The Woman at the Light
By Joanna Brady
On Wrecker’s Cay, a small island off the coast of Key West, Emily and Martin Lowry happily live with their three young children. Martin is the lighthouse keeper, often known as a “wickie,” because his job is trimming wicks. They live a quiet, solitary life. Their lighthouse is of vital importance, as a great number of ships have crashed on the shallow reefs where lives are lost and treasures often found. One afternoon, Martin disappears and Emily continues to care for the lighthouse and her family, optimistically waiting for his return. She is initially apprehensive when the children discover Andrew, a runaway slave who washed up on the shore. Emily slowly falls in love with his charm, strength and resilience. Now she must keep another secret in order to protect her children, the lighthouse, and this forbidden romance. Author Joanna Brady expertly takes us on this historical journey beginning in 1829, when Key West was a collection of fishing shacks, Ellen Mallory ran a boarding house and this island was known as the wrecking capital of the world.
A Dish to Die For
By Lucy Burdette
It’s a lovely, quiet afternoon as Hayley Snow enjoys a beach outing with her friend and their dogs near her home in Key West. When Ziggy gets over-excited, Hayley is shocked to discover the little scoundrel is digging furiously at what looks like a shallow grave. A strange man suddenly appears – supposedly “birdwatching” – and identifies the body as a well-known instigator who often makes front page news. After Hayley frantically calls 911, she also alerts her husband Nathan, who just happens to be a top detective in town. With an appetite for mysteries, Hayley, a local food critic, cannot resist searching for clues and sticking her nose in all the wrong places. Together with her eccentric 80-year-old friend Miss Gloria, her mother who runs a catering business, badge-yielding husband (to whom she swore she’d stay out of trouble) and a historic Key West cookbook, Hayley whips up a scheme to solve this delicious charade. A blend of lively characters, tropical paradise and some terrific recipes – this is a must-read cozy series.
Here, Kitty
By Hays Blinckmann
Kitty Kittrick lives in the quaint town of Hillsdale, Massachusetts. It’s the kind of community where everyone knows your name and what you did in third grade. Kitty walks into the local country club intent on playing tennis. This blue-eyed blonde appears tall and strong, but has never picked up a racket. Kitty is filled with a remarkable confidence at 16 that the instructor Peter has never before encountered. To everyone’s surprise (except Kitty), she is spectacular and Peter, with his retired high school coach, begins training her for an upcoming tournament. Peter’s best friend Dave manages the pro shop and will quickly describe his autism spectrum along with his list of likes and dislikes. Kitty’s older sister Nina has dedicated her life to nursing and to Kitty – and now, a long-buried secret threatens to destroy their little family. As Dave’s parents announce they are retiring to Boca, the race is on to win the tournament, save the club and cheer Kitty on. This quirky cast of characters will steal your heart and have you laughing out loud from the very first page.
#WORTHWATCHING: If you haven’t seen “Hemingway & Gellhorn” (2012) it’s a must-watch on Max and Prime Video. This fast-paced drama highlights one of America’s most famous literary couples who met in Key West at Sloppy Joe’s in 1936.
