Monday, April 25

book reviews

I've been reading a lot recently (outside my book club reading) and I thought I'd recommend a few to you...

Secrets of Paris by Luanne Rice


"Passion and friendship get equal billing in this entertaining love story, shaded with dark undertones, from the author of Crazy in Love. Lydie McBride, a photographer’s stylist, and her architect husband Michael move to Paris while Michael, on a cultural exchange program, redesigns a room in the Louvre. Lydie is still reeling from the shock of her father’s recent death in a murder-suicide with the young woman who was his lover. As Lydie is befriended by sophisticated Patrice d’Origny, a young Bostonian married to the owner of a fashionable jewelry store, Michael begins an affair with an eccentric French biographer who is engrossed in her 17th-century subject, Mme de Sevigne. Asked to design the new d’Origny catalogue, Lydie decides to stage a ball in a nearby chateau. While working on their separate projects, she and Michael try to determine whether their once wholehearted love can be recovered. Lively and appealing characters–notably Lydie herself–the Paris setting and themes of betrayal and forgiveness distinguish this spirited romance. –Publishers Weekly"

This was a great, quick read. I espcially loved it because of all its descriptions of Paris. Oh, how I'd LOVE to go back!


me in Paris, circa 2006


"The amazingly prolific Rice reintroduces characters from 2009's Geometry of Sisters for this heart-tugger about a reunion of a mother and her two daughters who've been separated for 10 years due to a disturbing secret. Set on the picturesque isle of Capri, Rice's touching tale reflects on how families can survive and thrive despite tragedies. Lyra Nicholson is a lonely heiress living in Italy while her equally lonely daughters, 16-year-old Pell and Lucy, a 14-year-old math whiz, live in Newport, R.Iwith their grandmother. Lucy's already tried to contact (via equations) the ghost of her dead father with Beck, her BFF and the sister of Pell's boyfriend, Travis. Pell travels to Italy, wanting Lyra, who abandoned her and Lucy, to finally take responsibility for them. Max Gardiner, her mother's smitten playwright neighbor, encourages Pell, even as she is distracted by Rafe, Max's 19-year-old recovering addict grandson. Rice gives Pell an old-beyond-her-years stability that Lyra lacks in this beguiling beach read that would suit YA readers as well as their mothers."

I didn't realize Rice had written about these characters previously...guess I'll need to read Geometry of Sisters.


When summertime neighbors Alice and Paul realize their feelings for go deeper than friendshipm they're afraid to share the news of their clandestine affair with Riley, Alice's sister and Paul's best friend. But then a darker, more tragic secret threatens to come between them. The page-turning pace of Ann Brashares's The Last Summer (of You & Me) makes it a perfect beach read. -- Redbook


What have you all been reading? We are reading Wench for our book club this month. Have you read it?

8 comments:

Home Is Where the Hart Is said...

Yes! Yes! Yes!
You know how I love to read. Will be adding these to my summer list. Speaking of, are we laying by the pool drinking JD's, eating chicken salad and reading up on our novels yet?

Alexandra Bee Blog said...

The Last of Summer of You and Me sounds good..I'll have to read it for sure this summer. I'm currently reading The Help and loving it!

Heather said...

Thanks for these good ideas!

Day Old News said...

Nice! I've been reading voraciously myself and haven't heard of any of these.

Glitterista said...

Yay! Thanks so much for your suggestions! I've read four books within the past week and am excited to add these to my list. :)

Kitty and June said...

those look great! i've read the last summer of you and me and loved it! the wench looks amazing!

Ruthie said...

I read The Last Summer (of You and Me) several summers ago, and it was great! A little sad though!

SKBPINKGREEN said...

I really liked The Last Summer of You and Me. I can't wait to read the one by Luanne Rice. Check out my blog for a super cute giveaway!