The High Tide Club. Mary Kay Andrews

Published: St Martin's Press
Date: 8th May 2018
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 480
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating:
                   

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

The High Tide Club was an entertaining read - lots happening, interesting and varied characters, a little bit of mystery and crime, and some life happenings that tugged at my heart.

I loved that it was a dual time story - usually I find those a little annoying, but this one is really done well and it all goes together seamlessly. It tells the story of Josephine, Milly, Ruth and Varina back in the day and how their lives intertwined and then they lost contact. Why? Josephine was a secretive lady but in my opinion she meant well. I liked her.  

The present day ladies called together by Josephine are Lizzie - related to Ruth, Felicity related to Varina who is still alive, and Brooke a lawyer daughter of Marie who is a daughter of Milly as it turns out.  I liked how they all developed and reacted to the various events, taking their time often to adjust. The last moments in the book are sweet.

Brooke is really a main character, she has a beautiful son Henry and a missing father for Henry that she still sort of wishes was still around. But its been three years, he doesn't know he is Henry's father and Brooke has found herself being courted by a lawyer she used to work with and now needs his help.

It kept me reading, even during a difficult time, so you might say its just the right kind of read to take your mind off real life.  A story of friendship, love, sadness and loss, forgiveness and new hope.

Spring Fever. Mary Kay Andrews

Spring Fever
Mary Kay Andrews
Published: Macmillan Audio
Date: 2012
Format: Audiobook
Length: 15hrs 35 min
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own book

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews was a great listen.  Very entertaining and Kathleen McInerney made it even more so.  I loved her voices for the characters, especially Sophie.

This is the story of Annajane who has been married to Mason and then divorced, but she continued to work for the company. She also attends the wedding of Mason to his new love Celia.  And it is at that point the fun begins.  Enter Sophie, Mason's daughter, a five year old and completely adorable. She causes life to become interesting.

Mason's family run a soft drink company and Annajane is reluctantly leaving to go down to be with her new love Shane.  Yet there are some things happening round town that gives her pause for thought.  Davis her immediate boss and Mason's brother seems to be wanting to sell the company, and what does Celia have to do with that?

Loved Annajane and her close friend Pokey, sister to Mason. Pokey is straight talking and a wonderful ally for Annajane.  The two of them are the complete opposites of the two other very bitchy unlikeable women in the novel.

Mason was a very responsible and family guy, although he and Annajane had made strange choices early on.  I thought he was a little slow where Celia was concerned, especially as in everything else he was discerning.  

A very enjoyable listening experience.  Now to look out another Mary Kay Andrews' book!

Save the Date. Mary Kay Andrews

Save the Date
Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher:Macmillan Audio
Date: 2014
Format: Audiobook
Narrator:Kathleen McInerney
Length: 13hrs 47min
Genre: Contemporary
Source:Own book

A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime--one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all. 

I enjoyed this audiobook, nice light entertainment while I walk.  The narrator was competent and made the listening a pleasant experience. 

Cara is a florist, with a lot going for her - and many challenges that constantly seem to appear and try to trip her up!  She is successful at what she does - but she still owes her dad money on the start up of the business, and now he is demanding that it be paid back in full.  She is working out of a building that is in need of repair - especially the air conditioning and cooling room where she keeps her flowers.

Add to that an assistant who suddenly starts to act a little strangely and becomes unreliable, an ex who is a nuisance and a handsome guy who has stolen her dog - Poppy.  Only he has a dog exactly the same as Poppy so perhaps it was a genuine mistake.

It doesn't matter what happens to thwart Cara, she manages to come out ahead.  Even when a toffy nosed competitor turns up in town, she fights back.  The dog stealer is not what he at first seemed to be and Cara finds that love is a possibility.

The Fixer Upper

The Fixer Upper   Mary Kay Andrews
2009

Goodreads summary:

After a political scandal, fledgling lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left almost broke, unemployed, and homeless. She reluctantly accepts to refurbish Birdsong, the old family place in Guthrie, Georgia.

But, oh, is Dempsey in for a surprise. "Bird Droppings” would more aptly describe the moldering Pepto Bismol pink dump. There's also a murderously grumpy old lady who has claimed squatter's rights and isn't moving out. Ever.

Ella Kate is the old lady, and she is quite a character.  She reminds me of the Granny in The Beverley Hillbillies, a lot of grumpiness but a good heart under it all.

Dempsey has been really sucked in by her boss and blamed for something she had no idea she was involved in. In Guthrie she meets two lawyers father and son, who are kind and helpful. While in this town just about everyone knows what has happened before it happens, she finds support and begins to grow a backbone in adversity.  The FBI get involved and are interesting minor characters. They also assist Dempsey in trapping her now previous boss into being found out.

This was my first read by this author, I enjoyed it, I think I would file it more under women's fiction than romance.  There is a relationship but it is not to the forefront, although naturally it plays its part.  It reminded me of some of the books by authors like Emilie Richards or Wendy Wax or some of Susan Mallery's books.

2013 Personal Challenge: A new author