Guest Review: The 3rd Woman

Summary: An award-winning journalist delivers a chilling and unique thriller, in which a daring reporter's investigation into her sister's death draws her into the crosshairs of enemies determined to keep their secrets safe—at any cost.

The United States and China have struck a shocking bargain: In return for forgiving trillions in debt, the People’s Republic of China—now the world’s dominant global superpower—has established a permanent military presence on US soil. Years of decline have left America economically vulnerable, and evidence of China’s cultural and political dominance is everywhere.

Journalist Madison Webb is obsessed with exposing the lies and corruption that have corroded her once great society. When her sister is savagely murdered, the police insist it’s an isolated crime. But Madison suspects the cops are hiding something. Digging for answers, she discovers her sister’s death may be one of many . . . and part of a dangerous conspiracy. Even though her life is on the line, Madison refuses to give up on the story. And sooner or later, she will have to confront the consequences of exposing the powerful forces intent on hiding the truth. -- Harper

I am so grateful that my dad came though with his review of THE 3RD WOMAN by Jonathan Freedland just in time for my vacation to Florida! This book sounds suspenseful with a great surprise ending. Here are his thoughts:

The setting for THE 3RD WOMAN by Jonathan Freedland is a time in the future when the United States is forced to allow China to have a military presence on the West Coast to insure the interest payments are made on the excessive Chinese debt. The Chinese presence also influences the United States culturally and politically. For example, movies must be approved by the Chinese government before release; sons of the Chinese ruling elite are active in the club scene and fill the pages of the gossip papers; Chinese sweat shops exist on the West Coast; the most popular club is named The Great Hall of the People; and the police and government leaders are influenced by the Chinese. The author also throws in smog masks, limited car usage and 3-D printers to complete the setting.

Award winning LA Times journalist and insomniac Madison Webb learns that her sister is found dead in her apartment. She refuses to accept the police conclusion that the death is an isolated incident and begins her own investigation. Madison runs into roadblocks along the way from the police, the Chinese, her newspaper and even her family, but discovers that two other women, blonde like her sister, have also been found in nearly identical circumstances. With three similar murders identified, a serial killer may be on the loose. As Madison’s investigation comes together it suggests Chinese involvement. She is thrust in the spotlight, putting her life in danger as she exposes some powerful American and Chinese people.

Madison Webb is the one major character in the book and her aggressive approach has her often acting more like a detective than a journalist. She is extremely intense in carrying out her investigation and at the same time very insensitive to the feelings of her family members who are mourning the sister’s death and to her own personal relationships. THE 3RD WOMAN is classified as a suspense thriller that has the mandatory twists and turns along the way. The ending will definitely surprise.

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

Review: The Year We Turned Forty

Summary: If you could repeat one year of your life, what would you do differently? This heartwarming and hilarious novel from the authors of The Status of All Things and Your Perfect Life features three best friends who get the chance to return to the year they turned forty—the year that altered all of their lives, in ways big and small—and also get the opportunity to change their future.

Jessie loves her son Lucas more than anything, but it tears her up inside that he was conceived in an affair that ended her marriage to a man she still loves, a man who just told her he's getting remarried. This time around, she’s determined to bury the secret of Lucas’ paternity, and to repair the fissures that sent her wandering the first time.

Gabriela regrets that she wasted her most fertile years in hot pursuit of a publishing career. Yes, she’s one of the biggest authors in the world, but maybe what she really wanted to create was a family. With a chance to do it again, she’s focused on convincing her husband, Colin, to give her the baby she desires.

Claire is the only one who has made peace with her past: her twenty-two year old daughter, Emily, is finally on track after the turmoil of adolescence, and she's recently gotten engaged, with the two carat diamond on her finger to prove it. But if she’s being honest, Claire still fantasizes about her own missed opportunities: a chance to bond with her mother before it was too late, and the possibility of preventing her daughter from years of anguish. Plus, there’s the man who got away—the man who may have been her one true love.

