Meg Tilly

Meg Tilly, yes the actress from The Big Chill, tries her hand and YA fiction and starts off well. Occasionally the voice of her main character Jack (short for Jacqueline) spouts vocabulary that just doesn't seem believable for even a very bright twelve-almost-thirteen-year-old. But I still like her. Tilly finds her rhythm describing early morning milking, mucking out the chicken coop, retrieving a fresh-caught trout, and there's the magical scene with the porcupine.

The tough, loner Jack reminds me of the title character from Cynthia Voigt's award winner: Dicey's Song.… (more)

After being left by her fiance, Brett, the night before her wedding, Maggie decides to take the advice of her sister, Eve, and get away completely to Solace Island in the Pacific Northwest for a vacation. On her first night there, Maggie meets Luke, former Special Forces security specialist who came to Solace Island for an escape of his own. Maggie finds Luke attractive, but she isn't ready to step into a relationship so soon after her failed engagement. However, when a car almost runs her down, she looks to Luke for help in case the island isn't as safe as it seems. Luke is incredibly attracted to Maggie, but his past holds an ugly situation with a woman that makes trusting anyone difficult As soon as there is a second attempt on Maggie's life, Luke is forced to offer Maggie more than just shelter.

Solace Island is more romance than suspense but does offer a few twists and turns that enhance the love story. Luke and Maggie are likable characters but lack the emotional depth that might have made this story more than just a formulaic romantic suspense novel. The setting of Solace Island as well as the supporting characters add to a plot, but the villains in the story are barely developed, making it hard to understand their motives. Overall, Solace Island is a nice, easy read but could have been so much more.… (more)