The Heart Of Summer by Felicity McCoy

 

On Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula, summer means glorious weather and a life-changing choice for local librarian Hanna Casey in this delightful installment in the USA Today bestselling series, a captivating tale filled with all the beauty, charm, and warmth of Ireland that is perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Nina George, and Nancy Thayer.

Summer has finally arrived on Ireland’s west coast. On the Finfarran Peninsula, Hanna Casey is looking forward to al fresco lunches with friends and balmy evenings with her boyfriend Brian in their stunning new home in beautiful Hag’s Glen. With a painful divorce behind her and family drama finally settled, Hanna begins to plan a romantic holiday getaway for the two of them.

But life takes a turn when Brian's adult son suddenly moves in and Hanna unexpectedly runs into Amy, a former flatmate from Hanna’s twenties in London. Reminded of her youth—and all the dreams and hopes she once had—Hanna begins to wonder if everything she now has is enough. When Amy suggests a reunion in London with old friends, Hanna accepts. 

While it’s only short hop to England, Hanna feels like she’s leaving Brian far behind. And when she’s offered a new opportunity—the chance to be more than a local librarian in the little rural community where she grew up—Hanna is faced with a difficult choice: to decide what her heart truly wants. 

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Amazon.com: The Heart of Summer: A Novel (Finfarran Peninsula Book 6) eBook : Hayes-McCoy, Felicity: Kindle Store

USA Today bestselling Irish writer Felicity Hayes-McCoy is the author of the 'Finfarran' novels, set in a fictional county on Ireland's West Coast. Marian Keyes calls her writing "a pitch-perfect delight", Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of "Between Sisters" and "Secrets of a Happy Marriage", has described the Finfarran books as "a delicious feast", and "sunshine on the page", while Jenny Colgan, bestselling author of "The Cafe by the Sea", calls them "charming and heartwarming".

The Heart of Summer, (Finfarran #6) was published by Hachette Irl in May 2020. Ireland's Sunday Business Post reviewer wrote "This works perfectly well as a standalone novel ... her writing sings", and bestselling author Patricia Scanlan wrote "Fans of Maeve Binchy will adore it - she just gets better and better!"

Finfarran #1, The Library at the Edge of The World, was published in June 2016: The Sunday Times called it "engaging, sparkling and joyous" and The Sunday Independent wrote "If you like reading a feelgood novel, take a journey to the edge of the world. An easy, pleasant summer read for fans of Maeve Binchy".

Summer at The Garden Café, the second in the series, came out in the UK & Irl May 2017, The Mistletoe Matchmaker, a warm, empowering Christmas story, in October 2017, and The Month of Borrowed Dreams, in June 2018: The Irish Independent's review called it "a heartwarming novel which will leave you longing to read the earlier ones". The best-selling author Marian Keyes said she was 'utterly charmed' by Finfarran #5, The Transatlantic Book Club, which was published in 2019.

A US & Canadian edition of The Library at the Edge of The World, published by Harper Perennial in Nov 2017, was chosen as a LibraryReads Pick. The US & Canadian edition of Summer at The Garden Café was published in 2018, The Mistletoe Matchmaker followed in Oct 2019, and The Transatlantic Book Club will be published there in Fall 2020.

The Finfarran novels have been translated into six languages and can also be purchased in English as ebooks and audiobooks.

Described as 'wise, funny' and 'blazingly beautiful' by the actress and writer Joanna Lumley, Felicity's first memoir, The House on an Irish Hillside was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2012. It takes the author to London - where she worked as an actress and met her English, opera-director husband - and back again to Ireland, to a remarkable stone house on the Dingle peninsula where she first studied the Irish language in her teens.

In response to requests from readers, Enough Is Plenty: The Year on the Dingle Peninsula, a sequel to The House on an Irish Hillside, was published by The Collins Press in 2015. Illustrated with photographs taken by Felicity and her husband, and with a foreword by the best-selling Irish writer Alice Taylor, it charts the cycle of the Celtic year in Felicity's own house and garden.

