Well, 2009 is in full swing, and before we know it, Valentine's Day will arrive.

Hopefully all of you are having the opportunity to enjoy any books you may have received over the holidays. Here are a few from late last year.

The Almost Archer Sisters

By Lisa Gabriele

Simon & Schuster, 2008, $14

Georgia "Peachy" Laliberte couldn't be more different from her older sister, Beth. Peachy loves her life as a mother and wife in rural Ontario, although it didn't have auspicious beginnings. Beth headed for the big city as soon as she could after graduation and enjoys a glamorous life in Manhattan.

Beth returns home for a visit and while there manages to get caught in a compromising situation with her brother-in-law -- by Peachy. Peachy is so devastated that she decides that if Beth wants her life, she can have it for a while, and heads for New York -- and possibly revenge.

This wonderfully crafted book takes readers back to the earlier lives of the girls to help us (and them) understand what makes them tick.

A Single Thread

By Marie Bostwick

Kensington, 2008, $14

Bostwick, author of a series of books focusing on World War II, moves to the present for "A Single Thread," in which she introduces four women.

Evelyn has just moved to New Bern, Conn., after the breakup of her marriage. She decides to open a quilt shop, something she had long dreamed about doing.

Evelyn meets Liza, a 19-year-old trying to come to grips with the death of her mother; Liza's aunt, Abigail, who is dragged kicking and screaming into the quilting scene; and Margot, who gets involved because she's out of work and bored.

When Evelyn learns she has breast cancer, the other three close ranks to help her however they can, learning a lot about themselves in the process.

I've enjoyed all of Bostwick's books, but I think I like this one best.

Tuscan Holiday

By Holly Chamberlin

Kensington, 2008, $14

Elizabeth Caldwell takes her daughter, Marina, on a trip to Italy in honor of her graduation from college.

Elizabeth, a single mother, is worried that Marina is going to marry Jotham Grandin mainly because she doesn't want to make the mistakes Elizabeth made. Elizabeth hopes that the time and distance will help Marina make the right decision.

When Marina meets Luca, who shows her the sights (as well as love), she begins to realize that what she's had with Jotham doesn't compare to what she feels for Luca.

And Elizabeth, who has refused to marry her lover of 13 years, Rob, also realizes that her attitude needs to change.

This is a wonderful tale of a mother-daughter relationship that is well-told by Chamberlin, who is also the author of "The Summer of Us" and "The Friends We Keep," both of which I loved.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com or 693-2475.