But it doesn’t take long for all three women to learn that re-living a life and making different decisions only leads to new problems and consequences—and that the mistakes they made may, in fact, have been the best choices of all… -- Washington Square Press

I love fun books for the summer. There are few things in life I enjoy like an "escape read" while I'm at the beach or swimming pool. And what's a better way to escape than with a novel written by best friends Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke? (Isn't that so cool?) Their latest book THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY certainly qualifies as an escape read -- the characters end up "escaping" to their lives ten years earlier for a chance of a do-over.

In THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY, three best friends are celebrating their 50th birthdays when a magician gives them the chance to return to the year they turned forty so they can change their future. All three women had major events occur during their 40th year, and there are a few regrets. They look at this opportunity as a way to fix things and alter the course of their lives. The kicker is that all three have to agree to accept the do-over year and the changes that take place... or none of them can!

Jessie is a mother of three who is still reeling from her infidelity and divorce ten years earlier. Jessie had a very brief affair and found herself pregnant with Lucas. She decided to come clean to her husband, and their marriage was never the same. They eventually divorced, but her ex decided to treat Lucas as if he is his own son. Jessie wonders if she should have just hidden the truth from her husband...

Gabriela is a best-selling author who has sacrificed to have her successful career. Instead of trying to have a baby when she was most fertile, she focused on writing and publishing. She regrets not having a family now that she's fifty, and she wants a second chance to convince her husband that they should have a baby.

Finally, there's Claire. She seems to be the only one without regrets; however, there is a small part of Claire that thinks she missed some opportunities like spending time with her mother before she died of cancer. She also wonders if she could have done some things differently with her daughter who was a bit of a wild child. And then there's a guy... she wonders if he was the "one."

All three women get the chance for a do-over of that important year, but along the way, they discover that their new decisions also have consequences. Will they all agree to accept the "new" year and what comes with it, or go back to their original decisions and life as they know it?

I found THE YEAR WE TURNED FORTY to be a cute read. It was fun and fast-paced, and it did make me smile. It was kind of chick-lit for the mom crowd... but it also had some substance. I appreciated that this book made me reflect on my past, and especially my 40th year. I also really liked that the characters were around my age. As I get older, I find that there aren't a lot of fun books with women in their 40s and 50s!

One of my favorite things about this novel was the question of what these three women would do at the end of their 40th year -- when they have to decide to return to their "old" lives or their "new" ones. I don't want to give anything away, but I will admit that I might have been a little surprised with their decision!

I also really liked all three of the characters in this book. That doesn't mean that I agreed with all of the actions all of the time, but I do think the authors created real women with real problems. They also managed to make them complex enough that I had sympathy for them. I think that most women who read this book will either see parts of themselves in these women, or at the very least, recognize their friends.

I can honestly say that I never had those big pivotal moments like Jessie and Gabriela. I am probably be more like Claire -- just wondering what if I had done a few things differently with family and friends. And I probably wouldn't actually want a do-over if given the opportunity. However, I think we can all admit that there are times when we wish we could have a second chance to get things right.

And that's the beauty of this story! For a few hours, readers can escape and see these characters get a second chance to make things right or wrong... and wonder what would happen if we were given a do-over!

Recommended to fans of contemporary women's fiction and books about female friendship!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via Netgalley.

Review: The Cavendon Luck

Summary: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a captivating epic saga of courage and honor, following the aristocratic Inghams and the loyal Swann family who have served them for centuries.

It is 1938 in England, and Miles and Cecily Ingham have lead the family in bringing the Cavendon estate back from the brink of disaster. But now, with the arrival of World War II, Cavendon Hall will face its biggest challenge yet. It is a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect each other and the villagers, and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth.

Told with Bradford’s deft, evocative prose and featuring a beloved cast of characters, The Cavendon Luck is a story of intrigue, romance, sorrow, and joy that readers won’t soon forget. -- St. Martin's Press

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, then it might probably surprise you that I enjoy the Cavendon Women series by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I recently finished the third novel, THE CAVENDON LUCK; and once again, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it -- although at this point, you'd think I get the drift! You can read my reviews of CAVENDON HALL and THE CAVENDON WOMEN here and here.

