Kid Konnection: Duck and Hippo Lost and Found & Giveaway

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 an adorable picture book with some familiar faces.

Summary: Duck and Hippo have a picnic and a new adventure!

Duck and Hippo invite their friends Turtle, Elephant, and Pig to a picnic at their favorite pond. Yippee! It’s time to dance and sing, swim and eat. Everyone brings goodies to share…except Hippo. He didn’t bring ANYTHING. So Hippo sets off into the forest to find some berries. But he is gone a long time, and Duck begins to worry that Hippo is lost. What should his friends do to find him? Join Duck and Hippo on another fun adventure! -- Two Lions

The cute characters Duck and Hippo are back in DUCK AND HIPPO LOST AND FOUND by Jonathan London and illustrated by Andrew Joyner. In this picture book installment, Duck and Hippo invite their friends to a picnic at their favorite pond. Duck brings an basket of goodies, while Elephant brings peppermint peach juice and a watermelon. Pig brings a pizza and Turtle brings chips, paper products and a blanket. Everyone contributed to the fun... everyone that is except Hippo! Hippo felt as if he couldn't join in their celebration because he forgot to bring something to the picnic.

Hippo gets the bright idea to pick some wild berries in the forest, but it took him quite awhile to return. His friends get concerned and head off in search of Hippo. Nighttime is rapidly approaching and the critters still can't find Hippo because Hippo is still searching for the berries. When they finally find Hippo, he's naturally relieved to see his friends... and he even gives each one of them a berry. They return to their picnic site and the festivities (and eating) can finally begin!

I thought DUCK AND HIPPO LOST AND FOUND was another cute depiction of these two friends' adventures. The story is very sweet and the illustrations are the perfect complement to the fun text. Once again, Duck and Hippo demonstrate the power of friendship... friendship between two unlikely characters, and I think both parents and kids will appreciate the messages in this picture book.

I think Duck and Hippo and their friends are adorable, and I love how much fun their stories are. There is quite a bit of humor incorporated into this story, especially through Hippo's words and actions. In addition, the illustrations so cute. They are bright and whimsical, and I think they convey the personalities of the various characters. All in all, I think DUCK AND HIPPO LOST AND FOUND is a picture book little ones will love!

If you can't get enough of Duck and Hippo, then check out these free downloadable activity pages.

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

I'm excited to say that I have a copies of DUCK AND HIPPO LOST AND FOUND and DUCK AND HIPPO IN THE RAINSTORM to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before Friday, August 25th 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!



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: Lost and Found Sisters

Summary: From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes her first women's fiction novel—an unforgettable story of friendship, love, family, and sisterhood—perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Susan Mallery, and Kristan Higgins.

They say life can change in an instant…

After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.'s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?

The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.

On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.

As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there's another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earthshattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for. -- William Morrow

I'm not a reader of romance novels, but I guess Jill Shalvis is a huge fan favorite! I've been hearing about her for years, and I'm amazed by not only her following but how much she's written. Ms. Shalvis has written nine different series. That's not novels -- that's series! Amazing! Her latest story, LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is actually her first foray into women's fiction, and I figured it was high time for me to give her books a try!

LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is touching story about a women who discovers that her life is a lie -- basically, she isn't who she thought she was! Quinn Weller is a chef who seemingly has it all. She has a terrific family, a great job in an L.A. restaurant, and a gorgeous boyfriend. However, life hasn't always been this great. Quinn has worked hard to bounce back from her sister's death in a car accident.

One day, Quinn's life turns upside down when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a secret that makes Quinn question everything. He surprises Quinn by revealing that she has a mysterious inheritance from someone she never knew, and this information throws Quinn into a tailspin. She ends up dropping almost everything from her life and heads north to the small town of Wildstone. It's very different than L.A., but Quinn feels like she belongs there. Of course, the hot stranger who shows up doesn't hurt either!