A second memoir, A Woven Silence: Memory, History & Remembrance, described by The Sunday Times as 'a powerful piece of personal and political history', was published in September 2015, also by The Collins Press. Inspired by the lost story of her grandmother's cousin Marion Stokes, one of three women who raised the tricolour over Enniscorthy town in Wexford during Ireland's 1916 Rising, it explores the consequences for individuals, families, communities and nations when memories are erased, intentionally or by chance.

Felicity's cultural guide to Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, Dingle and Its Hinterland: People, Places and Heritage, written with her husband Wilf Judd, and illustrated with their own photographs, was published by The Collins Press in 2017. 

My Thoughts...

I have really enjoyed this series. The Writing and the characters are so easy to fall in love with. If you have not read this series that alright the books can be read as stand alones.

I gave this one 4 stars and I recommend it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Second Husband by Kate White

 

A woman’s seemingly perfect second marriage is rocked by a discovery about the death of her first husband in this twisty psychological thriller from Kate White, the New York Times bestselling author whom Entertainment Weekly called “impossible to outwit.” 

After losing her husband, Derrick, in what appears to have been a random street crime, thirtysomething Emma has built a new life with widower Tom, who is kind, handsome, driven, and successful. Emma is finally able to feel safe again, both in her relationship with Tom and in the home they've made together on the Connecticut shore.

Then one day a homicide detective shows up at Emma and Tom’s door asking questions. Though Emma had been cleared of her husband’s murder, it appears that law enforcement is taking another look at her and the case. 

What do they know? Are they on the right track this time? And most importantly, will the renewed investigation ruin Emma’s chances of a happy life? 

With twists and turns all the way to the last page, this fast-paced, expertly plotted novel will have you asking that age-old question: how well do you really know the ones you love? 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Second Husband: A Novel: 9780062945457: White, Kate: Books

Kate White is the New York Times bestselling author of eight psychological thrillers, including the upcoming THE SECOND HUSBAND (June 28), as well as THE FIANCÉE (2021) and HAVE YOU SEEN ME? (2020), named an Amazon editors' pick in the thriller category.

In addition to writing stand-alone psychological thrillers, Kate is the author of eight Bailey Weggins mysteries. The most recent, SUCH A PERFECT WIFE (2019), was nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award.

Kate is also the editor of the MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA COOKBOOK.

She is a frequent speaker at libraries and conferences and loves to share her journey from magazine editor to suspense author in a talk called: On Becoming an Author: Forging a New Creative Path and Finding Winning Ideas All Around You.

You can get updates from Kate by signing up for her newsletter at katewhite.com--and/or following her on Facebook @KateWhiteAuthor or Instagram @katewhite_author. If you need to contact her for a talk or book club visit (in person or on Skype/Zoom), or just to ask a question, simply go to "Contact" at katewhite.com.

The former editor-in-chief of five major magazines, including Cosmopolitan for 14 years, Kate is also the author of several popular career books, including THE GUTSY GIRL HANDBOOK: YOUR MANIFESTO FOR SUCCESS; I SHOULDN'T BE TELLING YOU THIS: HOW TO ASK FOR THE MONEY, SNAG THE PROMOTION, AND CREATE THE CAREER YOU DESERVE and WHY GOOD GIRLS DON'T GET AHEAD BUT GUTSY GIRLS DO. 

My Thoughts...

I loved this so much. I was guessing and then guessing again. I had it all wrong. White is such a good storyteller. All my thriller fans are going to really enjoy this one. I can't wait for Whites next book. This is by far my favorite book by White to date.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

We've Been There by Susan Tebos

 

Candid, unfiltered stories about how it feels to be a teen adoptee

The teen years are full of uncomfortable self-discovery for everyone. But adopted teens grapple with issues that make the coming of age journey immensely more difficult. Many don't have words for what they're feeling, sensing, or believing about themselves. They often don't have anyone like them to help them work through their struggles. Forced to cope on their own, they end up feeling isolated.

