The Booking Mamas' March 2016 Meeting

Summary: A fiercely independent divorce lawyer learns the power of family and connection when she receives a cryptic message from her estranged mother in this bittersweet, witty novel from the nationally bestselling author of Someone Else’s Love Story and gods in Alabama—an emotionally resonant tale about the endurance of love and the power of stories to shape and transform our lives. Born in Alabama, Paula Vauss spent the first decade of her life on the road with her free-spirited young mother, Kai, an itinerant storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with southern oral tradition to re-invent their history as they roved. But everything, including Paula’s birth name Kali Jai, changed when she told a story of her own—one that landed Kai in prison and Paula in foster care. Separated, each holding secrets of her own, the intense bond they once shared was fractured.

These days, Paula has reincarnated herself as a tough-as-nails divorce attorney with a successful practice in Atlanta. While she hasn’t seen Kai in fifteen years, she’s still making payments on that Karmic debt—until the day her last check is returned in the mail, along with a mysterious note: “I am going on a journey, Kali. I am going back to my beginning; death is not the end. You will be the end. We will meet again, and there will be new stories. You know how Karma works.” Then Kai’s most treasured secret literally lands on Paula’s doorstep, throwing her life into chaos and transforming her from only child to older sister. Desperate to find her mother before it’s too late, Paula sets off on a journey of discovery that will take her back to the past and into the deepest recesses of her heart. With the help of her ex-lover Birdwine, an intrepid and emotionally volatile private eye who still carries a torch for her, this brilliant woman, an expert at wrecking families, now has to figure out how to put one back together—her own.

The Opposite of Everyone is a story about story itself, how the tales we tell connect us, break us, and define us, and how the endings and beginnings we choose can destroy us . . . and make us whole. Laced with sharp humor and poignant insight, it is beloved New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson at her very best. -- William Morrow

Last night, the Booking Mamas met to discuss THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE by Joshilyn Jackson. We had a big crowd -- there were ten of us, and it was very interesting to hear everyone's opinion of the book. Frankly, we were all over the map on this one. I have read almost all of Ms. Jackson's novels and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it was my absolute favorite. There was one member who loved it, but we had one member who didn't even finish it. I think most of the women fell somewhere between the two extremes.

One issue that a few women had with the novel were the transitions between the present and the past. (Some of us had similar issues last month with our selection!) They felt that they were a bit jarring or confusing. I did not have this problem nor did a few other women who read the book fairly quickly. It makes me wonder if those that took a week or more to read the book just kind of lost track of the story.

Another interesting tidbit from our meeting last night was the discussion about how well Ms. Jackson portrayed a mixed race character. There were more than a few complements on how authentic this character seemed, and one person even asked if the author was of mixed race because she thought it was so good.

I will review THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE in the near future and share more of my thoughts about the book!

Next month, our group decided to read AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. I think this book sounds fantastic, and one member who read it already loved it! Having said that, it is a chunkster of a book coming in at over 600 pages. Since the book was almost a unanimous pick, I'll be anxious to see how many of us actually finish it.

Summary: In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.

It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter. Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded. -- William Morrow

Review: The Two-Family House

Summary: Brooklyn, 1947: in the midst of a blizzard, in a two-family brownstone, two babies are born minutes apart to two women. They are sisters by marriage with an impenetrable bond forged before and during that dramatic night; but as the years progress, small cracks start to appear and their once deep friendship begins to unravel. No one knows why, and no one can stop it. One misguided choice; one moment of tragedy. Heartbreak wars with happiness and almost but not quite wins. From debut novelist Lynda Cohen Loigman comes The Two-Family House, a moving family saga filled with heart, emotion, longing, love, and mystery. -- St. Martin's Press

THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a special novel about the lives of two families who share a house in Brooklyn. It's an insightful look at what happens when a major decision is made in a matter of seconds and how that split second decision can alter the course of both families' lives.

THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE tells the story of brothers Mort and Abe and their families. Mort and Abe work together and live together in a two-family house, so needless to say, their lives are very intertwined. Mort is married to Rose and they already have three daughters... which is a major disappointment -- he desperately wants a son and tends to take out his anger on his family. Meanwhile, Abe is married to Helen and they have four boys. Abe is much more content than his brother both at home and at work; however, Helen is some times overwhelmed with all of the testosterone in their house.