Quinn doesn't inherit a house or money. Rather, it's a small cafe that needs some work. Quinn also learns that she has a teenage sister named Tilly who basically is all alone. Now, Quinn has to face that her life is far different from what she's thought... and decide if her new life in Wildstone is the right one for her.

LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is a heartwarming story about loss, family, and second chances... with some romance thrown in. I understand that this novel is classified as women's fiction, and rightly so, but there is enough romance thrown in to please Ms. Shalvis' fans (I think -- I'm definitely not an expert on romance novels!)

I liked LOST AND FOUND SISTERS, but I don't know that I'd say I loved it. It's certainly entertaining and I couldn't help but like Quinn... and I was definitely interested in everything going on in her life. However, it's not a book that's likely to stay with me. Overall, I guess I'd say that it was a fun summer read!

There were a couple of things that stood out to me about LOST AND FOUND SISTERS. I actually liked most of the characters in the novel. Quinn was a lot of fun, although I did feel sorry for her at times. It seemed like she was not even over the loss of her sister when she had to face that her parents were keeping some pretty big secrets from her. I definitely liked her love interest Mick (and his smelly dog) as well as many of the quirky people who resided in Wildstone. I even liked the "supernatural" appearance of Quinn's dead sister Beth!

I also appreciated the theme of sisterhood in this novel. Obviously, Quinn didn't set out to find a replacement for her sister, but she ended up discovering that she had Tilly. Quinn's devotion to Tilly was certainly admirable -- it's never easy to raise a teenager, and I had to love her sense of responsibility for her. I also liked seeing how Quinn depended on Beth (or Beth's ghost!) to help guide her to do what was right.

Finally, it was fairly obvious to me that Ms. Shalvis is a writer of all things romance. There were more of those scenes that most women's fiction books (which makes it a good summer read!); and while I'm not really a good judge of love scenes, I could tell that these were way above average. She did a great job of creating chemistry between Quinn and Mick, but she also described their love for each other in a sweet (and sometimes passionate!) way.

There is a reading guide in the back of LOST AND FOUND SISTERS to help enhance book club discussions although I wasn't able to find an on-line link. Some of the topics you might want to discuss include Beth's ghost and the effect it had on Quinn, parent/child relationships, sisterhood, family, friendships, second chances, loss, grief, love, and forgiveness.

LOST AND FOUND SISTERS is a sweet (and fun) story about sisters, family, friendship, and love. I think fans of Ms. Shalvis' will enjoy this book as well as readers looking for a good escape read.

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

Guest Review: A Divided Spy

Summary: Thomas Kell thought he was done with spying. A former MI6 officer, he devoted his life to the Service, but it has left him with nothing but grief and a simmering anger against the Kremlin.

Then Kell is offered an unexpected chance at revenge. Taking the law into his own hands, he embarks on a mission to recruit a top Russian spy who is in possession of a terrifying secret. As Kell tracks his man from Moscow to London, he finds himself in a high stakes game of cat and mouse in which it becomes increasingly difficult to know who is playing whom.

As the mission reaches boiling point, the threat of a catastrophic terrorist attack looms over Britain. Kell is faced with an impossible choice. Loyalty to MI6—or to his own conscience? -- St. Martin's Press

Booking Pap Pap is finally back -- it's been awhile! His latest read is A DIVIDED SPY by Charles Cumming. Here are his thoughts:

Thomas Kell, a retired British M16 spy, has been depressed since the death of his girlfriend/agent a year earlier and wants nothing more than to avenge her death. He sees an opportunity for vengeance when he learns that the Russian agent responsible for her death may be vulnerable to an effort to turn him. It seems that Russian agent, Alexander Minasian, currently married to the daughter of a powerful Russian oligarch is also in a homosexual relationship with a German business man. Delivering Minasian to M16 would satisfy Kell’s desire for vengeance. His ex-boss at M16, Amelia Levene, reluctantly agrees to Kell’s plan but offers little enthusiasm or manpower support.

