I’m a big fan of contemporary reads, mainly for the reason that they’re just so easy to jump into. You don’t need a new frame of reference (unless the setting is particularly exotic), and this is particularly true if the story is told in first-person POV. Not all of the books I’m going to recommend in this list are hot-off-the-presses, but they are all stellar, fast-paced, immersive reads you’ll find yourself happily lost in.
A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson– Millie is broke and desperate to find a better care option for her ailing Grandma Joy. When she discovers a missing family diary at a luxurious mansion which points toward a lost treasure, she jumps at the chance to bail herself out of dire straights.
My Thoughts: This book offers a pleasant blend of mystery and romance. The timeline is contemporary, but there are slight dips back in time as Millie unearths more of her great-grandmother Ruth’s diary entries. The romantic story line plays on the idea of opposites attracting, matching up Millie, who is street smart but has little formal education, with the magnetic Ben Thornton, who works as a security guard- that is, when he’s not teaching college classes and pursuing his PhD. Johnson also has a knack for choosing drool-worthy settings, such as this one, set on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, and her thoughtful portrayal of the pain Millie experiences while watching her Grandma Joy descend into Alzheimer’s (a story line I’m currently grappling with in one of my current works-in-progress, Nothing Lost) is quite moving.
Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate– Mandalay Florentino is a producer for the popular tv show, American Megastar. Amber Anderson is an underdog contestant on the show and rumored to be having a fling with a Hollywood bad boy. Imagene Doll is a recent widow who has stopped taking chances. How will the three women’s lives collide, and whose future is really on the line?
My Thoughts: This book is just delightful, and I’ll probably do a lengthier book review on it at some point in the future. A real strength of the story is its humor, though the quirky characters and effusive, bubbly tone rank pretty high, too. The Southern-fried feel adds a lot of charm, plus, the sherbet-colored cover on the cover of the copy I received (though sadly not pictured in this lineup) is just dreamy.
A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay– Art restorer Emily embarks on a whirlwind romance with a handsome Italian man, then marries him and relocates to Italy where she uncovers a long-buried family secret and learns to truly live, despite her own brokenness.
My Thoughts: I adore all the classic references to art, philosophy, literature, and so on in Reay’s books. How fun would it be to have a book club where you discuss all these artistic offshoots over the course of a few months? I also appreciate the subtle character development that slowly takes shape over the course of the story. First-person POV allows you to drop into the sun-soaked, fictional travelogue as though you’re experiencing it first-hand. I also like the fact that the entire book is a bit of a portrait in itself, with words substituted for paint, each chapter adding a new layer of complexity and significance.
The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright– Dual timelines tell the parallel stories of two grief-stricken women- modern-day Kaine, who believes her husband has been murdered, and historical Ivy, who wasn’t able to save her beloved brother from drowning.
This book was my featured read for October, as it perfectly blends a spooky, suspenseful plot with smooth writing. What truly sets Wright’s novel apart from the pack, though, is the cry against human trafficking ushered in the latter half, a theme that moves an otherwise straight-forward mystery into a timely, global realm. Also, can I just say that this book’s atmosphere was amazing?- shades of Gothic, Grimm-style fairytale, and Dickens, all mixed into one.
Demon by Tosca Lee– Clay is tasked with penning the story of a demon, Lucian, but discovers something horrifying about his own nature in the process.
My Thoughts: My mother-in-law gifted me a copy of this book shortly after it was published in 2010 because she knew how much I appreciate well-crafted language. And I have to say, like I’m sure many others were at the time, I was blown away by the novel in my hands. Tosca’s writing is crisp and easy to understand, but elegant and controlled. The focus on language certainly doesn’t bog the story down, though, as the premise at the heart of the novel- does our sin nature make monsters of all of us without the saving grace of Christ?- is incredibly driven and suspenseful. The overall story experience is also made richer by a nice selection of “Author’s Notes” and “Interesting Facts about Demon” in the end matter.
If you’ve read any of these books, let me know in the comments below, or join Shaen Layle’s Reader Room on Facebook. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Keep reading!
Shaen
