I Found You by Lisa Jewell, 342 page

Fabulous summer read that is set mostly on the coast of England, in the little coastal town of Ridinghouse Bay.

A man is seen sitting for a day on a rainy beach in Ridinghouse Bay and it turns out he has no idea who he is.  Meanwhile, in London, a young newlywed is frantic because her husband is missing . . .

Sound like a great set up to a fast paced mystery adventure?  Yep, it is.  Enjoy the ride.

Bedlam: A Novel of Love and Madness by Greg Hollingshead, 386 pages

   I hated this novel, not the writing, but rather how characters with mental illness or who were political prisoners were treated by society and the medical profession. I read it thoroughly because of human history I think people today and in coming generations should know and remember.

   This is a novel, but the larger depiction of the 18^th Century London insane asylum is, unfortunately, true to what is known of Bedlam. Names of characters and the larger pieces of their stories in the book also existed and are part of Bedlam’s known history.

   I found myself a bit lost in the way the flashbacks were told at first, but some rereading of parts did the trick. Most of the book flowed smoothly enough. The book was definitely worth the time to read, but stay far away from it if you're looking for a feel-good escape from reality.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick, 331 pages

This sweet little tale tells the story of 69 year-old Arthur Pepper and the physical and emotional journey he embarks on a year after he is widowed.

He begins the story feeling helpless, abandoned and alone.  By the end, Arthur has come into his own.  He finds he is not helpless, not abandoned and not alone.

This would be a great book to read during the frenzy of the holidays.  Need to relax?  Sit down, pour a cup of tea, and embark on a journey with our friend Arthur.

The Lake House by Kate Morton, 494 pages

Detective Constable Sadie Sparrow is on a month's forced leave from the London Police because she got too close to a murder case.

She goes to Cornwall to visit her grandfather and stumbles on an abandoned manor house and a 70 year old mystery.

The novel weaves between 1911, the early 1930s and 2003.  A story of war, tragedy and suspense unfolds.  Quite the satisfying read.

The Past by Tessa Hadley, 362 pages

This is a book club book for the library.  Some of the book club members didn't like it.  Not much happens.  It's about four adult siblings, three sisters and one brother, who spend three weeks at their grandparents house in the English countryside.  The group has to decide if they are going to keep the house or sell it. 

I liked the family dynamics and one dramatic part in the book, okay really, one line saved the whole thing for me. 

So, if someone is looking for a mostly calm, well written book with not a whole lot of action then this just might be the book for you.

The Widow by Fiona Barton, 324 pages

"The Widow" is a psychological thriller set in England.  The main characters are the widow, the detective, the reporter and the husband.  Chapters are told from each of their perspectives.

What did the widow know and when did she know it?  Wouldn't you like to know.

I listened to this book and each character had a different narrator.  It kept me engaged even though the story wasn't a happy one.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, 784 pages

My semi-regular foray into Harry Potter is finished.  The seventh and final book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" does not disappoint.

Harry, his friends and supporters face down Lord Voldemort and his supporters in this great ending to a fantabulous series.

I re-read all the books this time, as opposed to listening to them.  Not sure which I like better . . . listening . . . reading.  Hmm, I guess I'll have to read or listen to the Harry Potter series again in a year or so to see if I can finally decide. 

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, 522 pages

"Carry On" is based on the fan fiction that a character was writing in Rainbow Rowell's book "Fangirl".  That said, this is a stand-alone book that doesn't require the reading of "Fangirl" to appreciate.  Don't let that stop you though.

"Carry On" features a magical world and school, similar, yet different, from the world of Harry Potter.  

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy pretty much hated each other all through the Harry Potter series.  Our hero here, Simon Snow, and his nemesis, Tyrannus Basilton Grimm Pitch "Baz," end up in a totally different dynamic.  Witty, funny, exciting, magical, thrilling. . . a great read, or in my case, listen.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, 652 pages

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is book six in the seven book series by J. K. Rowling.

Harry is sixteen and Professor Dumbledore is working with him this year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to help prepare Harry for the showdown he is destined to have with the greatest dark wizard of all times, Lord Voldemort.

The only problem with finishing this great book is in knowing that there is only one book left in the original 7-book series and when I'm done with that one I will have to put the magic of Harry Potter away for awhile.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, 870 pages

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is book 5 in the wildly popular seven book series by J.K. Rowling.

In this volume Harry is a full-blown 15 year old teenager with an attitude.  The Ministry of Magic is trying to discredit him because they don't want to face that Lord Voldemort is back.  It seems to Harry that Professor Dumbledore cannot be bothered to talk to him, let alone look at him this year.  And to top it all off the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge, is a Ministry plant who is determined to keep the Hogwarts students from learning any defensive magic.

Not a happy time for our hero, Harry.  However, it is a rollicking good time for those of us lucky enough to read or listen to the story.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, 734 pages

Things are heating up for Harry Potter.  He's in his 4th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and though he is only 14, is mysteriously entered and chosen to be a participant in the Triwizard Tournament.  Who could have entered his name?  Who indeed?

Another rousing adventure brought to us by J.K. Rowling.  These books never get old.  Come fall, I feel the urge to pull them out again.  Maybe one of these years I will outgrow them, but not yet!

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, 473 pages

"The Summer Before the War" is set in East Sussex, England in 1914.  Beatrice Nash arrives in the community set to become a Latin teacher at the local school.  Latin is not a subject a woman typically taught in pre-World War I, England.

The world is beginning to change, but it is still a shock to the community when the young, much-to-pretty-to-be-a-spinster school teacher arrives.

