The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott (2019)

 

New York Times Bestseller

A Hello Sunshine & Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Have your read the book or seen the movie Doctor Zhivago? For those of you who are interested in the author and how the book came to be published, The Secrets We Kept will provide the answers you are seeking.

The book is based on the true story of the writing and publication of Doctor Zhivago. In Washington, D.C. two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the task of smuggling the Doctor Zhivago manuscript out of the USSR, where the Communists wouldn’t allow its publication, and to aid in the distribution of the printed volume around the world. It is also the love story of Dr. Zhivago’s author Boris Pasternak and his mistress Olga Ivinskaya, the inspiration for Dr. Zhivago’s Lara. The story moves back and forth between the east (USSR) and the west (Washington, D.C.) which could be confusing for some readers.

3.69 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

Karolina's Twins (Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #3) by Ronald H. Balson (2016)

 

This is the third of five books (thus far) featuring private investigator Liam Taggart and attorney Catherine Lockhart. At the beginning of each of the books the reader meets the couple's newest client and follow the case/investigation to its conclusion. In Karolina’s Twins, the client is Auschwitz survivor Lena Woodward. Lena is looking for help in keeping a promise she made to her childhood friend to find her twin girls after the war. Lena is determined to do so before she dies.

Throughout the course of the book Lena tells her story of being a Polish Jewish at the beginning of the German occupation, through the Jewish ghettos and work camps, and ending with the death march from Auschwitz. At the same time, Lena’s son Arthur, who is convinced the twins do not exist, files a lawsuit against his mother to have her declared incompetent and placed in a home. Something doesn’t ring true about this whole affair but who’s hiding what?

4.32 stars on Goodreads, 4.7 on Amazon

The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin (2009)

 

I’ll admit I was drawn to this book for two reasons –it takes place in a small Michigan town and the main character’s name is Sylvia. As I rarely see my name in print The Christmas Clock was a must read.

Christmas is the time of year for believing in miracles and happy endings and The Christmas Clock delivers. This is a heartwarming tale of love lost and found, saying goodbye and saying hello.

Three intersecting storylines are packed into the novella’s 131 pages, all revolving around a Victorian clock in the local antique store a young boy wants to buy for his ailing grandmother. Some readers might find the book too simple in its predictability while others will be looking for the nearest Kleenex box. The Christmas Clock is standard-issue sentimental holiday fare but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Kat Martin is best known for her historical fiction and romantic suspense titles. She mostly writes series’ but also has standalone titles. Her latest series, Maximum Security, features three brothers and the security business run by one of them. The first two novels in the series can be found on EPL’s shelves.

3.74 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

Noemí receives an alarming letter from her newlywed cousin looking for desperately help. This leads Noemí to investigate her cousins, new family, at their secluded home known as High Place. Her cousins’ new husband is a charming British man, but something doesn't sit well with Noemí, and it seems as though the husband has secrets to hide. However, Noemí is a strong-willed individual, and isn't buying his charming act.  This leads her to uncovering secrets about the house and the family that could lead to the end of her and her cousin. If you are looking for something with a dark allure during October, I highly recommend this book. 

3.77 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon 

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore (2020

 

National Bestseller

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick

If you’re looking for something different, try the quirky Oona Out of Order. It isn’t really a romance or a time travel, it’s the story of a girl and her life. But not just any girl. We first meet Oona Lockhart in 1982 at a New Year’s Eve party where, at the stroke of midnight she will turn 19. Oona’s life is perfect, she has a boyfriend she is crazy about, she plays in a band, and has a family and friends who love her, but everything is about to change.

At midnight Oona faints and wakes up in 2015 in her fifty-one-year-old body. She is greeted by a friendly stranger who seems to know her. Oona finds herself in a beautiful home she apparently owns, along with a healthy stock portfolio to support her. Oona will remain in 2015 until her next birthday when the same thing will happen again and every birthday after that. Will Oona move forward or backwards in time? Will she meet up with the people she has left behind? Oona never knows where she will land and needs to be prepared for anything.

3.88 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller

 

The book takes on a modern approach to the Iliad, by transforming it into a novel versus the traditional translation of the epic poem by Homer. In this retelling Miller recounts the events of the life of Patroclus, the companion of Achilles. Patroclus is exiled from his home, where he meets Achilles in Pythia. The two become companions, and train for the events that unfold as the story progresses. Achilles is recruited for the war in Troy, and Patroclus follows.  While Achilles seeks glory in the battle, the fates have other plans for these two. I highly recommend this book if you have interest in Ancient Greece or retellings of classical text.

4.35 stars on Goodreads score, 4.5 on Amazon

Spitfire (Livy Nash Mystery #1) by M.L. Huie (2020)

 

How far would you go for vengeance?

World War II is over, and former spy Livy Nash spends her days proofreading an advice column for little ladies at home, and her nights getting drunk on black market vodka. During the war Livy was one of the toughest agents in France but everything ended when her cell was betrayed and the man she loved executed. When Livy meets the infamous Ian Fleming, she has the chance to go back to Paris as a journalist and track down the man who betrayed them all. She jumps at the opportunity. Once in Paris Livy realizes just how much the game has changed. With enemies on every corner and constantly shifting alliances, Livy must learn how to fight in this new war so she can conquer the past once and for all.