THE CAVENDON LUCK takes place in 1938 (nine years after the end of the last novel) when Europe is on the verge of World War II. Miles and Cecily Ingram have "saved" the Cavendon estate from financial ruin; and everyone in the family seems to be doing well. Unfortunately, there is the undercurrent of war that dampens spirits. It's only a matter of time until war breaks out, and the wise Ingrams and Swanns have started preparing for it.

When the war finally does it, each member of the Cavendon family (and their loyal Swanns!) does their part to support their homeland whether that be in battle, at home supporting the troops, providing uniforms, or even helping Jews escape Nazi Germany.

THE CAVENDON LUCK will definitely be a treat to fans of this series. It's a long book (about 500 pages), but it's a very quick read. I read the book over Memorial Day weekend in less than 24 hours. I think that's a testament to the author. She's created a wonderful cast of characters that I've come to know and care about, and she keeps their relationships interesting. In this novel in particular, she includes a great deal of historical content by delving into Europe both before and during World War II... and it's apparent that she did her research!

You might wonder if THE CAVENDON LUCK works as a stand-alone novel. I think it does work; however, I'd recommend reading the first two book prior to this one. There is enough detail about the various characters and their pasts, but I don't know if readers would truly appreciate the families' history without getting all of the details!

As was the case with the first two books, THE CAVENDON LUCK is a fast-paced read with lots of romance and intrigue. I am not a huge fan of romance, but I must say that Barbara Taylor Bradford does a nice job of it in this book. It's sweet but not sappy, and I don't think it's over-the-top at all. I will admit that it's not my favorite part of these books, but it really is well done.

What makes THE CAVENDON LUCK so special are the characters. They are just wonderful and I do think readers end up really caring about these people. One of the running themes through the novel (and all three novels) is the relationship between the Swanns and the Ingrams. The Swanns have served the Ingrams for centuries, and the two families have a unique reciprocity of trust and loyalty. Of course through the years, there have been some romances between the them; and those relationships are especially sweet!

I enjoyed THE CAVENDON LUCK and really all three books in this series. Recommended to fans of Downton Abby and readers who appreciate historical romance.

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

Review: Angels Burning

Summary: From the New York Times bestselling author of the Oprah Book Club pick Back Roads comes this fast-paced literary thriller about a small town police chief who’s forced to dig into her own shadowy past as she investigates the murder of a teenage girl.

On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.

When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.

During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.

With countless accolades to her credit, author Tawni O’Dell writes with the “fearless insights” (The New York Times Book Review) she brought to the page in Back Roads and One of Us. In this new, masterfully told psychological thriller, the past and present collide to reveal the extent some will go to escape their fate, and in turn, the crimes committed to push them back to where they began. -Gallery Books

I have considered myself a big fan of Tawni O'Dell's ever since I read BACK ROADS, an Oprah pick. I've continued to read her novels, and I even went to hear her speak a few years ago at BookFest  during the Central PA Arts Festival in State College. She was a terrific speaker, both funny and engaging... in case you were wondering!

Her latest novel, ANGELS BURNING, is considered a literary thriller -- right up my alley! It features a small town female police chief and takes place in a small rural Pennsylvania town. (One of the things I love about her books is that the settings are similar to where my grandparents lived!) Could this novel get any more perfect?

Well, actually it could. I thought ANGELS BURNING was excellent. I immediately fell in love with Dove Carnahan and her spunky personality, and I thought the mystery was great too. ANGELS BURNING received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and if I gave out starred reviews, I would have given it one too!

ANGELS BURNING stars Dove, a dedicated police chief who is dedicated to her job. Murders aren't typical in Campbell's Run; however, when a teenage girl is found dead in a fiery sinkhole in an old coal mine, Dove's skills are definitely tested. She gets some "help" from the State Criminal Investigation Division who just happens to be her part-time (married) lover. The girl is identified as Camio Truly, a member of the Truly family -- a family who isn't exactly on the up and up (kind of trashy) and whose members have had many run ins with the law.

Meanwhile, Dove is also dealing with a surprise from her past. The man convicted of killing her mom when Dove was a teenager is out of prison. He was put away because of Dove and her sister's claims, but he still is claiming his innocence. He is still holding a serious grudge against Dove and even threatens her if she doesn't tell the truth.

