You're the Hugs to My Kisses by Barbara Herndon

 32 pages

"With whimsical, read-aloud rhymes, this delightful picture book will appeal to readers of all ages and remind them that life is sweeter when you have someone to share it with.

"You’re the Hugs to My Kisses is a perfect gift for: the special child in your life, a best friend, couples celebrating engagements, weddings, and anniversaries, or that certain someone who makes your life better just by being in it." --from the publisher

Very cute! I'll be buying several copies for family and friends. I give it four out of five stars.

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

 347 pages / 9 hrs, 12 mins

"A twisty, compelling novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder...

"From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

"That was five years ago.

"Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

"But the autopsy finds no cancer.
"The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation.
"Who could possibly want Diana dead?
"Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

"With Lucy's secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans.

Written well with engaging characters! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. I give it four out of five stars.

The Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate

 (Caroline Heirlooms #0.5)

86 pages / 2 hrs, 52 mins

"Elizabeth Gallagher has been balancing on the ragged edge for a while now. Then a rough case on the boards of her 911 operator's job collides with a family conflict at home, and Elizabeth finds herself finally coming apart at the seams. A four-state road trip--trapped in a car with her mother--is the last thing she needs. Their destination may be beautiful Hatteras Island, but the reason for going is anything by pleasant. After one disastrous hurricane, and with a second one working its way up the coast, it's time to convince Aunt Sandy to abandon her little seaside store on North Carolina's Outer Banks and return to the family fold in Michigan. But when the storm sweeps through, the three women will discover that sisterhood and the sea can change hearts, lives, and futures . . . often in the most unpredictable of ways." --from the publisher

I'm not a big fan of novellas, but this was a good one. I enjoyed the story and characters, and I wanted to finish the series. I give it three out of five stars.

Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan

 368 pages / 9 hrs, 51 mins

"For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods... until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.

"Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all." --from the publisher

This is a beautifully crafted story, imho. It made me smile and warmed my heart and reminded me what was great about the 1970s. For those who stay away from lurid subject matter (like me!), the "dark secret" is not nearly as disturbing as most books these days. I give it four out of five stars.