The Sunday Salon... with Books to Add to Your TBR List NOW!

Welcome to The Sunday Salon! It's the place where Book Bloggers from around the world share their bookish finds with one another in a virtual place called The Sunday Salon. Thank you to for Deb at ReaderBuzz keeping us all together on Sundays and hosting The Sunday Salon now! I also visited with Kim at The Caffeinated Reader, another Sunday gathering place for us bookish people called The Sunday Post!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks in South Carolina. 2 weeks ago, we had unbelievable cold weather AND lost our power for a few days because of the freezing rain we had. Freezing rain means ice on power lines and that means power lines coming down, along with trees. Dressing in lots of layers and under plenty of blankets got us through that, but it was not fun. And then a week later the temps got up into the 30's and this past week we saw 65! So, I have had enough of winter... Let's talk books.

For the past two weeks I have gotten some great books from some of my favorite publishers! Two of these books are from favorite authors and two are publishing their debut novels...

The Final Target by Nora Roberts... from the publisher: He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that. Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake… An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude—but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility. Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

Nora Roberts never, and I mean never, fails to draw me into her stories. From the first few pages I knew this was going to be a great read! If you are a Nora Roberts fan, add this to your TBR list! St. Martin's Press will be releasing this on May 26th! And look for my full review in the next few weeks! (BTW, Did you know that Nora Roberts has written 225 novels!?!) Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ebook of The Final Target to read and review!

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Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews... from the publisher: Maeve and Therese Dunigan are sisters--but the two have been estranged for years. They could not be more opposite: Maeve is the rule-follower and Therese is the rebel. But when their mother's death brings the family back together, the two find that they have inherited a painting--one that could be worth millions and could save each of them from the wolves at their door. The only issue is whether it’s real or a fake --and the only way they can prove that theirs is the real McCoy is to solve the mystery of how this portrait of an Anglo-Irish aristocrat made its way to their childhood home in Savannah, GA. This means a road trip--to Ireland, to their family roots, and to a mysterious crime that occurred generations ago. With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. Can Maeve and Therese actually survive the journey without killing each other? 

Believe it or not, this is my first Mary Kay Andrews book! And after reading over half this book in the last few days, she is now one of my favorite writers! OMG, this book is just great! I love the story, the characters the setting. Why haven't I read her before?! Another book coming from publisher St. Martin's Press on June 2nd. So after you finish reading The Final Target by Nora Roberts, you need to read Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews. And then I need to start reading the Mary Kay Andrews backlist. Thank you again St. Martin's press for the eBook to read and review!

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A Fate Worse that Drowning by Sarah L. Hawthorn... from the publisher: A year ago, Elle made a deal with the devil to save her sister. Now, they live on a desolate spit of land beyond Halifax harbor. Elle, as lighthouse keeper, steers unsuspecting sailors to their destruction; those are the terms of her bargain. Liney need never know the cost. Her safety is worth every drop of blood. But a sinner's pact is not so simple. When the devil returns, demanding more – more shipwrecks, no survivors – Elle knows what she must do to keep Liney safe... Another ship. Another crew killed in the devil's name. Then a woman washes ashore. Is she a soul to be sacrificed, or part of a darker design? As Liney and the stranger grow closer, Elle faces an impossible choice: kill, and break Liney's heart, or forfeit her own soul.  Danger arises from all sides: the merciless sea, ruthless men on the mainland, and the infernal bargain itself…

Wow, talk about atmospheric and eery. Like a gothic ghost story, the author really captures the mood of the story and pulls you in. The writing is so fluid. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. I'm almost finished with this and can't believe how quickly I was turning those pages. This book will be published by Poisened Pen Press , a division of Sourcebooks, on July 21st. Review coming soon... Thank you Poisened Pen Press for a copy of the ebook to read and review!

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Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk... from the publisher: Through letters exchanged across oceans and Manhattan streets, Irish immigrant Catherine McGuirk navigates love, ambition, and heartbreak. Torn between her seafaring husband, the suitor she once refused, and her own dreams, Catherine’s fate unfolds in an intimate, epistolary saga of passion, resilience, and 19th-century life.

