“Small Island” by Andrea Levy

Synopsis:  Hortense Joseph arrives in London from Jamaica in 1948 with her life in her suitcase, her heart broken, her resolve intact. Her husband, Gilbert Joseph, returns from the war expecting to be received as a hero, but finds his status as a black man in Britain to be second class. His white landlady, Queenie, raised as a farmer's daughter, befriends Gilbert, and later Hortense, with innocence and courage, until the unexpected arrival of her husband, Bernard, who returns from combat with issues of his own to resolve.

Elizabeth Says:  “Small Islands” tells the story of 4 different people living in 1948 England. The story is told from four points of view which helps illustrate the very different attitudes and reactions to the changing world. I enjoyed reading about this period of time in England’s history. England is still living with the aftermath of World War II and an influx of immigrants.  The War changed England in profound ways as it did America.

Call Number:  F LEV

“Her Royal Spyness” by Rhys Bowen

Synopsis:  Her ridiculously long name is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter to the Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch. And she is flat broke. As the thirty-fourth in line for the throne, she has been taught only a few things, among them, the perfect curtsey. But when her brother cuts off her allowance she leaves Scotland, and her fiancé, Fish-Face, for London, where she has: a) worked behind a cosmetics counter-and gotten sacked after five hours b) started to fall for a quite unsuitable minor royal c) made some money housekeeping (incognita, of course), and d) been summoned by the Queen to spy on her playboy son. Then an arrogant Frenchman, who wants her family's 800-year-old estate for himself, winds up dead in her bathtub. Now her most important job is to clear her very long family name.

Emily Says:  The first in a fun mystery series! Georgie has misadventures in her love life and her family life (she's related to the royal family, after all) and somehow stumbles into murder scenes as well. While not the most difficult mysteries to solve, Bowen's humor and the time period- 1930s, as Prince Edward begins gallivanting with Wallis Simpson- make this a nice light set of books to read out on the patio.

Call Number:  MYS F BOW


“The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton

Synopsis:  In 1913 London, a little girl plays hide-and-seek on the deck of a ship while waiting for the woman who left her there to return. But as darkness comes, the girl is still alone when the ship pulls out from the dock and steams away on a long, grueling journey to Australia. There, the dock master and his wife take in the small castaway who is carrying nothing but a child’s white suitcase containing a few clothes and a book of fairytales. They name her Nell and raise her as their own. It’s not until her twenty-first birthday that they tell her the truth. Nell returns to England in search of her identity and that of the mysterious woman who abandoned her. Her quest is not fulfilled until after her death, when her granddaughter, Cassandra, travels to a cottage on the cliffs of Cornwall and discovers the secrets of its forgotten garden.

Megan Says:  From the first page of the first chapter of this intriguing story, I was hooked. The story begins with a small child boarded onto a ship, alone and abandoned, bound for a distant land.  This amazing tale of her journey and her quest to discover the truth about her identity, along with why she was cast off on that fateful day is filled with unexpected and incredible twists and turns. Kate Morton weaves a wonderful tale of discovery that led me to cry, laugh, fret, cheer and dream fairy-tale dreams along the way.

Call Number:  F MOR

“Ever After” by Kim Harrison

Synopsis:  The Ever After, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing. While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the Ever After.

Nina Says:  The stakes have never been higher in the Hollows, and it’s no coincidence since the author has announced this is the third to last book in the series. With the existence of the Ever After on the line, you know who had to be involved: the Worst Boyfriend Ever, Nick. Another rousing tale filled with heartache, humor and a serious sass-mouthing witch at work. New to the neighborhood? The first book is “Dead Witch Walking”. Want to jump in a little closer to the current action? “Black Magic Sanction” sets up the current unfolding events.

Call Number:  SFF F HAR