Elza’s Kitchen by Marc Fitten

A novel about the love of eating, cooking, and food always is a draw for me.  Divorcee Elza, has a successful restaurant in Delibab, Hungary, but feels something is missing from her life.  She has an uninspiring love life with her sous-chef and she feels she needs to change.  She decides to try for the illustrious Silver Ladle and conspires to get a recalcitrant critic to review her establishment.  The situation in her restaurant deteriorates in a competitive struggle of her staff and Elza must decide what she truly wants. ~Ann

Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience by Laurence Gonzales

The author tells the tales of what happens to survivors of traumatic events and how they overcome the physical, emotional, and biological effects of life altering events.  It is what happens after the end or when the curtain comes down.  The last chapter narrows down resilience to ten major adaptations that are key to coping.  Losing a child, divorce, a major illness, witnessing death, etc. can lead to any of these symptoms such as post traumatic stress syndrome. ~Ann

Memories from Cherry Harvest by Amy Wachspress

This historical novel set in WWII feels epic from the past to the present– Russia, Israel, France, and the United States.  Tragedy from the Holocaust is fought through the will to live, love, and flourish despite the destruction of life and human dignity.  The triumphant stories of these women will keep you reading and wanting more.  ~Ann

December’s Thorn by Phillip DePoy

In late December, Fever Devilin is awoken by a knock.  At his door he finds a young woman claiming to be his wife, a woman he swears he has never seen before.  His friends believe that Fever has been hallucinating, but then the shooting starts.  Can Fever recover his missing past in time to save his future? This is a wonderful series filled with great characters and ambience.  You may want to start at the beginning with The Devil’s Hearth.

Skating Over the Line by Joelle Charbonneau

Rebecca Robbins is not having a good month.  First her deadbeat dad shows up, next she is expected to find a friend’s stolen car, and then she is threatened by some scary guys in bowling shirts.  And she still can’t sell her roller rink and get out of small Indian Falls.  But why would she want to leave Indian Falls?  It is the home of her Elvis impersonator grandfather, her favorite camel Elwood, and one very handsome veterinarian.  A fast moving plot, colorful characters, and lots of laughs make this a real winner.  I love this series!

 

Mr Churchill’s Secretary by Susan MacNeal

Maggie Hope is an American expat living in London in 1940. Despite her family’s urging her to return to the States to work on her doctorate in mathematics she gets a job in the Prime Minister’s office as a typist. This is a well-researched historical mystery, evocative of life in London during the Blitz.

Spanish Dagger by Suzanne Wittig Albert

China Bayles and her friend Ruby own a herb shop, tea room, and catering business in Pecan Springs, Texas. Something is always going on in this small Texas hill town—China has recently learned that she has a half-brother who may want to cause trouble, and while gathering yucca plants for her new paper-making hobby, she finds a body. An enjoyable mystery—with herbal recipes included!