Epistolary novels seem all the rage these days. I've always loved that style of book. AND this book is wonderful! Omg, the writing, the story, and the characters and all so well written, you feel as though you are taken back in time and living life thru the eyes of Catherine. If you love historical fiction, this book is for you. More about the book, and writer Susan McGuirk, when I review it (coming soon too!) Dear Missing Friend will be published by Sea Cow Press on May 19th! Thank you, Sea Cow Press, for the ebook to read and review!

I was reading a post on substack about reading more than one novel at a time. Different books for different moods. With all these books finding their way into my Kindle this past week, I was reading more than one book, alternating between Kindle and Kobo (I had to buy the later because I had an epub book I wanted to read). I'm finishing up Road Trip right now, and then I'll move on to finish the other books this week too. It was kind of interesting having more than one book going at a time.

 Do you have more than one book going at a time?

Weekly Wrap-up... (really 2 weeks!)

January 19th... Memoir Monday... It's a bit unusual to call a book of poetry a memoir, but in Billy Collins' case, his book of poetry Water, Water feels that way to me. Read about it by following this link to Memoir Monday.

January 21st...Review of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burk.

January 29th... Review of Sisterhood: A Hydde St. Story by Maytal Zchut

Feb. 4th... Review of A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumbar

Feb. 6th... First Lines Friday (follow the link to read the first lines of a Romantasy the has all the word abuzz!)

Feb. 13th... First Lines Friday (follow the link to a Romantasy with a enemies to lover twist!)

What new books have you picked up lately?

Lots of great reading the last few weeks and it isn't even Spring yet! . I Hope you found something that piqued your interest! All of these books today have piqued mine. Come back this week for some reviews, First Lines and a great Monday Memoir!

Happy reading... Suzanne

The Sunday Salon... and Books You NEED to Add to Your TBR Pile!

Welcome to The Sunday Salon! It's the place where Book Bloggers from around the world share their bookish finds with one another in a virtual place called The Sunday Salon. Thank you to for Deb at ReaderBuzz keeping us all together on Sundays and hosting The Sunday Salon now! I also visited with Kim at The Caffeinated Reader, another Sunday gathering place for us bookish people called The Sunday Post ! It's a beautiful day in South Carolina and a perfect day to talk books. And talking books is what The Sunday Salon is all about! 

My TBR pile is getting high! There are so many books I just have to read! Today's Sunday Salon is about adding some great books to YOUR TBR pile!

Right now I'm reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (coming April 2026) and I am hooked! I'm living the good life of a modern day influencer (that isn't quite what it seems), and the dirt poor rural life with no indoor plumbing with Nattie Heller Mills in parallel universes. Omg! Keep an eye out for my review. I'm over half way done and so far it's a 5 star read for me. Add this to your TBR list, but you'll have to wait until April 7th to find it at your favorite bookstore...

Here are 3 others I can't wait to read in my TBR list and should be in yours... 

First, Are you a fan of Epistolary novels?

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans... Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.

Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever find.

This book has been exploding the internet! Like being a voyeur, the book lets us read the letters Sybil Van Antwerp has written to the people in her life and the letters she has received in return.

Published by Crown Publishing last October, I'll be diving into this one soon!

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levin... Questions linger about Theo, a pleasant but mysterious stranger, after his arrival in the southern city of Golden. Who is he, and why is he here? He arrives early one spring and by chance - or is it? - he visits a coffee shop where 92 framed pencil portraits are on display. Inspired, Theo sets out on a mission of purchasing all the portraits one at a time and quietly bestowing them on their 'rightful owners.' Stories are told; friendships are born; and lives are changed. Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the far-reaching possibilities of anonymous kindness.

The first time I noticed this book, I was in Barnes & Noble walking around and stopped in front of a table to look at a book (big surprise, right?!). This one young lady looks at her friend, picks up a copy of Theo of Golden and says, "I've heard really good things about this book". Of course I had to see what book it was. From it's cover, it looked pretty nondescript. When I got home I did some research, and kept finding Theo of Golden on a million (I might be exaggerating a little) best books of the year and my favorite book of the year lists. So I have this waiting in my TBR pile. 

Published by Atria Books in October of 2023 (but it took off in 2025!), It's in my TBR pile, waiting for a window of time where I want to settle down for a leisurely read.

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My Friends by Fredrik Backman... Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

I like Fredrik Backmans' writing. I've read all his books and naturally would pick this one up. This one seems a bit different. More mystery to unveil. AND, My Friends is on a ton of "Best of/Favorite Books" lists too. 