Needless to say, Dove has a lot on her plate both professionally and personally. As she delves into the mystery surrounding this young girl's death, she finds that it brings up a lot of memories from her past, and she forced to reconcile her past with the present.

I just loved ANGELS BURNING! The characters, especially Dove, were extremely interesting; and I also enjoyed the mystery. I can honestly say that I didn't figure out the mystery, and there were quite a few surprises for me throughout the story... and especially the ending. While I did think the mystery angle of the novel was very, very good, I think I most loved the characters and how well they were developed.

Dove was so much fun... and such a memorable character for me. She was extremely complex, and I appreciated how this novel explored her troubled past and helped to explain the woman she became. The story as told in her voice, and I found it to be so genuine. Dove was a complicated woman, both in her personal life and concerning her career; however, she was also smart, tough and even funny. I adored her and the extent she would go to protect those she felt responsible for.

Another thing I really enjoyed about ANGELS BURNING was how well the author tied Dove's story to the story of the Truly family. Granted, things weren't exactly the same, but there were enough similarities in the situations with the children to affect how Dove approached her investigation. When the man who was convicted of murdering Dove's mom was released from prison, it just complicated everything even more. His claims (and even his threats) were a wake-up call of sorts for Dove, and the investigation into Camio's murder made Dove reflect on the problems she experienced during her childhood.

I found the murder mystery to be extremely interesting. The Truly family was a mess... and that's probably an understatement. As Dove began to interview them about Camio, she discovered an extremely dysfunctional family. There was jealousy, resentment, and more between the members; and it seemed like any one of them could have murdered her. It was entertaining (in a twisted way), but it was also very sad. As Dove delved further into the relations of this family, she began to discover the complexities of this family... and realize that she wasn't the only one with secrets.

ANGELS BURNING was definitely more than just a murder mystery. The characters were intriguing, but there were also some serious themes that make this novel perfect for book clubs. There is a reading guide available with twelve discussion questions as well as some ideas to enhance your next meeting. Some of the topics you might want to explore include family, secrets, truth, memory, sexism, parent/child relationships, and more!

I absolutely loved ANGELS BURNING and highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction!

Thanks to Kathy (aka Bermudaonion) 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: Animal Planet Animal Atlas

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 wonderful new book from Animal Planet!

Summary: This definitive atlas of animal life takes readers on a continent-by-continent and habitat-by-habitat passport to adventure.

It is really an animal Planet as this new definitive atlas of Earth's animal life presents. Gorgeous full-color maps with fun graphics show where on the planet all of our favorite animals can be found and provide readers with a continent-by-continent and habitat-by-habitat passport to adventure.

Animal Planet's definitive atlas of animal life takes readers on a continent-by-continent and habitat-by-habitat passport to adventure!

What is a habitat? How is the North Pole's animal life different from the South Pole's? How and why do animals adapt to their environment? Is a food web different from a food chain? Animal Planet Animal Atlas answers all of these questions and many more. Through detailed maps, fun infographics, simple charts, and Find It! Fact boxes readers can track their favorite animals across the globe, learning about how animal habitats are affected by climate, food and water availability, migration, and human environmental impact. -- Animal Planet

Oh my goodness! Animal lovers need to pay attention to this! There is a new book out called ANIMAL PLANET ANIMAL ATLAS which is just fantastic. This oversized hardcover book is basically an atlas of animal life. It's perfect for young fans of geography and zoology!

ANIMAL ATLAS almost 100 pages of information about animals and their habitats. The book is divided into chapters by continent (and oceans!) and even includes a glossary and index. I can't even begin to express just how much information exists in this book. It begins with an explanation of a biome and includes a world map showing your "travel guides." That's right travel guides! On each continent, there is a special tour guide that will teach readers about their home continent. For example, an African Elephant is the travel guide for Africa.

The book is then divided into the various continent chapters and features many of the native animals. As interesting as the animal information is, I was even more impressed with the photographs. WOW! There are over 200 color pictures in this book and they are absolutely gorgeous... but I've come to almost expect that from these Animal Planet books.

