Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Congratulations on getting 50 total follows on Joyce’s mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!!

I know that there are bloggers whose followers number in the thousands and way more, but I am delighted to receive this virtual sticker from NetGalley.  Thanks to you who have been followers of the blog.  It means a lot to me.

This is a real mix of bargains that are available today.  They clearly do not have a clear relationship with each other.

The Crosswicks Journals provide insight into the author of A Wrinkle in Time.

Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red is part of a mystery series that includes information about Jewish life.

Elegy for Eddie is part of the excellent Maisie Dobbs series of historical mysteries.

Paris is a very long read in the style of James Michener that will let you spend centuries with his characters in one of my favorite cities.

Enjoy.

T

Jill Mansell is an experienced writer of women’s fiction.  Her titles have been available in England for many years and a number of them have now been released in the U.S.  As is true for her other novels, in this one we watch as the “course of true love” goes awry before coming to the desired and anticipated happy ending.  Mansell creates characters both good and less good; the reader roots for the good ones.  This story involves a betrayal, a car accident, loss, complications, small village life and romance.  How can you go wrong if this is your kind of read?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another fun title by this author.  The opinions are my own.

Other of my blog reviews of Jill Mansell’s books

On Friendships with ups and downs: Fast Friends by Mansell

This Could Change Everything (Mansell)

Would you like to “Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay?” (Mansell)

Head Over Heels for a light read

It requires suspension of disbelief to read this enjoyable second caper about Hollis and Finn.  Their first adventure as amateur quasi-government agents took them to Ireland (see below) while this time they are in Buenos Aries.  The plot is improbable but following this couple as they interact with one another is enjoyable.  Another plus was the sense of place that the author provided; I think that the descriptions of the tango, Buenos Aries and other Argentinian locations were quite appealing for armchair travelers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this adventurous read.  The opinions are my own.

Three stars

#BreakingTheDance #NetGalley

A pub day re-post (O’Donohue)

If you enjoyed books like The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See, you might enjoy this book as well.  Map of the Heart is women’s fiction but good women’s fiction.  It is about loss and love and the ways that loss impacts future relationships and risk taking.  The protagonist, Camille, is a photographer who restores old photos.  In the novel, through her photography, she uncovers the history of her father and grandparents who lived in France during WW II.  Tragedy has made Camille cautious; the reader watches as she slowly learns to again take chances and live fully.  The book takes place in both the present and in a French town that was occupied by the Nazis.   I recommend it.

I have not read Lilac Girls but it has been a very popular title so I note it here. It is an historical novel set during WWII.

From Goodreads:

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
 
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

Some reviews:

“Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly

“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews

I adore the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. They are inspirational and informative. I found this title on Stephen Hawking to be one of the best. As always, the illustrations are lively and appealing and they enhance the text.

Stephen Hawking had a rich intellectual life and also faced unimaginable physical challenges. All aspects of his life, scientific work and diagnosis of ALS are simply but fully covered in this story and in the additional facts section. Hawking’s remarkable mind and thought processes are noted as is his groundbreaking discovery on black holes.

My favorite quotes from the book:

“His parents loved science, as did Stephen and his three siblings. They all ate dinner with a knife, a fork, and the company of a good book.”

“No matter how difficult life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at.”

Future scientists will be inspired by this short book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a wonderful new entry in a wonderful series. The opinions are my own.

#LittlePeopleBigDreams #NetGalley

This board book is part of a series that is an offshoot of the Little People, Big Dreams books which are written for slightly older children.

As they hear this story, young listeners will get a beginning understanding of British women’s fight for their rights, especially the right to vote. Children will learn that, as a young girl, Emmeline realized that boys had opportunities that she lacked. They will find out that she decided to do something about this and became a fervent supporter of women’s suffrage.

Here is Emmeline’s story and that of her family.  It is told in a simple straightforward manner. The illustrations that accompany the text are bright, bold and appealing as they complement the written narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this one. It will teach young children about their amazing right to vote and women’s equality.

I find myself looking forward to this publication each time that it becomes available.  It is packed with content about all things having to do with romance.  There are reviews of books in every sub-genre of romance that you could ever imagine, along with reviews of tv shows and movies, updates of what is coming out in various media and some interesting articles.  It is definitely worth a look.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the latest edition.  The opinions are my own.

Elin Hilderbrand has written many novels that take place on Nantucket.  This is her first murder mystery and the first book that I have read by the author.  The setting is beautiful and full of details of how the well-to-do spend their summers on the island.

A wedding is scheduled to take place.  The groom, Benji is the scion of a wealthy family while his bride to be, Celeste,  comes from a loving, middle-class background.    Celeste and Benji’s parents come to life in portrait-like depictions.  Benji’s mother is a society woman who writes mystery novels and always hosts in the most proper ways.  Her husband, Tag, is a man who has had many affairs. They live a life of luxury but do not have a happy marriage.  In contrast,  Celeste’s parents are “salt of the earth” types who have a loving relationship.  Karen, who has breast cancer, is portrayed in a wonderfully empathetic fashion.  Kudos to the author for sympathetically but not maudlin-ly describing Karen.  Bruce, Celeste’s dad, clearly adores both his wife and child.  They want only for Celeste to be happy and secure.

Celeste’s maid of honor is the murder victim.  For fear of spoilers, I won’t say more about what happened or the solution of the mystery.  There are numerous suspects and many relationships come into play.

This is what I would describe as a good summer read.  It is a long (over 400 pages) novel in which the reader becomes immersed.  If you want a light summer escape, this one is worth trying.