NEW RELEASE
Kindred Spirits - Sarah Strohmeyer (2011)
The Ladies' Society for the Conservation of Martinis was formed after a PTA meeting, in which four mothers found they had a lot more in common than originally thought. From that fateful day forward, the women meet once a month to discuss important issues (motherhood, husbands etc) and drink martinis. However, the group soon starts to dissolve as the demands of life take over each of the women's lives. Two years later, fate throws the group back together after tragic circumstances take away one of the members. As one of her last wishes, Lynne asks that the group reconvene to go through her personal items. As they do, the women discover a letter from Lynne that reveals a long-held secret and instructs the women to fulfill one of her final wishes. This is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story, which shows the true power of friendships, even ones that have seemingly fallen apart, and of course, the power of a good martini. The women are wonderfully crafted characters - resilient, funny and most importantly real. They feel like old friends that you've known forever, which makes the book an easy and delightful read. (AS)
Sarah Strohmeyer's Kindred Spirits will get you grabbing a martini glass to raise a toast to friendship. The summary says: "When life gives you lemons, call your best girlfriends and whip up some lemon martinis. Such is the mantra for the Ladies' Society for the Conservation of Martinis, which was established after one fateful PTA meeting, when four young mothers - Lynne, Mary Kay, Beth and Carol - discovered they had more in common than they ever thought possible. Meeting once a month, the women would share laughs and secrets and toast to their blossoming friendship with a clink of their sacred martini glasses. The society was their salvation, their refuge, but when life-shattering circumstances force the group to dissolve, their friendship is never quite the same ... until two years later, when a tragic event puts the society back in session. When Lynne passes away suddenly, she leaves behind one simple request: that her old friends sort through her belongings. Reluctantly, the women reunite to rummage through her closets. There's nothing remarkable; no kinky sex toys, no embarrassing diary. But buried deep within Lynne's lingerie drawer is an envelope addressed to the society. And inside they find a letter that reveals a shocking secret and a final wish that will send the women on a life-changing journey - proving that nothing is more powerful than the will of a true girlfriend and a good, strong martini." Kindred Spirits is out in June. Head to the author's website to read the first chapter.