"Beautiful Music"

If you were a teen in the early 70's you'll enjoy this novel. It takes place in the aftermath of the '67 riots on the west side of Detroit. The story centers on Danial, an introverted, nerdy kid who is about to start hight school. He's a loner and has trouble making friends. Along comes rock and roll to save the day. He befriends a music nut who introduces him the the world of rock, which was hitting its peak in the late 60s and early 70s in Detroit. The city has always been a musical hotspot, but this time period was truly remarkable, as anyone who lived here during that era with tell you. The book is the lates from the author who wrote the notable novel "The Leisure Seeker", which was made into a major Hollywood film.

"The Guest Book"

A multi-generational tale about a wealthy New York family The interweaving story focuses mainly on the family during the early 1960s and the present day. It's a well-crafted novel and a fascinating story. Not quite a beach read, it's a great summer book. While I found myself loathing most of the characters, I couldn't wait to find out what happens to them. A good deal of the book takes place on an island off the coast of Maine the family buys in the early part of the 20th century. Since finishing the book, I now want to read her debut novel.