As Kell approaches Minasian and they play their game of cat and mouse, they show signs of mutual mistrust as well as mutual respect. As a sign of Minasian’s willingness to cooperate on at least a minimum level, he shares some information with Kell about a possible terrorist attack in a British city. It appears that Shahid Khan, a British born son of a Pakistani immigrant has been radicalized by ISIS and plans a serious attack in the British sea coast city of Brighton.

When Kell reports this information, M16 hesitates to act on it believing that Kell is being used by Minasian. Kell is now divided (thus the book title). Does he continue to satisfy his personal thirst for vengeance by working Minasian or does he attempt to stop a possible attack that threatens thousands of people? Author Charles Cumming nicely weaves these two seemingly independent issues in an exciting spy novel that contains the requisite danger and twists and turns.

I found it interesting that Kell is not the only character that is divided in this story. Minasian is divided between love for his wife and his homosexual tendencies and Shahid Khan is divided between his death mission and the love he has for the woman he met in Brighton.

A DIVIDED SPY is the third book by Charles Cumming featuring M16 agent Thomas Kell but definitely stands on its own. Not having read the prior novels, a little more background on Kell may have actually been helpful. Kell appears to leave M16 for real this time my guess is that a fourth book seems unlikely.

If you’re into spy novels, A DIVIDED SPY should be added to your reading list.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: Bring Her Home

Summary: In the breathtaking new thriller from David Bell, bestselling author of Since She Went Away and Somebody I Used to Know, the fate of two missing teenage girls becomes a father’s worst nightmare….

Just a year and a half after the tragic death of his wife, Bill Price’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Summer, and her best friend, Haley, disappear. Days later, the girls are found in a city park. Haley is dead at the scene, while Summer is left beaten beyond recognition and clinging to life.

As Bill holds vigil over Summer’s bandaged body, the only sound the unconscious girl can make is one cryptic and chilling word: No. And the more time Bill spends with Summer, the more he wonders what happened to her. Or if the injured girl in the hospital bed is really his daughter at all.

When troubling new questions about Summer’s life surface, Bill is not prepared for the aftershocks. He’ll soon discover that both the living and the dead have secrets. And that searching for the truth will tear open old wounds that pierce straight to the heart of his family… -- Berkley

It's hard to believe that I've been doing Mystery Mondays for quite a few years now and haven't yet reviewed a book by David Bell. I have read that he's a "skilled storyteller" (Houston Chronicle), and I even remember one of his books being featured at the Speed Dating Panel at BEA. Well, I finally discovered for myself what all the fuss was about while reading his latest book BRING HER HOME.

BRING HER HOME tells the disturbing story of a father who is living an absolute nightmare. Around 18 months ago, Bill Price's wife was found dead after a freak household accident. Naturally, nothing is the same for him and his daughter Summer; however, recently they've been having a bit of a difficult time communicating. Bill doesn't think it's that out of the norm... until Summer goes missing. Three days later, they find the girls in a park -- Haley is dead and Summer was beaten so badly that she's fighting for her life.

Bill won't leave his daughter's side, despite her being unconscious and basically unresponsive. She will only utter the word, "no." And Bill can't make sense of what she's trying to tell him. Bill begins to wonder what happened to his daughter... or if this beaten girl is even really his daughter!

As police begin investigating Summer's life and what could have happened to her, Bill is forced to face that he doesn't truly know his daughter -- she's been keeping some secrets from him. Bill decides that he has to get to the bottom of what happened to his daughter... even if that means he reopens some painful wounds from his past!

I enjoyed BRING HER HOME quite a bit, and I understand why Mr. Bell is an award-winning writer! This novel was a true-page turner and the twists and turns were top-notch. There were so many major surprises in this novel. I was shocked with the first one (and pretty impressed), only to find that there were more in store. There is no doubt that Mr. Bell takes his readers on a wild ride!

One thing that impressed me with BRING HER HOME was how well Mr. Bell made Bill's pain so real. I can't imagine losing a wife and then just a few months later going through this tragedy with his daughter. Of course it would be easy to feel bad for Bill; however, the author made Bill a complex character. He definitely had some anger management issues, and truth be told, I didn't always like him... or even trust him. I liked that I had some doubts about the main character in this novel.

