This is the fourth novel by Ellen Meister that I have read and I enjoyed it very much! Joybird Martin, our protagonist, is an optimistic, idealistic 31 year old woman who tries to see the best in everyone and brighten everyone's day. She drives an UBER but would like to be a life coach. One day she drives Devon, a Wall St. equity analyst, who gives her the idea to become a mobile life coach, naming her Honda and business :Joyride. We also meet her dad, Sid Marcus, who loses his job as a TV comedy writer and is now living with Joybird. She has to negotiate her relationship with both her dad and Devon, who she resists but to whom she is attracted.

Mansion Beach is sort of a modern take on The Great Gatsby. After quitting her career and breaking up with her boyfriend, Nicola is staying on Block Island in an internship for sea conservation. She is staying at her favorite cousin’s rich wife’s family cottage. Nicola is living next to the biggest party house on the island owned by Julianna George and becomes friends with her. Can Nicola navigate the rocky terrain of keeping up with the affluent residents of the island? Who doesn’t survive the summer? Read and find out.

Sweet little mystery, very Miss Marple-like. I had it all along, but it was still a nice read. Loved the relationship between grandmother and grandson.

Another intriguing historical mystery by this author. Haven, a researcher of shipwrecks discovers something called the Amalfi Curse. We learn about it through two timelines , the present and 1820s. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Highly recommend.

This book drew me into two lives: an aspiring high school journalist and an elderly woman who rarely talked. It takes place in upstate New York with a cross country adventure as the years unfold. Adele sets out to complete a journalusm class assignment at the local Nursing home. She meets Grace, a reluctant to talk resident with no known past. As their visits continue Adele unlocks Grave’s story. It was difficult to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next.

This is the third book in the young adult, dystopian Shatter Me Series and in my opinion, these books just keep getting better! I would give this book a six out of five stars if I could. It really tugged at my heart strings. I had those moments where I just had to sit there and process what just happened. One of the highlights of this book is how friendships truly start to develop. What I love about this series is its great balance between romance and friendship. As much as I’m a sucker for a good romance, seeing strong friendships bloom always brings a smile to my face as a reader. Although the Shatter Me series includes six books, it can be seen as two separate arcs: the first three form one complete phase, while the next three begin a new chapter in the story. Ignite Me wraps up the first era beautifully and Restore Me kicks off what feels like a whole new storyline. If you read the first two books, definitely read this one!

It was entertaining but some parts seemed far fetched

I chose this book because I saw it in the East Meadow Newsletter and It was last months Book Club pick.

If you enjoyed Interview With a Vampire you will like Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. This book is the epic story of three women bound by love and bloodlust. Sabine, Charlotte and Alice unwind their stories and connections to each other covering decades of years both together and apart. Love becomes their undoing. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a must read.

I really enjoyed this historical fictional novel with the backdrop of the beach at Martha’s Vineyard. They were all interesting characters and the author’s note is very interesting to see how the author tied it to history and her own life.