Two’s company, three’s a crowd … or so my mother says. Jen’s book review choice for this week, “Morality Tale” by Sylvia Brownrigg, does indeed dwell on an eternal triangle of love, but one that, in this fascinating case, is exacerbated by having a fouth point added.

I am at a loss how to effectively encapsulate my thought on this.  It is ironic that Brownrigg’s novel is, itself, a perfect encapsulation of the protagonist’s life.  It encompasses so many goals and directions in the bigger picture that my simple mind just wanders right off into the wilderness.  Amazing that I can read at all, really.

The heroine of Morality Tale is at a fork in the road of her life.  She is married but interested in another man.  Can she love both men or should she leave?  If she leaves, it is to engage in the exact behavior that made her life a holy hell in the first place.  When her husband fell in love with her, he was still married and had two young children.  He said his marriage was,”over”, but unfortunately this was news to his wife.  She has never let him forget it.

Although he is remarried, he has not let go of the first wife and the constant drama and fighting has pushed the door wide open in his new marriage.  His wife, whose name we never know, lets her guilt keep her firmly ensconced in this three-way tie.  When she meets a man who seems to exist just for her, she is entranced.

Morality Tale starts, plays and ends very concisely.  There is a problem and it is resolved.  I do like this, much easier than open-ended melodrama.  I wanted to put it down a few times but having stuck it out, was impressed that Browrigg had taken me on the exact same journey as her character.  I wanted to plod through, then I wanted to leave, but ultimately I was rewarded for good behavior.

Now, that’s a first …

It’s Spring and to quote Tennyson, “a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Our Jen, however, is busy thinking about summer days and beach books, but love is never far away from such novels and her pick for this week, “Last Kiss” by local author Luanne Rice is no exception. In case you missed it last year, click to read our interview with Luanne Rice.

Happy First Day of Spring.  Let’s put our faces to the sun and pick out beach books early … here’s a good one.

I love to read local authors and Luanne Rice is no exception.  The familiarity is refreshing … especially the familiarity of warm summer days at the beach when my toes are frozen.

“Last Kiss” is set in Old Lyme, down by the beach.  Griswold Point, Hallmark, and the beach clubs all play an integral part – under assumed names of course.

But we know better.

Hence the fun of a local author.

A young man from town is killed in New York City.  He leaves behind a tortured mother and girlfriend who cannot get past the event.  Both Sheridan and Nell are trapped in a holding pattern hoping the nightmare of Charlie’s death will end.

Nell calls Sheridan’s old lover to come home and solve the mystery.  The unfolding story involves love between many people and pain between others.  Luanne Rice is very good at creating an easily believable world and the joys and horrors within.

Will Gavin and Sheridan rekindle their decades old love or is it not to be?  Can Nell’s father and Stevie work out their differing opinions on marriage?  Does Sheridan’s family really have magical powers and are they enough to repair the damage done by decades of heartache caused by a nasty man?  He is nasty – you’ll hate him.  Everyone else is quite likable so it’s alright.

It is a page-turner and I highly recommend you put it on your beach reading list.  Sitting at the Point, iced tea at hand, this is the book you will be reading.  Put sunscreen on first because you won’t put it down for awhile.

This 50th column is a landmark for our indomitable book reviewer Jen Mann. We’re delighted to announce that she will be starting a new venture for us soon, but don’t worry, she’ll still continue with her book reviews.  More on this to follow, but in the meantime, enjoy this week’s review of ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

I wish I were packing in lieu of writing this review.  Packing for Guernsey.  How I love that part of the world and thrilled to the familiarity.

The title may be long and odd but the book is not long enough. I would still be happily ensconced in Guernsey with the marvelously likable cast of characters.

I read another book this week, The Emperor’s Children* that did not have one honorable, amusing or otherwise engaging character.

In contrast, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society barely had any I did not love.  It was the complete opposite.  Every, almost every, member of the story is someone you would love to know.  They are strong, compassionate, amusing and honorable.

Jen treats us to a review this week of Alex and Me by Irene Pepperburg.  An extraordinarily clever woman, Greenburg sets out to discover just how smart the African Gray Parrot – in this case, Alex – is.  Greenburg establishes Alex as “a beacon in a world that underestimated him,” and, as is always the case in Jen’s reviews, makes us think about the bigger animal picture.

“Be Good. I love You.”  These were the last words a 30-year-old African Grey parrot named Alex said to his owner, Dr. Irene Pepperberg, before he died.  Get out the Kleenex now.  What a wonderful bird.