Maurice On Books Presents Summer Reading 2024

Literary Fiction:

LONG ISLAND by Colm Toibin *****

Long Island

REAL AMERICANS by Rachel Khong

THE LAST TWELVE MILES by Erika Robuck *****

TABLE FOR TWO by Amor Towles

FAMILIARIS by David Wroblewskin ( June 4 )

THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY by Claire Messud (May 14 )

THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Margan Kamali (July)

HUSBANDS AND LOVERS by Beatriz Williams ( June 25 )

Mystery and Suspense

MURDER BY LAMPLIGHT by Patrice McDonough

CITY IN RUINS by Don Winslow

SOUTHERN MAN by Greg Iles

THE MAN ON THE TRAIN by Debbie Babitt

MIDDLETIDE by Sarah Grouch ( June 11)

ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker ( June )*****

A DEATH IN CORNWALL by Daniel Silva ( July 9)

THE ROAD TO MURDER by Camilla Trinchieri

Beach Reads

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews

Summers At The Saint

THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl

THE MARRIAGE SABBATICAL by Lian Dolan

EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE by Michelle Gable

The Beautiful People

SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand ( June 11 )

HUSBANDS AND LOVERS by Beatriz Williams (June 25 )

THE GUNCLE ABROAD by Steven Rowley (May 21 )

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristine Higgins ( May 28 )

The SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella ( July 2)*****

A NOVEL SUMMER by Jamie Brenner (July 16 )

Non Fiction

MY BELOVED MONSTER by Caleb Carr

THE MANGO TREE by Annabelle Tometich

DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson

THE SECRET LIVES OF BOOKSELLERS by James Patterson

This list is going to be much longer. There are several books coming out in late July and through August that I will be addressing soon. In order not to completely overwhelm you, I am waiting a few weeks to cover those. I hope you enjoy this list and I look forward to hearing from you and what you think! For now, happy summer reading.

Summers At The Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

Just look at this cover for Mary Kay’s upcoming novel! It screams summer and invites the reader in to enjoy the read. Whoever designs Mary Kay’s covers always hits the right mark.

I can count on Mary Kay to start my summer reading off on the right track. With SUMMERS AT THE SAINT, she manages to do it again. Yessiree. You will quickly fall into your summer reading mode as you adjust your beach chair or your porch rocker or your hammock. Get ready to rumble, Mary Kay Andrews style.

The setting is an island off the coast of Georgia. The Saint is the nickname of a well-established resort hotel that’s been owned by the same family forever and a day. Traci Eddings lived on the wrong side of the river and so enjoying a stay at the Saint was never going to be on her dance card. But, no one said she couldn’t work there. And so she did. She got a job working at the Saint, fell for the boss’s son, married him, and called it a day. That is until he died unexpectedly making her a widow way before her time. That plane crash dashed her perfect life and changed everything just like that.

Now that Traci is working hard to keep the Saint running like a well-oiled clock, it seems like bad luck and bad people are coming out of the woodwork. Like her brother-in-law who’s greedy and mean. He is bound and determined to make sure Traci fails at this job. Also, it’s really gotten hard to find good help for the resort. She’s recently hired a new chef from afar and brought her niece Parrish on board to run the front desk. Maybe things will start looking up.

Just when you think you can see the blue sky above the rancor, there’s a murder and it’s someone close to Traci. And you will never guess who the murderer is.

Toss in a romance with the new landscaper, Whelan, who used to be a private investigator, and you’ve got fodder for a great summer read.

Love the island paradise. Crazy about the whacky characters. And taken with the story and the mystery.

My review copy was supplied digitally through NetGalley and St. Martin’s publishing in exchange for an honest review. I am so glad to have a new summer novel from Mary Kay Andrews. It’s a keeper! And you can pick up your own copy tomorrow wherever you purchase your books.

Long Island by Colm Toibin

I am thrilled that this brilliant new novel is about to hit its publishing birthday, tomorrow. This is the sequel to BROOKLYN which was a major publishing achievement twenty years ago. I absolutely could not wait to dive into this new novel. You are going to love it!

