Wallaby Lane is part of, what I have learned, is called rural romance fiction. It offered a good read with interesting characters, a good setting, and a mention of some serious issues (although they did not overwhelm the book).
Readers meet Lauren who has moved to a small town. She works at the radio station and has dreams of being a TV presenter. Lauren has many good qualities; she is warm and engages well with most of those whom she interviews. However, she has a serious lack of confidence (which I found a bit repetitive at times in the story line) and has a tendency to focus on her “stuff ups.”
Jack has come to the area as a rural policeman. He wants to be near his sister, Clem, and niece, Harriet (Harri). Clem suffered postpartum depression (as did Linnell) and her partner did not stand by her through her crisis.
Readers meet many other characters as well, including two teens who are tasked with community service, a hoarder and others. Their relationships and interactions are what make the plot in the novel.
This is a romance so readers will have an idea of where the story is going. That is okay though. This is why readers like romances.
I enjoyed this book and will, most likely, read others by this author.
Just in time for summer travel, here is a title that could keep kids busy while they are en route…and, best of all, no device needed, just a pencil.
Kids will be drawn right in from the first page when some high stakes are revealed. Next, they will pick their spy name. The fun goes on from there in a terrific puzzle book. Kids can try a word search or a hide and seek puzzle or maybe a maze, sudoko, or direction maze, to name some examples.
I love good puzzle books and this is definitely one!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Collins Reference for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Old Success follows The Knowledge, a book that I really enjoyed. The Old Success is not quite as good but will still be welcomed by fans of Richard Jury and his eccentric circle of friends. Old readers, for example, will probably love Melrose’s latest attempt to get at his aunt. You do not have to have read all the books in the series to pick this up but it may help to know a bit about the cast. In this novel, there are three murders. One takes place in the Scilly Islands, one in Exeter Cathedral and one on a family estate. Are they linked, and if they are, what is the connection? As usual, there are characters who are children and essential to the story. In this case, the reader meets Zillah and Zoe. What did they witness? What is their connection to the bigger mystery surrounding the deaths? The title of the book comes from the name of a pub, as is usual for Martha Grimes. Those in the pubs are witnesses and friends, including a retired police officer who solved all his cases. There is also his granddaughter who is talented at working with horses. Quite a mix. Of course, all is solved. I read this book quickly. I rate it at 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance read in exchange for an honest review. The book publishes in November.
I was looking at some books that were in my nightstand when I came across A Killer in King’s Cove. I bought this so many years ago that I no longer remember purchasing it. Still, I knew that it was part of a series with many entries, currently at twelve titles, so wanted to see what it was about. It turns out that I am glad that I had purchased this one.
Lane Winslow has moved to the far reaches of Western Canada, to the countryside where the nearest city is Nelson. There were things that she wanted to escape from in the aftermath of WWII Europe. Lane hopes that she will find peace and a new beginning here.
Lane meets a number of neighbors in her community. They include a family who moved there from New York-readers will find out why, a family with a son whom Lane does not especially like and his mother who seems to have psychological issues, a rather grouchy neighbor, and others. She is settling in when events overcome her.
A man is found dead and it would appear that he was looking for Lane prior to his murder. Why was this? Has Lane done something that would lead to her arrest? Readers find out as they watch Inspector Darling try to unravel matters.
I enjoyed this slow paced, over 400 page novel. The publisher feels that those who liked the Maisie Dobbs series will enjoy this one. I think that this could be true. I know that I will move on to the next in the series in the future.
Have you heard about this author and series? If so, what are your thoughts?
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
A Killer in King’s Cove (#1)
“A good historical mystery with a cast of characters that will provide plot lines for the series to come. Iona Whishaw is a writer to watch.” —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail
“Exquisitely written, psychologically deft . . . If you miss Mary Stewart’s sleuthing heroines, if you loved Broadchurch and its village of suspects, settle in, turn off the phone, and enjoy.” —Linda Svendsen, author of Sussex Drive and Marine Life
“A debut mystery from an author destined for awards. A setting that is ripe for storytelling and a convincing gift for portraying the painful and challenging life for the survivors of the two world wars . . . Whishaw is an exciting addition to Canada’s fine roster of mystery writers.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog
“The writing . . . conjures up nicely the ambiance of a 1940s west Canadian locale and develops in depth both the characters and their interactions.” —San Francisco Book Review
“A Killer in King’s Cove is worth a look, especially as the author intends to reprise her lead character.” —Seattle Book Review
“Iona Whishaw brings to life a rural country town from the 1940s . . . She’s created an engaging, quirky cast of characters in the countryside who, some more reluctantly than others, welcome Lane into their circle. . . . Despite Lane’s promise to Inspector Darling to not cause any more mayhem in town, we sort of hope she does!” —ReviewingtheEvidence.com
“A simply riveting read by a master of the genre, A Killer in King’s Cove is especially recommended the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, as well as an enduringly popular acquisition choice for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.” —Wisconsin Bookwatch
The Gilded Hour is a very long novel coming in at 742 pages. If your dream is to read an absorbing story that will keep you going for days, this one is worth reading.
The Gilded Hour is the first of two books with Where the Light Enters also having been published.
The two main characters of the series are Anna and Sophie Savard. Anna and Sophie are both physicians in turn of the century New York. The city itself is portrayed in all its classes, from the poorest immigrants to the ballrooms. Anna and Sophie are surrounded by a rich cast of characters, most fictional and a few historical. Their relationships and work form the focus for the story.
Around this structure, there is something happening in New York. If what I write next offends you, this will not be the book for you. Women did not have access to much in the way of contraceptives at this time. This led some to seek help in terminating pregnancies. Anna and Sophie see that women are dying from procedures done by someone, but who? Who has done this will be a part of both of these novels, though I have only read the first.
I enjoyed The Gilded Hour and plan to read Where the Light Gets In. Let me know what you think…have you read books by this author?
A good friend of mine recommended Trollope’s Barchester series to me and so this has been, in part, a Barchester summer. I just finished Barchester Towers and found it to be delightful. In this novel, Trollope creates a world and community in which it was easy to spend time.
There are many characters in this story, a number of whom were in The Warden. They felt like old friends when I came upon them. To the mix, Trollope adds a new Bishop, his domineering wife, an oily chaplain, a flirtatious invalid, suitors for a character from The Warden and more.
There are moments in the story that were very funny. At times, it also felt somewhat modern.
There is a lot about the structure of the Church, the politics behind appointments and questions about how things will work out. Readers will hope for the best for those they have come to like.
Trollope is an interesting narrator. At times, he breaks the fourth wall and intrudes into the story. Somehow it works.
Anyone looking to read some classics, give this a look. I plan to move on to the third in the series.
This book tells the story of Tinkerbelle and her rider. It is a conventional story of a horse and girl going to a show with an underlay of mindfulness techniques. Children who dream of riding in shows will enjoy this one. The illustrations are delightful, the story is sweet and the mindfulness suggestions may help young riders who feel a tad nervous.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Rushy Marsh Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
![The Gilded Hour by [Sara Donati]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZNbwc8R-L._SY346_.jpg)
![Where the Light Enters by [Sara Donati]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FUsCV0vdL.jpg)
The Gilded Hour is a very long novel coming in at 742 pages. If your dream is to read an absorbing story that will keep you going for days, this one is worth reading.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 