The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook

I read this for my book club; otherwise I never would have picked it up. The blurb on the back made it sound almost like a romance novel. It started slowly for me, and I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But I did - it was a great story. Part historical fiction, part mystery, part love story, it is the story of Meg Mabry, her overbearing grandmother Claudia Bass (whom Meg lived with as a child), and Claudia's mother Hannah Bass, who kept diaries from 1891 until her death in 1902. Claudia published her mother's diaries and became somewhat famous; Meg refused to read them in rebellion against her grandmother. Claudia convinces Meg to accompany her to her childhood home in New Mexico, and they make surprising discoveries while there. I rate this book 4 out of 5.