Above the East China Sea by Sarah Bird

This novel is about two girls looking for peace: present-day military brat, Luz, who recently lost her sister, and the ghost of Tamiko who died in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa. The current timeline is set during the three-day Obon festival, when relatives honor their deceased. As Luz digs deeper into her background, the two girls’ lives will intersect in an unexpected way.

This book started slow, then picked up speed. Bird writes beautiful descriptions of the island and really transports you into each time period. I enjoyed learning about a new culture. My eyes were a little blurry during the last chapter and it had a satisfying ending. This was an enjoyable and thoughtful novel about loss and the power of love.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Enjoyable! This was my second time to read this book. I'm a BIG Moriarty fan. Sick and looking for something comforting to read, I picked this off the shelf and it was like a bowl of chicken soup. It made me chuckle and gave me all the warm and fuzzies.

Ellen, a hypnotist (a very interesting profession to read about!), is trying to find love via internet dating. She discovers the man she's falling for has a stalker. Instead of scaring her away, this only piques her interest. Little does she know; she's already met his stalker.

The River by Peter Heller

Two friends paddle the Maskwa River in northern Canada. They envision a simple trip involving fishing, picking blueberries and smoking their pipes. One foggy night, they hear a couple arguing. Not wanting to intrude, they continue up the river. When they spot a wildfire in the distance, their leisurely trip turns into a race against the clock. But first, they must warn the couple… only they can’t be found.

Keller keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. *Warning!* It was very hard to put this book down. He is a master storyteller. I laughed. I cried. I wished it were longer. Loved it!