Staff Choices

“From Mary Kay Andrews…comes a novella celebrating the magic of Christmas and second chances in The Santa Suit.” 
 
It’s time to get cozy with Mary Kay Andrews’ latest novel, The Santa Suit. When newly divorced Ivy Perkins purchases an old farmhouse, The Four Roses, in small town North Carolina, she has no idea of the love, charm, and history that comes along with it. In the closet of the old farmhouse, Ivy finds an old Santa suit that holds an old letter from a little girl, asking Santa to bring her father home from the war. Ivy sets out on a mission to discover who the little girl is and if her father ever made it home. Within days of her move, Ivy has befriended several locals eager to help solve the mystery and one hunky realtor slash handy man. In a time of pain and sorrow, Ivy heals her wounds through new friendships, following her passions, and accepting love. 

The themes of this story, I realize, are quite similar to my last holiday read, Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber. The protagonist experiences a brutal heartbreak, along with other losses, and finds hope, love, and happiness in a new place. The Santa Suit shows just that. Ivy has faced loss throughout her life and after a brutal divorce, finds a fresh start in a new state. This book oozes cozy, from the big roaring fireplace in The Four Roses to the little town where everybody knows everybody. It is sure to warm your heart and make you laugh.  

For the best experience, Maggie recommends reading this with a hot cup of tea or cocoa and the coziest blanket you own. 

“A special holiday wish list brings about hope, love, and second chances” 

In Debbie Macomber’s latest addition to her fantastic holiday collection, Dear Santa, Lindy Carmichael finds herself returning home to a small town in Washington after discovering her boyfriend and best friend are romantically involved. Lindy is convinced that there is nothing that could possibly cheer her up. But after her mother reminds her of a magical old tradition of writing letters to Santa, perhaps Lindy might find some Christmas cheer this season after all. 

This was truly an enchanting read. In the beginning of this story, I could really feel the sadness and discouragement that Lindy felt. She loses both her long-time boyfriend and best friend during the most wonderful time of year, all while feeling the pressure of her graphic design job. After some encouragement from her mother, Lindy writes a new letter to Santa laying out what she would really like this year. This story took me on such a fun adventure with Lindy as fate and Christmas magic helped check off Lindy’s list to Santa. Throughout the story I could feel Lindy’s faith returning to her as she fills the season with family, love, and renewed friendships. Along with being a cozy, uplifting story, Dear Santa also serves as a wonderful reminder that when in doubt, follow your heart. 

The debut thriller by David McCloskey is one the best spy novels I've read in years. The main character Sam Joseph and his recruit Mariam are both fascinating and believable. The insight and descriptions of the Syrian regime are both gripping and horrific.

The author was a former C.I.A station chief, and you can tell he knows what he is writing about. The story itself is riveting and the romantic relationship between Sam and Mariam is also a plus. I am a big fan of espionage spy thrillers and this is a great one. I hope there are more to come from this author.

Together by Luke Adam Hawker is told and drawn in beautiful black and white pencil sketch illustrations in this graphic novel. The story follows an older man with his faithful dog at his side as he navigates the maelstrom of the Covid-19 pandemic. The book communicates with few words and detailed imagery about how the pandemic isolated communities changing the course of people's lives. We get a peek into how people contend with this issue within a cross-section of their homes to see how life carries on despite obstacles, setbacks and the fear of unknown outcomes. Working and schooling from home, separation, loneliness, new priorities, and finding ways to connect become a new normal.

You can read through Together quickly or slowly savor it by reviewing and interpreting the images on each page. Despite the topic of the book, I wanted this book to be longer, to know more about the man and his canine companion. Despite its brevity, I recommend it as a quick read and think that it will appeal to those who enjoy graphic novels and a hopeful story.

“A sharp and hilariously relatable novel about the business of weddings, the toll they can take, and the lengths one exasperated bridesmaid will go to for the love of friends.” 

Sara Goodman Confino’s debut novel, “For the Love of Friends”, is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud story that follows Lily, bridesmaid in five upcoming weddings, as she navigates the chaos that is bridezillas and wedding planning. Lily finds solace in her creation of an anonymous blog, detailing every bit of wedding mania along the way. Financial woes, mom-zillas, and Spanx galore, Lily lays it out in her increasingly popular “private” blog. However, few things remain as secrets on the internet. 

Keeping in theme with my last review, I could not help myself and picked up another wedding-themed book…and I regret nothing. Confino’s creative concoction of goofy, lovable characters, the snarky commentary of our protagonist, and pure comedic writing had me belly-laughing from start to finish. And who can resist a good love interest? Alex, a groomsman whom Lily swears off all romance with, will steal your heart with his gentle and kind character. The snark, the love, and the story make for a true page turner, and I truly could not put this book down. I am so excited to see what Confino brings to the pages next. 

I begin at the end by reading this last novel, Silverview, by author John Le Carre as my first foray into his extensive stable of books. I was not disappointed.  

