on some family histories (and collectibles) that were fun to follow.  The setting of the book, in Sonoma County was rich with vivid detail. The characters were very likable and well developed.  Tess, the main character finds she has inherited half an estate from a Grandfather she did not even know she had--including a half sister whose life evolves around the Apple Orchard and her cooking.  The food described in this book will make you hungry on the spot.  As I became immersed in the story I could not help thinking something was missing. Not much was said about the half sister Isabel but what was mentioned was veiled in mystery.  I knew there had to be another book in the making.  And guess what?  There is!  The Beekeeper's Ball is due out in June, dedicated to Isabel.  So the story will go on, ahhhh my favorite kind.

So, there's another author to try.  I absolutely recommend the Apple Orchard and any of the Lakeshore Chronicles.  The first in the series is Summer at Willow Lake.  There are ten in the series so far.  I also recommend Table for Five.  Great, great standalone by this author.

The Traverse Area District Library carries all of these books in either hardcover, paperback, audio and ebook formats.

                                   

           

River Road

I am going to mix it up a little here with the title River Road by Jayne Anne Krentz.  I stopped reading her awhile ago for I was tired of historical romance and it seemed she wrote a lot of that, at least what I kept grabbing of hers.  I was pleasantly surprised with this novel.  It was funny, has strong characters, a little bit of mystery and genealogical research that librarians like to see in a book (well, I do).  It was a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A little mystery can go a long way.  See what you think.

"Best-selling Krentz returns to her classic romantic-suspense roots with a spine-tingling tale of a small town harboring deadly secrets. With its irresistible mix of scintillating humor, stunning suspense, and sexy romance, River Road is a complete page-turner."—Booklist

Traverse Area District Library carries this book in Hardcover, Audio and Downloadable Audio.

                                                             

Jeanne Ray

I stumbled across this author while looking for a great story without any swear words or graphic killings.  I fell in love with her.  She is a writer who started her career at age 60!  Her daughter is author Ann Patchett, which is why I hesitated at first to read her Mother's books.  Ann Patchett is a wonderful writer but does not fall under my genre of light, fluffy, frivolous reads.  Jeanne Ray dreamed as a little girl of being a writer or a dancer but became a nurse.  As you read her books you will see some of those dreams expanded in her writing.   The first book I read of hers was Julie and Romeo, a very sweet updated version of Romeo and Juliet but with characters of an older generation.  I like this one because it also has a sequel, Julie and Romeo Get Lucky.  My absolute favorite of hers is Eat Cake.  This is another one that you can get lost in the story when you listen to it.  The recipes in this book are to die for.  If you want to escape, this is the one to read. But you decide, let me know.

The Traverse Area District Library carries many of these titles in our catalog as Large Print, Print, Audio and Ebook.  Check one out today!

                                             

Angelina's Bachelors

This novel will catch you by surprise.  It is such a sweet story, albeit sad in the beginning. I love Foodie Fiction and Angelina's Bachelors:  a novel of food by Brian O'Reilly does not disappoint.  When Angelina has nowhere else to turn, she looks to cooking as a therapy to help her through her grief. Food helps to fill that hole in her, but also brings other people into Angelina’s life to soothe the hurts that food can’t reach.  The characters are full of insight and inspiration, each in their own way. The bachelors all have something to offer, and even when tension arises in the book, it happens in a way that shows the immense amount of respect that they have for Angelina and her family. Angelina herself is a strong, intelligent, driven character, who is immensely relatable.  Reading the book was such a treat, listening to it takes you to another dimension.  At first the narrator was hard to get used to, but after the first chapter her cadence reeled me in and I was hooked.  Having someone else read to you--and do it well--while working through a recipe of food....delightful.

You can find this book at TADL as a paperback, MP3CD and downloadable audio.  Happy Reading!