In fact, I had an overall sense of unease while reading this book... I mean that in a good way though. Needless to say, as a mom of a teen, this book's subject matter was disturbing for me -- not only what happened to the girls, but also that Summer had so many secrets from her dad. However, it also the sense of nervousness I had surrounding Bill and many of the secondary characters. I thought they were possibly shady and their actions struck me as strange at times. Bill, especially, was so erratic -- wavering between anger and sadness -- and so desperate that I was constantly on edge.

Despite thinking this novel was a fast-paced thriller, I did have a few slight issues with BRING HER HOME, though. I'm not sure I can articulate my thoughts, but there were times when I thought the characters were almost too insightful. For example, Bill's sister just seemed to figure things out that I thought were a stretch... and she did it quite a few times. This wasn't a major complaint for me, but it did strike me as a bit too convenient.

BRING HER HOME would make an interesting book for book clubs if you're looking for a thriller to read. I was happy to find a reading guide with ten thought-provoking questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include secrets, father/daughter relationships, anger management, family ties, denial, marriage, memories, and trust.

Overall, I think BRING HER HOME is an intriguing thriller with lots of twists and turns. I definitely recommend this novel to fans of Mr. Bell's as well as readers who enjoy suspense novels.

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

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 Konnection: The Football Fanbook & Giveaway

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 timely book for football fans! 

Summary: So you’re a football fan and now you want to take your passion for the game to the next level? Sports Illustrated Kids The Football Fanbook is just what you need. A key addition to every young sports fanatic’s library, The Football Fanbook is filled with fun trivia and unique lingo to impress your friends, illustrated behind-the-skills how-to’s, important game-winning strategies, and much more. Readers will sound like experts in no time. -- Sports Illustrated Kids

When August hits, there is definitely building excitement for the Booking Mama Family -- it's almost football season! We are huge Penn State football fans; and now that Booking Daughter will be a freshman there, we finally decided to bite the bullet and get season tickets. My husband and Booking Son are major fantasy football players, so Red Zone is on non-stop in our house every Sunday. In fact, our fall weekends kind of revolve around football.

So when THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BECOME A GRIDIRON KNOW-IT-ALL by Gary Gramling arrived, Booking Son was beside himself. Truth be told, I wasn't entirely sure he'd be interested in it because he already considers himself a "gridiron know-it-all." However, he was extremely excited because "this book has stats." Actually, THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK is aimed at kids who are interested in the sport, and it's a little more detailed that some of the other kids' sports books that I've covered on this blog.

THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK is an excellent book full of trivia about football and the teams... and it does include lots of statistics. In fact, the first chapter is titled Know These Numbers -- the starts and figures NFL fans should recite by heart. It is followed by these chapters: Obscure Facts, Skills to Master, Think Like a Coach, He Reminds Me Of..., Team Tidbits, and Talk the Talk. There is plenty of football lingo and even some coaching terms and strategies for kids wanting to go to the next level with football knowledge.

As a mom, I liked quite a few things about this book too. First, I love that it's aimed at an older audience. The book is geared for kids, but it goes way beyond the basics. There really aren't a lot of kids' sports books like this one. I also loved the overall look and feel of this book. There are so many colorful photographs and unique ways to teach kids about the game. For example, there are charts, graphs, and illustrations which provide the basics, but there are also some really funny captions and explanations that make learning fun!

I had to grab this book out of my son's room to prepare this review. Usually, he waits until I review a book before claiming it but I think he couldn't help himself with THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK. It really is the perfect book for him... and other kids who love sports. I highly recommend this book for home and school libraries!



Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

Lucky for you, I have a copy of THE FOOTBALL FANBOOK to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before Friday, August 18th 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!

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: The Shark Club (Audio)

Summary: A warm and wonderfully vivid novel about taking second chances—in life and in the sea

One summer day on the beach in Florida, two extraordinary things happen to Maeve Donnelly. First, she is kissed by Daniel, the boy of her dreams. Then, she is bitten by a blacktip shark.