Julian Lawndsley buys a book store on the English shore, leaving his hectic life in the city behind him. A rather unusual man, Edward Avon, wanders into Julian's shop one day casually advising him on an idea for the store. Seemingly at random, they bump into each other next at a local cafe whereby Edward informs Julian he knew his father when they were at school together. This seems to cement the beginnings of a friendship and a circumspect mentorship between them. Avon has a wife and a daughter but their relationships appear fractured. Further behind the scenes, something subversive has happened. Avon appears to be at the center of an investigation taking place by Domestic Security.

The story is told from different angles, time-frames, and makes us work at paying attention to the details so that we can piece together the story. Is Avon a con artist? A spy? Who else in his circle is aware of his actions? Who else is complicit? How will this end? I can only imagine that these might be the type of questions someone in this business might need to wade through to get answers.

An afterword by LeCarre's son, Nick Cornwell, is included. In it, he tells the reader that he has not been privy to more information about his father's real-life spy career than the general public already knows. His role in getting his father's book published posthumously is to let it stand on its own merit. 

“Matrimony meets mayhem in a modern British rom-com about a young woman charged with pulling off the biggest aristocratic wedding of the year - and the misadventures that ensue.” 

This is hands-down my favorite book of 2021, and if you’re a lover of Chick Lit and Romance, I highly recommend The Secret Bridesmaid! Sophie Breeze is a full-time professional bridesmaid. Working for brides all over London, Sophie poses as a bridesmaid and friend while working behind the scenes to plan and execute the perfect wedding. The gig of a lifetime lands in Sophie’s lap as a job offer from the Marchioness of Meade entails being the bridesmaid of the Marchioness’ diva daughter, Cordelia. Sophie must pull off the most famous wedding of the year (450 guests!) all while keeping her identity a secret and surviving the bride, who is determined to make Sophie’s life a nightmare. 

I wasn’t sure about this book when I picked it up, but the idea of a woman working professionally as a secret bridesmaid sold me on a check out. I could not put it down! Birchall creates the most colorful characters and creates a setting that places you right inside the story. This is not your typical Romantic Comedy, either. Birchall weaves in themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery all while making you fall in love with the characters and laugh out loud.  

This is Book One in the From Kona with Love series by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha. I had never heard of either of these authors before but when I read that the series would depict multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii I knew that I had to give it a try.  Then I was beyond thrilled to find out that Kristoffer Polaha is an actor that I have seen in numerous television shows and during my Hallmark Christmas movie binge watching. 

In this beautifully written book that is part travel log and part romance, we are introduced to Andie and Warren. Andi has had a awful year, so she is now questioning the choices she made. In a quick decision, she escapes her problems by running off to Hawaii to help her friend, Api. What Andi finds is more than a coffee shop and run down plantation; she finds a purpose. She unexpectedly meets Warren Yates on Christmas Eve, a mysterious man who has a connection to the shop and wants to help Andie explore the island for whatever time she has.

Moments Like This delivers a beautiful love story wrapped inside two journeys of self-discovery.  The authors beautifully wrote the Hawaiian and Filipino cultures and traditions, wherein both cultures respect and honor family, love, and food. It is the perfect book to get into the holiday spirit, so grab a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and snuggle in for a Hawaiian treat.

This movie directed by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame is based on the 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in New Zealand. It is the story of two friends, Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme who form a strong bond. Pauline's relationship with her mother becomes increasingly strained and Pauline plots with Juliet to kill her. The girls plan a trip to Victoria park where the girls bludgeon Honora Parker to death. Kate Winslet is excellent as the affluent Juliet and it is  a well written and directed film. The girls were both arrested and spent time in jail. Juliet Hulme later moved to England and changed her name to Anne Perry, who became a successful author of murder mystery novels. A movie well worth watching.

Refugee High: Coming of Age in America chronicles a year in the life of staff and students at Chicago's Sullivan High School on the far northside of the city. Originally written in part as an article for Chicago Magazine, journalist Elly Fishman spent hundreds of hours at the school and in the community during 2017-2018, as anti immigration rhetoric continues following the recent presidential election.  Fishman focuses her reporting on four of Sullivan's immigrant students, whose families have all escaped violence in their home countries of Iraq, Myanmar, the Congo, and Guatemala. These young people must navigate a new country, language, and culture...in addition to surviving the normal hormonal teenage angst. The teens are often at odds with their parents, who still cling to the old beliefs of their homelands as their kids become "Americanized" by YouTube, rap music, Snapchat, and fast food. 

While Fishman shares some of the horrific and heartbreaking events that have forced these families to flee their native countries, she is clear to point out that Chicago also suffers from gun violence and gangs. These teens must take great caution to avoid the all to present danger that lurks right outside the school doors. The staff at Sullivan are truly heroic, especially Ms. Q, a no nonsense teacher who heads the ELL program on a shoestring budget that is always at risk of even further cutbacks. Despite the crumbling walls and broken furniture of the converted library that now houses the Newcomer program, it is a safe haven for these teens who are in desperate need of one, as well as a place where they can just hang out and be typical kids. 

This is an inspiring account of the modern immigrant experience in America. I was personally drawn to this book as I too am a graduate of Sullivan High School, which even decades earlier was a wonderful melting pot of different cultures and languages.