Yet another tale of an orphan who goes to live with New England relatives, grows a personality, solves a mystery, makes friends, heals relationships, etc. If you like this kind of thing, "Understood Betsy", Carolyn of the Corners", and "Pollyanna" do it better.
two and a half to three stars
Executions, revolutions, disguises, a marriage to a mysterious, unknown veiled lady...and that's before we get shipwrecked and cast away on a deserted island! It wraps up a bit hastily, but up till then this book is pure romantic adventure.
An episode from Lincoln's novel "Mr. Pratt", reworked in the short form. It stands well enough on its own, but I would recommend enjoying the story in the proper context, as it is much more fun.
The title character thinks of himself as a quahaug--as dug in as a clam, hiding away in a sleepy Cape Cod village and writing pop fiction to make a living. When his sales begin to slip, his publisher decides to send him to Europe, where his composure is assaulted by an encounter with a long-lost relative who turns out be be quite different than expected. An engaging book, although the main character's complete lack of self-esteem can get on your nerves.
An "Odd Couple" story of a misogynistic lighthouse keeper who teams up with a mysterious stranger who seems to be as anti-woman as himself.
Their peaceful, men-only existence is soon disrupted by the tenants of a nearby cottage. Funny, charming, and sweet, if a little predictable.
A successful sea captain retires to his childhood home, hoping to re-capture the air of warmth and charm he's nostalgic for. But instead of a peaceful retirement, he sets the local political system on its ear, gets the town gossips working overtime, and finds out it takes more than the interior decoration to make a house a home. An interesting and enjoyable read.
A wonderful story of an "absent-minded professor" archeologist, and the sensible landlady who take him in hand. Although considered to be "not quite right in the head" by the other characters, Galusha is a type we are more familiar with these days, and he would be admired today as a geek extraordinaire. An absolutely delightful book; funny and clever, but also a sweet, gently romantic tale.
A young man with a secret lives a a life of indolence and retirement with his invalid mother in a sleepy Cape Cod village, until a new neighbor shakes up the whole town, and causes him to re-examine the life he's barely living. The main character is by turns endearing and exasperating, but it's fun to watch him develop as a person.
Mel’s book reviews
two and a half to three stars
Their peaceful, men-only existence is soon disrupted by the tenants of a nearby cottage. Funny, charming, and sweet, if a little predictable.