Eighteen years later, Maeve has thrown herself into her work as a world-traveling marine biologist discovering more about the minds of misunderstood sharks. But when Maeve returns home to the legendarily charming and eccentric Hotel of the Muses where she was raised by her grandmother, she finds more than just the blood orange sunsets and key lime pies she’s missed waiting for her.

While Maeve has always been fearless in the water, on land she is indecisive. A chance meeting on the beach with a plucky, irresistible little girl who is just as fascinated by the ocean as Maeve was growing up leaves her at a crossroads: Should she re-kindle her romance with Daniel, the first love she left behind when she dove into her work? Or indulge in a new romance with her colleague, Nicholas, who turns up in her hometown to investigate an illegal shark-finning operation?

Set against the intoxicating backdrop of palm trees, calypso bands, and perfect ocean views, The Shark Club is a story of the mysterious passions of one woman’s life: her first love and new love; the sea and sharks that inhabit it. -- Penguin Audio

Just when I think I've reviewed all of my "beach books," I find another one! I know, I know -- you'd think I'd be more on top of the books I've read this summer. I have a bit of an excuse with this one because it's an audio book... so it wasn't in my need-to-be reviewed pile. The book is called THE SHARK CLUB by Ann Kidd Taylor, and it's been on almost every recommendation list for the summer.

THE SHARK CLUB is a great summer read because it primarily takes place at a beach in Florida, but it's also a fun escape read because it deals with family, love and second chances. Maeve Donnelly is a marine biologist who travels the world researching sharks. Her choice of professions is interesting, to say the least, because she was actually bit by a shark as a kid... right after she was kissed by the love of her life, Daniel.

Maeve and Daniel continued a romance for years and were even engaged to be married until they weren't. Maeve threw herself into her career, often times becoming closer to sharks than people. When Maeve returns home to her grandmother's hotel (which just happens to have a literary theme - LOVE!), she is looking forward to the comfort of her hometown; however, she quickly realizes that she can't escape her past. In fact, she actually runs into a little girl who is fascinated by the ocean and sharks only to learn that she is Daniel's daughter.

Maeve is planning to leave at the end of the summer to continue her work with sharks, but she finds herself still drawn to Daniel despite recently starting something with her co-worker Nicholas. Needless to say, she has some major decisions to make like should she try again with Daniel? Should se stay back in Florida and give up her career aspirations? Would she be happy marrying Daniel and being a mother to Hazel?

As if Maeve doesn't have enough going on with her personal life, there is also something sinister going on in this idyllic beach setting. Someone is killing tons of sharks so they can sell their fins. Naturally, Maeve is outraged and decides to investigate on her own (and with the help of Nicholas who just happens to show up) even if it means that her life is in danger!

I really enjoyed THE SHARK CLUB and it was a definitely a fun way to kill time on my morning walks and runs! The story is perfect for the summer (so hurry up and read it!), and it has just the right blend of romance and action (although it's really more about Maeve and her self-awareness journey.) I found myself really liking so many of the characters (even the secondary ones) in this novel from Maeve, to Hazel, to Nicholas, to Maeve's grandmother. And of course, I loved the hotel with all of its literary references!

I admit I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this novel. At first glance, it kind of sounds like a chick lit book (not that there's anything wrong with that!) However, Maeve's journey in this novel is actually pretty insightful. She and her brother lost their parents at a young age, and their deaths affected each one of them very differently. In addition, Maeve's return to her home forced her to confront some unfinished business from her past. I appreciated how the author delved into her psyche and how she learned from the mistakes she made.

Another aspect of the novel that I enjoyed was the mystery surrounding who was responsible for the illegal shark finning operation. It wasn't a major storyline but it was an interesting one with a few surprises thrown in. I also liked how the author made sharks likable... and almost lovable through Maeve's voice.

