The Adventures of Irene Sumner by Joyce McDonald Hoskins

This aptly-named book tells of four separate tales affecting the lives of a retired, middle-aged heroine, Irene Sumner, her family, and her friends.

There is a special connection between Irene and her ex-husband, Jack. New boyfriends, guns, and criminals get in the way of any relationship they might have, testing the strength of that connection, but fate brings them back to each other once and for all.

Joyce McDonald Hoskins, a prolific writer, has written several books in addition to many short stories. Her novels, all fiction, have a unique feel-good quality that is all Joyce and very readable. Her characters are colorful, witty, and part family. Chick-lit at its finest, I can picture Cary Grant humming, Goodnight, Irene to Irene Dunne in Jack's first scene. And I melt.

If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern

All of Cecelia Ahern's books are offbeat and cleverly written. The gal has a gift. They are all poignant and they are all in the chick-flick genre.

Some are even better in the hearing. If You Could See Me Now is one of these. The Irish accent lends a magical quality to the already magical telling. But I don't want to spoil if for you.

Suffice it to say, Elizabeth Egan, an organized, everything-in-its-place businesswoman, has a long way to go from beginning to the end of her journey. A journey she takes with her six-year-old nephew, Lucas, and his not-quite-six-year-old friend, Ivan. You'll laugh. You'll cry. But you'll love it. And you'll wish you could see it too!

And you may. The latest news is that a film is in the works, starring Hugh Jackman due to be released in 2011.

This is Cecelia's third novel - all are bestsellers. She currently has seven novels published with the eighth due out shortly. Her first book, P.S. I Love You, came out in movie form a few years ago as a major film. She has received many major awards and they are well-deserved.

Cecelia Ahern is the twenty-something daughter of former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern. She and her new husband, David Keoghan just gave birth to daughter, Robin, in December.

Oh, and by the way, she's gorgeous!

JUST A NOTE

Sometimes, we're too busy to sit on the back porch. We need to - heaven forbid! - clean the house, drive the kids to the soccer game, or fix the nightly feast.

When time is of the essence, consider books on tape, cd, or mp3. Yes, they cost loads new. But they don't cost a penny at your local library!

Audio books are entertaining not just because of the words, but because of the narrator's voice. My favorite, Barbara Rosenblat, will inspire me to pick up a book I know nothing about. And, it is usually a good choice.

As it states on her web page: "Barbara Rosenblat is one of the most respected and popular narrators of Audiobooks in the country. Critics and fans have long praised her for her deft handling of characters and dialects across a wide spectrum of classics, mysteries, bestsellers and romances."

So, some of the books I review will be recorded books.

If you have a particular author or book you would like reviewed, let me know.

And don't forget recorded books - at your library!

ADDITION by Toni Jordan

I read a lot. I mean, none of our vacation pictures show my face full on. It is either my forehead, the edge of my glasses, an ear, or my hair hanging over my face, because I am always reading. That's what vacations are for, right? Anyway, it is difficult to find a book that knocks my socks off, but this one did.

Jordan's characters reach a depth unusual for a first time writer, through a well-crafted story. The dialog is witty and the narrative grabs the reader from the start. Her main character, Grace, is unique. Molded by an unknown past, Grace tells a story both emotional and funny because of her one quirk - numbers. They mean everything to her. Still, it doesn't change who she is and she struggles to keep it that way. As the story unfolds, we see the frustration that comes, part and parcel, with human relationships. Inevitably, she must decide for herself what is most important in life's journey.

Toni Jordan is from Melbourne, Australia. This novel, her first, was shortlisted for Best Fiction Book Industry Awards, and won a Medical Journalists' Association Book Award. I will be looking for her next book!