This is the second book I have read  by Elizabeth Kelly and it won’t be the last!  The Miracle on Monhegan Island is an absolute delight!  At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like this book because the story is recounted by a dog who has been kidnapped, but it turns out that he very happy with his new family who certainly prove to be much more exciting then his previous owners.   Ned (nee Lupine) goes to live with the Monahans where he is given to young Hally by his rakish, wandering father, Spark, as reparation for his neglect.  Growing up on an island off the coast of Maine, Hally has been raised by his grandmother (now deceased), his evangelical grandfather, Pastor Ragnar, and his gentle uncle, Hugh.  Upsetting the eclectic group’s dynamic, Spark’s return is only a precursor to the very dramatic effects of the “Miracle”!

Entertaining, insightful and heart-wrenching, this is a great book for those who like stories about family drama, love and redemption.  If you like this, you should try Kelly’s first book, The Last Summer of the Camperdowns.

Reviewed by Kris Chin

I’m not a great fan of mysteries but for my long commute I need something that will keep my attention.  Long prose set my mind to wondering so I thought I’d try the latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery by Louise Penny.  I really enjoyed this book!  I’m not sure if I made a mistake by diving into the most recent book in the series, but the story went along just fine and I didn’t feel hindered by not knowing some of the back story (although I will go back and read more in the series).  Gamache and his group of comrades are instantly likable. The story line was exciting and never predictable.  The narrator of the audiobook is someone that I recognize from other books and he does a wonderful job.  I’m glad I took a chance on a mystery; it made me remember the Martha Grimes, Richard Jury mysteries I enjoyed several years ago!  Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Kris Chin