   Published by Atria Books May 2025. In my ever growing TBR pile now.

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Weekly Wrap-up... 

Last Sunday... If you missed last Sunday, there was no Sunday Salon, but there was a review. Read my review of Atmosphere and share your thoughts on Taylor Jenkins Reid's new book.

Monday... Mondays are for Memoirs, and this past Monday we showcase Home Schooled by Stefan Merrill Block, who had an unusual home school experience to say the least. Click on the link to learn more about this memoir published by Hanover Square Press. P.S. I just received an eBook of Home Schooled from the publisher, so look for a review coming soon!

Friday... Fridays are for First Lines! And we take a look at Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. After seeing the preview of the upcoming movie, The Sheep Detectives, I really wanted to see the movie... but I like reading the book first, so I had to pick up a copy. Read about it on First Lines Friday! (and I posted a link to the trailer of The Sheep Detectives too!)

That about does it for this week. Next week, more exciting books that just came in from my library wishlist... and my new obsession with Romantacy! Stop by and check it all out next week.... and until then...

Happy Reading... Suzanne
 

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald... Blog Tour and Review!

Welcome to Broken Wheel, a whisper of a town, almost beyond repair. But to a girl named Sara, who lives practically on the other side of the world (ok, maybe just across the Atlantic), Broken Wheel is her adventure of a lifetime!

Amy lives in Broken Wheel, Iowa, a sleepy little rural town that has seen better days. Sara lives in Sweden, would rather read a book than participate in life and works in a bookstore, or did, until the bookstore closed. But because of Amy and Sara's shared love of books and reading, they become pen pals, and eventually Amy invites Sara for a visit...

So, Sara crosses the Atlantic, thousands of miles away from home, and arrives in Iowa, waiting for Amy to pick her up from the next town over... and waits... and waits... only to find out that Amy checked out of Broken Wheel...permanently!  And not only did Sara miss Amy, but she missed her funeral as well! Oh, what's a girl to do?! Not to worry, the town takes Sara in, kind of adopts her and so begins, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald.

Quirky characters, a bit of romance, and a good story make this a fun read! After a while, it just feels like you're a part of the story too! Katarina Bivald is a wonderful writer, and gives life to her characters and Broken Wheel. For all of us book lovers, Broken Wheel is a great place to visit, especially since Sara decides to pay back the kindness of the town, by sharing her love of reading by opening a bookstore, where there's "something for everyone"!

I really enjoyed the premise of "the town" adopting Sara. It really showcased what small town America is all about. And the bookstore was wonderful because as a reader it was fun to see what books Sara would recommend to people, and how some of the choices were a bit "controversial". But I think my favorite parts of the book were the letters between Amy and Sara. They really gave me insight into the characters and the town. And, the letters were sprinkled throughout the book to add a bit of background depending on what was going on in the story.

If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and/or 84, Charing Cross Road, you will definitely enjoy The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, which has the same kind of charm and is partly written in that wonderful epistolary style. Charming, heartwarming and a book lovers kind of read. Put this on your TBR list now!  I thoroughly enjoyed it! 4 stars from me. And not only will you enjoy it, but this has all the qualities of a great book club selection! It's the January Indie Next Pick! AND, this coming Tuesday, January 19th, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend will be released! I want to thank the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the eGalley for my reading pleasure and in exchange for my honest review!

Chick with Books is hosting the official blog tour today! And I've got a link from Sourcebooks Landmark for a giveaway they are running! They are giving away copies of this book to 3 lucky winners! Here is The Link. They will be contacting the winners directly. Good luck!

The Sunday Salon and Mail Call...

Welcome to the Sunday Salon! This is the day during the week where we get together and talk books! So grab a cup of joe, find a comfy chair and relax! What bookish things have you been doing this week?

Thought I would share some of the great books you should see arriving in your bookstore soon! These wonderful pages arrived in my mailbox the past few weeks and I am so excited!

Charming by Elliott James... Not all Princes are Charming... He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbows to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt. That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?

Just when I thought I was all through with Vampires and the like, Charming by Elliott James arrives in my mailbox to WOW me. The story is fun, the writing drew me in with it's easy laid back style and I loved the characters! Look for a full review soon, but for now, let me just say READ it! Charming was published late Sept. by Orbit books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, and can be found at your local bookstore now!

