I’ve been on a reading roll lately.  Here are three books about sisters and best friends, that I read back to back that kept me up way too late at night.

The Language of Sisters Will Warm your Heart on Cold Winter Nights

I was delighted to receive Cathy Lamb’s latest novel, The Language of Sisters. She’s a prolific writer and I have read many of her other novels.  I love her strong and often quirky female characters, her recurring themes of the importance of family and friendships, and an always hunky romantic interest for the main character. She has set a high bar for compelling story-telling and The Language of Sisters does not disappoint.

Toni Kozlosky is part of a big Russian family – loving, fiercely loyal, and a little crazy too –  who immigrated from Russia when she was a little girl.  She is a crime reporter who lives on a yellow tugboat where she retreats to cry at night. She has a hunky neighbor on the dock for booty calls, but he wants more. She has two sisters who sometimes hear each other in their heads.  One sister is engaged, but the mere thought of planning the wedding has her hyperventilating. Her other sister is a DA who is prosecuting a dangerous serial killer whose menacing family is always in the courtroom. And she’s riddled with guilt because of a secret her parents have asked her to keep about her brother.  See what kept us up reading at night?  Get the book.

The Six – The Lives of the Mitford Sisters

The Six is a biography of six beautiful and glamourous daughters of the British Aristocracy who came of age in pre-WWII Britain.  I had never heard of them before, but apparently even to this day, they are well known in the UK for their stylish and scandalous lives. They lived in homes that are in the Downton Abbey mode, were all presented at court, and were prominent young socialites. Yet as the dark decade of the 1930s took hold, they became enmeshed in politics and scandal.

The eldest, was a popular novelist of upper-class manners. The second was beloved by Britain’s poet laureate. The third, married and divorced the Guinness heir, became a Fascist, married the head of the UK Fascist party, and spent time in jail. The fourth, idolized and spent a lot of time with Hitler, whom their mother called “charming and well mannered” and shot herself when Britain declared war on Germany. The fifth was a member of the American Communist party, and the sixth danced with JFK and became the Duchess of Devonshire.

Laura Thompson weaves the stories of each of the six sisters into this “truth is better than fiction” book.  While her writing style is very “elite” British and you may find yourself looking up the meanings of words you’ve never even seen in print before, which is a bit oft-putting to those of us who speak American, you will find yourself caught up in the lives of the Mitfords.  There’s a movie there for sure.  Get the book.

The Paris Effect

J.S.R. Burn’s debut novel is an addictive read, as we join the protagonist, the food obsessed and always dieting Amy Brodie on a most unusual adventure to Paris.  Amy has just lost her best friend Kat, to cancer.  She’s in a marriage that could be described as predictable. Overcome with grief and a feeling that her life is empty, she decides to execute “The Plan” – a secret getaway to Paris that she and Kat had dreamed up when Kat was going through chemo.  In their scheme, they would sneak away on an adventure when Amy’s husband was away on a business trip.

When William announces he has a business trip, a grieving Amy heads to Paris. She has a small carry on, her passport, her money belt, and her cell phone to take the predictable daily call from William so he will be none the wiser.  When her cell phone is stolen, and she is befriended by the elegant Margaret who offers guidance on Paris and life, the trip takes a decidedly different turn, and we the reader are there for the adventure.  We’re delighted to hear there is a sequel in the works, because we are sure Amy’s continued adventure has new twists and turns.  Get the book.