How to Lasso a Cowboy, by Jodi Thomas, Patricia Potter, Emily Carmichael, and Maureen McKade.

How to Lasso a Cowboy, by Jodi Thomas, Patricia Potter, Emily Carmichael, and Maureen McKade.  Four lovely romance stories from the West, in the last half of the 1800’s.  Sweet, realistic, entertaining.  Post Civil War, with bitter feelings between those who fought on each side, women portrayed as capable and not ditzes, realistic daily lives portrayed.  8/10.

The Day My Brain Exploded, by Ashok Rajamani

The Day My Brain Exploded, by Ashok Rajamani.  Pass up on this one.  Don’t even bother.  A 1 out of 10.  Non-fiction.  Yes, Ashok does have an aneurysm burst in his head, followed by side-effects' years of therapy.  His brain needs to form new neurological paths for him to learn to walk, and function.  Although it is written as if he supposedly remembers all the recovery day by day,  it is fictionalized somewhat as he personally couldn’t have remembered all the details and the distraught family certainly wasn't taking notes.  But the dorkiest part is his being sure we know this aneurysm burst happened as he was masturbating, a topic to which he returns later.  It seems to be included as shock value.  The story jumps around from the actual hospital treatment to his life years later when he seeks more help in a group therapy situation. Family relationships poorly formed, hit and miss; mostly missed.  Forget it.  Spend your time reading something else.

Summerland by Erin Hilderbrand

Summerland, by Erin Hilderbrand

Nantucket is a grand place to enjoy a summer.  Wealthy visitors; fancy places on the beach.  But, this story focuses on those who live there all year, with lives that intertwine for generations. It is high school graduation time, to be followed by a last summer before four teenagers become seniors and scatter.  Twins Penny and Hobby, Penny’s boyfriend Jake, and the fourth wild card in the hand, a girl named Demeter.  Penny has a beautiful voice that need coddling and care.  Hobby is the star athlete.  Jake and Penny have been in love since childhood.  Demeter is always on the edge of acceptance, not so popular, over weight, withdrawn.  After the graduation parties Penny becomes hysterical but no one claims to know why.  She never drinks, so does the driving.  Faster and faster, until the accident that claims her life and seriously injures her twin brother.  Now all three families have to regroup.  All have their secrets, tenuous relationships, anger, and hurt.  And all have to keep earning a living and moving on.  Easy read.  Mystery.  What sent Penny over the edge of sanity?  Edgy couple relationships as well as the young folks coping with the accident.  Edgy adult relationships with the teenagers.  8 out of 10.  Good story.