It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Accident of Birth: A Novel by Heather Neff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twenty years ago Reba Freeman’s husband Joseph left her behind when he returned to his native Liberia. Since then she’s made a new successful life for herself, her second husband, and their daughter. But when she finds out that Joseph has been arrested and is being held for trial at the World Court of Human Rights as a war criminal she is compelled to find out what happened. Could her gentle husband who wanted to start schools for poor children really have turned into the rebel leader everyone claims he is?

Reba and Joseph’s story is told in flashbacks as the main story is playing out.  Trying to help her first husband is damaging the already fragile relationship between Reba and her second husband.

The Soulkeepers by G.P. Ching

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Jacob Lau is pulled from the wreckage of his mother’s car, no one can find his mother. A neighbor of his uncle’s says that she can help him find his mother. She introduces him to the world of the Soulkeepers- humans with mysterious abilities to fight off supernatural creatures. But her motives for helping are suspect as Jacob realizes that he has powers too.

Weaving Destiny by G.P. Ching

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Malini has spent months with her boyfriend Jacob and Dr. Silva trying to figure out what her Soulkeeper power may be. She is just resigning herself to just staying on the sidelines when she discovers that she may have the most powerful gift of all.

Of the two books that I’ve read so far in this series, I enjoyed Malini’s story most.  Right now The Soulkeepers is a free Kindle download if you want to try it out.

The Summer Kitchen by Karen Weinreb

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nora gave up her banking career when her family moved to the wealthy town of Bedford. She spends her days making a perfect home.  When her husband Evan is sent to Federal prison for stealing money, the other women of the town are quick to ostracize her and her children. Realizing that she needs to learn to survive, she and her nanny Beatriz turn their love of cooking into a business for themselves.

Whenever I read stories that take place in wealthy enclaves I’m always struck by what an empty life it seems to be if you have to keep up appearances.  In this book the ability to keep up with the neighbors is taken away and everyone must deal with the consequences.