Adoption advocate and adoptive mom Susan TeBos has watched her own children go through these struggles. Often she wished for a voice that would resonate with adopted teens--her own and others--and authentically meet them where they are.

She found not one voice, but many: over thirty adopted teens and young adults. We've Been There gathers their stories, giving readers a front row seat to people with similar stories and feelings.

This book is an unprecedented glimpse into the unfiltered feelings, thoughts, experiences, and unanswered questions that well up in the heart of every person with adoption in their story. From people who have been there as adopted kids, this book not only invites adopted teens to bring their concerns into the open, but also helps them process how they feel and offers them hope on the other side. In these pages, teen adoptees will understand themselves in a whole new way and find reassurance and a sense of belonging as part of a global adopted community. 

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                    Amazon.com: We've Been There: True Stories, Surprising Insights, and Aha Moments for Adopted Teens: 9780825447310: TeBos, Susan: Books

Hey there. I'm Susan TeBos. I’ve put together a collection of stories for adopted and foster teens told to me by international and domestic adoptees from across the United States. Let me just say loudly that these people are AMAZING and INSIGHTFUL. They taught me so much, which in turn I share with you. I love it when people use their stories to lift others up. In We’ve Been There, teens 16 and older will find a range of stories that truly reflects how adoptees feel and process things in their teen years. It is a long-overdue connection point, a gift from one adoptee to another to remind them they are not alone.

I am a Michigander: Midwest kind and smiley, except in February when I get a little ornery from the gray sky and knee-deep snow. I am married to Mike, and we have three children who were adopted from Russia. We like watching movies together, hanging by the campfire, mountain biking, and traveling internationally. Yes! We loved visiting Prague in 2021. I have an MA in communications and co-authored "Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child’s Lifestory" published by Zondervan. I’ve always sought ways to help my kids process this piece of their story.

After Everyone Else by Leslie Hooton

 From the acclaimed author of Before Anyone Else comes a captivating new novel about the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love.

Bailey thought she’d gotten her happy ending. She is married to the man she loves, she has started a family, and her design business is flourishing. But when Bailey’s ex-husband, a famous TV chef, is found murdered with her DNA all over his apartment and body, she is suddenly facing murder charges in a high-profile case. Already burdened by the demands and challenges of marriage, motherhood, and her career, Bailey now must do everything she can to prove her innocence. But it’s the ones she thought would surely be on her side—her enigmatic lawyer and her husband—who might be doubting her innocence the most.

Alternating between the past and present, After Everyone Else chronicles the grip of the past, the challenges of forgiveness, and the resilient love we save for the person we love after everyone else. 

Pick up your copy here...

After Everyone Else: Hooton, Leslie: 9781684428397: Amazon.com: Books

Leslie Hooton is the author of three novlels. Her debut novel, BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, garnered a Zibby nomination. Leslie's second novel, THE SECRET OF RAINY DAYS, was a book club favorite. Her third novel, AFTER EVERYONE ELSE, is a standalone sequel to BEFORE ANYONE ELSE. Kevin Wilson, Jane Rosen, Patti Callahan, Lisa Barr, and other wonderful writers have offered praise for Leslie's novels. She has had essays published in "Moms Don't Have Time to Grieve," and "Newsweek." Leslie attended the Sewanee Writers Conference for many years. Leslie has been a guest on numberous podcasts and her talks are engaging and thought-provoking.

Leslie has often said some people have a stroke of luck, she had one at birth. Having limited use of her right side and numerous surgeries allowed her to be a keen observer of human behavior. She referes to her body as her "bargain basement body" and doctors as the "men in white coats" because she has had a lifelong relationship with them. She uses dictation for each of her novels and often jokes "I haven't typed a single word." She brings this unique perspective to her writing with humor and heart. 

My Thoughts...

