I'd like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve: FLYING SOLO.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Laurie is back in her Maine hometown, tasked with cleaning out the home of her late great-aunt Dot. Her parents are too far away and frail and none of her brothers are up to the task. Laurie feels she owes it to Dot, who always had time for Laurie--her home a quiet refuge from her own noisy abode. Dot's place is jam packed with pictures, knick knacks, and memories. Laurie is drawn to a wooden duck she finds tucked away; the person hired to help clear out Dot's belongings tells her it's worthless, but when the duck disappears, Laurie wonders why anyone would take a meaningless duck. Soon she's drawn into a bit of mystery--both to track down the duck and to learn exactly why it meant so much to Dot.

I really enjoyed this book because, in true Holmes' fashion, it was a quirky and different read. Laurie is back in her hometown after a canceled wedding, trying to find her footing again, and she has a lot of strong feelings about remaining independent while being in a relationship and/or finding love. In high school, she dated Nick, now the beloved hometown librarian (is there anything more dreamy than that?), and, of course, the two meet up again when she returns to clear out Dot's house. But Laurie has her walls pretty firmly up--can a wooden duck bring them down?

SOLO does an excellent job of honoring Dot (who reminded me a lot of my own grandmother of the same name) and the role she played in Laurie's life, offering a safe place to go, and the fact that Dot was a pioneer--a solo woman not afraid to be on her own. It explores the nature of relationships and family in quite a nuanced way.

And the tale of the duck, is, for sure, often crazy and wild, but fun too and often even sweet. Sometimes Laurie's focus on it seems a bit much, but the way it unites her, Nick, and her best friend is really enjoyable, and we learn a lot about Dot, too.

Overall, this is a fun read, but also an emotional one. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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Shine my life like a light: EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh goodness, what can I say about Evvie that hasn't been said before? Nothing, I'm sure. This is such raw, real, funny, and lovely read. Evvie Drake lives alone in her small Maine town. She's recently widowed and the entire town--including her best friend, Andy--thinks her solitude is due to her grief. Meanwhile, in New York, pitcher Dean Tenney is a national joke. He's struggling with the "yips" --Dean can no longer pitch properly, and he has no idea why. Dean is also Andy's childhood friend, and so he accepts an invitation to stay in Evvie's back apartment. She needs the money, and he needs a place to get away. They make a deal: he won't ask about her husband, and she won't ask about baseball. But, even so, the two form an unlikely friendship.

Oh yeah, you say, I can see where this is going. They'll form a "friendship" and it will bloom into something more and yeah, yeah. Well, maybe. But this book is so much more than a typical romance. Evvie is not a romance caricature at all. There is true grief that screams across the pages in this novel--Evvie's and, yes, Dean's too. Dean is not just a celebrity love interest tossed in for fun. You root for him--and for them.

This story, this book. It has these funny moments and cute sections. It's sweet and tender, but there is no schmaltz. And Holmes weaves in pop culture quite seamlessly, too. Evvie and Dean will seem like people to you, your friends, and they will break your hearts, and yet, in the end, maybe mend them too. This is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars.

I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more).

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