Shelly's Book Journal

Ava has professional success at a Chicago advertising firm, but not much personally. Now college friend,Will Fraser invites her to come south for the summer and work on her dream novel while living with his aunts in an historic southern mansion. As she learns more about Will's family, she sees a mystery that is weaving its way into her novel, a mystery the family doesn't want solved or revealed. Will she find the answers?I started reading this thinking it would be a light chick lit kind of book - and it mostly was, but the author weaved in some fascinating elements along the way. The book actually starts off in the 1930s with the body of a young man found in the river, and then comes back to Ava and her story, her journey to the south in search of herself, and the reconcile her past and her previously deceased father who is apparently alive. Soon she stumbles onto the story of Charlie Woodburn and realizes that the two aunts who have graciously allowed her the shelter of her home are somehow entwined in the mystery of what happened to Charlie. The author goes back to the 30s and see events through the eyes of the characters as she puts the pieces together for the reader and Ava continues to stumble onto more information. There is also a romance brewing between Ava and Will, but what happens when Charlie's grandson Jake - all mysterious and darkly handsome - enters the scene. There are lots of layers in this novel, not all of them cleanly resolved and not all of them necessary. But ultimately, the reader is interested enough in the mystery to wade through the details to the conclusion. A neat little story full of history, romance and discovery.