Susan Meissner is a former managing editor of a weekly newspaper and an award-winning columnist. She is the award-winning author of A Bridge Across the Ocean, Secrets of a Charmed Life, A Fall of Marigolds, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, and As Bright as Heaven, among other novels.

There are mirrors of two kinds; the kind you look into to see what you look like, and the kind you look into to see what other people think you look like. This is how the teenage girls, Elise and Mariko, felt in The Last Year of the War. The two became friends at an internment camp in Crystal City, Texas, of all the unlikely places. Elise, the daughter of German immigrants who came to America in 1925, had grown up in Davenport, Iowa. Mariko, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, who found their way to Los Angeles and then to Little Tokyo, lived above the family’s vegetable and herb shop, went to school, spoke Japanese and English and dreamed of going to a university and becoming successful. This American dream changed drastically for both girls on the morning of December 7, 1941, with the surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The Last Year of the War is a deeply emotional and mindful accounting of the fear and heartbreak that the families of German and Japanese heritage endured during World War ll, here in the U. S. and abroad. The vivid description of the repatriation of the families of Elise and Mariko and so many others, aids the understanding of what was happening to our friends and neighbors, as they simply disappeared from schools and communities. The girls and their families were given very little information regarding the war while in Crystal City. Later, after crossing the ocean and learning of what had happened in Europe, Elise is still writing to Mariko and hoping to one day be united in New York City, as they had planned. What a journey these girls and their families survive; the deprivations of war, and the realization that love “bears all things.” This Grateful Reader gained so much insight from this novel; I highly recommend it!

ABOUT MELANIE BENJAMIN

Melanie Benjamin is the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, and Alice I Have Been. Benjamin lives in Chicago, where she is at work on her next historical novel.

The Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

The Mistress of the Ritz will lure you in, just as Blanche and Claude lured the elite, wealthy, and well known, into the posh Ritz Hotel; with “her” tapestries, works of art, chandeliers, sumptuous dining, and decadent decor. The Ritz holds her own place in the cast of characters in this revealing tale of love and war. Because where else would the duchesses and princesses find bathrooms in each suite, and telephones and electricity throughout ?

“No one knows anything, while seeing, hearing everything. This is how it is in Paris these days. ”

The lives of the French people became divided into two distinct sections: how they lived and saw people and situations before the German invasion, and how this all changed after the invasion in 1940. This same distinction was evident in the life of the Ritz, her guests and the debonair French manager, Claude, and his wife, Blanche, the American actress & flapper.

As history unfolds with the 1942 tragedy of Vel d’Hiv, the lives of the Parisians and especially, the Jews, change forever. Blanche and Claude are living out their marriage in the Ritz, surrounded by Germans. Relegated to the far side of the hotel, they must live under the constant surveillance and scrutiny of the German officers and the hotel staff, as they continue to host guests and serve the Germans; never sure who’s who.

With the daily disappearances of staff, familiar faces of guests and friends; Blanche and Claude must each find a sense of purpose in this new life. Claude and Blanche love each other,madly, but can they trust each other, implicitly? With the help of friends like Blanche’s Lily and Claude’s contact, Martin, and the dependable barkeep, Frank, the bonds of marriage are stretching quite thin as the Parisians wait and watch for the coming of the Americans and always, always, counting on the Resistance.

The love and life of Blanche and Claude on full display at the Ritz; along with the daily developments of the war will keep you aching to know who merely survives the war, who lives and dies, but mostly how do they “go on with life?” What purpose can war serve?

So many believed, “Nothing bad can happen at the Ritz. The Ritz will provide. The Ritz will protect…. But will it now? Now that its famous front door is manned not by a top-hatted doorman in a black overcoat, but a Nazi soldier? “

The Mistress of the Ritz is highly recommended; a 5 Star hotel and a 5 Star read.

Reviews Coming Soon:

The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/572987/the-last-year-of-the-war-by-susan-meissner/9780451492159/

The Beautiful Strangers by Camille di Maio https://www.camilledimaio.com/the-beautiful-strangers

Kelly is the author of The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane (Thomas Dunne, 2013) and The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay (Thomas Dunne, 2016). Watch for The Overdue Life of Amy Byler in May, 2019. Kelly lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her adorable and sometimes imperious toddler Griffin.

Grateful Reader Review: by Dorothy Schwab

Overdue Book = Library Fine Overdue Life = Credit Card Debt

Amy’s life as a wife and mother was going along as smoothly as can be expected with John, a mostly absent husband, Joe, an eight year old genius son and the diver, Cori, her twelve year old daughter. But on the day John rolled his suitcase out the door and got on a flight to Hong Kong, stable, stay-at-home mom, Amy, became a single mother with two children to raise. Quite quickly, according to Amy’s BFF, Lena, Amy snagged a job as school librarian at the private school Joe and Cori attended, refinanced the house and barged on with her life.

