June 21-25

Title: “The Last Garden in England” 

Author: Julia Kelly 

Reading Level: Adult 

It’s 1907: Venetia Smith has made a name for herself amongst wealthy English society members who wish to show off their grand gardens. She’s the most sought-after garden designer all through the English countryside.  

She’s hired to transform the gardens of Highbury House. Highbury House is her best and most challenging job yet. Little does Venetia know, not only the gardens but the people there will forever have an impact on her life. 

It’s 1944: Beth Pedley, a land girl in World War II, is trying to find a place to belong – a home. She is placed to work on a farm on the outskirts of Highbury.  

Cook Stella Adderton wants nothing more than to get as far away from Highbury and the life of service that she’s in. Diana Symonds, a widow and mistress of Highbury house, strives for as much normalcy as possible during wartime while grieving great loss. 

These three women are brought together in surprising ways and will forever have a great connection.  

It’s 2021: Emma Lovett is a garden designer and restorer of abandoned gardens. She is hired to restore the grand gardens of Highbury House – a dream come true.  

In her attempt to bring the Highbury House estate back to what it once was, Emma, with the help of her friends, digs up history that has been buried for generations.  

Books like this one are like a historical treasure hunt – a mystery unraveling. It’s exhilarating to be a part of the characters’ lives, what they go through and how their stories are written.  

Lives are changed and evolve into something greater.  

The reader will be swept away and in awe of the connections woven. 

Title: “The Last House Guest” 

Author: Megan Miranda 

Set in a small coastal town in Maine, this is a mystery thriller you won’t want to put down.  

Avery and Sadie have been spending their summers together in Littleport for about a decade.  They are best friends and always together.  

When Sadie doesn’t show up to the annual end-of-summer Plus-One Party, Avery is concerned. Before the night is over, they all learn Sadie is dead by apparent suicide.   

Sadie’s family accepts the news and moves on, but Avery can’t believe it. 

Even though everyone in town looks at her with a combination of pity and wariness, Avery is determined to find out what really happened to Sadie. With strange power outages, vandalism and break-ins to the vacation rentals Avery manages, it’s obvious someone is messing with her.  

As she gets closer to the truth, she isn’t sure who she can trust. Even if she has to risk everything, she will clear Sadie’s name and catch her killer.