For those of you--like myself--that are unfamiliar with Christi Barth waste no time in getting UP TO ME, the first book in her Shore Secrets Trilogy. It's sure to whet your appetite for more. I didn't realize until finishing this wonderful story there were more to follow. But what I did realize almost immediately is that I wanted to know more about these rather unique characters Barth created out of her talented imagination. Each scene is more vivid than the last. Barth really makes you part of the story which endears her to me as a true sucker for a great story filled with lovable, touchable characters. I have too many favorite scenes to mention, and of course I wouldn't want to spoil it for all of you.Sitting around a table with the locals, and their sometimes biting dialog, made me feel right at home.

Be prepared to fall in love with a town steeped in tradition and friendships that are lifelong. The town seems to be too good to be true; their motto could be "we take care of our own."

Have you even wished for a way to unload your angst and worries; a way to think aloud without actually making a commitment to an idea or a decision. Well the mailbox journal is the outcome of such a desire. When life gets too complicated, the journal becomes a way to give voice to decisions that had to be made or just tangles in life. It is a way to vent. The journal winds up giving a sense of solace to many who decide to visit the mailbox and put a personal entry into the book. Identities are secure since the entries don't really need to be signed.

In a small town like Seneca Lake, secret identities are rarely all that secret. Ella Mayhew isn't concerned with people knowing some of the entries are hers. This town became her support group during a time of trial she refers to as the Disaster Day. Following her personal tragedy, she needed help in assuring that the decisions she was making were solid and good -- not impaired by the devastating nature of her life at that moment. She comes through this tragedy as an independent, sassy woman but still harbors some insecurities.

This resilient woman attracts the attention of Graydon Locke immediately. This is a major surprise to Gray, who admirably separates his business life from his personal one. There is much about Gray's life he prefers to hide. His job is to ferret out weaknesses in businesses and report those weaknesses to his bosses, who swoop down and basically swallow those businesses. This happens all the time, and the small businesses' identity and character get lost in the shuffle.

The newest target by Gray's bosses is Ella's hotel.

Gray's attempts to cool things off with Ella actually angers him. It seems the town is expressing their worry that Ella will get her heart broken by a man like Gray: a man a little too slick for a small town. Gray'll be damned if he'd lets entries in a journal decide his future with Ella.

Gray's been straddling the line between decent and deceitful for so long he questions his ability to tell the difference. The folks in Seneca Lake are showing him just what life should be. What would he give up to live this way and is he ready to make that giant leap -- not only with his heart and soul but with an investment that supersedes any he has ever made? It is the ultimate gamble, but the rewards could be amazing.

UP TO ME can almost qualify as a play with a talented group of actors that engage the audience with every line they speak. If you are looking for a good, summer, beach read, look no further. UP TO ME is a candid look at people whose lives seem to be an open book but who harbor some intriguing secrets. The joy is in uncovering these secrets through snappy dialog thanks to Christi Barth.