Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

I love to read, recommend books and open the world of reading to others. I tutor to ensure that the next generation of readers will know the joys of a good book because their reading skills have improved. I am an avid reader, especially of mysteries and fiction. I believe that two of the world's greatest inventions were the public library and eyeglasses!

Girls Like Us (Alger) is an e book bargain

I very much enjoyed Cristina Alger’s last book. The Banker’s Wife was suspenseful, fast read with both good characters and good settings. So, I was very excited to be given a copy of the author’s newest novel in exchange for my honest review. Thanks NetGalley and e publisher.

Girls Like Us does its author proud. It, too, is an exciting, fast paced story with a great setting. This time, the locations are all in Suffolk County, New York. Towns in that county like Southampton are populated by many fabulously wealthy and (self) important folk, especially during the summer. Nearby, in towns like Hampton Bays and Riverhead, the locales are not as gentrified and are where many of those who care for the summer dwellers reside. Ms. Alger clearly knows her geography and presents both places with accuracy.

Nell, the protagonist of this novel, works for the FBI. She was injured on her last case and has come to New York following her father’s death. She and he lived in Hampton Bays, on the grittier, more realistic end of Suffolk County. Nell’s father was a Suffolk County cop. Was his death in a motorcycle crash an accident or murder? Did he kill his wife when Nell was just a young child? What was happening at the parties of the wealthy Mr. Meachem? Why were young Latinas being murdered? Who is covering up what and for whom? Who are the guilty parties? There are questions and questions that are answered over the course of this excellent summer read.

Pick up Girls Like Us if you enjoy suspense stories. Like me, I hope that you will enjoy spending time with Nell and in her world.

An e book bargain: The Maui Effect by Sara Ackerman

Native Hawaiian Ackerman sets her newest novel in a place she knows well and clearly loves. I am sure that, like Iwa, she is concerned about the ecology of the island.

Two people meet. They are Iwa and Dane. Each has feelings for Hawaii though their work and hopes for the island may differ. When they meet, what will happen? How will their pasts influence their futures? Throw is rain forests, surfing, Portugal and the novel moves forward.

Those who like books with settings that are vividly brought to life will enjoy this title. The same is true for those who like to read romances.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the team at HTP for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

They say opposites attract but are they meant to last?

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency offers a wonderful read to fans of traditional mysteries who might enjoy a bit of a caper element as well. The characters in these pages are a bit quirky and fun, the murders are not too violent, the plot moves along, and, there are recipes that date back to the original Miss Beeton (of cookery fame). What’s not to like?

Alice Beeton is a distant relative of Miss B. She runs a domestic employment agency, likes to cook and bake, and loves her dog, Agatha (named for you know what writer). When Alice places Enya with a wealthy family as a housekeeper, little does she know of all the chaos that will ensue. The plot is fun so no spoilers. I will note that Alice has many friends who are perfectly placed to help her in her amateur detection.

I hope that this title is the beginning of a series. Readers will hope so too.

An e book bargain

Jackie and Maria by Gil Paul

The cover of this title shows Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas. In the novel, they are surrounded by those in their lives including Onassis, JFK, RFK, Jackie’s sister Lee and many others. All are brought to life in this excellent historical fiction.
Jackie and Maria had more in common than Aristotle Onassis. According to the book, both had mothers they could not please and both faced terrible losses around pregnancies. In addition, each was involved with a charismatic man who did not believe in fidelity and who did believe in power.
The settings of the novel bring the story to life. Readers will be in many locations including DC, Paris, Greece, the Cape, Aristotle’s yacht and more. The story unfolds in these places in a dual narrative that features the world from both Maria and Jackie’s perspectives.
As in the best historical novels, the world of the characters is portrayed in such a way that I very much wanted the history that I already knew, to somehow magically be transformed for the sake of the people on whom the characters are based. Of course, it could not be.
I enjoyed this title and recommend it highly for those who enjoy historical fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Now out: Harlem Rhapsody-Perfect for Black History Month

Historical fiction appeals to me as it offers an engaging way to become immersed in another world and time. Frequently, through this genre, I “meet” people whom I would not otherwise have known. That is certainly the case in the novel about Jessie Redmon Fauset. While I once saw some artwork from The Crisis and know of WEB DuBois, I was unfamiliar with Fauset. That is no longer the case as she and the Harlem Renaissance come to life in these pages.

Jessie comes to New York to take on a prestigious position at an important publication. She goes on to “discover” many writers that we read today as, for example, Langston Hughes and Nella Larson. What Jessie perhaps did not expect to discover was that she was attracted to the married DuBois.

How does Jessie’s life play out? Find out in this intriguing work of historical fiction by an author who knows how to write in this genre. She has published other novels with Marie Benedict including one about Belle Greene, another important Black woman who was JP Morgan’s personal librarian.

It is easy to recommend this title to those who enjoy historical fiction set in the not so distant past.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Publisher

From the NYT bestselling coauthor of THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN and FIRST LADIES comes HARLEM RHAPSODY
A page turner and history lesson... our stories are our generational wealth — Tayari Jones
A novel about the life of Jessie Redmon Fauset.... will have you applauding — Kwame Alexander
In her superb novel, Murray brings to life a woman lost in the shadows of history — Marie Benedict

Come for the cupcakes, stay for the people: The Kookaburra Creek Cafe by Sandie Docker

I discovered this author a year or so ago and The Kookaburra Creek Cafe is the third of her novels that I have read. It was, however, the first to be published.

I have become intrigued by women’s fiction set in Australia. In addition to Docker, I am a big fan of Sophie Green. What both authors do well is tell stories about women that readers will want to know. Hoping for good for the characters in these stories is the emotion I feel while reading.

In this title, three women are primary along with many others who live in the community or were involved with them. The three include Hattie who is the oldest. She was a successful actor until a relationship unraveled. As is true for the other two, Hattie got a fresh start in K Creek.

Next is Alice. She has also been in a complicated relationship as a teen and unexpectedly found herself in K Creek. She is the cupcake baker among other things.

Last is a young girl who needs help. She is the prickly Becca. For reasons that readers come to understand, this young girl is very important to Alice.

What is in store for these women? I will tell you that there are happinesses, tragedies, community, friendship and love.

Recommended to those who enjoy women’s stories and would like a virtual visit to Oz.

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Check it out: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore-an e book bargain

Chloe has a lot on her plate. She has taken on the responsibility for her younger siblings and has therefore disrupted her career plans. Rather than being a full blown librarian, she works in a library doing a variety of more menial tasks.

One day, Chloe is asked to clean out the books that are to be discarded by the library. She makes a few finds while there. One is a trove of Harlequin romances that her friend wants for her grandmother (Chloe agrees to sneak them out). The other find is a former banned book that may be worth enough to make a difference for Chloe. She takes it.

Chloe later finds that this book has writing in the margins. Much as in The Book Swap, the messages have significance. Someone offers to buy the book; why does he especially want it?

How will lives change? Will characters grow? Find out in this story that takes place in more than one time frame.

I always am drawn to books about books so I was eager to read this one.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 April 2024