FICTION -- A Little Light Reading

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer
A charming story of Post WWII England told through the letters of Juliet Ashton, an author who, after publishing a series of light-hearted columns about the War, decides to follow up with a more meaningful book. When she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams asking for advice about an author they both admire, she is drawn to Guernsey Island where she discovers a community of intrepid people who survived the German occupation of the island. The combination of history, romance and humor make this a delightful read.
ISBN 978-038-5340-991; Audiobook: 0739368435
–Judie Harren


The View from Mount Joy
by Lorna Landvik
I have always enjoyed this author and her recent book is no exception. Her characters are quirky and engaging and her stories draw you into the wholesome atmosphere of the Midwest. In this story we follow the life of Joe Andreson, a likeable guy who grows up from a high school hockey player full of dreams and uncertainty to a successful businessman and father. But the path is a complicated one and his relationship with Kristi Casey, the most popular girl in school and later famous evangelist, continues to invade his life and provide insights into the darker side of human nature. Ultimately, Joe grows into a man who finds joy in his family and friends who surround and nurture him through thick and thin.
ISBN: 978-0345468383
–Judie Harren


Good Grief
by Lolly Winston
I loved the way this new author wove grief and humor together to portray a young woman’s struggle with the loss of her husband. Sophie is an intelligent and responsible PR manager until her husband succumbs to cancer and she finds herself buried under the blankets eating mountains of Oreos and stumbling haphazardly through her life. When she arrives at work in her bathrobe, it becomes apparent that it’s time to try something new and she moves in with her friend in small town Ashland, Oregon to try to rebuild her life. The story is never dull and the emotional tribulations are both heartfelt and funny.
ISBN: 978-0446619066
–Judie Harren


The Rules of Gentility
by Janet Mullany
Jane Austen meets Bridget Jones, and the result is Philomena Wellesley-Clegg, a young lady of substantial fortune and respectable (if somewhat plebeian) breeding. Philomena is in London hunting for a suitable husband; enter Inigo Linsley, the wicked younger son of a noble family, possessed of modest expectations and tremendous charm. Can “true love” be far behind? This gentle spoof of regency romances and chick lit is both charming and laugh-out-loud funny.
ISBN: 0061229830
–Macaire Hill