The Summer Swap, by Sarah Morgan

 

Publication May 7, 2024

How does one learn how to be true to oneself after a lifetime of repressing ones own needs and desires?

Three women. Three generations. Three women with unfulfilled dreams. Three women, in many ways, trapped by past decisions. This is their story. While quite different on the surface, they find strength and a common bond together. Art unites them and that connections provides many a surprise to them as the open up to each other and themselves. We meet Lily, young and rather lost, Cecilia, nearly 75 and still trying to find herself beneath the label of being wife to a famous artist, and her daughter Kristen, married to a famous surgeon,  suffering her own pangs of emptiness and pondering an affair, before the women actually meet each other. They find each other at Dove House, where Lily has been, uh, staying without permission and fallen in love with a painting, "The Girl on the Shore", a name you'll hear frequently as the story progresses. I'm not going to ruin your joy of immersing yourself into the story by detailing the plot but will say to be sure you have some hankies handy as it definitely hits you in the feels, more than once, in fact. Family secrets, broken romances, found romance, romance not limited by age, btw, the art world, old friends, drama, snoopy reporters, and, oh, so much more. I've just hit the surface, trust me. All have lessons to learn, including accepting their own roles in creating their current places in life.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to Dove House to meet these three amazing women. The men in their lives aren't perfect but the interactions add to the moment. I definitely liked Todd who, even before he appears, is painted as being his own man, not beholden to his family or heritage, and lived up to that mental image in my mind. For me, I probably related most to Cecilia but all have universal traits, dreams, and concerns, making them all the more real. Sarah Morgan, as always, has done an excellent job presenting us with full-fledged characters and putting them down in what sounds like a beautiful setting. Thanks #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing - #CanaryStreetPress for introducing me to these women. They are a great reminder that you're never to old to put the past behind you and head into the future with eyes open.

Easter Bonnet Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #28), by Leslie Meier

Lucy Stone is one of my favorite amateur sleuths. I've always felt that she very much comes across as a real person with both strengths and occasionally glaring weaknesses. Unlike many amateur sleuths who seem to be single women, Lucy is not only a wife and mother but a working woman. Her job as a reporter for the weekly town newspaper gives her an edge on many other sleuths, too, although I doubt the single ones can even imagine dealing with a moody teenage daughter like Zoe. I've read this series for years so "The Easter Bonnet" was a bit like curling up on a comfy couch and catching up with ol' friends.

And, boy, there are a lot of things going on in Lucy's life. As a reporter, Lucy is familiar with Heritage House, a senior care facility and thought it was an excellent facility. Therefore, when her friend Miss Tilly must go there to recuperate from a stroke and continuing blood pressure issues, she expects nothing more than pleasant visits. The facade begins to slowly erode, however, when a resident goes missing and is eventually found dead in an emergency staircase. Rather suspicious given the victim's tendency toward claustrophobia.

Prodded by the woman's daughter, Lucy reluctantly promises to see what she can find out. In the process we discover perhaps more than we'd like to know about how some of our treasured elders are viewed and treated. We also learn a great deal about how the tangle of Medicare, insurance, billings, deductions, and more play into the picture. It isn't long before Lucky discovers Heritage House has been cited for several violations in the past and is regularly under-staffed, with staff members being expected to put in long hours, often with minimal training.

I won't detail the plot any further except to say author Leslie Meier also manages to work in everything from mean girl behavior, rental cautions, and racial attitudes to, no lie, war crimes. Kudos to Meier for pulling it all together while also sharing Lucy's family highs and lows. It takes a talented author to make it all work and Meier does. Oh, and I almost forgot, she even includes a mama bear and her cubs. Seriously, you need to read this book or, as in my case, the audio version.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #KensingtonPublishing, and #DreamscapeMedia for the advanced copy. 

The Birders, by Rob Albanese

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Bird watching spans the generations

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022

My hunch is that us oldsters can appreciate this book just as much as the younger set. While the artwork is relatively simple and the story is simple, the relationship between Mr. Flynn, the long-time bird watcher, and the exuberant Ollie McPhee sends a clear message. No matter what our age, we have something to learn from others of all ages. In this case, Mr. Flynn slowly and rather reluctantly at first shows Ollie how to be a true bird watcher and record his sightings. In the process, we all get a feel for how simple and fulfilling bird watching can be. Both start out rather bored, Mr. Flynn wondering if his adventuring days are over, while Ollie is, well, a kid. He's bored and lives for the moment he can dash outside. One day he dashes into Mr. Flynn, ouch, and their lives change forever. A touching story with more than a touch of humor. I've got to ask, have you ever seen a white owl? You'll get a feel for how elusive they are in "The Birders".I only wish it'd been a tiny bit longer as the ending seemed somewhat abrupt but maybe that was my own wanting to know what happened next.