ANIMAL ATLAS is truly a special book and one that is ideal for kids of all ages (and by that I mean adults too!) Not only is there a huge amount of information about the world and the animals who live here, but the information is presented in such a fun way from the travel guides, to the graphics, to the colorful side bars. You can really read this book from cover to cover or just skim and learn tidbits about biomes and animals.

I highly recommend ANIMAL ATLAS -- it's a fantastic book for both home and school libraries.

Thanks to Blue Slip Media 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: The Rocks

Summary: Set against dramatic Mediterranean Sea views and lush olive groves, The Rocks opens with a confrontation and a secret: What was the mysterious, catastrophic event that drove two honeymooners apart so suddenly and absolutely in 1948 that they never spoke again despite living on the same island for sixty more years? And how did their history shape the Romeo and Juliet–like romance of their (unrelated) children decades later? Centered around a popular seaside resort club and its community, The Rocks is a double love story that begins with a mystery, then moves backward in time, era by era, to unravel what really happened decades earlier.

Peter Nichols writes with a pervading, soulful wisdom and self-knowing humor, and captures perfectly this world of glamorous, complicated, misbehaving types with all their sophisticated flaws and genuine longing. The result is a bittersweet, intelligent, and romantic novel about how powerful the perceived truth can be—as a bond, and as a barrier—even if it’s not really the whole story; and how one misunderstanding can echo irreparably through decades. -- Riverhead

I have had THE ROCKS by Peter Nichols sitting in my finished book pile for an embarrassingly long time. I really enjoyed the book and have absolutely no idea why I didn't write a review right away. Having admitted all of that, I was happy to see that the book was released in paperback this week. Given the timing, I figured it was about time that I shared my thoughts with you.

At its heart, THE ROCKS is a love story (and a mystery) that takes place on the island of Mallorca between two expatriates, Lulu and Gerald, that had a falling out over 60 years ago and never spoke again. Despite having once been married and living on a small resort island, these two 80 year olds have managed to stay away from each other until one day when they have a confrontation. Both Lulu and Gerald end up falling from the rocks to their deaths and their families are left to figure things out.

The novel then works its way backwards, era by era, from the present day to the beginning of their romance providing readers with the background of their stories and an explanation of what happened to this couple over 60 years ago. By telling the story in the way, the reader gets to experience the trickle down effects of their disagreement like how it affected their children... and their romance as well as their grandchildren.

I loved THE ROCKS and thought both the writing and the story were outstanding. I was especially impressed with how the author chose to tell the story. I loved the premise of starting the novel out with two 80 somethings talking after six decades and then falling to their death. It was shocking, and at the same time, it piqued my interest in what could have happened for them to deliberately stay away from that long a period of time.

I also thought it was brilliant how the author reflected the fall out from Lulu's and Gerald's relationship in the lives of their (unrelated) children Luc and Aegina. Given the circumstances surrounding their parents, these two had a Romeo and Juliet type of romance. I found their interactions and relationship to be almost as interesting as the mystery surrounding LuLu and Gerald.

In addition, there are a few interesting side stories in the novels about the guests who stay at the beautiful Mediterranean resort called The Rocks. These characters were an interesting crew to say the least, many of them being artists and writers; and their lives provided a great deal of entertainment for readers.

I think THE ROCKS would make an excellent book club pick. You could talk about these characters for hours! There is a reading guide available with eight thought-provoking questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include family, love, grief, romance, secrets, anger, grudges, misunderstandings, expat culture, traditions, and more. In addition, it would be interesting to talk about the author's writing decisions as well as his background and how he explored cultural norms in the novel.

I loved THE ROCKS and think it would be a great addition to your summer reading list!

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

Review: All Summer Long

Summary: Dorothea Benton Frank novels are filled with smart and witty fiction that every reader wants on their bookshelf: soulful, edgy stories about realistic characters familiar to us all that explore the most deeply felt moments of life with wry humor and heart.

All Summer Long follows one charming New York couple – prominent interior designer Olivia Ritchie and her husband Nicholas Seymour, an English professor and true southern gentleman. They are seemingly polar opposites, yet magnetically drawn together and in love for more than fourteen years.