When Rose and Helen both find themselves pregnant at the same time, they set their hopes high that they can deliver the a boy and girl respectively. However, when they both go into labor on the same snowy night, when their husbands just happen to be out of town, they make a decision that will forever change everyone's lives.

I enjoyed THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE! I tend to love books about the complexities of family dynamics; and, therefore, I thought the premise of the story was fantastic. This book had so much potential, and for the most part, it delivered. However, there was something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that the character development was a little lacking. There were times when the characters were just a little too predictable and/or stereotypical.

As I mentioned earlier, I thought the plot of THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE was excellent! I'm sure you have figured out what these two women do -- it's not really a secret from the very first pages of the novel; however, the dynamics of having them share a house was a great twist. I really enjoyed seeing how these women interacted before they had their babies as well as how they dealt with the aftereffects. Both women were very different and they definitely had very different capabilities in handling the situation. I especially appreciated how the author showed the decline in Rose's mental state.

In addition, I thought the portrayal of Mort and Abe was very interesting. Mort was an odd duck and more than a little hard to take for much of the novel. I appreciated what the author tried to do with his character, but it fell a little flat to me. His behavior at the beginning of the novel was almost unbelievable to me, and I really wasn't able to relate to his situation at all. What I did enjoy seeing, though, was how Mort eventually evolved into a better man throughout the course of the novel.

I thought the real strength of this novel was in how the author chose to tell the story. She used a variety of characters, namely Rose and Helen and their husbands, but she also used two of the daughters. Rose and Mort's eldest daughter, Judith, was at an impressionable age when the babies were born; and eventually she figured out everything. Her story about dealing with her difficult father and coming to terms with what her mother did are touching and heartfelt. In addition, I enjoyed learning Helen and Abe's youngest child, Natalie's, story. I don't want to give too much away, but Natalie's story has a neat little twist that I appreciated.

THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE would make a terrific book club selection. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a discussion guide, but I don't think your group would really need one. Some of the themes you might want to explore include marriage, friendship, family, secrets, betrayal, loss, grief, identity, and parent/child relationships.

Overall, I really liked THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE and I think fans of literary novels who appreciate family sagas will too!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: The Passenger

Summary: “Lutz develops riveting suspense by slowly revealing the events that first sent Tanya/Amelia on the run, while pouring threats on her gritty heroine’s increasingly tenuous bids at survival. Binge-worthy fare, especially for those drawn to strong female protagonists” (Booklist, starred review).

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz’s latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: you’ll want to buckle up for the ride!

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it...

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?

With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless. -- Simon & Schuster

I can't believe that THE PASSENGER by Lisa Lutz is the first novel that I've read by this award-winning and best-selling author. If this book is any indication of her talent, then I have a lot of catching up to do! I was very impressed with her storytelling abilities as well as her character development.

THE PASSENGER is a thriller that begins with Tanya Dubois discovering her husband lying dead at the bottom of the stairs. Tanya tells the reader that she had nothing to do with it, but she's not exactly upset at the prospect of a world without her husband. Rather than calling the police, she decides to go on the run because of something that happened in her past. As she flees from the scene of the crime, she's already working on a new identity!

Tanya/Amelia meets Blue, a mysterious bartender who immediately senses that she is on the run. Blue offers her a place to stay and Tanya/Amelia decides to trust her. However, this new relationship might end up being more trouble than its worth!

The story follows Tanya/Amelia/Debra and so on as she travels across the country trying to hide from the police while also creating a new life for herself. As she sheds new identities without a second thought, she is forced to reconcile events from her past that have haunted her for years.

I really enjoyed THE PASSENGER. It's a well-paced thriller with a strong and smart female protagonist, and there are quite a few surprises along the way... especially the ending. I appreciated the character development of Tanya and how much her past played a role in her current adventures. It really was a very well-written thriller!

As exciting as the story was with Tanya recreating herself over and over again with new identification, hair and eye color, and drink preferences, I think I most appreciated having access to the inner workings of her mind. I thought Ms. Lutz did a fantastic job of showing the turmoil Tanya faced each time she created a new identity for herself. Of course Tanya was stressed hiding from the police (and others), but she was also really torn with the struggle to figure out her true identity and come to terms with her past. I was pleasantly surprised by how deep Tanya's character was.

