Stacking the Shelves #28

The Printer's Row Lit Fest was held last weekend in Chicago. It has been an annual festival for over 50 years and is held in the Printer's Row neighborhood of the south Loop. Three of the books I purchased are being featured below. I spoke with all of the authors. Each of them told me not only what their books were about but also why they were interested in the subject matter that they wrote about. The Fest also hosts events with authors but I did not attend any this year.

Unbound Feet by Kim Orendor is an account of the author's years living in China. Kim describes herself as being a wallflower when she was a child. As an adult she taught at an international university in Henan Province. Here, Kim took time to re-examine all aspects of her life: relationships, faith, and expectations. This journey wasn't always smooth and sometimes she felt as if she was moving backward. Kim was astonished when she found herself dancing in the halftime show of the Chinese University Basketball Association championship. The game was broadcast live to millions of people and her shy self  began to blossom. Kim returned to the U. S. in 2011. She hasn't danced much since returning stateside but every now and then this former wallflower busts a move.

Mailboat: The End of the Pier by Danielle Hannah is the first book in a suspense series. There are 5 books in the series to date. The setting is Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, a day trip away from Chicago. This first book opens with the finding of a dead man tied to the pilings on the pier. He had been missing for 17 years.  The main character is Bailey. She delivers letters by boat in the resort town. Bailey has learned over the years that an occasional splash into the lake as she jumps onto the pier is just part of her job. However, discovering a dead body is far from her routine. Bailey becomes fearful when the police investigation spills over into her abusive foster home, threatening to take her away from Lake Geneva entirely. 

Mother Daughter Murder Night was written by Nina Simon. The main character is Lana Rubicon, a high powered real estate professional in Los Angeles. While recovering from surgery Lana visits her daughter Beth and her grand-daughter Jack, who live 300 miles north. When Jack finds a dead body while kayaking, she quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation. Lana decides to find the true murderer so she can protect her family and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. These three women, though, must learn how to depend upon each other to find the killer.

What books have you added to your own bookshelf this week?