The Inmate by Freida McFadden

 The Inmate by Freida McFadden is a thriller with tense moments on practically every page. Brooke Sullivan begins her job as a nurse practitioner at a maximum security prison. She accepts that this will be an uncomfortable position but her fears are heightened when she discovers Shane Nelson needs medical treatment. He's not only one of the penitentiary's most notorious and dangerous inmates, but he's also the man who tried to kill her and whom she testified against. The story continues going back and forth over present day and the horrendous night when a party turned into a murder scene.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 I wasn't too sure about the Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont when I first looked at the blurb, but Nina de Gramont wove a wonderful fictitious story of two women, Agatha Christie and Nan O'Dea (Nancy Neele). One was Archie Christie's wife, the other his mistress. Agatha Christie, in 1926, threw the newspapers into a frenzy when Agatha Christie disappeared for several days. Her own personal mystery was never solved, but Nina de Gramont surmises what she may have been doing during her disappearance. The two women were opposites with Nan growing up in a poor  London family and Agatha living a wealthy life. 

If I Were You by Lynn Austin

 If I Were You is set in London during the WWII blitz. Eve and Audrey had two very different backgrounds. While Eve and her family had worked at the nearby manor house, Audrey was the privileged daughter. They had become friends but it was during the war years that they really began to rely on each other. When they meet two American GI soldiers in London it opens up new avenues for both of them.

Although well researched, it was obvious that the novel was not written by an English author. For me, the war years stories brought back many memories my family had shared of living in London during the terrible constant bombing of The Blitz. 

I thought the descriptions of WWII London were well written, but I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters. Eve seemed to be an opportunist. Audrey, rather than taking advantage of her upper class status to help others, whined about it constantly. The ending, although nice, was a bit far fetched. Rather than being a Christian novel, that some have complained about, I found that God was thrown in every so often without any substance or reason. 

And, my pet peeve when reading novels about England written by an American author, (please have someone from England edit it) Americanisms scattered throughout were annoying and much of the dialog would not have been said by an English person during that time.

Things You Won't Say by Sarah Pekkanen

 Things you Won't say is the story of a family whose life unravels when, following the injury of his police partner, Mike shoots a young offender. He later finds out the young boy was not a danger. Sarah Pekkanen weaves in numerous relationships including Mike's wife, Jamie, her younger sister Lou and Mike ex-girlfriend. All are trying to decide whether to stick together or distance themselves from everything that is coming unraveled.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

 

The Frozen River  is inspired by the diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife who is thought to have delivered nearly 1,000 babies. Her great niece, Clara Barton, founded the Red Cross.

Ariel Lawhon weaves an intriguing story around the diary entries and gives a view of life in the small town of Hallowell.

The story begins in Maine during the winter of 1789 when the Kennebec River froze, entombing a man's body. Later, a woman accuses the dead man and one of the town's most respected gentleman of rape. Martha is soon wrapped up in court trials along with her duties as a local midwife. Her diary becomes instrumental in showing local events and timelines.

Hallowell, Maine History

 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

 I remember seeing the movie A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a child. The book, as often is the case, is by far a more amazing story. Betty Smith's descriptions enlighten all the senses and Francie Nolan delights with her view of Brooklyn beginning in 1912. She also shows the women in the immigrant families as the ones who hold everything together, work hard, and provide for their families. Despite the poverty and struggles, Francie finds so much to be grateful for and although her father is not very reliable, he is a dreamer who finds a way for Francie to go to a better school and delights his children with his singing and his stories. 

"They lived mostly on things made from stale bread, and condensed milk and coffee, onion, potatoes, and always the penny's worth of something bought at the last minute, added for fillip. Once in a while, they had a banana. But Francie always longed for oranges and pineapple and especially tangerines which she got only at Christmas."

This is my first book of 2025 to go on my favorite books list.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

 

Although I've watched many Jane Austen movie adaptations, this is the first Jane Austen novel I have read. I was looking for something lighthearted to read during the Christmas season, and Northanger Abbey fit the bill with all the intrigue and Regency propriety Ms. Austen is known for. 

The Gutenberg Project has many public domain books that can be downloaded free of charge and it is worth taking a look at what is available.