THE ISLAND BENEATH THE SEA by Isabel Allende, 2010.

Spanning the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in Haiti and New Orleans, Allende's novel follows the life of Zarite, called Tete, born on the island of Saint-Dominigue, a slave and concubine who wishes to take control of her own life and destiny no matter what the cost.
  In 1770, young and foppish Toulouse Valmorain arrives on the island and begins running his father's plantation, Saint-Lazare, a sugarcane plantation of lush natural beauty and terrible brutality. When Valmorain, with little hope of ever returning to live in France, decides to marry the lovely Spaniard Eugenia del Solar, sister of his best friend and business partner Sancho, he asks his current mistress, Violette Boisier, to purchase a maid for his bride. Thus, the endearing and smart nine year old Tete, enters Violette's home and is trained as a domestic for Eugenia. Tete, an eager sort who comforts herself by dancing to African drums and learning about voodoo loa, becomes an indispensable part of Valmorain's life. As the years pass, Tete becomes far more important to her master than he does to her. Their lives fatally intertwine and involve others: the gorgeous and knowledgeable Violette, headstrong Gambo, guardian-like Loula, the vindictive Hortense Guizot, the kindly Dr. Parmentier, the witchlike Tante Rose, and Capt. Etienne Relais, who loves and tries to protect his family unto death. When the French Revolution rocks their world, creating a stunning and bloody revolution on their island with the rise of Toussaint L'ouverture and necessitating several characters' escape to New Orleans, Tete sees a chance for having her enduring wish for freedom granted. There, amidst the raucous multicultural city, with its slave markets, smuggling, governmental chaos, and famous quadroon balls, she renews her acquaintance with the free Zacharie. And at long last, after years of violence, childbirth, love, lies and betrayal, lust, slavery, cruelty, and loss, she finally finds peace and joy with the Zacharie and achieves a destiny greater than she had dreamed. 
  An interesting read, definitely of a literary bent, at times not easy to follow, with a huge cast of characters, and enough drama for several books. Allende's portrayal of the determined Tete is creative and sympathetic, she is a vigorous survivor with a heart and unquenchable spirit, able to rise above unimaginable suffering. Allende's depictions of New Orleans and Haiti are accurate and lively, and setting Tete's riveting story against these backdrops added much to the novel. For those who enjoy a lengthy saga about courage and hope against all odds. My only quibble: some of Allende's writing didn't seem well translated and made for awkward reading. Otherwise, a literate and engrossing (if sometimes slow) read.

THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON by Sarah Addison Allen, 2010.

Picked this off a shelf knowing it would be a light summer read. Having read Allen's first two novels, I figured this would be similar: small town filled with quirky, odd characters, old secrets, food, long lost love, and a hint of magical realism. The main story revolves around two characters: Emily Benedict, who comes to Mullaby, NC to stay with her grandfather Vance Shelby(known as the "Giant of Mullaby" because of his extreme height), and Julia Winterson, who returned home over a year before to run her dead father's restaurant for a while with intent to sell it and move back to Baltimore, leaving behind all her memories of the place. Emily, who arrives with many questions about her mother's life in Mullaby and why she left, has strange experiences (including ethereal lights glowing in the woods) that create more mysteries and attract a local boy, Win Coffey, who has big secret of his own. Julia, who bakes cakes every day because of hunky blond Sawyer Alexander, and tries to resist re-igniting a long ago relationship with him. In the end, secrets are revealed, relationships change, and everyone's on the way to happiness. It's clever and fun and a nice read, a good break from heavier reading. Allen has found her little niche with these books and she doesn't disappoint. Good choice for the beach or backyard or a porch swing.

KNIFE MUSIC by David Carnoy, 2008.

A decent medical/legal thriller that kept me turning the pages. In sunny California, successful doctor saves a young girl's life in the OR after she has a car accident, and then some months later, she commits suicide.Why? Kristen Kroiter was only 17 when she killed herself. Police detectives, including the handicapped Hank Madden, question Dr. Ted Cogan about Kristen, asking some very personal questions about their relationship. It seems Kristen left a journal with some very intimate passages in it concerning him. What? The doctor, who has a reputation as a womanizer, is in a lot of trouble. But just who is the victim here? Broken relationships, trust, frat parties, drunkenness, jealousy, and fantasizing all play a part in this twisting story. At times somewhat intense and certainly suspenseful, with several plot twists, I found this a good and entertaining read.