What Happened to the McCrays?

Kyle McCray is back in Potsdam, NY. After two and a half lonely years wandering Kyle is notified that his dad had a stroke. Despite barely making it through their chilly past, he dutifully returns home to help him recuperate. When Kyle left town at the behest of his ex-wife Casey he disappointed a lot of people. After experiencing an unimaginable tragedy there was no choice but to disappear, the pain between he and Casey - his high school sweetheart and love of his life - was simply too much. Kyle is surprised to find open arms welcoming him back; from his hockey coach and former employees to old time neighbors that watched him leave. Everyone, except Casey. Always the diplomat, she is polite to a fault but an unflinching wall remains in place, blocking any emotions they shared over the years. When Kyle has an opportunity to save the beloved middle school hockey team, he extends his stay and falls comfortably back into old routines and the spirit of teamwork that once made him a local superstar. With its raw emotion, compelling characters, and an underdog spirit that shines both on and off the ice, this novel isn’t just about hockey—it’s about love, loss, and the ties that pull us home. A truly unforgettable read that will leave your heart both aching and full. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Isola

Marguerite de la Rocque  is orphaned at a young age. In the sixteenth century as a child of nobility she is placed under the guardianship of a distant cousin named Jean-Francoise Roberval. He is an explorer with favor from the King. Roberval has an explosive manipulative personality and for many years Marguerite remains in her parents estate under the care of Damienne, her nurse and mother figure since birth. Roberval mostly ignores Marguerite’s existence but as he eventually spends her entire inheritance she is no longer marriageable and under complete isolation Marguerite is left with no alternative options other than to accompany him and his crew on a ship searching for New France (later Canada). In this male dominated world Marguerite discovers her own extraordinary strength and faith, never giving up hope for independence. Falling in love, marooned on an island, I never expected an historical novel set in 1546 to be such a page turner! Incredible story of a real-life heroine who fought for her own survival, reminding us that strong women have always broken down barriers in the face of inequality. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Strange Case of Jane O.

Jane is a young, single mother. She works at the New York Public Library, lives in Brooklyn and mostly keeps to herself. One day she is found in the park, lying in the grass and has no memory of the 25 hours that have just passed. Frantic with worry about her one year old son, she quickly learns that his daycare attendant kept him overnight and he is fine. The police investigate to assure Jane there was no outside involvement and she quickly contacts the only psychiatrist she knows, one she saw very briefly at 17 years old. When Jane begins to meet with Dr. Byrd she also reveals a recent hallucination that she experienced, that, along with this lapse in memory is simply terrifying. Especially for someone like Jane, who has a life long condition known as hyperthymesia. She can recall an abnormally large number of life experiences in vivid detail. Narrated by both Dr. Byrd and Jane we learn first hand how this patient, kind psychiatrist desperately wants to help this woman who may or may not be telling the whole truth. Dr. Byrd diagnoses Jane with another rare disorder called dissociative fugue, a sort of reversible amnesia.  Although the novel moves slowly, this incredibly original storyline is interesting and extremely well written. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jeddah Bride

In the mid 1970’s Patricia was about to start college. She was counting the minutes to freedom and independence away from her parent’s Long Island home. Attending Wellesley Patricia jumped right into the Boston disco scene, wearing outrageous outfits, drinking and dancing the night away. One evening she meets Rahman Abbar. He is a few years older and a student at BU. Born into a wealthy Saudi family, Rahman dazzled all the girls with his good looks and endless charm. He was the life of the party and comfortably picked up the check at the end of each night. A whirlwind romance ensues, and the young couple eventually introduce each other to their families. Even though they are quickly forced to overcome rather large obstacles, Patricia refuses to give up. Once she commits to marrying Rahman, there was no turning back. Converting to Muslim and experiencing life in Jeddah was her first introduction to the reality of being Rahman’s wife. Patricia realizes she will never escape suspicion as a foreigner and cannot even leave the home unescorted. All her studying and degrees mean nothing in Saudi. The couple continue to live around the world, no expense too great for their entertainment and comfort. But eventually Rahman becomes increasingly indifferent and with two young children in tow, Patricia finds herself trapped. This memoir may sound like fiction and read like a novel but this is Patricia’s story - and it is both shocking and fascinating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bluebird Day

Wylie hasn’t spoken to the GOAT in two years. Her mother, Claudine Potts is a world champion Olympic alpine skier. Claudine’s father Kipper, was also a champion Olympic skier and from the time she learned to walk Wylie was expected to be one as well. When Wylie finally succumbed to debilitating panic attacks she disappeared from the skiing world. Studying art and working in a quiet museum in the Berkshires is a peaceful, safe existence for a girl that could not breathe in the spotlight. Her boyfriend Dan, who is also her personal trainer, controls every meal, workout and sleep pattern of her daily life. It has become so easy to be told what to do rather than make her own difficult decisions. Dan has entered them into a duo fitness competition in Berlin. What began as a quest for prize money becomes a mission to prove to her overambitious mom that she too can be a winner. When Dan unexpectedly cannot compete Wylie shockingly turns to her mom to be her partner. They set off on an adventure that becomes a trip down memory lane and an opportunity to reconnect with and examine how her downhill skiing career crashed much more than just Olympic dreams. This quirky cast of characters stranded in the snowy mountains is filled with friendship, romance and a mother and daughter that are more alike than they think. ⭐⭐⭐

Where the Heart Should Be

 