This lovely book takes us into the lives of the people in the idyllic coastal town of Rye and then into the horrors of World War I.  It is one of those wonderful, well written novels that is hard to put down and I'm sad to leave behind.  

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne & J.K. Rowling, 330 pages

I was quite surprised that I was compelled to buy this book.  I knew I was a Harry Potter nerd, but I thought maybe I was over it.  Nope.  Had. To. Buy. It.  And that rarely happens to me.

The book begins at the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Geeze Louise, even that brought a tear to my eye.  The story focuses on Albus Potter, youngest son of Harry and Ginny Potter.  Let's just say his experience at Hogwarts is different from his parents.

This is not a novel.  It is a play.  That's how desperate we HP fans are for anything Potter.  Whatever.  I'll happily and thankfully take what I can get.

A Few of the Girls: Stories by Maeve Binchy, 319 pages

A Few of the Girls is a collection of short stories by Maeve Binchy that was published posthumously.

I listened to this collection that was read by several different people.  I am not much of a short story person, but I enjoyed the stories.  Some were happy, some were sad.  All dealt with human relationships in one way or another.

Maeve was a prolific writer and I wonder if some of these were ideas she jotted down to be fleshed out later.  Whatever their purpose they offered the chance for me to step into Maeve's world one more time.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Miessner 386 pages

Fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree dreams of being a designer of bridal gowns.  She spends a good part of her time dreaming and drawing.  However, life has a way of interfering in our dreams.  WWII is coming and Emmy and her younger sister, Julia, are evacuated out of London.  They find themselves at the home of "Aunt" Charlotte in the rural English countryside, a nearly idyllic situation.  Except for Emmy, who must get back to London as she has been offered an apprentice position with a designer.  Their lives change forever when young Julia insists on running away with Emmy.  You see, it is the beginning of the Luftwaffe bombing of London and the world as they know it is about to be destroyed. A cruel twist of fate separates the girls, now orphans.  Will they survive, and if so, will they ever be reunited?  And when Fate plays it's wicked tricks, how much of another's fate can we take the blame for? A must read for fans of WWII historical fiction.  Reader's guide included.

The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson, 380 pages

Bill Bryson is getting grumpy.  I totally enjoyed his classic "A Walk in the Woods" about America's Appalachian Trail.  I enjoyed this one too, but not as much.

It's great when he describes the English countryside, points of interest, villages,shops, museums and pubs he visited.  It is not so great when he repeatedly calls people idiots and fantasizes about hitting or killing those who irritate him.  Hellooo, Mr. or Ms. Editor . . . where were you?

So, read at your own risk.  For me, the enjoyable parts outweighed the sheesh! parts, but just.

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer 322 pages

Beth has a lot on her plate. Her husband has left her for another woman, she hasn’t seen or spoken to her parents in years and her eight year old daughter Carmel has a habit of wandering off causing Beth to become over protective. Then Beth’s worst nightmare comes true and Carmel disappears while on an outing to a literary fair and the story takes off from there.

The Girl in the Red Coat was beautifully written. I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a bestseller. But, quite frankly, I was disappointed. From the pre published hype, to my expectations that never measured up, The Girl in the Red Coat went places I had no interest in. I just wanted a plain old English mystery. I got a tormented family drama instead.

Perhaps the worst part of the book was the ending that left all its potential blowing in the wind especially since I forced myself to continue reading in hopes that a few of my expectations could be salvaged.

The Widow by Fiona Barton 324 pages

Jean Taylor’s husband, poor thing, has died. Now she doesn’t have to put up with anymore of his nonsense. Nonsense as in being accused, tried, and acquitted of kidnapping and murdering a child. Now that he’s gone, the world wants to know if he did it and if she knew.

With multiple narrators, none of which are likeable or even trustworthy, The Widow focuses on the widow Jean and what she may or may not know about what really happened to little Bella. Although the subject matter is dark, it seems almost an afterthought: there’s no gore, overt violence, or graphic details. The real story seems to lie with a suddenly free (since poor Glen got hit by a bus) Jean who must navigate life without her controlling and emotionally abusive husband.

Still, I enjoyed this book. It was well written and even if the characters leave much to be desired, you still want to know what happens to them.

The Lake House by Kate Morton, 593 pages

Kate Morton did it again.  She wrote another spellbinding novel set in England about complicated family secrets.  This story focuses on the Edevane family and the tragedy of the disappearance in 1933 of their youngest child Theo, at 11 months old.

It is 70 years later and Sadie Sparrow is a young detective living in London who is forced to take a month's leave after a botched missing person's case.  She retreats to her grandfather's house in Cornwall and stumbles on an abandoned grand house during a jog in the woods.  Her curiosity is sparked as she wonders what would make a family abandon the home. 

Intrigue, secrets, loyalty and love.  Oh, and don't forget fun!

The Lake House by Kate Morton 492 pages

Wow, this is a great book!  Full of secrets, mystery, love, hate and the sacrifices mothers will make for their children.  

The story takes place in England and the tale switches back and forth from 1933 to 2003.  Eleanor and Anthony Edevane are deeply in love and deeply devoted to each other.  They live on an idyllic estate in Cornwall with their 3 daughters and 11 month old son, Theo.  On the night of their annual grand summer party, Theo disappears.  Seventy years later, Detective Constable Sadie Sparrow is on forced leave from her position in London when she stumbles upon the abandoned Edevane mansion.  Her natural curiosity is piqued when she hears of the cold case.  But how much will her intervention cost her?  DC Sparrow has her own secrets, her own set of demons.

This book takes a lot of twists and turns.  It is filled with eccentric, interesting and romantic characters.  A great read and a satisfying ending!