June Reads

The Weekenders, by: Mary Kay Andrews

I love reading about island life, especially those who have the tradition of summering there or those that weekend there, and this book I picked up from my local used bookstore certainly fulfilled that with a murder twist. Riley is estranged from her husband and knows divorce is coming, but then her husband is found dead instead. As part of a long line of generations who developed Belle Isle, was her husband involved in a shady real estate deal that she didn't know about? As always with this genre, the cast of characters is so fun..... from her overbearing mother, to her alcoholic gay brother, to a past love interest, Riley has plenty of "help" in working through this difficult life changing situation.

The Henna Artist, by: Alka Joshi

 I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and getting the sequel as an advance reader copy finally made me rent this from the library. Lakshmi escapes an abusive arranged marriage, and works hard for years to become the most popular henna artist to the wealthiest families in Jaipur. She must always walk a fine line as to not misstep and offend, as she knows one bad rumor would cripple her business. This becomes harder as she tries to hide her past when her ex-husband shows up with a sister she never knew she had. Indian culture is so interesting to me - the huge gap between the most beautiful things/places to the extreme poverty. What is important to families as far as "disgrace" and what is expected at certain events (expensive jewelry, saris, henna). I've always wanted to visit India, and I've also always wanted to get henna - even more now since reading these books - so that's on my to do list.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, by: Alka Joshi

Thank you Mira Books for the advance reader copy, and the book just came out on June 22nd - I couldn't wait to read more about Lakshmi! The story goes on years later as Lakshmi is now happily remarried and working alongside her doctor husband in a rural town outside of Jaipur. Her knowledge of natural healing is needed and valued alongside western medicine. An unfortunate event in Jaipur draws her back into the powerful families she once knew, to help clear her friends and relatives names. An excellent and vivid read! After reading The Lost Apothecary, and now this, I enjoy learning about the health benefits we can find right in nature.

The Photographer, by: Mary Dixie Carter

Thank you Minotaur Books for this copy, which was released on May 25th. Delta photographs the elite families of New York. When she meets the Straubs, she wants to be more than their photographer and starts weaving her way into their life after the very first offer to babysit their daughter. Soon a trusted confidant and new tenant in the apartment attached to their house, she eventually becomes the surrogate for the baby they so badly want. Of course the truth comes out and ends badly, and this was just an okay read for me. I thought there was a lot of build up to a very ubrupt and odd wrap up.

Bough Cutter, by: Jeff Nania

This is the 3rd book in the series Jeff has written about my childhood vacation spot of Hayward, WI. The main character, a retired cop who inherits his uncle's cabin, continues to get pulled into the crime scene of this tight knit community. Bough Cutter focuses on the very real life problem that is plaguing even the most unsuspecting towns - drugs. Makeshift labs and dealers looking to control whatever territory they can. Already invested in the location, and now the characters, I knew this would be a good read!

Nice Girls, by: Catherine Dang

Thank you William Morrow for this advance reader copy - expected publishing date is September 7th. Recently getting kicked out of her ivy league school for a physical altercation, Mary realizes she has completely blown her chance of escaping her dead end Minnesota town. Once back home, she gets wrapped up in the disappearance of two local women, one of which she knew as a child. When evidence surfaces of both women being murdered, people think a serial killer is on the loose. This was another okay read for me with an odd ending. Since Mary seemed to have some mental issues herself, there was always the sense that she might have had something to do with the crimes, but that was not the case.