Harvest by Jim Crace... On the morning after harvest, the inhabitants of a remote English village awaken looking forward to a hard-earned day of rest and feasting at their landowner's table. But the sky is marred by two conspicuous columns of smoke, replacing pleasurable anticipation with alarm and suspicion. One smoke column is the result of an overnight fire that has damaged the master's outbuildings. The second column rises from the wooded edge of the village, sent up by newcomers to announce their presence. In the minds of the wary villagers a mere coincidence of events appears to be unlikely, with violent confrontation looming as the unavoidable outcome. Meanwhile, another newcomer has recently been spotted taking careful notes and making drawings of the land. It is his presence more than any other that will threaten the village's entire way of life.

This book was a finalist in the Man Booker Prize, and has earned a lot of praise for it's writing, which has been referred to as "haunting" and "thought-provoking". The author puts us in the midst of an English village, probably in the mid 1600's, and the villagers that call it home. Published by Vintage Books, it is available on the bookstore shelves now, and it's a Kindle bargain at $7.99 right now! I always tend to pay attention to the books that are in the Man Booker lists, and I look forward to cracking the spine on this literary runner up!

The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black... Mourning for her daughter and her crumbling marriage, photographer Clare Porterfield returns to her childhood home in Galveston, Texas, hoping to find distraction in mounting an exhibition featuring the island’s vivid history. Things haven’t changed much during her decade away: her relationship with her mother and older sister is still fraught and competitive, and their neighbors, the Carradays, wield the same moneyed influence they have for generations. But Clare finds that she is now an outsider, out of step with the unique rhythms of Galveston life. As she copes with her grief by digging deeper into the past, she discovers secrets that have grown and multiplied like the wildflowers that climb up Island walls and fences—secrets that will give her a new understanding of her own history.

This sounds like a great reading group pick! Uncovering secrets long buried usually always spells interest and Elizabeth Black has gotten some great reviews for The Drowning House. Published by Random House, this will be on the shelves Oct. 8th!

The Antagonist by Lynn Coady... A piercing epistolary novel, The Antagonist explores, with wit and compassion, how the impressions of others shape, pervert, and flummox both our perceptions of ourselves and our very nature. Gordon Rankin Jr., aka “Rank,” thinks of himself as “King Midas in reverse”—and indeed misfortune seems to follow him at every turn. Against his will and his nature, he has long been considered—given his enormous size and strength—a goon and enforcer by his classmates, by his hockey coaches, and, not least, by his “tiny, angry” father. He gamely lives up to their expectations, until a vicious twist of fate forces him to flee underground. Now pushing forty, he discovers that an old, trusted friend from his college days has published a novel that borrows freely from the traumatic events of Rank’s own life. Outraged by this betrayal and feeling cruelly misrepresented, he bashes out his own version of his story in a barrage of e-mails to the novelist that range from funny to furious to heartbreaking.

This looks to be fun! I love epistolary novels! That is, novels that are written as a series of letters. Actually this is written in the form of emails that are dated and time stamped at the beginning of each one, and the ones I read so far are funny. But it's not all fun and games for Rank, who pours out his version of "the story". This is a kind of coming-of-age tale, and there are heart breaking moments as well. This is definitely on the top of the reading pile and has gotten a lot of early praise. It is published by Vintage Books, an imprint of Random House, and I think it would make a good reading group read, with what appear to be good discussion questions from the publisher. This will be available on the book shelves Oct. 8th! If you enjoy epistolary novels, you have to check out this one! Look for a review soon!

A BIG thank you to the publishers and reps who sent along these great books for me to review!

What Else Happened This Week?... On Monday, I wrote about Marcella Hazan,  a cookbook writer, Italian cooking extraordinaire, who died last Sunday. Her legacy will be the wonderful Italian cooking she taught from her home, cooking schools and cookbooks. I recently picked up a copy of her Essentials of Italian Cooking and not only was excited to read the recipes inside, but the wealth of cooking information she shares at the beginning and thru-out. I will be reviewing this and sharing what I decide to cook too!

Tom Clancy, author of numerous thrillers, including The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games, died this past week. Fans of Jack Ryan will get one more chance to tag along, with Tom Clancy's last Jack Ryan novel Command Authority, coming out Dec. 3rd. This book was written with Mark Greaney, the second collaboration with Tom Clancy, which will probably keep the Jack Ryan legacy alive. 