Kelly Harms recreates the topsy-turvy life and emotional roller coaster ride of a single mom with her quirky accounting of conversations that Amy Byler has with herself, in her own head. Amy’s actually quite convincing and has you choosing her side of the argument, and then just as swiftly your emotions flip-flop and suddenly her rationionalizations have you siding with John! (There were times I didn’t know if I’d “kiss ‘im or kick ‘im” if I actually ran into him.) The BIG issue arises when John returns after three years in Hong Kong, in order “to spend time” and “get to know” his children. (Oh brother, picture lots of really mad faced, exasperated emojis in Amy’s texts.)

John wants to spend a week with his children-just a week! What could go wrong? Amy’s friends, Lena and college roommate, Talia, are in cahoots when Amy decides to spend that same week in NYC at a conference for librarians, earning continuing education units and presenting at the conference. ( This is a “get away” on which planet?) Amy’s sensible financial strategy is to stay with Talia, editor of Pure Beautiful Magazine, in order to save hotel expenses. When Amy’s phone calls and texts go unanswered she reverts to their old college days and the tricks she and Talia used to get into hotels. This is the point where Amy’s “overdue life” begins to get REALLY expensive-it’s NYC, not rural Pennsylvania. Credit cards are for emergencies, right?

Amy’s attempt to enthuse and enthrall Cori with reading begins with summer book suggestions and journaling. This “grateful reader” simply adored the journal entries Cori writes to her mother at the beginning of each chapter. The references to authors, book titles and plays are a luscious treat for book lovers of all ages.

Amy does experience life in NYC. And it was certainly “overdue.” You’ll need to read the book to find out the bits about the “make over of Amy”, the clothes, the dates, the restaurants & bars, the plays, the museums; the crying & heart-breaking decisions that have to be made. Read Kelly Harm’s newest book and you will experience the pain of abandonment and the false elation of martyrdom; regret and forgiveness, the thrill of a new love, and even the realization that children grow up and become independent -which is both joyful and bittersweet. You might need your own ” momspringa” after you read The Overdue Life of Amy Byler.

Check out: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41723475-the-overdue-life-of-amy-byler

#TallPoppyWriters #TallPoppyBloggers #TheOverdueLifeOfAmyByler #NetGalley

Reviews Coming Soon:

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555976/mistress-of-the-ritz-by-melanie-benjamin/9780399182242/

The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/572987/the-last-year-of-the-war-by-susan-meissner/9780451492159/

Kristy Woodson Harvey holds a degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in English from East Carolina University. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and son. http://www.kristywoodsonharvey.com/  

Book Review by The Grateful Reader Dorothy Schwab

How does the state mineral of Georgia land a role in The Southern Side of Paradise?

The Southern Side of Paradise is #3 in Kristy Woodson Harvey’s Peachtree Bluff Series. Ansley and her three grown daughters, Caroline, Sloane, and Emerson, the Starlite Sisters, by several twists of fate, now live on the waterfront in the “southern paradise” of Georgia called Peachtree Bluff. Ansley’s mom, Grammy, always said, ” …life is nothing but one big surprise after another,” and in this peach of a story, the surprises AND the family secrets just keep on coming!

From the Twin Towers on 9/11 and the streets of Manhattan, to the movie studios of LA and stardom; and even farther to the battlefields of Iraq- this family’s journey covers a lot of territory, both in distance and in time invested in relationships over the years.

Word of small town dramas don’t take long to spread and this holds true for Peachtree Bluff. You will meet and grow to love Carter, Jack, Mark, Kyle, James, and Adam. Statements like, ” I’m their father, and I’m dating their mother; Do you remember the night Peachtree High won state? The best part of life is the surprises, the reinvention of yourself ,” will connect the guys with their gals and the reader’s heart strings.

The staurolite plays a special part in the love story of the Starlite sisters of Peachtree Bluff. Staurolite is a special mineral found in Georgia; as special as the “little girls building castles on the southern side of paradise; the Starlite sisters.”

I highly recommend The Southern Side of Paradise! As a special treat, read book #1 Slightly South of Simple, and book #2 The Secret to Southern Charm. Then you’ll know why Kristy Woodson Harvey and her charming characters are considered such a Southern prize.

Reviews Coming Soon:

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms http://Kelly Harms

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin http://Melanie Benjamin

By Camille Pagan

“I’m thrilled to share that Lake Union Publishing will release my next novel, I’m Fine and Neither Are You, on April 1, 2019. I’m currently hard at work on my sixth novel, This Won’t End Well, which will be published at the beginning of 2020.

