Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

In this novel, The Golden Hour literally describes the hour before sunset. It is an ephemeral time.  “The sun disappears.  The night arrives.”  This image is true to the novel where there are both bright and dark times for the characters.

In this novel, there is sunshine and shadow.  There is love and connection along with the potential to lose those whom one most deeply cares for.  As is true is many historical novels, the reader learns about these tropes through characters in two different time periods.  Eventually their stories converge.

In the earlier time period, readers follow Elfriede whose story begins in Switzerland in 1900.  Elfriede, who is breathtakingly beautiful, is married but not in a passionate relationship.  Suffering what we would now call postpartum depression, she is sent to a clinic to recuperate.  While there, Elfriede meets Wilfrid, the man who will be most critical to her being.  Around Elfriede swarm other characters including her son, Johann, and the children of her husband’s mistress whom she loves as her own.  There is much more to Elfriede’s story than I am including here so you will need to read the book to get the full scope what happens to her.

The second time line is the 1940s.  We meet Lulu who has quite a backstory.  She is in the Bahamas reporting on daily life whereshe joins the circle of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.  Life is a mix of decadence, amurder and Red Cross volunteer work.  While in the Bahamas, Lulu again meets up with Benedict, whom she loves as Efriede loves Wilfred.

Of course the stories and lives of Lulu and Elfriede intersect.  No spoliers, so no more except to say that there are several love stories, some of which are about parental/filial and not romance.

The story takes place in multiple countries and each place leaves the reader feeling like they are there. The denoument includes what may be a surprise for many readers.

I enjoyed The Golden Hour.  The characters are vivid, the pages turn and I was sorry to come to the end.  I give this novel 4.5 starts out of 5.

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

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The Malcontenta is part of a series of books about Detectives Brock and Kalla.  This one was one of my favorites.  The author is Australian but the books are set in England.  This one takes place at a spa.

This excellent first in the series is also a bargain today.

For the school performance, each child is going to dress up as a favorite food. There is a wonderful array of choices. The only one who cannot decide is Frankie because he likes so many things! His teacher is not in favor of some of his amusing combinations. She suggests that instead he help with the costumes. As a reader, I was not sure that I agreed with the message that sent as it seemed to discourage Frankie’s creativity. But..wait until the end to see what Frankie does.

This is a book with very cute illustrations. As stated, I did not completely agree with the teacher offering Frankie an option other than being a food, even though Frankie did not mind. If you read this one, let me know what you think.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this read in exchange for an honest review.

My Pet Slime is the first in what will be a series of beginning reader’s chapter books.  I found it to be a fun read and think that kids will too.

Piper has always wanted a pet but is allergic to everything.  It is talk about your pet time at show and tell which makes not having what she so desperately wants even harder.  Using her ingenuity Piper fashions a pet from slime.  Amazingly when space dust from her grandmother, an employee of Astroblast Explorers, accidentally lands on the slime, it comes to life but can only be seen by children.

Piper names her pet, Cosmo. She brings him to school but then he is not in her backpack when she checks.  Piper accuses her frenemy, Claire, of taking Cosmo.  Readers will enjoy finding out what happens.

The story ends on a cliffhanger when Piper’s grandmother is missing.  That event should get readers interested in reading the next book.

The back of the book includes a recipe for slime and some facts on a particular slime discovered by scientists that can forage for food.

This is a nicely illustrated chapter book that will encourage young readers to enjoy books.  Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Today, when I was volunteering at a hospital, I read this book to a five-year-old girl who really liked it.  The story is about Grace who notices that there have not been any female presidents.  This is something that she wants to change!  Along with telling Grace’s story of an elementary school election, this book teaches about concepts including the electoral college.  It will encourage children to think about voting as something that matters and about voting for who the best candidate is.

This entry in the Katie Woo’s Neighborhood series is for beginning readers. It is a short chapter book with illustrations. I especially liked the map of Katie Woo’s community at the beginning of the story.

Katie Woo’s aunt has become mayor. This gives Patty a chance to see how government works and how decisions are made. Luckily Mayor Patty is responsive to her voters’ needs.

The book ends with several special sections that dig more deeply into how city government works. This will be helpful to young students who have not yet learned how city government functions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another good entry in this series for new readers.

Sophie, as you can tell from the cover of this book, is a generally alert and engaged young snail.  In this entry from the American Psychological Association’s series for children, readers learn that Sophie is a curious snail.  She wonders about things like why are raindrops wet.  Sophie thinks that school will be great as she will learn so much.

However, school is more daunting than Sophie expected.  She feels shy and literally goes into her shell.  How she breaks through and learns to cope is the subject of this book.

Read this book to a child you know who will be starting school..  It will offer some ideas and reassurance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I recently reviewed a book about the Gilmore Girls.  Today, I saw this Gilmore Girls cookbook as an e book bargain.  Another chance to spend time with the crew.

The Gilly Macmillan is a mystery/thriller.

The Little People, Big Dreams series makes books for even littler people! This one is part of the My First…series. It simply tells the story of the author of the Anne of Green Gables books. Children will learn about Lucy, who was raised by her grandparents. She had imagination and found a way to write her beloved classic novels.

This book provides an easy introduction to the author. It is nicely and engagingly illustrated. I, myself, want to collect all these books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

Debbie Macomber has been writing women’s fiction for many years. She has a keen sense for what her fans want; this includes a family story, a romance, something heartwarming and nothing that is rated above PG…and she delivers.

In this story two single moms, Jenna and Maureen, have children who are growing up, leaving home and facing some adult issues…college, leaving college, having a baby. The empty nest looms for both, especially Jenna who struggles as her daughter leaves home.

Jenna, a nurse, and Maureen, a librarian become involved in romances with Rowan, a surgeon and Logan, a plumber/construction worker. Each couple has their ups and downs but the ending of the novel is never in doubt.

If you are looking for a comfort read, nothing too taxing but a gentle escape, Debbie Macomber could be just the author you need.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

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