“The Rooftop Party”

The sequel to “Love Sold Seperately”

Let’s see, there was...a murder, an apartment, a domineering father, a BFF, a love interest, drugs, a new baby, and a happily-ever-after. Review done.

Well, not quite. I was happy to pick up the thread of Dana’s life. BUT - I was SOOOO frustrated with her shooting herself in the foot every chance she got. SOOOO tired of her only thinking about herself. SOOOOO sad that she violated her boyfriend's trust. SOOOOO glad she solved the mystery. She is definitely a broken person (and not just her ankle) - however, broken tends to make the best characters. SOOOO, cheers to shopping and sleuthing!!

“Love Sold Separately”

 

Sometimes a book is just a book. A story is there as entertainment, a break from reality. A mystery to be solved, sure, but no life lessons to be learned. Broken characters? Of course. The kind you love to hate, and that frustrates the heck out of you. But a story worth reading that is, at times, hard to put down.

Suicide or murder? The mystery begins before we even get a chance to get acquainted with the characters. NYC. The Shopping Channel. An aspiring actor. The sound guy. A tall, dark and handsome detective. An unapproving father. A sister who is a shop-a-holiday. Best friend/manager. TWIST(S) - yes, more than one. So, was is suicide? Or was it murder? And which of those lovely pebbled handbags should I order? 

Looking forward to the sequel!!

“The Oysterville Sewing Circle”

 

“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” - Marilyn Monroe (275)

“...one thing she learned from the Sewing Circle was the power in a group of women determined to tell the truth.” (356)

The cutthroat world of fashion. Summer friendships. Battered, abused women. Deception. Looking for the right fit. Empowerment. Facing the world with the hand you’ve been dealt. Finding strength in other women’s truths. A twist (or two) I never saw coming. 

How many novels have I read that showed a woman’s strength that she didn’t know she had? These women fought hard to protect their children. Navigated in a man’s world. Created a place for themselves and perhaps for others to follow. Always hoping for their own “happily-ever-after.”

The power of women.

“This Won’t End Well”

 

“...if you’re willing to look for joy and open yourself to new possibilities, the end is not an ending at all. It’s a beginning.” (283)

When you think logically, and look at the data to inform your decisions...how does love fit into the equation? Written as journal entries, emails and text messages Pagan takes us on a scientific adventure, of sorts. Reliable, predictable fiancé escapes to France. Mysterious woman moves in next door. A private investigator lurks around the neighborhood. Widowed, hoarder mom. Workplace stress. Chemist who struggles to fit all the pieces of her life into place. I kept my fingers crossed about half way through this novel hoping the ending, I wanted, was the ending Pagan had written. Yes! After much soul searching, our chemist has the happily-ever-after she deserves.

“The Siren”

 

Secrets. Lies. Deception. Revenge. Murder. What happens when the roles you’ve played become confused with the life you live? How do actors keep it all straight? Told in three voices by the women who lived it, St. John pulls you in by sharing their secrets. At what cost will they protect themselves from being exposed? How can power and control so totally corrupt one's soul? Will the hurricane be the equalizer? Can there be a happily-ever-after? So many secrets…