Overall, THE PASSENGER was a solid thriller with a great female character. I absolutely loved Ms. Lutz's writing and I can't wait to read more of her novels!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Kid Connection: ABCs of Earth Science

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a new line of books that introduce kids to science at a very young age!

Summary: Introduce children to the language of Earth Science, from Asteroid to Zephyr.

Teach the alphabet and science while children’s brain growth is exploding! The vocabulary words have been hand-picked to cover many areas of the study of earth and our solar system.

This book is the perfect size for little hands. Slip this book into your bag when you’re on the go and wire brains for science! -- Jumbo Minds'

I am excited to share with you the cute picture book ABCS OF EARTH SCIENCE! This small, soft-cover book is both fun and educational, and I absolutely love the concept of this book. Basically, it's an ABC book for little ones; however, instead of using toys or color, it uses earth science terms.

For example, Aa is for Asteroid, Bb is for Biome, and Cc is for Condensation. You get the idea! Each page spread has the ABC word with a very brief definition, a longer explanation, and then a cute illustration. Initially, youngsters might just want to learn the word and the simple definition. However, the book will grow with them as they want to learn more about these science terms.

ABCS OF EARTH SCIENCE is part of the Jumbo Minds' Science ABCs book collection. This group also includes ABCS OF BIOLOGY, ABCS OF CHEMISTRY, and ABCS OF PHYSICS. The makers of these books realize the importance of teaching science at a young age. In fact, they claim "that research shows that young children's brain cell connections grow exponentially with new information, especially during their explosive brain growth period." This means that waiting until middle school to really start consistently teaching science might be not be the ideal time!

I really liked ABCS OF EARTH SCIENCE, and I even learned a thing or two myself. This picture book is one that I think parents will appreciate as much as the kids. If the other three books are as terrific as ABCS OF EARTH SCIENCE, then I think the Jumbo Minds' ABCs book collection is fantastic. Highly recommended to parents who want to introduce science to their little ones!

Thanks to the publisher and Get Red PR for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Like Family

Summary: Paolo Giordano’s prizewinning debut novel, The Solitude of Prime Numbers, catapulted the young Italian author into the literary spotlight. His new novel features his trademark character-driven narrative and intimate domestic setting that first made him an international sensation.

When Mrs. A. first enters the narrator’s home, his wife, Nora, is experiencing a difficult pregnancy. First as their maid and nanny, then their confidante, this older woman begins to help her employers negotiate married life, quickly becoming the glue in their small household. She is the steady, maternal influence for both husband and wife, and their son, Emanuele, whom she protects from his parents’ expectations and disappointments. But the family’s delicate fabric comes undone when Mrs. A. is diagnosed with cancer. Moving seamlessly between the past and present, Giordano highlights with remarkable precision the joy of youth and the fleeting nature of time. An elegiac, heartrending, and deeply personal portrait of marriage and the people we choose to call family, this is a jewel of a novel—short, intense, and unforgettable. -- Pamela Dorman Books

LIKE FAMILY by Paolo Giordana is just a beautiful novel. There isn't really much more for me to say about it. It received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and if I gave out "stars," it would receive one from me too. The writing is exquisite and the universal themes of family, love and loss will resonate with all readers.

LIFE FAMILY tells the story of a family's relationship with Mrs. A, a maid then nanny to their young son Emanuele. Mrs. A. is quite a force and she helps the family with more than just chores around the house -- she becomes a vital part of the household and offers much needed (and appreciated) advice about life. When Mrs. A. is diagnosed with cancer and retires, the family finds themselves with a huge void in their lives; and they struggle to keep everything together while also helping the woman who is "like family" to them.

LIFE FAMILY is an extremely powerful book. It comes in under 150 pages but those pages are rich with emotion. I am having  a difficult time expressing just how touching the novel is. The story is told through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who is both a father, husband, and scientist... and who probably resembles the author. In fact, the entire novel is based on Mr. Giordana's experience with the loss of a real-life "Mrs. A."

This novel is about so much more than just the story of this family and Mrs. A. The narrator actually begins a reflection into his life that is both insightful and, at the same time, humbling. As I read this novel, I thought about my life and how I could be a better wife and mother and friend. And truth be told, if a book can entertain you and make you think, that's a huge testament to the author.