Grateful Reader Review:  by Dorothy Schwab

You, out running errands, bump into a friend: “Hi, how are you?” Friend: “I’m fine! How are you?” You: “Fine!!” We’ve all said this 50 million times!

Liar, liar, pants on fire! Are any of us ever truthful in this situation? Rarely. When you see the title of Camille Pagan’s new book, maybe you’re thinking “another Self Help book?” This book is packed with tips on self realization and honesty about our true feelings; whether it’s a relationship in marriage, between parent-child, or best friends. The great thing is that all of this “self help” comes in the sweet package of a novel titled, “I’m Fine and Neither Are You.”

Sanjay and Penny Ruiz-Kar have created a life for themselves and their two children, Stevie and Miles, in a university town in the Midwest. After Sanjay drops out of medical school to pursue a music/writing career, putting even more pressure on Penny’s development position at the university, the marriage scene is a bit strained-on several levels. Penny loves her husband, loves her kids, and mostly likes her life. So why is she so tired and suddenly admitting to herself that maybe she does “want out?”

Penny’s best friend, Jenny Sweet, seems to have it all together; has even created a blog , Sweet Things, sharing stories and situations about her beautiful, perfect self and perfect life; and making lots of money in the process. Jenny has a successful husband, Matt, though he travels a lot, and a precious, perfectly behaved daughter, Cecily. Maybe it’s all a bit too perfect?

Amidst the typical concerns of keeping her family not only on an even financial keel, but also spreading herself between her demanding job & boss, a not too involved husband, and the children, Penny realizes that she is the “wife, mother, breadwinner, and chief of operations at chez Ruis-Kar!”

When the unthinkable, unbelievable, “this can’t be happening”- happens, the “pretend” lives of Jenny and Mark Sweet and Penny and Sanjay Ruiz-Kar- come to a very unfairy- tale like end. No fairy godmother appears, but lots of “relationship building” begins; enough that you’ll be “perfectly” satisfied by the end.

There are so many life lessons and self- help “realizations” to be shared in this novel. You might very well mimic Penny and Sanjay by taking notes and making a “to do” list. Considering substance abuse, opioid addiction, honesty in marriage and friendships, abandonment and recognizing self worth are ALL covered here; the quicker you begin “I’m Fine and Neither Are You,” the quicker you’ll be more aware and prepared to answer, “How are YOU?”

Reviews Coming Soon:

The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Coming Soon-from Harper Collins- February 5, 2019

Susan Gloss is the bestselling author of  the novels Vintage and The Curiosities (coming February 5, 2019 from HarperCollins). She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in English and Spanish, and the University of Wisconsin Law School. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her family. Learn more at susangloss.com.

Nell is holding onto a shoebox filled with art gallery catalog pages and photos of people she doesn’t even know. Standing in front of a house in the Mansion Hill Historic District of Madison, Wisconsin, overlooking Lake Mendota; she’s wondering how she ended up here! Nell and husband, Josh, are struggling mightily with the early delivery and death of their baby daughter, and now the costly journey of IVF, in hopes of another baby, has them deep in debt. As Nell takes the job of director of Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony, she becomes entangled in the lives of the three residents that the benefactor, Elizabeth Barrett, had chosen before her death. The new “artists in residence” will be: Paige Jewell, a young college student whose art medium of preference changes along with the men she’s dating; Odin Sorenson, sculpture of metal, in his own level of grieving; and Annie Beck, already famous but needing to revive her name in the Art World. Coming together from three totally different backgrounds, Nell is challenged to form a family where there are three dysfunctional adults-each with their own dreams, hoping to find fulfillment at the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony. By the way, the residency for each artist is 6 months.

The reader will come to know the characters and really be “pulling” for each one in their own set of struggles. Susan Gloss does an amazing job revealing the “inside” feelings of Nell and Josh with their so very different approaches to dealing with death and then infertility. So real that I feel like she has a “microscope of feelings” at her fingertips. Book clubs will be discussing for hours.

I particularly enjoyed the art references at the beginning of each chapter, and then to read how the piece connected with the characters or plot, was so eye opening. Extremely well described, but I still longed for a photo of the art work.

The topics of death, grieving and infertility are certainly heavy and so personal, but recovery, reconciliation, and reunions will leave you with a full heart; and maybe a new found urge to find an art gallery to explore! Maybe a local art gallery or museum would be a fitting place for your book club discussion.

Reviews coming soon:

I’m Fine, and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan http://Camille Pagan

The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey http://Kristy Woodson Harvey

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Thanks for joining me!

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. “

Marcus Tullius Cicero