We first met Eilis Lacy twenty years ago when she made the trek from her homeland in Ireland to the streets of New York City. She married Tony Fiorello, an Italian American man and settled in with him to raise a family. For years she’s been living in the midst of Tony’s entire family. They all live in their own homes on a cul-de-sac on Long Island. He has three brothers and his mom and dad. This is awfully close living. Especially while Eilis has no family of her own living in America. We find she has been living a life of quiet desperation while she is surrounded by Tony’s family. But life has been good to Eilis. She has no real complaints. And she’s raised two teenagers who are close to fleeing the nest. All that changes one sudden morning.

Eilis is in her office at home working, when a strange Irish man shows up at her door asking for her. When she asks what he wants he tells her: it seems her husband has gotten this man’s wife pregnant and he is here to tell her he is NOT going to raise this child. He will be bringing the baby to Eilis’s doorstep. Well, what an opener!!!

I found my mind racing and my heart in an uproar as I read the beginning of this story of betrayal and love and secrets. Of course I can not divulge even one more iota of information…You will want to discover the outcome on your own. I will say that there is a trip back to Ireland to visit the family that was left behind all those years ago.

With this little book that speaks volumes, Toibin reunites his avid readers with a woman who is both complicated and yet simply trying to come to terms with her new normal. You will find yourself transformed by the gorgeous prose and quite taken with the woman Eilis becomes.

I read my review copy digitally through NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say this novel is bound for book glory and I loved it. Put it at the top of your literary summer reading list!

The Man On The Train by Debbie Babitt

Are you looking for a fast-paced thriller that will hold you captive throughout? Look no further than THE MAN ON THE TRAIN by Debbie Babitt. I was a little skeptical with the title…But let me just tell you that this novel is GOOD!

One early morning, Linda is awakened by the sound of knocking on her front door. Two police officers are asking questions about her husband Guy. Oh, and we realize he did not come home last night. Linda is a Manhattan District Attorney who lives in a small bedroom community near NYC. Her husband Guy is a failed writer. He’s been traveling by train to the city each morning, seemingly to work. When the officers tell Linda that Guy is the prime suspect in a murder, well, she is shocked. And then we find out why he’s the main suspect. Oh boy.

Guy is missing. His phone has been found at the scene of a crime. And his background, which has been kept a secret from Linda, is about to expunge any thoughts of innocence, at least for now.

I found this book completely compelling. I was not able to figure it out. The characters sparkle and pop. The plot is thick as rice pudding. The backstory is outrageous. And the end is a huge surprise as it should be.

Add a 40-year-old cold case to the mix and you’ve got a real winner of a read here.

My review copy was provided by Penzler Publishers, a division of Norton Books, all in exchange for an honest review. I was so pleasantly surprised and delighted. A must-read summer thriller!

May Musings

Roses and orchids are exploding with brilliant flowers and lovely aromas. I am grateful. I have been thoroughly enjoying the cool mornings, especially knowing that we have steamy summertime weather breathing down our necks. The need to be present and lean into this gorgeous weather persists. Thank God!

We are preparing for a quick trip to Asheville to attend a very special event. We will be celebrating our grandson Liam as he takes the reins and soars above and beyond. Becoming an Eagle Scout is something Liam takes very seriously. He’s earned this honor after working toward it for many years, all with the help of his very present parents.

Lots of great books springing into their publishing lives in the next couple of months. I am working on my summer reading list. It is coming along. It’s BIG.

It’s heating up here in Cape Coral. Time to reflect on the upcoming books and prepare to hunker down and read. The roads, although still busy, are NOT the nutzo busy they were even a month ago. I can even find a good place to park at Publix and do not feel crushed by the mobs visiting the grocery stores. Good.

Starting to think seriously about what to pack for the Alaskan cruise end of June. Will be interesting. We are all excited.

I thought you might get a kick out of this photo of the fabulous Miss Mimi as she rubs all over the celery to “make” it hers. Why she is infatuated with celery we may never know. But she certainly is.

