The Husband's Secret

This one will suck you in. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty is thrill. When I picked this up, I honestly thought that it would be a nice, relaxing, easy beach read. Instead it was thoughtful, provoking, suspenseful, and a bit nerve-racking at times. I can't even tell you the last suspenseful book I read (I develop slight anxiety while watching rose ceremonies), so this was definitely different for me. But I LOVED it. It might not have been a breeze, but I could not put it down.

Here's the deal...

We are introduced to three lovely, normal women that become linked in very meaningful ways. Our main character, Cecilia, has a seemingly amazing life. A sweet hubby, three darling daughters- what more could you want? Then one day she finds a letter written by her husband that is only to be opened after his death. Well, clearly no sane woman is going to wait for that, and everything Cecilia has come to know has been forever changed. Now... I can't tell you anymore, you'll have to learn the secrets yourself!

read more & buy

Shotgun Lovesongs

I may be from California, but my family all hails from the great heartland of Iowa. To me, there is something romantic about open plains, small towns, picket fences, and friendly neighbors, so when I read the intro to Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler, I was hooked. Not only did the book satisfy my Midwest fantasies and real-life expectations (there must be a reference to a Lutheran church to guarantee authenticity), but it gave me a slight motivation to move to Wisconsin. I'm serious. 

The novel follows a group of four friends from the small town of Little Wing, Wisconsin. They all handle small-town life differently, and it was easy to identify with aspects of each of the characters. I don't normally enjoy reading books from a variety of character perspectives, but I loved the way he made it flow with no abrupt stops or superfluous backstories. Most importantly though, you can feel the friendship and love, and that is what makes it a great read.

read more & buy