Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: Warm Up with a Steamy Love Story

A starred Booklist review, the Luckiest Lady in London is the romantic tale of unlikely couple, Louisa Cantwell, an unknown nobody who is looking for a wealthy husband to provide not only for her, but also for her mother and four sisters, and Felix Rivendale, Marquess of Wrenworth and as he's known in London society, the "Ideal Gentleman." They are immensely attracted to each other when they first meet, however, Louisa, who doesn't have much in terms of a dowry, cannot get beyond her suspicions of why Felix is interested in her, not too mention the many society rules they are breaking by seeing each other. When Felix proposes to Louisa, she feels that she has no choice but to accept.

"With scintillating wit and sophisticated sensuality, RITA Award-winning Thomas (Tempting the Bride, 2012) launches an entrancing new historical trilogy. Handling characterization, pacing, and setting with perfect finesse, Thomas has created a romance that is pure magic." - Booklist Reviews

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

Warm Up with a Steamy Love Story

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