Goodnight June

Goodnight June by Sarah Jio    320 pages

I’m going to warn you now: clear your calendar before you start this book. I read it on a lazy Saturday afternoon, and it’s the best book I’ve read so far this year (2017).

The premise is the imagined inspiration behind children’s author Margaret Wise Brown’s classic tale, Goodnight Moon, which turns 70 years old this year. When Brown died in 1952 (at the age of 42, from an embolism after suffering from appendicitis),the history of the little book was lost.

In this tale, June Andersen, a high-powered banking VP in New York, learns from her great-aunt Ruby’s lawyer that she has passed away…many months ago.  Her dippy mother never bothered to call with the sad news. The lawyer states in his letter that Ruby has left her beloved bookstore, Bluebird Book, and its contents and all her worldly possessions.

June flies to Seattle with every intention of selling the bookstore, or at the very least liquidating the assets and returning to her life, where her work is everything. When she arrives at the bookstore, happy (and some sad) childhood memories return, making June question her lifestyle choices, and her past.

She finds a letter from Ruby that sends her on a scavenger hunt to find letters between Brown (whom she called Brownie) and herself. As she uncovers the letters, Ruby’s secrets, along with some of June’s, are unveiled. It won’t hurt to have a box of tissues handy.

Goodnight June is a wonderful novel. The dualing timelines (one of my favorite writerly strategies) makes the reader feel as she/he is right there with Ruby and Brownie. ASs I read, I kept wanting to head to the internet to find out what aspects of the story are real and what are imagined, but I always had to stop myself and remember that the entire story (except for Magaret Wise Brown and the titles of her books) is fiction.

I hope that you love this story as much as I did. Goodnight June get 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty Audiobook 13 hours Book 396 pages

This book is about a secret that deeply affects the lives of several people. Don't worry no spoilers. The secret affects Cecilia Fitzpatrick, her husband John Paul and their children. It also affects Rachel Crowley and her son Rob. This story is also about Tess O'Leary and her family's troubles. The real connector of all the characters seems to be the past. The book starts with a mysterious letter, but I can't tell you about it because it will ruin the story. Be prepared for a lot of twists and turns that seems to be characteristic of Liane Moriarty.

I enjoyed this book and can definitely call myself a fan of this author. There was never a dull moment in this story. The characters were real and easy to listen to/read. I felt everything the author wanted me to feel with these characters and this plot line. All the emotions were very real, the grief, the betrayal, the love, the guilt and so on. I was truly shocked when I found out what the secret was. There's more I want to say, but it's better if I don't'. This is what I would call a good book plain and simple and I do recommend.

Echoes of Edisto

Echoes of Edisto by C. Hope Clark    246 pages

Before I start talking about the Edisto mysteries, I have to comment that I love the first trilogy author C. Hope Clark penned, the Carolina Slade mysteries. They were excellent. One of the things that I love about Clark’s books is that they can be read in any order. There may be a reference here and there to another story, but it does not interfere with the plot at hand.

And that brings me to Echoes of Edisto where “murder came in with the tide.” It’s the third book in the series. Not sure if there will be any more, but after I go back and read Books 1 and 2, I sure hope so. I know I keep hoping there will be another Carolina Slade mystery (hint, hint Ms. Clark.)

The story opens with Police Chief Callie Jean Morgan debating about going off the wagon and having to deal with a diva celebrity visiting the island. That gives way to a 10-50 call and Callie rushes to the scene.

Unfortunately, the outcome of the car-in-the-water is given away on the book jacket. It takes away from the tension of the event. But Clark pulled me back in with the next scene and the story takes off from there.

Callie must deal with the death of her officer, the almost-death of her neighbor, her burgeoning romance with one of her officers, the mother, island politics, and the fight to stay on the wagon. I was shocked that Callie would take a drink as she did several times throughout the book’s 246 pages. It was confusing, at first, to determine the relationship between her mom and dad and her neighbor’s Sarah ad Ben.

The climax is harrowing…and shocking…which makes for a great read. I found myself gasping at the turn of events and the secrets that are uncovered. I would LOVE to tell you more, but that’s as far as I can go.

I give Echoes of Edisto 4 out of 5 stars.