As far as audio books go, I thought Emily Rankin did a great job. She totally captured the essence of Maeve which was definitely her strength, but she also did a good job with the other characters. The novel is a little under 10 hours, and I thought it flew by! And if you know me, then you know it takes me forever to read an audio book!

THE SHARK CLUB is a truly enjoyable read and I can see what it received so much praise. Highly recommended for fans of women's fiction!

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

Review: The Bookshop at Water's End

Summary: The women who spent their childhood summers in a small southern town discover it harbors secrets as lush as the marshes that surround it…

Bonny Blankenship’s most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Amid the sand dunes and oak trees draped with Spanish moss, they swam and wished for happy-ever-afters, then escaped to the local bookshop to read and whisper in the glorious cool silence. Until the night that changed everything, the night that Lainey’s mother disappeared.

Now, in her early fifties, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children. During lazy summer days and magical nights, they reunite with bookshop owner Mimi, who is tangled with the past and its mysteries. As the three women cling to a fragile peace, buried secrets and long ago loves return like the tide. -- Berkley

I thought I was caught up with reviews on what I call "beach" books, but I found another one in my need-to-be reviewed pile! It's called THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END, and it's by Patti Callahan Henry. This novel is a story about female friendship, second chances, and love; and I found it to be sweet summer read.

THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END tells the story of three women who escape to the town of Watersend, South Carolina, for one summer. As children, Bonny and Lainey spent their summers together enjoying the water, the local bookshop and even boys... until things took a turn for the worst. Lainey's mother mysteriously disappeared, and things were never the same for either one of them.

Bonny is now a middle-aged woman who returns to Watersend to get away from her real life. Her marriage is in shambles and her teenage daughter Piper has been having some trouble at college. However, it was the mistake she made as an emergency room doctor that has truly turned her life upside down. She hopes by going back to her childhood river house that she can clear her head and figure out what she should do with her life.

Meanwhile, Bonnie asks her best friend Lainey to join her. Lainey hasn't been back since the her mother disappeared because of the painful memories, but she and her two children come to stay with Bonnie. Lainey has never gotten over why her mother left her, and she's spent her entire life searching for the truth... even at the expense of her family. Piper also needs a break from her issues at college, and she agrees to stay the summer and watch Lainey's children.

Each of these three women is dealing with their fair share of pain, and there is a sense of hope that they can find some peace. Bonnie and Lainey find themselves slipping into many of their childhood behaviors while Piper finds a new love interest. Many secrets from the past come to light as Mimi, the owner of the bookshop, shares what she knows. Can these three woman find some happiness (and closure) as they spend their days together in this idyllic setting?

I enjoyed THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END quite a bit. At its heart, it's a sweet story about the power of female friendship as well as second chances; and I found it to be both entertaining and heart warming. Quite frankly, it's a great book to put in your beach or pool bag for these last few weeks of summer.

One of my favorite things about this novel was the setting. I fell in love with Watersend and I loved how the author brought the small river town to life. It's been almost two months since I spent some time near the water, and I will say that it was a terrific escape to spend a few hours with these characters in Watersend. The town, and especially the bookstore, sounded so quaint; and I loved some of the small town's residents too!

Another thing that made THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END so special was the message about the power of friendship. I appreciated these three woman and their share of baggage, but I really enjoyed how they lifted each other up. It wasn't always smooth sailing for these three even when it came to friendships and mother/daughter relationships; however, ultimately I think these three woman were better off because of they supported each other.

I do think THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END would make a great book club selection especially for groups who appreciate women's fiction. They is quite a bit of drama, but also a sense of calm once the women start living their daily lives in the river town. They are some beautiful messages about friendship, healing, and second chances; and there are also some interesting characters to discuss. There is a reading guide located in the back of the book to help with your discussion.

Overall, I thought THE BOOKSHOP AT WATER'S END was a sweet escape read for the summer. I recommend it for fans of women's fiction and especially ones who enjoy books with a beach setting.

Thanks to Tandem Literary for providing a review copy of this novel.