In this powerful prequel to This Tender Land, 13-year-old Cork O'Connor is enjoying his summer. That changes when he stumbles upon a man hanging from a tree. The small Minnesota town where he lives will never be the same and neither will Cork as he examines his family, his hometown, and himself. ~ Reviewed by Suzanne Rice
Aristocratic bloodlines, not political power, define the elite in Washington D.C. Having your name listed in the ever-secretive Green Book means that you and your ancestors didn't follow the political circus or the nouveau riche who are ever changing in their town. They socialize and live beside each other. Their children attend the A-list schools and parents never worry about finances. But when one of the families is brutally murdered, they must look at their own behaviors and beliefs to get past the horrible crime. ~ Reviewed by Suzanne Rice
This is an unforgettable account of two women from two different eras. As a child, Marian Graves witnessed a couple of barnstormers and that experience began a passion for flying. Delivering planes throughout WWII sets her up for her goal of her life: To circle the poles. A century later, Hadley Baxter is cast to play Marion in a film that centers around her life and ultimate disappearance in Antarctica. Hadley, who has been making some terrible personal choices, is on the edge of a ruined career. She digs deep, researches Graves' life, and not only portrays her successfully, she also finds answers to her mysterious disappearance. I thought I knew what the end of this story would be, but I was wrong. You won't be disappointed. ~ Reviewed by Suzanne Rice
This beautifully written novel is set in Texas during the Great Depression. Water is drying up, the crops are failing, and more and more farmers are struggling with the fact that the government can't help them. Following others who gave up their land, Elsa Martineli migrates with her young family to California for a new start only to find no work, deplorable living, and discrimination. This story depicts Elsa as a fighter who never gives up and sacrifices everything to make a life for her and her family. Gritty and haunting this book grabs you from the first pages and never lets you go. ~ Reviewed by Suzanne Rice
Broke and alone after breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, romance writer January Andrews moves to the only place she can go to--her late father’s love shack. She didn’t know about the house on the shores of Lake Michigan or the affair until his girlfriend appeared at her father’s funeral. The mysterious neighbor next door changes her plans to clear the house of old family memories, sell it, and move on with her life. He is a popular author of mysteries and they challenge each other to write a book in each other’s genres. What begins as a dare turns into much, much more. This is a really fun read! ~ Reviewed by Suzanne Rice