The Expected One, by Kathleen McGowan

(Book One of the Magdalene Line)

Readers will quickly be drawn into this historical fiction account of Mary Magdalene's life and her role as Jesus' partner. The vehicle into the past is Maureen Pascal, a modern-day journalist who feels a special affinity for the ancient Mary. This affinity grows into obsession as Maureen begins to experience visions of Mary and finds herself part of an ancient secret and a modern search for Mary Magdalene's gospels.

A mystery that travels around the globe, around the century, and down the art world of Da Vinci, Cocteau, Poussin and others.

This book is sure to resonate with readers who enjoyed the Da Vinci Code.

A sequel to this novel is due out in 2009.

Still Alice, by Lisa Genova

For anyone who is curious about or has lived with the consequences of Alzheimer's disease, this book will illuminate the devastation that this illness brings to everyone's lives. When Alice Howland, a Cambridge professor, discovers she has early-onset Alzheimer's, her world, and the world of her husband, children, students, and friends are all effected. As Alice tries to prepare herself and others for the loss of her identity, every relationship is strained and must be transformed.

This beautifully written book, told from Alice's point of view, does not sugarcoat the heartbreak of Alzheimer's, but looks at the essential qualities of what makes us who we are. I highly recommend this book!

Sing Them Home, by Stephanie Kallos

Following on the success of her first book, Broken For You, Stephanie Kallos has written another great story, full of human pathos and engaging characters. The story focuses on the Jones family, a small-town doctor, his wife and their three children.

The orderliness of their lives is torn apart by the wife's illness. Parallel to the whirlwind of emotions that ensues as illness rearranges their daily routines, are the violent tornados that sweep through the small town. Time passes, the children grow up and we find ourselves looking at how their childhood traumas have shaped their adult lives. When another trauma surrounding their father brings the adult children back together, they have an opportunity to put the past into a new context and can finally try to break free from their pasts.