The Great Famine, The Great Hunger, The Irish Potato Famine. In 1845, Ireland experienced mass starvation and disease that lasted for seven years. Nell is sixteen and begins working as a scullery maid in the kitchen of The Big House owned by English Lord Wicken. She has strict instructions to never leave the kitchen, to be seen and not heard. Nell is smart, was the top of her class, but as a daughter of a poor farming family there was never an option to be more than a servant. When her father’s crops fail, her paltry earnings are all the family has to live on. Nell meets Johnny and she cannot take her eyes off of him. He is Wickens nephew and future heir. Narrated by this kind and beautiful girl, we witness families losing their homes, losing their children and all hope for the future. While Nell works in the landlord’s home she witnesses how the English respond to this catastrophe, how even their beloved church was helpless to offer assistance. In the most unconventional and original prose I have ever read, this YA historical novel is told in verse. A lyrical journey describing one of the darkest times in history through the eyes of a young girl who is heartbreakingly losing everything at the same time she is also falling in love. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is hard to describe

reading narrative verse

     If you have never tried

You will be mesmerized

  by words

   by poetry

and will not stop reading

Until the very last page.

Pictures of You

Waking up in a hospital hooked up to monitors would be terrifying to anyone. But when Evie Hudson opens her eyes she does not recognize her almost 30 year old face. In her mind, the memories of her life stop at 16. She has survived a horrific car crash that killed her husband Oliver, whom she does not recall. Evie finds herself with a traumatic form of amnesia that the doctors say will “most likely” return in time. How long it will take, they do not know. Evie has no choice but to attend Oliver’s funeral with her cold overbearing in-laws. Where are her Mom and Dad? Where is her best friend Bree? As Evie puzzles her life back together she meets up with Drew, a handsome photographer who knew Evie in the past and has never let go of the hope she would return to his life one day. The scariest part is as memories begin to trickle in Evie becomes more confused about who she really is. She cannot begin to imagine how she pushed everyone she loved away and tolerated Oliver’s manipulative abuse. Always a fan of second chance romance this fast paced story is filled with family, friendship and the one who got away. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

We Are Made of Stars

In the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina is the charming resort Vis Ta Vie. This inn is run by Jean-Paul and Renee, a loving couple who are currently struggling financially and emotionally as to whether they must close for good after the summer season. As they welcome their guests for the week, we meet old college friends who have been coming for years and are hiding explosive secrets that will change their lives forever; a single mom self medicating while she struggles to make her gloomy teenager happy and a handsome famous movie star who desperately wants to reconcile with his lifelong love after a very public fallout. Each day brings adventures on the trails and in the kitchen, but within the beauty we slowly piece together the compelling puzzle. The question is whether their relationships can survive when the truth comes out. Totally reminded me of White Lotus vibes with an array of complex characters who come together at a resort! ⭐⭐⭐

Confessions

In New York City, September 11, 2001, the world changed. When the planes crashed Cora Brady became an orphan. After days of wandering the city, she finally posts a flyer for her missing father Michael who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, high up in the towers. Cora knows he will never be found, she doesn’t post contact information. It is just her way of saying goodbye. Her Aunt Roisin is waiting for her in the small village of Burtonport, Ireland. Roisin and Cora’s mother Maire were as close as two sisters could ever be growing up, but love and art and life tore them apart. In a silent standoff for years, Michael predicted Cora would someday need her aunt in her life, and he was right. Cora arrives in Ireland sixteen years old, terrified and alone in the world. The house she enters looks haunted. It is also identical to a house in the video game she loved as a child. A game where two sisters must save the students in a creepy boarding school where they often disappear. The narrator alternates confessions between three generations of women who love each other deeply but are all hiding from their truth. Although one of the narrated portions is in second person, which is both off putting and interesting - I simply loved this group of eclectic characters and the poetic Irish voice of debut author Catherine Airey. Highly recommend this deeply emotional family saga which is creative and beautifully written. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Diana in Love

After years of feeling like a stranger in her own marriage, Diana and Oliver have officially separated. The problem is, she has no clue what the future looks like. Diana feels trapped working for Oliver’s wealthy family, every other the weekend her house feels empty and minutes feel like hours. Diana is asked to take a work trip to Paris and thinks maybe a change of scenery is just what she needs. Accompanied by her two closest friends, she journeys to the City of Lights where, amidst the bustling world, she reunites with Jasper, her boyfriend from 15 years ago—the one who had slipped away. Jasper remains unchanged, still capable of leaving her breathless. When Diana returns to Dallas she and Oliver continue to struggle through therapy. While she imagined they were there to learn the most effective parenting methods, Oliver is traveling down memory lane of their intimacy issues, ones she doesn’t care to face. Diana realizes she can no longer hide her passion or her art - a website she created combining women’s fantasies with illustrative paintings. This fabulous read is the second book in a passionate, raw and steamy trilogy (originally a podcast starring Demi Moore). One page in and I was hooked! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fallen Grace

Bubbles Jones could not imagine handing over her baby. These last few months, sequestered in the jail they call a home for unmarried girls -  Bubbles refuses to give up or give in to her Southern Baptist minister father who does not practice what he preaches. She finds a way to escape with a little help from a friend. These girls, one white and one black, are frowned upon by a hypocritical society who has hidden them away in a shameful attempt to put their babies up for adoption. In 1950’s segregated Virginia the entire community has turned it’s back on girls in “trouble.” Forcing them to believe they have no options except to let the adults in charge take advantage of their naivete and put them to work. The girls don’t have many options but they are strong and determined to build a life they can be proud of. This short story from Amazon Original Blaze series is FREE for Prime Members and easy to download. Similar to this author’s last two novels The Yellow Wife and The House of Eve, it is expertly crafted and filled with characters you will be thinking of long after the final page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