Amber Woodard

Although readers will likely know how the story will end, they may not know how they will get to that ending. Recommended for fans of authors such as Elin Hilderbrand and Joshilyn Jackson.

Recommended for readers looking for a transformative approach to solving marital problems from a couple whose own marriage was saved by a willingness to work at staying together.

Hildebrand's (Silver Girl; Summer People) latest touches on heavy subject matter but has a satisfying conclusion. Like Jodi Picoult, she writes about ordinary, believable characters in a difficult situation that could happen to anyone. While the multiple points of view are tough to follow at first, once the story "clicks," fans of realistic fiction will find themselves devouring this novel to discover what really happened that night on the beach. [See Prepub Alert, 12/12/11.]

Moriarty seems to have a flair for writing about realistic situations that have a twist. Fans of Luanne Rice and Barbara Delinsky will enjoy this title; those reentering the dating world and finding it difficult to navigate will be especially entertained. [See Prepub Alert, 12/12/11.]

Despite a bit of a slow start, this first entry in a new series about a small, somewhat idyllic Texas town and its quirky residents will definitely appeal to fans of Jan Karon's "Mitford" series and other readers who enjoy homespun fiction about small-town life.