I highly recommend LIKE FAMILY to fans of literary fiction. It's a beautifully written novel that just might have the power to make you examine your own life!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Book Preview: The Last Girl & Giveaway

Summary: A mysterious worldwide epidemic reduces the birthrate of female infants from 50 percent to less than 1 percent. Medical science and governments around the world scramble in an effort to solve the problem, but twenty-five years later there is no cure, and an entire generation grows up with a population of fewer than a thousand women.

Zoey and some of the surviving young women are housed in a scientific research compound dedicated to determining the cause. For two decades, she’s been isolated from her family, treated as a test subject, and locked away—told only that the virus has wiped out the rest of the world’s population.

Captivity is the only life Zoey has ever known, and escaping her heavily armed captors is no easy task, but she’s determined to leave before she is subjected to the next round of tests…a program that no other woman has ever returned from. Even if she’s successful, Zoey has no idea what she’ll encounter in the strange new world beyond the facility’s walls. Winning her freedom will take brutality she never imagined she possessed, as well as all her strength and cunning—but Zoey is ready for war. -- Thomas & Mercer

Today, I'd like to share with you a new novel called THE LAST GIRL by Joe Hart. This thriller is the first book in the Dominion Trilogy, and it's getting some pretty great reviews. As you can see from the excerpt of the beginning of the novel which I've posted below, it's pretty haunting.

BEFORE . . .

“As of today we don’t have any solid factual data or numbers to speak of concerning the phenomena. We are working tirelessly with the World Health Organization as well as the Attorney General’s office. Everyone can rest assured that we will issue a statement soon, and in the meantime we’re doing everything we can to identify the cause.” —Cameron West, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, January 2017

“I think what most people are missing is the fact that this isn’t a localized event. This is global, and it happened overnight. To my knowledge no one—not a scientist, not a government official, and not a single news source—has come up with a satisfying explanation for what’s happening.” —Ramona Chandler, independent journalist for The Underground, May 2017

“The National Obstetric Alliance that was formed early last year has made significant progress in determining the cause of the so-called ‘drought of female births.’ I can honestly say that we are on the verge of understanding the origin of this occurrence, and we implore the American people as well as citizens throughout the world to remain calm and strong in the face of this unprecedented challenge. An answer is very near.” —Benson Andrews, 45th President of the United States of America, February 2018

NT: In your opinion, what truly caused the uprising in Harrisburg?

FW: (draws on cigarette) Limits.

NT: Limits?

FW: Yeah, limits. Everyone has theirs, you know? When the induction into NOA’s research program went from voluntary to mandatory, that’s what did it. It pushed people past their limits. This is America, for God’s sake, the land of the free. But suddenly we’re being told that all women who’ve given birth to baby girls in the last five years have to report to one of NOA’s reception complexes, or else? (shakes his head) No way. No way were people going to put up with that. Listen, I’ve heard stories of armed raiding groups taking entire families from their beds at night. here is a woman in New York who said her eight-month-old daughter was taken from her crib and that a government official contacted her the next morning warning her not to take action. And then of course there was the Divinity cult that Senator Jesperson was associated with in Texas that was exterminating newborn boys in its membership. They thought that this was all God’s work, and if they kept killing male infants the females would start being born again. I mean, this doesn’t sound like the United States at all, at least not the one that I’m familiar with.

NT: There hasn’t been a female birthrate report released in over six months now. The last one put the percentage at one in one hundred thousand. Would you say that’s correct?

FW: (laughs) Are you kidding? One in a hundred thousand? Try one in ten million. That’s the last statistic I saw before resigning, and by all accounts it was getting worse. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new data shows one in a hundred million. When the masses start to realize what’s happening, there’s going to be war.

NT: You predict there will be more uprisings like in Pennsylvania?

FW: Slaughter. Call it what it was. A slaughter of American citizens by their government. And yes, this is only the beginning.

—Excerpt from NewsTime interview with Foster White, former Undersecretary to the Attorney General’s office, ten days before his disappearance, June 2018 “The rebellion’s a tide, just like whatever the hell happened to the baby girls. You can’t stop it.” —Anonymous rebel soldier, November 2018

No women

No babies

No hope

—Graffiti on the Washington Monument, December 2018

Excerpted from THE LAST GIRL © Copyright 2016 by Joe Hart. Reprinted with permission by Thomas & Mercer. All rights reserved.

Giveaway alert: I have a copy of THE LAST GIRL to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before March 15th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!