A time slip (dual timeline) Mystery. This is family drama at its best. There is a whole lot going on in the one. The book moves slow at times but I think it was because so much is going on. You get it all. Hooton never disappoints.
4 stars from this reader.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Things We Do In the Dark by Jennifer Hiller

 Things We Do in the Dark is a brilliant new thriller from Jennifer Hillier, the award-winning author of the breakout novels Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts. Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her celebrity husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future.

When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom―covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her―she knows she'll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it's not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it's only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she's worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early nineties. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she's unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris's secrets. Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all.

Because the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel: 9781250763167: Hillier, Jennifer: Books

Jennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people and then writes about it. Born and raised in Toronto and a proud Canadian, she spent eight years in the Seattle area, which is where all her books are set.

She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including LITTLE SECRETS, which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award, and JAR OF HEARTS, which won the Thriller Award and was nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards.

Her earlier novels are WONDERLAND, THE BUTCHER, FREAK, and CREEP.

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, her newest thriller, will be out July 19, 2022 from Minotaur Books.

Learn more about her at jenniferhillierbooks.com 

My Thoughts..

I read this in one sitting. Hillier is a masterful thriller writer. This book had me in the edge of my seat, until the very end. You will not be able to put this book down.
5-stars two times. I HIGHLY recommend this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Life We Almost Had by Amelia Henley

 

This is not a typical love story, but it's our love story.

When Anna arrives in a Spanish beach town for a much-needed escape from real life, she isn’t looking for love. Until Adam sweeps her off her feet. There’s no denying their connection, and what begins as a beautiful romance soon becomes a vow to love each other . . . forever.

Years later, cracks have appeared in their marriage. In an attempt to rekindle their fire, they return to the island where they first met. But when disaster strikes, forever no longer seems within their grasp. Anna isn’t ready for a world without Adam. And she discovers that there is a way back together—but it will demand life-changing consequences. Now Anna must ask herself one question: How much will she sacrifice for true love?

The Life We Almost Had is an epic love story with an unexpected twist; one that will tear apart your heart and put it back together again—perfect for fans of The Notebook and The Light We Lost. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Life We Almost Had: 9781538754818: Henley, Amelia: Books

Amelia Henley is a hopeless romantic who has a penchant for exploring the intricacies of relationships through writing heart-breaking, high-concept love stories.

Amelia also writes psychological thrillers under her real name, Louise Jensen. As Louise Jensen she has sold over a million copies of her global number one bestsellers. Her stories have been translated into twenty-five languages and optioned for TV as well as featuring on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestsellers list. Louise’s books have been nominated for multiple awards.

‘The Life We Almost Had’ was an international best seller. Her second love story, 'The Art of Loving You' is newly published and available in ebook, paperback and audio.

An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan

 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan brings us a delightful summer novel that will sweep you away to the remote Scottish island of Mure, where two very different weddings are about to take place…

On the little Scottish island of Mure—halfway between Scotland and Norway—Flora MacKenzie and her fiancé Joel are planning the smallest of “sweetheart weddings,” a high summer celebration surrounded only by those very dearest to them.

Not everyone on the island is happy about being excluded, though. The temperature rises even further when beautiful Olivia MacDonald—who left Mure ten years ago for bigger and brighter things—returns with a wedding planner in tow. Her fiancé has oodles of family money, and Olivia is determined to throw the biggest, most extravagant, most Instagrammable wedding possible. And she wants to do it at Flora’s hotel, the same weekend as Flora’s carefully planned micro-wedding. 

As the summer solstice approaches, can Flora handle everyone else’s Happy Every Afters—and still get her own?  

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                    An Island Wedding: A Novel: Colgan, Jenny: 9780063141889: Amazon.com: Books

Jenny Colgan (born 1972 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland) is a writer of romantic comedy fiction, sci-fi and has written for the Dr Who line of stories. She writes under her own name and using the pseudonyms Jane Beaton and J. T. Colgan.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.