Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

 Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand sucks you into Nantucket (like all of Hilderbrands books). There is a touch of magical realism in this book, which is delightful. Who wouldn't hope that it's possible to help your family in the afterlife? I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say the characters were all vivid, rich, well done. There were many switches of view points, but it flowed nicely and simply had this reader eager for more. 

There was a touch of political polarization, but just a brief mention. This reader (and many others I know) wish that  sports, books, movies, etc, would stick to entertainment and leave political ideas to the news. Also, for me, the political point was lost as the setting of the novel depicted an honest police chief, mostly open minded and accepting citizens in Nantucket. 

It felt more like Hilderbrand was inserting it to perhaps to show she is "aware" - it was a subtle bounce out of the story and took a few pages to find my way back into the heart and soul of the story. 

I truly cared about all these characters. The mystery was a nice touch, but easy enough to figure out. 

I will be putting this book into as many hands as possible. 

Another Golden Book by Hilderbrand!

Available June 1st, 2021 

See Jane Snap by Bethany Crandell

See Jane Snap by Bethany Crandell gets an easy 4 stars, leaning a bit towards five. 

 Author Crandell has a wonderful gift for dialogue.  When characters have conversations, they flow easily. 

Jane is a very likeable character (for the most part) and it's somewhat easy to predict the outcome, however, the story is well written. You become a cheer leader for Jane, the main character. She is pushed out of her element and like any good story, learning and growth come out of it. A fun read. 

Available Sept 7, 2021 

Synopsis: 

Handsome, successful husband. Adorable daughter. Chairwoman of the PTA. Security for her ailing mom. Jane’s got everything life has to offer. Including the lie that could destroy it all.

See Jane smile. Thirty-nine-year-old Jane Osborne appears to the world like she has a charmed life. Her daughter attends private school. Jane chairs the PTA. Even her marriage to Dan, the handsome, prominent surgeon, is blissfully happy. Her universe is stable, and her future is fixed…just like that smile. Because it’s all a ruse. Unbeknownst to anyone, after eighteen years of marriage, Dan’s revealed that he’s been living a double life and is in love with a man. But for the sake of his career, Jane must keep that secret, secret.

See Jane lie. With their livelihood on the line, Jane agrees to maintain appearances. But soon the weight of Dan’s deception and the pain of his betrayal get the better of her. Something’s got to give.

See Jane snap. Quite publicly. And a bit unlawfully. With brutal honesty, Jane must confront her choices head-on and determine—for herself—if the facade of stability she’s been protecting is worth the price of her own sanity and happiness.