Susan Coventry's Blog, page 36

Coming Soon…A New Chapter

My third contemporary romance novel, A New Chapter, will be released later this fall.  Here's a sneak peek at the cover.  Stay tuned for further details...

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The Paris Librarian by Mark Pryor

The Paris Librarian is the most recent novel in the Hugo Marston mystery series.  In this story, Hugo's friend Paul, dies suddenly in a Paris library where he works but Hugo isn't convinced that Paul died of natural causes.  Hugo, an American detective working for the American embassy in Paris, does some investigating and discovers some interesting connections to Paul's death.  An old American movie actress had recently donated some of her personal papers to the Paris library and it seems that someone is anxious to find out what secrets they contain.  The plot thickens when two people that were close to Paul also wind up dead.  I don't often read mysteries, and I have to admit that this one grabbed my attention because of the title.  However, I enjoyed Pryor's writing style and the pacing.  Just when I thought I had figured out "who done it" there was some other twist that kept me guessing right up until the end. Hugo was an interesting and likable character as were some of the secondary characters.  If you like classic mysteries, you might also enjoy The Paris Librarian.       

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Starring You and Me is on sale!

The kindle version of Starring You and Me is on sale for $0.99 for one week only!  Take advantage of the sale and happy reading!

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It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Grab the tissue box!  It Ends With Us is an emotionally intense new adult fiction novel by the queen of angst, Colleen Hoover.  This story grabbed me from the start and didn't let go right until the very end. Growing up, Lily watched her mother suffer at the hands of her abusive father and promised herself that she would never be in that situation.  Case in point, Lily's first love, Atlas, was a kind and gentle man, but he broke her heart when he moved away and joined the marines.  As a young adult, Lily begins an exciting new life in Boston, where she opens her own floral shop.  She also meets Ryle, a charming, young neurosurgeon who she instantly falls for.  Life is great for awhile, until Lily discovers that there is another side to Ryle that she never saw coming.  I've read several books by Hoover, and this ranks up there as one of her best. She's an expert at creating emotionally charged scenes that stick with the reader even after the story is done.  If you like "meaty" romance novels, It Ends With Us is for you.  Note: the subject matter may be difficult for some readers.

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The House of Tyneford by Natasha Solomons

The House of Tyneford is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Vienna and England during WWII.  The story revolves around Elise, a young Jewish woman, who is forced to leave Vienna during the German occupation.  Elise travels alone to the rustic seaside town of Tyneford, England where she becomes a maid for a wealthy family.  The transition is difficult for Elise who went from belonging to the "elite" set in Vienna to becoming a servant overnight.  The one bright spot in her life is when she falls in love with Kit, the handsome, young heir to the Tyneford estate.  As the war intensifies, Elise enlists the help of Kit's father to try and evacuate her parents from Vienna.  In the meantime, Kit enlists in the British navy, and puts himself in the heart of danger.  This was a very engaging story about love, family and the struggle to survive during very difficult times. If you enjoy WWII fiction with some elements of romance, you would probably like The House of Tyneford.

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Thank you to The Clarkston News!

Both of my novels, See You Then, and Starring You and Me, take place in the charming town of Clarkston, Michigan.  It was a pleasure to be interviewed by The Clarkston News, who featured an article about my books in this weekend's paper!!

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Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane is a women's fiction novel about friendship.  Kate and Tully meet in junior high school and although they are opposites, they become fast and furious friends.  Kate is a conservative girl who comes from a wholesome family while Tully lives life on the edge and comes from a troubled home. The story begins in the 1970's and follows their lives through adulthood as they experience love, loss and heartbreak.  Although the women take very different paths in life, their friendship remains true.   The characters are complex and the story line is rich and poignant, with a lot of great references to pop culture!  I have read several books by Kristin Hannah and consider her to be an excellent writer. I highly recommend Firefly Lane for those of you who like to read women's fiction.  Note:  There is a sequel to this story, entitled Fly Away, however, I didn't enjoy it as much.

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The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Husband's Secret is a general fiction novel with an element of suspense.  What would you do if you found a letter from your spouse that is labelled, "Do not open until my death?"  This is the question that Cecelia is faced with when she discovers a sealed letter from her husband.  Cecelia decides to open the letter, even though her husband is very much alive, and the contents turn her "perfect life" upside down.  There are secondary characters in this novel whose lives are also profoundly effected by Cecelia's discovery. I have read several books by Moriarty and have enjoyed every one of them. The Husband's Secret is engrossing, witty, sad and shocking all at once and the reader is made to feel the emotions of the characters right up until the end.  If you like to read family dramas and/or suspense fiction, I highly recommend this book.

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All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All The Light We Cannot See is a historical fiction novel set in France and Germany during WWII.  This story follows the lives of two young people: Marie, a blind girl who lives in Paris and Werner, a German boy who becomes a radio operator for the Nazis.  When the Germans occupy Paris, Marie and her father flee to a relative's house by the sea.  Her father has a valuable artifact in his possession and he hopes that they will be safe there.  Danger eventually finds them and at the end of the tale Werner and Marie's lives intersect in a powerful and dramatic way.  This story was very rich and detailed and the writing style was almost poetic.  The reader is made to feel the emotions of the characters and the images of war and suffering are very potent.  If you like WWII fiction, I highly recommend All The Light We Cannot See.

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Germany during WWII.  The narrator of the story is "Death" but despite this eerie element, the tale is really about family, love, friendship and books.  Liesel is a young foster girl who lives with a gruff yet loving "mother" and a quiet and sensitive "father."  The family puts their lives in jeopardy when they provide shelter for a Jewish refugee.  Liesel forms a close relationship with the young man and shares his love of the written word. During a time when books are burned in the streets, Liesel is desperate for more reading material and soon resorts to thievery to obtain books.  The author does a great job of balancing the horrors of war with the joys of childhood.  The Book Thief is warm and touching, heartbreaking and humorous and ranks high on my list of favorite historical fiction novels.  Note: I also enjoyed the movie adaptation.

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