Where the Story Starts

Fiction by Imogen Clark

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

After her father’s unexpected death, (the Honorable) Clio Montgomery-Smith feels compelled to find out the meaning of some things written in a little notebook he had carried. Her journey begins with the address of a little house in the seaside town of Whitley Bay, not far away geographically from her own home at Hartford Hall, but worlds away in terms of class distinction.  

At the house she meets a woman called Leah Allen, who lives there with her two children. What is the connection between Clio’s father and this little family? And will Clio be sorry to have gone looking for the truth?

This was a good story with likeable characters. 

I also read by this author: An Unwanted Inheritance

A Mother’s Secret

Amazon Kindle Prime Fiction by Caroline Finnerty

https://www.amazon.com

Rowan Whelan asks her old college boyfriend James to meet her one day because she has something to tell him. When a car accident interrupts them, it seems Rowan will never get to reveal the secret she had meant to tell James. But then it seems the secret will come out on its own: a secret that could devastate Rowan’s husband and three children, as well as James’s wife Helena. 

This was a pretty good book but a little more predictable than I’d have liked. 

I also read (for free!) from Amazon Prime Kindle recently: The Stillwater Girls

By the Numbers

 Fiction by Jen Lancaster

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This story begins with divorced actuary Penny Sinclair getting ready to host her daughter’s increasingly elaborate wedding in her backyard. The task is complicated by Penny's ex-husband, his new (young!) girlfriend, and Penny's difficult parents. Penny is hoping that after the wedding is over she can sell the house and move on with her life, while hopefully getting a promotion and maybe going on dates again. But life and her family members have other plans…

I really liked the characters in this book, although I didn’t agree with all the decisions they made. This was a pretty good story. 

I also read by this author: Twisted Sisters

The Seven Dials Mystery

 Fiction by Agatha Christie 

https://www.audible.com

At the house party at Chimneys, all of the young people are rather late risers, but Gerry Wade is the latest. After he comes down for breakfast past 11:30 one morning, his friends decide to prank him with eight alarm clocks; he can't possibly sleep in the next morning, they laugh! But the joke turns sour when Gerry doesn't wake at all the following day, because he's dead. But did he die by accident, or has someone in the house murdered him?

This was an exciting mystery with several surprises!

I also read recently by this author: The Pale Horse

The Escape Artist

 Fiction by Diane Chamberlain

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Susanna Miller is a young single mother with an eleven-month-old son called Tyler whom she loves desperately. So when her ex-husband Jim and his new wife Peggy win custody of Tyler, Susanna feels she has no choice but the take her little boy and run away, changing her name and leaving everything behind her.

This was an exciting story with memorable characters.

I also read recently by this author: Summer's Child

A Different Kind of Gone

 Fiction by Catherine Ryan Hyde

https://www.audible.com

Norma is a waitress and a horseback search-and-rescue volunteer in the small town of Sloot, Arizona.. or maybe it’s Sloot, Utah. (The town sits on the state line.) One day she goes out to search for a missing girl called Jill Moss, and she comes face to face with a situation she’s never seen and is not prepared for. Norma has to make a choice that has consequences she can’t possibly foresee. And that’s just the beginning…

This was a really good story that gave me a lot to think about. Also the audiobook performance was great!

I also read recently by this author: Heaven Adjacent 

The Paris Agent

 Fiction by Kelly Rimmer

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Eloise and Josie were agents of the British SOE in Occupied France, and this story begins after their capture by Nazi officials in 1944. Then it goes both forward and backward in time to tell their stories.

In 1943 Elois and Josie undertake separate assignments in France to undermine the Nazi regime, and in 1970 Charlotte Ainsworth tries to help her father Noah uncover the secrets of his past involvement with the British SOE. But what is it that Noah can't remember? And what happened to Josie and Eloise?

This was a good historical novel.

I also read recently by this author: Truths I Never Told You