February Reads

 Spider Lake, by: Jeff Nania

This is the second book written by this author about my beloved Hayward, WI area so I read it right after reading the first one. The story continues with all of the same characters. The first book ended with you thinking the crimes were wrapped up, but this digs deeper into an even bigger and more dangerous puzzle!

Save The Date, by: Mary Kay Andrews

This month we did a road trip to Florida, so I knew I wanted some "vacation" like reads. I am starting to read more and more of Mary's books after getting an ARC of hers last year. Very similar to Elin Hilderbrand books when you are craving a fun, easy read that you know you will love. Mary focuses on the southern States as her location, and this book took place in Savannah, GA. The main character is a divorced floral designer whose business (and above apartment) are in a historic building. She inherited the business after working there, but needed a loan from her Dad to keep it going. She can never get her head above water with something seeming to go wrong every day - for example a broken cooler that kills all of her flowers. A well known designer moving into town who she's sure is out to put her out of business. Her landlord selling the building without telling her. Through all of this, she becomes connected to the family of the most expensive wedding she's been hired to do yet. A love interest also emerges but due to her failed marriage she has trouble believing she can be happy. Really enjoyed this one!

Summer Rental, by: Mary Kay Andrews

Best friends since Catholic grade school, three friends find themselves at the crossroads of their lives in their 30's. Ellis has recently been downsized from her job, leaving her drifting and wondering if the last 10 years were really worth it. She becomes distracted by the man who lives in the apartment above their rental garage (little does she know he's also the landlord). Julia is afraid to commit to her longtime love and the hard reality of slowing down after modeling around the world. Dorie finds out her husband is in love with someone else JUST as she becomes pregnant. They decide to rent a house on the outer banks of North Carolina for the month of August. Soon, they encounter Maryn - a woman on the run from her abusive husband after finding out he's been involved in criminal activity. Under one roof they all try to help each other through their problems. Really enjoyed this one too!

Vera, by: Carol Edgarian

This book comes out tomorrow (March 2) - thank you Scribner for the copy. 

An astonishing feat of imagination, a grand adventure set in 1906 San Francisco—a city leveled by quake and fire—featuring an indomitable heroine coming of age in the aftermath of catastrophe and her quest for love and reinvention. Meet Vera Johnson, the uncommonly resourceful fifteen-year-old illegitimate daughter of Rose, notorious proprietor of San Francisco’s most legendary bordello and ally to the city’s corrupt politicians. Vera has grown up straddling two worlds—the madam’s alluring sphere, replete with tickets to the opera, surly henchmen, and scant morality, and the violent, debt ridden domestic life of the family paid to raise her. On the morning of the great quake, Vera’s worlds collide. As the shattered city burns and looters vie with the injured, orphaned, and starving, Vera and her guileless sister, Pie, are cast adrift. Vera disregards societal norms and prejudices and begins to imagine a new kind of life. She collaborates with Tan, her former rival, and forges an unlikely family of survivors. Together they navigate their way beyond disaster.

This reminded me a bit of "City of Girls" as well as books I've read about Chicago during this time period. I didn't know much about this event in time, so it was interesting to learn about and I am always in awe of the people who have survived.