The Beach House by Jane Green

Here's a book that's an easy beach read...nothing too heavy...easy to put down and pick back up again. I actually listened to this in the car...good reader if that's the route you want to take.

So here's the plot: Nan Powell is a free-spirited, sixty-five-year-old widow who has lived a full life and isn't afraid to keep smoking her beloved cigarettes and skinny-dip in her neighbors' pool. She lives in the same Nantucket home she's been in since she married. Unfortunately she discovers that the money she thought would last forever is dwindling. She realizes she must make major changes or be forced to sell the house she's held onto and loved for years. As a last ditch hope, Nan takes out an ad: Rooms to rent for the summer in a beautiful old Nantucket home with water views and direct access to the beach. Immediately, people start renting her rooms and filling the house she's loved with noise, laughter, and tears. As the house comes alive again, Nan finds her family and friends expanding. Her son comes home for the summer, and then an unexpected visitor turns all their lives upside down.

I really like Jane Green...I've listened to her before and always enjoyed. One of these days I'll get one of her books in my hands and actually read it. Anyway - if you're looking for an easy read - this one is a good way to go.

Promises to Keep by Jane Green

So, a new author for me...Jane Green.  I picked this up as a book to listen to in the car (can't stand the radio anymore and I get bored of the same music over and over).  It seemed like an easy listen...not too heavy...not too intense...something I could listen to in bits and pieces.  It's about Callie Perry a happily married photographer with two wonderful kids, a lovable sister, Steffi, and a best friend, Lila. Problems are minor in their lives: Steffi, a vegetarian chef can never settle down; Lila, a slightly plump, short 40 something year old Jewish woman has finally found love but the guy has a nightmare of an ex. Callie and Steffi's divorced parents haven't spoken in 30 years but it's something everyone accepts.  Suddenly, as life sometimes does, tragedy strikes when Callie, a breast cancer survivor, is diagnosed with a rare and incurable complication of the disease. Suddenly realizing that she has only months to live, she begins the painful process of saying good-bye.

It does sound like a heavy plot but really, it isn't.  Considering the subject matter, the story still manages to be light.  It borders on the corny side, definitely, but I never wanted to turn it off and just turn it back into the library (because it was a couple days overdue).  There were about 15-20 recipes at the end of the chapters too, which I wish I had the actual book with which to copy them from...some of them sounded deeeelicious.  Certainly a book I'd recommend for an easy listen if that's your thing or even a quick, easy read.  I'd certainly pick this author up again.