June Reads

 Chasing North Star by Heidi McCrary

Five children growing up in a dysfunctional home.  Not very newsworthy today, however when it is about kids that you went to school with in the 1960's, it feels different...and sad. Alamo, Michigan is a tiny 4 stop sign town about seven miles from our home.  

Most of my best friends grew up there.  I recognized almost all of the favorite locations that the Phillips family frequented:  the Allegan County Fair, the Congregational Church where my husband served as pastor a few years back, Miller's grocery store, the gas station where the men gathered, the firehouse, the cemetery and even the rest area.  All of these familiar spots, yet never knowing the continual trauma that went on in this home due to the mother's mental illness. 

The author, in her debut autobiographical novel as the youngest sibling, brings us face to face with the turmoil and pain that was a normal part of their lives; but she also brings to light the love and protection that existed between her brothers and sisters who worked hard to shield one another from the abuse and rage that her mom exhibited.

I enjoyed this story even though it was a difficult read.  My takeaway is the familiar adage "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand is well known for her light and breezy summer novels about life on Nantucket Island. 

This one delves into a murder mystery that happens at an exclusive summer home owned by the parents of the groom....on the morning of the wedding....to the Maid of Honor!!  I thoroughly enjoyed this very quick read.  Her format was the investigation and interrogation by the Chief of Police and the local detective of all the guests at the reception.  Of course, the reader learns the history of many quirky characters and the secrets that they keep from one another.  Hilderbrand does a great job, even in a murder story, with making me smile.  I also appreciate that she keeps her language clean, not needing to drop the F bomb at every turn of the page.  This kept me guessing and plotting, and I was even a bit surprised at the ending!  Kudos!!