The second Livy Nash novel, Nightshade, will be available soon.

3.72 stars at Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

Troublemaker AND The Woman Left Behind (GO-Team 1 & 2) by Linda Howard (2016 & 2018)

 

The GO-Team is an elite paramilitary group. In Troublemaker, Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader is ambushed and almost killed, and his supervisor, Axel McNamara, wants to know why and by whom. To keep Morgan safe, Axel sends him to his ex-stepsister Isabeau “Bo” Maran. Bo is the part-time police chief of a small West Virginia mountain town where Morgan is expected to lay low and stay vigilant. As to be expected, sparks fly between the two but when Morgan’s cover is blown, he will do whatever he has to to keep Bo safe. Bo’s dog Tricks serves as the comic relief.

3.8 stars on Goodreads, 4.2 on Amazon

Jina Modell works in Communications for the GO-Team and she is happy there. She likes the money and being able to kick terrorist butts without ever leaving the climate-controlled comfort of the control room. That changes when she is reassigned to work as an on-site drone operator in the field with the all-male teams. Jina, who hates to sweat, must learn how to run and swim for miles, jump out of a plane, and shoot a gun or else it’s the unemployment line.

Levi is the leader of Jina’s new team and is responsible for turning her into one of them. Much to everyone’s surprise Jina survives the training and the team heads to Syria on a mission. While the men are out in the field, Jina is left operating the drone from the base. The team is betrayed, and the base is destroyed. Jina must rely on her training to find her way to the exfiltration site on her own. Her team thinks she is dead, but Levi is determined to bring Jina home dead or alive.

4.10 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes (2014)

 

Although I read this book several months ago, I can’t stop thinking about it. This is the story of Sophie Lefevre who lives in occupied France during World War I and Liv Halston in modern day London. The two women are connected by a painting of Sophie done by husband Edouard. The painting is called "The Girl You Left Behind".

While Édouard is fighting at the front the town is occupied by the Germans whom Sophie must serve every evening at her hotel. When the German Kommandant sees Sophie’s portrait he becomes obsessed with Sophie and determined to have both her and the painting for himself.

Fast forward to 2006 and the portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait’s true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history and Liv’s world is turned upside all over again. To whom does the painting truly belong?

3.99 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

The Sight of You by Holly Miller (2020)

 

Would you stay with someone you love knowing how they will die but not when?  Our hero, Joel. has the unwelcome gift of dreaming about the people he loves, and these dreams, sometimes good and sometimes bad, always come true. As a result, he backs away from all relationships but can’t resist the pull of Callie.  When Joel dreams of Callie’s death each must decide. Can Callie stay, knowing her fate? And if her days must be numbered, is this the life she is meant to live? Can Joel let Callie go? A host of secondary characters surround Joel and Callie and you will find yourself caring about all of them.

The Sight of You is Miller’s first novel. A second novel is expected in 2021 and is being billed as The Sight of You #2.

4.32 stars Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

 

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If you are looking for just a fun read, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series is just the ticket. Stephanie and the cast of supporting characters are often laugh-out-loud funny. In book one, One for the Money, out-of-work Stephanie blackmails her bail bailsman cousin for a job and becomes a bounty hunter. Stephanie only goes over the more dangerous bail jumpers because that’s where the money is. Due to her lack of experience, Stephanie ends up in a lot of situations, but she always gets her person in the end.

Novels in the series all have the next sequential number in the title and follow much the same format as the one before but are all always entertaining.  Currently the series stands at 26 but Fortune & Glory Tantalizing: Twenty-Seven is due out in November 2020.

4.04 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon

Woman Without a Past by Phyllis A. Whitney (1994)

Before the advent of psychological and romantic thrillers, there was the adult suspense novel. And one of the masters of that genre was Phyllis A. Whitney. It was refreshing to read a book that didn’t cover two generations, wasn’t told by the point of view of more than one character, and contained no sex. This story is told by the main character, Molly Hunt, as she reviews events that have already occurred.

Molly Hunt is a mystery writer in Long Island when she learns she was stolen from her aristocratic Southern family as a  baby and sold to her loving adoptive parents.  She also learns that she has an identical twin sister. Eager to meet her twin and learn about this newly discovered past, Molly travels to her family homestead in Charleston and finds herself surrounded by deceit, distrust, and mystery.

Phyllis Whitney wrote 76 books in her 65-year career, including 38 adult suspense novels. See a full list of her titles here.

3.71 stars on Goodreads, 4.4 on Amazon

Magic Before Liars by Sarah Gailey

 

Ivy Gamble never wanted anything to do with the world of magic. That world belonged to her sister. Instead Ivy is attempting to get by as a private investigator, with little money and a bit of a drinking problem. However, when a murder occurs at the private school for mages her sister works for, she is hired to solve the case. The book is an interesting take on meshing a magic school with a murder mystery. 

3.65 stars on Goodreads, 4 on Amazon