I just had to share a picture of this colander filled with dozens of my daughter-in-law’s Everglades tomatoes. Her mom loaded me up a few weeks ago and I made an amazing salad with small balls of mozzarella and fresh basil. These puppies burst into an amazing sweet pop inside your mouth and just beg for a balsamic spritz.

It looks like the weather is going to be a BIG issue over the summer. Not just here in SW Florida, but all over our country and even the world. Floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, severe thunder storms, and even earthquakes. The world is mad as hell and showing it…. So we have this.

On a much lighter note, we can be thankful for oodles of great books coming right at us. I hope you all will be able to experience some good downtime with your families and possibly do some traveling.

I promise you the summer list is coming no later than next week.

Happy Summer!

Elaine Newton and Artis Naples Summer Reading 2024

Click to access 24-CCSummerReadingList.pdf

Here it is: Critic’s Choice list from Elaine Newton. Just click on the link above.

There are quite a few older novels on the list. And some exciting new novels as well. There are no forth coming dates for books like LONG ISLAND by Colm Toibin, which pubs next month and it’s amazing!

I’m working feverishly on my summer reading list. Many of the books I’ll be recommending will be coming during this summer. All good!

The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan

The cover of this luscious new novel by Lian Dolan speaks volumes. Once you are into the story be sure to go back and check out the cover. Each image is telling.

I read THE SWEENEY SISTERS and LOST AND FOUND IN PARIS a few years ago. Dolan writes like a dream. She certainly weaves a great story with realistic characters and dilemmas that ring true.

Jason and Nicole have been married for 23 years and have two grown children. Maybe it’s time for a break. Not a separation, just some time apart to follow their dreams. Yes, because their dreams are so totally different. Jason has been excited about an upcoming motorcycle trip in South America. He signed on with his best friend Charlie. But now Charlie has died unexpectedly, so Jason decides Nicole should go along. But, nope, Nicole opts out at the last minute. So, off goes Jason to South America. Nicole has decided to take advantage of this nine-month hiatus by renting a place in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she signs on for a silversmith course. From Portland, Oregon to Patagonia to Santa Fe. I loved each of the locations and can’t stop thinking about this novel.

What is the 500 mile rule? OOOOh. What happens 500 miles from home….stays there. Adding a little spice here.

Thinking this novel would be very light, I quickly decided that it was much more than a rom-com. The depth of feeling emanating from both Jason and Nicole goes a long way toward making this novel so wonderful. And the secondary characters are not slouches either. I loved the Joy character who helps carry the story even higher than it already is.

This novel has so much to offer. There’s travel, exotic locales, amazing food and wine, and colorful characters that filled my heart with joy.

My finished hardcover was provided by the very generous publishing people at William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins, in exchange for an honest review. It’s just delightful. I loved it!

The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson

I just love this cover. It speaks volumes about the content without giving one thing away.

I love reading historical fiction and especially when it’s based on a true event. In this case Anderson is writing about the area of this country where she is from: Missouri, the Ozarks. Once upon a time in a tiny town named Possum Flats, deep in the Ozarks, it was a scorching hot night in August, 1928. The local dance hall was packed and jammed with dozens of local young people, all together to let loose and have some fun. Unfortunately that fun came to an abrupt and horrifying end when the dance hall complete with dozens of dancers, blew up and caused the excruciating deaths of dozens of people. And that part is entirely true.

Anderson made up the characters in her stellar novel. But the basis of this outstanding story is part of history. I can only imagine the amount of research she did to make this novel so strong.

Daisy and Violet are born identical twins. The only defining difference being a tiny purplish mark on one long, slender neck. On the night of the explosion one of the twins is at the dance hall. One stayed home.

Looking back on the tragedy a big piece of the puzzle to me is that NO ONE ever spoke about the event. Children were born, then grandchildren, and none of them were told about the fire. Hush/hush. So much survivors guilt. So many strong characters. So much trauma. This novel went from one I figured I would blow through, to me putting the reading brakes on HARD so as not to miss one iota. How did this explosion get started? Who was responsible? And why isn’t anyone talking? So much to take in.

