Book #31: The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee. The setting is Hong Kong just before Japan attacks and takes over the island and after Japan surrenders and the island's social circle's history. Claire, quite nondescript has arrived from England with her new husband and becomes the piano teacher for the daughter of a high society Chinese couple. She becomes involved with Will who has a long history on the island. The story includes Trudy, the Eurasian heiress, her connections with the Japanese leader, her involvement with Will, and her place in Hong Kong's elite society. The story is filled with intrigue, romance, questionable love, separation of East and West, loyalty, cultural differences and social classes, and survival in war. The story details aren't fully uncovered until the final chapters. It took a while for me to get really interested in this book- long descriptions of society parties. But, toward the end, I had to just read and read until I finished.

#30 Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg. I'll get it over with and complain (again) about the widow that ends up having a lot of money as is in every other book I've read by Berg. This time, it isn't money, but the surprise is worth a bit and basically the widow doesn't have to worry about money. She does have to worry about her relationship with her daughter and her own inability to fend for herself. As I got into the story, I found that it had some interesting ideas and I liked it more. I will give away the plot if I say too much. It was a fast read and I enjoyed it.

#29 Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith. I love the series #1 Detective Agency and have read each book, but I was a bit disappointed. Precious has problems with her little white van and learning about soccer, Grace evolves in her role as an assistant detective and has Violet from typing school bringing doubt to her life, there is new information about the mechanic apprentices, and a lady has to chose between two boyfriends. Much of the book is flashbacks and keeping the reader up-to-date. I guess an author would have to do that to inform a new reader, but for me, it was a drag. I still liked the way the problems were solved and the humanness of the stories.