How was your reading week?! Any great books you'd like to share?! I always like to hear what you're reading too! 

Happy reading... Suzanne

The Sunday Salon... Love Letters of a Different Kind - Epistolary Novels

Still buried under two feet of snow?! I know here in Connecticut it seems like the snow will never stop, but it's Sunday morning! Time to grab that cup of joe and chat about something we all love -Reading! And speaking of reading,there are always some great discussions to be found on Goodreads about books, and always great recommendations. Are you familiar with Goodreads? Goodreads is a social network for readers. There are book clubs, discussion groups, book giveaways, reviews and a virtual place to shelve your books and keep trackof them. If you've never visited Goodreads, and you're a reader, hop on over and check it out! Here's the link to Goodreads, I promise you won't be sorry!

Recently on Goodreads there was a discussion in the Books on The Nightstand group, run by Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness about favorite books about books.(Ann Kingman and Michael Kindness are two bookish people who have a great podcast, Books on the Nightstand, all about books! And a great companion blog to that too!) Someone mentioned The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Have you read it yet? I loved this book, it takes place during WWII, when an English novelist receives a letter from a man she's never met, who lives in the small island of Guernsey. The man found her name inscribed in a used book. They begin a correspondence, and the novelist, Juliet Ashton, finds her next writing project- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a book club formed in a spur of the moment decision as an alibi when the German soldiers occupying the small island find some of the citizens breaking curfew. It is a wonderful, charming novel. The correspondence grows from just the two of them writing each other, to practically the whole town writing Juliet. It is an epistolary novel - a novel written entirely in letters!

Then someone added to the discussion about another epistolary novel that they enjoyed - Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. I had never heard of this book, but since enjoying The Guernsey book so much, I thought I'd check out Mark Dunn's book. And THAT got me to thinking about other epistolary novels... Have you read any epistolary novels? It's an interesting way to write a book, but also an interesting way to read a book. Kind of like being a voyeur... peeking into someone's private correspondence. To be considered an "epistolary novel", the novel needs to be written with diary entries, documents, letters etc. The novel doesn't necessarily need to be all "letters", but they must play an important & major part of the novel. Now "epistolary" novels can also mean books written in the form of emails, blogging and tweets!

When The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society novel took off in popularity, it was thought by some to be unique because of the way it was written, but epistolary novels have been around a long time! In fact epistolary novels date back all the way to 1485, with The Prisoner of Love by Diego de San Pedro. Probably the first well known and wildly popular epistolary novel was (Love) Letters of a Portuguese Nun "written by" Marianna Alcoforado, that told the passionate love affair between the nun and a french officer. Even a very young Jane Austen wrote a novella, Lady Susan, in this form. So today, I thought we'd take a look at some contemporary epistolary novels...

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn... Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal pangram,* “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. The result is both a hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere.

After reading about this on Goodreads, I just had to get a copy. This sounds like such a fun novel. I can't wait to see how the letters disappear from the novel. Ella Minnow Pea (L M N O P) has also gotten rave reviews too! Some people have called this a dystopian novel because of the control that the "good intentioned" government has over its citizens.

The Pull of the Moon by Elizabeth Berg... In the middle of her life, Nan decides to leave her husband at home and begin an impromptu trek across the country, carrying with her a turquoise leather journal she intends to fill. The Pull of the Moon is a novel about a woman coming to terms with issues of importance to all women. In her journal, Nan addresses the thorniness—and the allure—of marriage, the sweet ties to children, and the gifts and lessons that come from random encounters with strangers, including a handsome man appearing out of the woods and a lonely housewife sitting on her front porch steps. Most of all, Nan writes about the need for the self to stay alive. In this luminous and exquisitely written novel, Elizabeth Berg shows how sometimes you have to leave your life behind in order to find it.

What can I say, if you're of a certain age and a woman... I downloaded a sample on my Kindle to get the feel of the book. At first, on the surface, the letters Nan started writing to her husband seemed to be rather humorous, reflecting on the "horrors" of aging, but there is also an underlying sadness to Nan too. I like the writing of Elizabeth Berg, and know she won't fail me.