This is one of those amazing novels that have me googling as soon as the last page is turned. What I found was staggering. And, once again, I ask myself if anyone is who they appear to be. Boom.

Put this wonderful novel on your TBR list for this spring and summer. You will be so glad you did. And by the way, there’s a great section of questions and answers at the back of the book.

My physical review copy of THE FLOWER SISTERS was provided by John Scognamiglio Books, a division of Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Yes, I adored it!

The Road To Murder by Camilla Trinchieri

You are certainly in for a treat with the fourth installment of The Tuscan Mystery series. Just look at this cover. Makes one immediately wish to ease into a comfortable reading chair with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and disappear into the Tuscan countryside.

Nico Doyle, the lovable transplant from NYC and recently retired detective from NYPD, returns to the scene of yet another crime deep in the atmospheric, homey part of Tuscany where he’s been living since the death of his Italian wife. Nico is enjoying his new life, surrounded by his late wife’s family and his adopted dog, One Wag, who I adore. Nico knows there is trouble brewing when his phone rings deep into the night. Yes, it’s his friend, Salvatore Perillo, head of the local carabinieri. And Perillo is asking once again for help with a crime scene. So off Nico goes to be the translator in this new murder case.

When a wealthy widow is found dead slumped across her piano the plot thickens. And then it turns to murder. So, who did it? There’s not a long list of possibilities. Maybe the cook, the housekeeper, the gardener. Or maybe one of her daughters or their partners. There’s a lot of money and a huge estate worth tons…. So the hunt begins for the murderer. Since the only witness is a woman who was visiting the widow speaks only English, we understand why Nico is called in. ENGLISH.

I always enjoy being folded back into the countryside of Tuscany. The food, the eateries, the flora and fauna, and the people. Oh the Italian people. And did I mention that Nico is a fabulous cook? Well, he is. So much so that he works part time at the family restaurant where he is most beloved. We are even given a great recipe at the end of the story.

Don’t miss this newest installment of The Tuscan Mystery series. I loved it.

My review copy was provided by Soho Crime in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

When Ruth Reichl publishes a new book, I listen. Hard. I fell in love with her writing years ago when she penned several memoirs about her relationship with food. She was also the editor in chief of Gourmet magazine and was a food critic for The New York Times. Not all writers excel at writing both fiction and non fiction. Reichl has mastered this challenge well.

My family are big-time foodies. We’ve all worked in the food industry in one way or other. We just love it. My husband and youngest son work at Cafe You here on the Cape while my daughter-in-law Ana is the pastry chef at Cafe You. I knew this novel was going to be filled with food, glorious food. And it also has art and fashion. OMG. I jumped right into the book pool!

It’s the eighties when Stella’s estranged mom dies suddenly. Mom leaves her daughter Stella a very special gift. You see, Stella has become a bit of a recluse ever since she experienced some tough trauma earlier in her life. She’s not up for change or adventure. And this would have been a totally different novel if she had not decided to step outside her comfort zone… Stella’s mom has left her a one way ticket to Paris. PARIS. After much thought and prodding from her boss, off she goes.

Stella eases into her new adventure in The City of Light. She’s shy and still reeling from the shock of the surprise. But she meets some great people who take her under their wings. One older man who is an art collector is an especially super character to the story. And Stella discovers hidden mysteries in art, becomes a “tumbleweed” at Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, and finds that she has writing talents. Who knew? And, what, you might ask, is a tumbleweed? Back in the day eager young writers-to-be could sometimes sleep in the bookstore for free. Well, not free-free, for they were expected to work within the store. How fun. Honestly, I felt so involved with this part of the story that I truly felt as if I were there with Stella as she maneuvered through this grand new opportunity.

You will swoon over the food. And Reichl’s brilliant, articulate descriptions might just have you running to the market to get what you need to create a new dish. You will love the fashion as it sparkles through the story like stars. And the art will have you yearning to get on that plane and fly away to Paris.

Don’t miss this new novel that comes out on Tuesday, April 23. Great for bookclub or to toss onto your summer reading list.

My copy for review arrived digitally from NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, in exchange for an honest review. Truth be told…..I LOVED it!