Open House by Elizabeth Berg

A story about a women who is surprised when her husband wants and divorce and moves out. She goes through a huge range of emotions. She is not sure what she will do. She is concerned about her son and how he is processing the situation. She needs to get roommates and a job to keep her home and those experiences are very enlightening. I am not one that usually enjoys books about divorce and such, but the depth given to the character and how she chooses to manage herself, good or bad, made for a very insightful and enjoyable book.

Death by Sudoku by Kaye Morgan

I picked this up at a library book sale. I enjoy doing Sudoku and thought it was interesting someone decided to write a mystery about it. The premis was good. Someone was sending messages through the puzzles and tragedies were happening. The writing was not very smooth and there were so many sub-plots things got bogged down. There were times I was really not sure where the story was going. At the end of the book there are some tips and clues on how to solve puzzles. Also, there were puzzles throughout the book and all of the answers are in the back. This is the first of a series, so I might pick up the next one to see if the writing improves.

Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah

Hannah can really weave a tale and keep you going right up to the end. I laughed and I cried, hard. This is a story about two women who become friends in their teen years and keep it going for a very long time. There are many bumps in the road, but also many joys. Hannah shows you their insecurities and strengths and how they play off of each other. As you read you can feel what they are going through like it is yourself and you hope they make the right decision or choice. It is a wonderful book that truly could be taken right out of any ones lives.

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy

What a fun book!! I am really enjoying mysteries, and when they are tied to something like cooking it makes it even better. This is the second one in a series and it was just as good as the first. Ollie, the executive chef for the White House, always manages to get herself into some sticky situations. Watching her figure things out, pick her battles and come out on top makes everything flow so well together. I can usually figure some things out, so I am always waiting to see when she will get it and what she can possibly do. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.