Thanks to Wiley Associates, Wunderkind PR, and the publisher for sponsoring this giveaway.

Review: The Swans of Fifth Avenue

Summary: Of all the glamorous stars of New York high society, none blazes brighter than Babe Paley. Her flawless face regularly graces the pages of Vogue, and she is celebrated and adored for her ineffable style and exquisite taste, especially among her friends—the alluring socialite Swans Slim Keith, C. Z. Guest, Gloria Guinness, and Pamela Churchill. By all appearances, Babe has it all: money, beauty, glamour, jewels, influential friends, a prestigious husband, and gorgeous homes. But beneath this elegantly composed exterior dwells a passionate woman—a woman desperately longing for true love and connection.

Enter Truman Capote. This diminutive golden-haired genius with a larger-than-life personality explodes onto the scene, setting Babe and her circle of Swans aflutter. Through Babe, Truman gains an unlikely entrée into the enviable lives of Manhattan’s elite, along with unparalleled access to the scandal and gossip of Babe’s powerful circle. Sure of the loyalty of the man she calls “True Heart,” Babe never imagines the destruction Truman will leave in his wake. But once a storyteller, always a storyteller—even when the stories aren’t his to tell.

Truman’s fame is at its peak when such notable celebrities as Frank and Mia Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, and Rose Kennedy converge on his glittering Black and White Ball. But all too soon, he’ll ignite a literary scandal whose repercussions echo through the years. The Swans of Fifth Avenue will seduce and startle readers as it opens the door onto one of America’s most sumptuous eras. -- Delacorte Press

I forgot to review THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Melanie Benjamin! I read it on my iPad; and as a result, the book wasn't in my finished book pile. Out of sight -- out of mind... at least as far as writing a review went. Having said that, I read THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE earlier in the year and absolutely loved it! There is no doubt that this will go down as one of my favorite books of of 2016. I'm not entirely sure how I forgot to share my thoughts with you because this is one very special novel.

THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE tells the story of the friendship between Truman Capote and the Swans of Fifth Avenue, a group of New York socialites. While Capote is friendly with all of them, sharing gossip and scandal, he is especially close to the gorgeous Babe Paley. Babe is married to the head of CBS and is known for her style and grace, while Capote is best known for his books, especially his true crime story IN COLD BLOOD. The two form an immediate bond with Babe providing access to her powerful friends and Capote providing love and support to a surprisingly insecure Babe. Unfortunately, the larger-than-life Capote choses his ambitions over the friendships with Babe and her friends; and Babe feels the brunt of his betrayal.

I absolutely loved THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE! I didn't want the book to end -- and that's rare for me to say. I was impressed with Ms. Benjamin's writing, and especially the way she brought these  real-life characters and their stories to life. I especially enjoyed experiencing the glamour of New York City in the 1970s. It was just a wonderful novel on so many fronts!

One thing I found interesting about this novel was that, while I loved the story, I didn't really love the characters. I guess I liked Babe the most and had the most sympathy for her, but I still didn't feel a real affinity with her. Maybe that's because her lifestyle is so vastly different from mine. As far as the other Swans go, they were a little hard to take because of their shallowness and pettiness. And Capote... well, he was a piece of work, and I pretty much hated him for betraying Babe!

What I did love about this book was the idea of the Swans and their relationships with Capote. They were indeed larger-than-life, just like the characters themselves. The way they all shared gossip about others (and each other) was definitely sensational, and I admit that I was a little in awe of how they lived. I also appreciated how the author incorporated other famous celebrities, like Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, and even Capote's Black & White Ball into the story.

In addition, I loved how the author described all of the gorgeous clothes, fancy restaurants and apartments, as well as the glamorous vacation spots. I was so excited to find a "Following in the Footsteps of the Swans" section on Ms. Benjamin's website with pictures and links to some of the places mentioned in the novel! Make sure you check it out if you want to get an even better idea of the Swans' world.

THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE would make an outstanding book club selection. I'd love to discuss this book with all of my friends! There is a reading guide available with eighteen questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include friendship, betrayal, success, wealth, gossip, scandal, marriage, divorce, aging, stories, truth, memory, the role of women and how we hurt people. As you can see, there is so much to discuss!

I adored THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and consider Ms. Benjamin to be a must-read author! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-copy of this novel.