Month: December 2021

Miss Honeysett is a prim woman who is 85 years old. She believes that the time has come to take control of the end of her life. This leads her to contact a Dignitas like clinic and submit an application. Will her request be granted? Will Eudora want it to be?

Readers learn that Eudora faced a number of tragedies and disappointments over the course of her her life. Most chapters in the novel include a flashback to a key moment for Eudora. No spoilers so I do not want to write more.

So many of the reviews that I saw for this novel were quite praiseworthy so I looked to it with very high hopes and expectations. It did not disappoint. This is a novel that engages the reader through its characters and its story lines. I think that readers who enjoyed novels like The Little Paris Bookshop or The Lido will want to read this one…as will many others.

In the present, Eudora meets the irrepressible Rose. The two have a relationship that evolves over the course of the book as Rose awaits becoming a big sister.

Another important character is Stanley. His friendship with Eudora and Rose is impacted by some memory issues. What will happen to each of them?

At times acerbic, at times touching this is a novel that I most definitely recommend. The audio version is also well done and the narrator reads with a clear, easy to follow style.

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

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callhan tells the story of Joy Davidman and C.S. (Jack) Lewis. I absolutely adored that book so was thrilled when I received an early review copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe, another novel about C.S. Lewis.

The structure of the story is that George, a young boy with a heart defect, discovers The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and wants to know more about it. George’s sister, who loves him deeply, shares that Lewis is at Oxford where she, Megs, is a student. Wanting to do what she can for George, Megs gets to know Jack and Warnie and brings the tales that Lewis shares home to her brother.

Jack’s life story is beautifully told. There were very hard times and yet a man emerged who is so beloved by many. I won’t detail the biography so that readers can discover it for themselves.

George is preternaturally wise about life while Megs is perhaps less so. Over the course of the novel, she learns that her beloved scientific point of view and way of solving problems is but one way to look at the world. She and George are both deeply human, seeking, loving people with whom readers will enjoy spending time.

Those who have read the Narnia stories will eagerly read this title looking for the same insights that young George is seeking…to understand where the characters in the books came from, who they may have been based on and more. Will those answers be in these pages? You will need to read the novel to find out.

Those who have not read the Narnia books can still love this title. Its insight into a person’s life with all of its tragedies and peaceful moments are for all readers.

I give this one my highest recommendation. Ms. Callahan your talent for understanding Lewis and life are so impressive.

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

The Cup of Silver Linings is the second in this author’s Dove Pond series. I enjoyed the first novel, The Book Charmer (see review on my blog or NetGalley). Each of these books has featured one of the Dove sisters. They each have a magical property so in this way remind me of books by Sarah Addison Adler.

In the first novel, Sarah hears books. They literally tell her which book a reader needs. In this new story, Ava has a special relationship with plants and teas. She has a talent for knowing what special drink a person needs for what ails them, much as Sarah knew about books.

This book tells several stories. One is about Ava and her life’s work. Another thread tells the story of Kristen Foster and her grandmother Ellen. Kristen and Ellen come together in the aftermath of Kristen’s mother’s death. Julie was, of course, Ellen’s daughter. Julie, an artist, rebelled against Ellen in every way. Ellen begins the novel as a talented architect who is precise and stiff. Kristen is more like her mother. She wants to stay in Dove Pond while Ellen wants to move the two of them back to Raleigh. Can these two disparate people come together in a way that will feel right for each of them?

In the meanwhile, Ava’s teas have gone amok. Will she be able to find out what the problem is and to fix it? Will her (gorgeously described) tearoom open on schedule?

Also, what about this book’s title? Will there be silver linings for each of these characters?

This book is good women’s fiction. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I would certainly read book 3 if/when it is published. Note however, that Julie suffered from mental illness if this is something that a reader needs as a spoiler alert.

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

Those who enjoy women’s fiction may want to take a look at this series of six books, of which this is number five. I had not paid attention when requesting this book so did not know its place in the series. Nonetheless, I felt fully able to read this book without any issues. It tells a story of a wedding planner and a thriller writer who are attracted to one another. Each has issues that impact their willingness to make a commitment. Will they have a happy ending and what will happen as they try to get there?

This book was not my favorite by this author. That said, I will continue to keep an eye out for future titles by her.

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

#TheParisSecret #NetGalley

Note that I am commenting on the extended preview. ALSO NOTE: I HAVE SINCE READ AND VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE WHOLE NOVEL!

This book appears to have many elements that will mak e it an engrossing read. I will certainly buy the book so that I can spend more time with this book’s characters and story lines.

After an opening set in the days after WWII, the novel moves to the year 1928 when Skye and Liberty Penrose are children being raised by their single mother. Their mother Vanessa, who predicts the future for clients, is a pilot who has passed on her love of the skies to her aptly named older daughter.

When the reader first meets Skye, she is ten and unconventional. Younger sister Liberty appears prone to temper tantrums and may be less than stable. Skye meets Nick during this summer and it is clear that they will have connections throughout the entire story.

The book jumps to 2012 in the following section. In this, a descendant of one of the main characters, Kat, travels to Cornwall to visit her grandmother’s house. Grandmother Margaux has ties to Nick and Skye as I think will become clearer.

This is another story with sections set before, during and after WWII. Illuminated through Skye is a story of the women who flew planes during the war. There is a sense that Liberty and the other main characters will face many threats as the novel continues. It also feels like the past and present will tie together by the end of the book.

This appears to be an involving and interesting novel. As noted above, I will be purchasing it so that I can see how it ends.

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

www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/books/review/new-crime-novels.html

nyti.ms/3ssKGRv

nyti.ms/3lGYnYV