Heart on my Sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger... While on a college visit, Chloe meets Julian, another prospective freshman, and infatuated, the two high school seniors begin a long-distance relationship. Chloe is thrilled that she'll have a boyfriend at college, although she doesn't know how to break the news to Eli, her best friend whom she's sort of dating. As Chloe and Julian prepare to meet again, they must face the question of whether their relationship is based on who they really are or who they imagine each other to be.

This is a YA novel that's gotten some great buzz, and The Horn Book praised by writing... "Wittlinger's novel - about genuinely connecting, not just communicating - will hook readers, both with its lovestruck but thoughtful main characters and with its realistic-looking but easy-to-follow layout of e-mails, instant messages, and handwritten letters flying back and forth among the protagonists and their friends and family." This is also a great example of how epistolary encompasses not just "letters", but newer forms of communications!

Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger... Last Days of Summer is the story of Joey Margolis, neighborhood punching bag, growing up goofy and mostly fatherless in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. A boy looking for a hero, Joey decides to latch on to Charlie Banks, the all-star third baseman for the New York Giants. But Joey's chosen champion doesn't exactly welcome the extreme attention of a persistent young fan with an overactive imagination. Then again, this strange, needy kid might be exactly what Banks needs.

This book is not just made up of letters, but is filled with notes, report cards, postcards and other "writable things". It looks to me like it would be a sweet coming-of-age story, written in a very inventive way. And something "you guys" out there would really enjoy!

Other notable epistolary novels... The Color Purple by Alice Walker, White Tiger by Araind Adica, Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea, 84 Charing Crossing Road by Helene Hanff and The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif.

*Here are some suggestions from Chick with Books Readers... Nikola from Nikola's Book Blog shares Dracula by Bram Stoker, Kaye from Pudgy Penguin Perusals shares The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd, and Uniflame shares life on the refrigerator door by Alice Kuipers. Thanks everyone for sharing these suggestions!

Here's a Recap of this past weeks blog... for Memoir Monday I highlighted a book any foodie reader would appreciate - Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton -which is a look at the 25 year journey Gabrielle took before opening up her acclaimed NY restaurant, Prune. Gabrielle has a great writing style that just easily sweeps you up in the story. Then on Wednesday (even though the date says Sunday), I reviewed the 1st book in the adorable Manga series Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Konata. Written in the Western style, which is how graphic novels usually are written (read front to back), Chi's Sweet Home tells the story of a Chi, a lost kitten who eventually finds a home and a family with the Yamada's. If you've ever lived with a kitten, you will love the antics of Chi. Publisher's Weekly calls it the cutest Manga of 2010, and I have to agree- it is sweet and kids of all ages (including my age) will enjoy it. Then for First Lines on friday, I shared the beginning of The Raven's Bride by Lenore Hart. This book is a ghost story, a love story and from the opening lines looks to be a delicious read! The ghost of Virginia Poe, the love of Edgar Allan Poes life opens the book coming to visit her lover & husband. I can't wait to dive into this book! BTW, Today is the last day to grab one of the 3 romances Sourcebooks is offering ebook fans! One is a historical fiction from Elizabeth Chadwick! Here's the link to read more about Sourcebooks free ebooks!

Other mentionables... Delirium by Lauren Oliver was released this week!! Here's my review of Delirium. If you enjoy dystopian love stories, YA love stories, great books, you have to read this! I have to warn you though, it is only the first book in a planned trilogy! I really need to read book two now!! Also the Jane Eyre Readathon hosted by Laura of Laura's Review Bookshelf started! Feb. 7th will be the first "check-in". No pressure, read at your own pace, and it's not too late to start! Basically, if you'd like to read Jane Eyre and have a place to discuss or comment on what you're reading, getting insights from other readers, etc. this is a way to share it all. Here's the link to the original Readathon Sign-up. This week Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness will be released! I chatted about Discovery of Witches in a Sunday Salon a few weeks ago as one of my hot picks! Kind of like a Harry Potter for adults. And the 3rd book in the Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley, A Red Herring Without Mustard will be released this week too!

I hope I piqued your interest with something today! What do you think about epistolary novels?! Love 'em? Hate 'em? Never read one before? If you found a trunk full of old love letters, would you open and read every one? Share what you're reading here! And if you have any bookish suggestions, you can share them here too!

Happy reading... Suzanne