As always, Frank gives readers all they want and more.

Caroline Wimbley Levine finds she is becoming more and more like her mother, Lavinia, since she came back to Tall Pines Plantation.

Caroline is trying to help her brother deal with his ex-wife, or she would be his ex-wife if he could get her to sign the papers. Her alcohol abuse is causing problems, and it’s obvious that their daughters don’t need to be living with her.

Many secrets are revealed as the Wimbley family faces crises galore. Great beach read, but be forewarned — you’ll finish it quickly.

My Sister’s Voice

By Mary Carter

Kensington, 2010, $15

I didn’t want to put this book down once I started reading.

Lacey Gears is an artist in Philadelphia, who just happens to be a member of the Deaf community. She had a tough time growing up as a foster child, but is now in a wonderful relationship with a great guy.

When she happens upon a poster about an upcoming book signing and sees her own photo on it, she thinks that one of her friends is playing a joke.

But it’s no joke: Lacey has an identical twin. She’s torn between anger and hurt, but eventually tries to meet her sister, Monica, in order to find out why she was abandoned.

It’s another for my favorites list.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

By Helen Simonson

Random House, 2010, $25

Major Ernest Pettigrew, a widower, lives in Edgecombe, St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside. Upon his brother’s death, the major forms a friendship with Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. Jasmina’s husband is dead, and since she has no children, her nephew is helping her in the shop.

As the relationship between Jasmina and the Major intensifies, their friends and families weigh in with their opinions.

This is a pretty good first novel.

The Last Time I Saw You

By Elizabeth Berg

Random House, 2010, $25

Many people simply refuse to put themselves through a high school reunion. There are often too many bad memories that outweigh the good, and you can almost see the cliques re-form in front of your eyes.

Dorothy Shauman, newly divorced, is hoping to attract Pete Decker, the guy everyone wanted back in the day. Mary Alice Mayhew will be faced with revisiting a time that was unhappy for her. Candy Armstrong, the class femme fatale, seeks the friendship of the women she ignored or picked on when they were girls.

Berg offers a great look at how the choices and decisions of these classmates made them into the people they are now. It might give readers a different perspective about attending their own reunions.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com or (910) 693-2475.