There's No Place Like Home by Cecilia Ahern

Cecelia Ahern, author of P.S., I Love You, writes a whimsical story about an Irish girl named Sandy Shortt who becomes obsessed with finding lost things after a neighborhood girl goes missing. Sandy's parents send her to a psychologist to no avail. When Sandy grows up she moves to Dublin to track down missing persons for a living. A man asks her to find his missing brother so he can be at peace knowing what has become of him. Sandy gladly takes the case but soon after, she goes out jogging and finds herself in a parallel universe with all types of missing people and things. To her horror, it appears she can never return to her original life.

Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steel

After his beautiful, young wife leaves him and their four year old daughter, Hugues Martin spends the next fifteen years focusing on two things; the five
star hotel he owns and manages and his beautiful daughter Heloise. Hugues strives for hotel excellence in every capacity; from the décor of the suites to customer service. His efforts pay off as his hotel hosts celebrities, politicians, even presidents for clients. His daughter Heloise grows up in the hotel emulating her father’s love for Hotel Vendome and his work ethics. Their lives are encompassed on the hotel and each other.

Upon graduation from high school, Heloise attends the same hotel school in Switzerland that Hugues attended. Her dream is to one day work alongside her father running the hotel.

Lonely without his daughter, Hugues decides to renovate part of the hotel and falls in love with Natalie Peterson, the decorator. Will Heloise accept Natalie or want her father all to herself? This is another great Danielle Steel quick read…go for it and enjoy yourself!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

If you like a little magic in your novel, then you're sure to like The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. According to the author, every book she's written has some element of fairytale to it.

The novel takes place in a quirky little town in North Carolina. Emily arrives to stay with her grandfather Vance after her mother dies. Emily had never met him because her mother refused to talk about her past. Emily is shocked to see that Vance is eight feet tall. She soons realizes that there are a lot of strange things happening in and around his house. The wallpaper in her room changes with her mood and tiny sparkling lights dance all around the house and fields.

The towns people shun her because of something horrible her mother did when she was a teen living in town. But she makes a friend who helps her to make sense of it all.

Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag

Bestselling author Tami Hoag has written another thriller that will keep you guessing.

A young woman is murdered and her four year old daughter is the only witness. She tells the authorities that "Bad Daddy" hurt her mommy.

I enjoyed the twists and turns and getting to know all of the interesting characters. Some of the characters are definitely the type of people you will love to hate.

Suspect By Michael Robotham

Joseph O'Loughlin seems to have it all - a lovely wife and daughter, and a rewarding career as a clinical psychologist. But things change drastically when the police find a young woman dead with multiple stab wounds, which seem to be self-inflicted.
The police call Joe to see if he could help them understand the crime. It turns out that Joe knows the victim. Her name is Catherine McBride, a nurse and former colleague.
Meanwhile, Joe has been working with a very troubled young patient named Bobby Moran, who has extremely violent dreams. Joe begins to wonder if Bobby's dreams may turn into reality.
This investigation takes Joe through the darkest parts of the human mind.

Suspect provides plenty of twists and turns.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

I decided to begin the Harry Potter series for the first time. Many of my friends and colleagues have read the series more than once and all of their comments about the books really piqued my interest. I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in a couple of days and got hooked. I enjoyed watching the friendship between the first year Hogwarts students develop. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is such an interesting, scary place. A place I'd like to visit.

There is so much going on in this little book; sadness, madness, humor, magic, wizardry and evil. There are plenty of ghosts, trolls, strange creatures, strange teachers, mean students, talking portraits, magic mirrors, a spying cat and much, much more. I just started the second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, so more on this later.

Lost December, by Richard Paul Evans

Luke Crisp is the prodigal son. Luke's mother died when he was very young. Luke and his father have an exceptionally close relationship, one built on trust, respect, honesty, and love. He has worked hard at the Crisp family printing business since the age of twelve. When Luke and his father are not working, they often play golf together, go to dinner, or go on vacations together. Carl Crisp has big plans, he wants to retire and hand over the family business to his only child. Having recently graduated from college his father wants him to pursue an MBA from a school out east--far away from his Arizona home; to get the education his father never had and to see more of what the world has to offer. Although very reluctant to leave his home and his father he finally agrees to attend Wharton School in Philadelphia.

Although a good student, Luke falls in with a different crowd and problems arise. He drinks too much, cheats on his girlfriend, and spends all his money. In time his girlfriend leaves him and he completely runs out of money. He finds himself alone and living on the street. Can he find his way back into his father's life?

This is a great Christmas story of love, loss, and love found. It is a quick read and again a page turner. I hope you enjoy it and much as I did.