As they prepare to relocate to Charleston, S.C., Olivia, the ultimate New Yorker, has reservations about the promise she made to retire in the Lowcountry, where Nick wants to return home and lead a more peaceful life. They are moving north to south, fast pace versus slow pace and downsizing. Nick is ecstatic. Olivia is not. She can’t let Nick know that their finances are not what he thought. Her client list is evaporating, their monetary reserves are dwindling and maybe that house she picked out on Sullivans Island needs too much work. Thank God, for her assistant, Roni Larini, her right (and sometimes left) hand.

As they find themselves pondering the next step of their lives, Olivia and Nick travel with her billionaire clients and their friends and are swept up into the world of the ultra-rich and explore the globe with a cast of zany eccentrics over one tumultuous, hot summer. All as Olivia grapples with what lies ahead for her and Nick.

This is a story of how plans evolve and lives change in unexpected ways, how even those who have everything are still looking for something more. Even the most successful people can often struggle to keep things together. All Summer Long asks the ultimate question: can money buy happiness? From Sullivans Island to Necker Island to Nantucket to the beaches of Southern Spain, we’ll come to recognize the many faces of true love, love that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. And that leap changes everything. -- William Morrow

I think I've already said this about a few authors this month, but it just wouldn't be summer with a novel by Dorothea Benton Frank. Her latest novel, ALL SUMMER LONG, was released yesterday; and once again, the setting in her stories just makes me long for the beach, warm weather, and the sun!

ALL SUMMER LONG tells the story of a Olivia Ritchie, a prominent New York interior designer, and her charming husband, Nicholas Seymour, a retired English professor. Evidently, opposites do attract because these two don't seem to have much in common; however, they are still passionately in love with each other.

The book begins with Olivia and Nick preparing for their move to the Sullivans Island. They always agreed to leave behind New York City for a quieter lifestyle, and Nick wanted to return to his Southern roots after his retirement. Olivia isn't quite as confident as Nick that this new direction is for her. Not only is she worried about leaving NYC, she also is keeping a pretty big secret from Nick -- their once comfortable financial situation is no longer quite so comfortable. She has only one major client, their savings are rapidly disappearing, and their new house requires a lot of work... and therefore a lot of money.

Meanwhile, Olivia and Nick have the opportunity to travel with her billionaire client (and friend) to some pretty exotic locations. They fly in private jets, sail on huge yachts, and visit remote islands. Sounds amazing, right? But things aren't always what they appear. Traveling with the very wealthy client and their friends, Olivia and Nick discover that these individuals don't always make the best vacation partners.

ALL SUMMER LONG had a different feel that the other Dorothea Benton Frank novels that I've read. It still had the South Carolina beaches which make me long for the beach, and the characters still were interesting (and often times entertaining!); however, the book wasn't "typical" DBF. If I'm being entirely honest, it wasn't my favorite one of her novels. I definitely credit her for trying to do something a little different with this book and the characters, but I missed my "beach book."

While I definitely loved Olivia and Nick, I think the crazy cast of characters was a bit much. A few of these people were absolutely despicable, and I had a hard time believing them... although they did provide a few laughs. There were some other characters that I did like, but it wasn't until the end of the novel that I realized that they were more complex than just the stereotypical wealthy type.

In addition, ALL SUMMER LONG was entertaining. I loved Ms. Frank's descriptions of the beaches, but I also appreciated her details about Olivia's decorating business. It was fun to read about the textures, patterns and colors as well as the various antiques she collected through the years. I also loved the descriptions of the wealthy lifestyle and the food and drink!

And lastly, I did appreciate the messages in this novel. Ms. Frank took two people who were undergoing some major changes -- moving, retiring, and making changes to a business; and she showed how their love and respect for each other helped them make the best of everything... even when it wasn't always smooth sailing. Also, by showing how miserable the people who had "more" were, it makes readers see that money isn't everything... that the relationships in our lives are what really matter!

I enjoyed ALL SUMMER LONG and do think it's a great addition to your summer reading list. Recommended to fans of Ms. Frank's and readers who want a fun escape read!

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