Nature Wakes Up

by Sean Taylor; Alex Morss

#BusySpring #NetGalley Pub Date 28 Sep 2021‘

This is a lovely illustrated picture book that follows Jasmine, her dad and her sibling as spring begins all around them. Children can see the beauty of the season through Jasmine’s eyes. It will make them look forward to our next spring season. The end of the story has sections about the season itself, plants, animals and more.

This is a nice book for children. It will encourage them to take an interest in nature.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

nyti.ms/3h6m0aZ

The Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

My earlier review:

A very clever mystery: Moonflower Murders

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsNovember 22, 2020

A Novel

by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz is a creative and imaginative author of complex mysteries. This book follows on his earlier novel, The Magpie Murders that also featured Susan Ryeland and the story within a story detective, Atticus Pund. I liked this title more than that first title in the series.

When the story starts, Susan has left England to run a hotel on a Greek island. It seems that venture is beginning to pale so when the opportunity comes to return to England, Susan is on her way. Susan is asked to investigate the disappearance of a hotelier’s daughter. Cecily was not seen again after calling her parents to tell them that, based on an Atticus Pund novel, she believes that a guest murdered at the hotel a number of years previously, was not killed by the accused and then convicted hotel worker. Does this sound a bit confusing and convoluted? Well, it just may be.

Susan investigates the case and, as part of her research, rereads the Atticus Pund book. That novel is very cleverly inserted in the middle of the book. I found this to be so appealing. There was the book cover, the blurbs, the copyright, everything one would expect but, again, it is a novel within the novel.

Will Susan solve the case? What happened to the missing daughter? Who committed the murder at the hotel and that is then fictionalized in the Pund book? There are many characters and there is lots to solve here.

This book is original and intriguing. I very much enjoyed it. It is long at over 600 pages so settle in for a long read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Murder in a Scottish Shire by Traci Hall

This is the first entry in what, I think, will be a series. The things that I loved most in this cozy mystery were the setting, the characters and the knitting. The story takes place in a small Scottish town that, aside from murder, sounds like an idyllic place to live. The protagonist, Paislee, is surrounded by family and friends. She runs Cashmere Crush, a friendly shop, for wool and knitting.
As often happens in mysteries, there are two murders. As an amateur, Paislee annoys the detective but…of course, finds the killer. I was pretty sure that I knew who this was and I was right. There is a clue that really points to the perpetrator.
This is a good book if you just want something easy and distracting. There is Scottish dialect which tries to add authenticity but can also be distracting.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Woman Before Wallis A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal

Historical fiction at its best allows readers to immerse themselves in another place and time. When it is done very well, I often find myself wishing for a different ending…even as I know what happened historically. That was exactly my reaction to this novel; I kept wanting to guide the characters when the events are, in reality, long past.
The woman who was the woman before Wallis Simpson is Thelma. For anyone who may not know, Wallis married David, the heir to the British throne who abdicated, paving the way for Elizabeth to be the current monarch. Thelma, nee Morgan, was a twin and her twin was Gloria Vanderbilt. Again, for any who may not follow such things, Gloria was involved in a dispute over the custody of “little Gloria,” her daughter, with Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. (Little Gloria grew up to be the mother of Anderson Cooper). Thelma, herself, had an early divorce and then married Duke Furness. He introduced her to the future king with whom she had a long term affair.
The author lays out all of these events in glorious detail with characters who come to life and settings that I would love to visit. There are country estates, chapters set in Paris, London, the English country side and New York. Readers visit David’s bolt hole, Belvedere Castle, and watch it come to life.
Each of these personages tried to live their life while others tried to heavily influence their actions. This creates the conflict of the novel and real life.
I wanted each of these historical personages to find happiness and that was the gift of the author, as I knew how each of the plot lines ended. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
#TheWomanBeforeWallis #NetGalley

#TheWomanBeforeWallis #NetGalley

The Gown by Robson

I wanted to read this novel from the Imoment that I heard about it.  It turns out that it was a very good, but not absolutely amazing, read.

The Gown in question is the one that Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth wore for her wedding.  However, the Royals are not the ones that this story is about; rather, the novel is a fictional account of two women who embroidered this most important dress and the granddaughter of one of them.  The book moves back and forth between the 1940s and the present day.

An important setting in the book is the studio of Norman Hartnell whose atelier designed and made Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress.  Mr. Hartnell comes across as a nice man who hired nice people.  He and Miss Duley, who manages the embroiderers, were real people.  The author did her research and was fortunate enough to meet one of the seamstresses from the time. This gives the studio scenes a welcome authenticity.

The three protagonists are Ann, Miriam and Heather.  Ann has been impacted by the war and its post-war austerity.  No spoilers so I won’t say what happens to her.  She is a good friend to Miriam, a Jewish woman, who emigrated to London after suffering many losses during the war.  Heather is Ann’s granddaughter.  The book is told in alternating narratives of the three.

At the end of the book there is a section on sources, a reader’s guide and an interview with Betty, the seamstress whom the author interviewed.

If you enjoy historical novels, I recommend this.  I cared about the characters and found the setting to be quite interesting.  If you have watched The Crown, this novel gives background from the time of the first series.

I would give this one three plus stars, just shy of four.  Let me know what you think if you read it.

www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/books/september-books.html

Country Kitchen Cookbook

A Collection of Traditional American Home-Cooked Recipes

by Jennifer Boudinot

#CountryKitchenCookbook #NetGalley

This cookbook celebrates American cuisine in 100 recipes divided up by “Homestyle Breakfasts;” Irresistible Snacks & Starters;” “Scrumptious Salads & Sides;””Hearty Main Dishes;” and “Country Desserts & Cakes.”

This beautifully photographed title is filled with hearty, country cooking. The author starts out with a recipe that exemplifies what is within these pages. It is an easy to follow recipe for a Sunday Casserole that is filled with eggs, bacon, hash brown potatoes and more. That one is followed by more stick to your ribs food. Just a few of the recipes included are for Country Cobb Salad, Barbeque Baked Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits, Hoppin John with Pork, and Coconut Cream Pie.

So, it is clear that this is not a cookbook for those on diets. All others, or those who are taking a break from healthy eating, will find much to enjoy here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Rated 4 stars

by Donna Amey Bhatt

#HowtoGreetaGrandma #NetGalley Pub Date 21 Sep 2021

This sweetly illustrated book celebrates grandmothers all over the world. Customs, ways of greeting, special advice and more are offered regarding the ways of Omas, Mamgus, Babushkas and many other grandmothers in the places where they live. There are some general observations at the beginning of the book and then the individual country fun begins.

Children who are curious about how their lives are the same/different from others may well enjoy looking at this book with that special family member.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.