The Heiress
By Rachel Hawkins
Most people haven’t heard of the tiny town of Tavistock, North Carolina. But if you were from these parts, you most certainly knew the McTavish family. When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore passes away, her long-lost son Camden returns, after a decade of living his life withdrawn from the family drama. Ruby was North Carolina’s richest woman. She was famous for being kidnapped as a child and later was mysteriously widowed four times. Her adopted son Camden is the sole heir to her estate, leaving other family members extremely unhappy. The clan resides in Ashby House, a place that does not hold many good memories for Camden. When he was old enough to escape, Camden moved to the west coast. He married young and lived a quiet existence as a teacher in Colorado. His pretty wife Jules encourages him to return when the family begs to repair the crumbling home and decipher the fortune left in his name. Jules is a little too eager to meet this conniving bunch and quickly manipulates the twisted secrets that come to light. Narrated by Cam, Jules and Ruby’s letters, this is a suspenseful thriller. January 2024.
A Great Country
By Shilpi Somaya Gowda
The sun is shining, the sky a brilliant blue – just another beautiful day in Southern California. The Shah family worked hard to build a business, buy a home and provide the best American life for their three children. One Saturday while attending a dinner, the Shahs receive an alarming call that their youngest, Ajay (12), is being held at the Orange County jail. Tall for his age, with no I.D. (why would a 12-year-old have an ID?) and on the spectrum, Ajay struggled to explain to the police why he was near the airport with a backpack of electronics. Roughed up because he “resisted” arrest, Ajay’s frantic parents find him battered, frightened and mute. In order to defend their actions, the overzealous officers push charges and the Shah family is set on an unimaginable roller coaster that changes everything they believed about the American dream. Supported by friends, they navigate the complicated system their child faces and racism that they held themselves apart from. This book faces the challenges of holding onto treasured cultural values while trying to assimilate and succeed in America. Releases March 2024.
Expiration Dates
By Rebecca Serle
Every time Daphne meets a potential love interest, a message meanders into her life. The paper has a name on it and a number. The number represents how long their romance will last. Since Daphne was a young girl, these notes have never been wrong. She remains open-minded but knows exactly when each relationship will end. One day Daphne is preparing to go on a blind date and receives a note with no number. Finally, she will find her forever match. Excited and nervous, she takes extra care getting ready to meet Jake. He is adorable and smart and they get along perfectly. There is no doubt Jake must be the one. Hugo, her charming once-boyfriend and current best friend, is not pleased, and suddenly his jealousy and suspicions get the better of him. Daphne begins to reminisce through her past and realizes what went wrong each time. As the truth comes to light, she must decide if it is fate or ultimately our own manipulations that bring two people together. With a little bit of magical realism and a lot of love, this romance is filled with heartbreak and hope. Releases March 2024.
WORTHWATCHING: “Expats” follows the complicated lives of an affluent expatriate community in Hong Kong. Fragile friendships, questionable marriages and cryptic drama tangle the characters in a web of mystery. Watch on Prime Video Jan. 26. The book was outstanding.
