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!
Any women who have felt that they were a part of the “Sandwich” generation will welcome sitting down on a summer’s day to read this story. Those who are not sandwiched will also enjoy the setting, characters and look at a life that are offered in this title.
As I read this one, I thought of the many kinds of sandwiches that there are for Rocky. It is not just between her children and older relatives. She is in the middle of the sandwich between her regular life and this one week away. Rocky is also sandwiched between her past and future.
Readers will enjoy getting to know Rocky and those around her. They will also enjoy some (virtual) beach time as they turn the pages of a story that can be funny, nostalgic and reflective..
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for this title. All opinions are my own.
Some Jane Austen fans are absolute purists and read only her original works. Others enjoy various iterations of Austen’s stories. For those in the latter category, this series by Claudia Gray is a lot of fun. The newest title featuring Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the third book and it is delightful.
The premise of the series is that a son of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, and a young woman, Juliet Tilney, with connections to Northanger Abbey, solve cases together. They make for a charming (if not yet romantic) couple as they go about their work.
Credit to this author for her wittiness and her clever use of existing Austen characters along with the ones that she, herself, has added to the mix. In addition, she has created a good plot.
Will Lady Catherine be alive at the end of this title? Pick it up to find out.
I think that this is the sixteenth book to feature Georgie. It all began with Her Royal Spyness back in 2007. I cannot believe that I have come so late to this enjoyable series. I plan to make my way through the backlist and look forward to hours of pleasure.
Georgie is a Lady and a distant relative of royalty. As this book opens, she is about to go to Paris with her husband. He reminded me of Colin in the Tasha Alexander series as he is on a mission. While the appropriately named Darcy works, Georgie spends time with her friend Belinda, among others.
Belinda is working for Coco Chanel. This gives the reader access to an atelier and the famous designer. There are other real people, including Hemingway mentioned; there are also fictional members of the “lost generation.” In addition, there are Georgie’s mother and her German partner. This is a bit tricky during Hitler’s rise.
Georgie does not know exactly what Darcy’s mission is. She is very concerned however, especially when she hears something about Berlin. Is Darcy a traitor?
Rhys Bowen is a master of her craft. This story unfolds effortlessly. Read it! Come to Paris, enjoy the landmarks and the feel of the city, watch the characters in action and then say (like me), I can’t wait for the next book.
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
This is the second coloring book by Eric Dowdle that I have seen. As is true for the first one as well, Dowdle is a master craftsman. His drawings are very intricate and detailed. I think that in many ways that makes these coloring books for older kids and for adults.
This time, Dowdle takes us around the world in his folk style. For each picture, there is one colored by him alongside the one who wants to color. There are then additional coloring pages for many of the locations along with some information.
Start the tour with Amsterdam and you will want to keep going. This is truly a nice books.
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Governess is experienced and competent if not still wanting to do this job. Still, her financial obligations lead her to take on the role. So, off she travels to 1930s Hollywood and her new position.
The Hollywood star is a widower whose marriage may not have been all that it appeared to be. How did he and Dinah get along? What was the cause of her death? What will happen to their young daughter?
Governess, Hester, meets young Erin and believes that she can help her. She is less sure about what is behind the grief of star Aiden.
As Hester gets to know the family, readers will be drawn in. This is a novel with good characters, a vibrant setting and a good plot. A good choice for a summer read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Madam Secretary of the title refers to Frances Perkins. She was the first female cabinet member and Secretary of Labor during FDR’s tenure in the White House. (Anyone who collects Social Security is in her debt.) While clearly this was the pinnacle of Frances’s career, she did much before attaining this post and she also witnessed much history.
Frances saw what happened at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and was deeply impacted. She worked for Al Smith, a veteran New York politician. She was involved in many progressive issues after receiving her education at Mt. Holyoke College and Penn.
Frances interacted with many well know figures of the day, one of whom was Sinclair Lewis. Readers spend time with FDR and Eleanor as well as France’s close friend, nee Mary Harriman. The era in which she lives feels very real.
In addition to her professional life, Frances had a complicated personal life. No spoilers so learn about her husband when reading.
This is historical fiction at its best. I highly recommend this immersive read.
Before Covid I had never read a book by Brenda Novak. I then read One Perfect Summer and found that I could finally sit down and enjoy a book. Since then, I have read a number of Ms. Novak’s novels. Each has good characters, enough plot to keep the pages turning and generally nice resolutions of the story. All of that is again true here.
In this novel readers meet the Jane of the title. Life has not been going exactly according to plan for her. She is not living where she wants to, she has responsibilities, she wants to be a mom but it hasn’t happened and so on. What will happen when she interacts with her sister’s ex? Will her life become less messy by the end of this story? Find out in this book.
Note that this is a title in a trilogy. So, if you enjoy spending time with Jane look for the other titles. They are Talulah’s Back in Town and The Talk of Coyote Canyon.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinons are my own.
Pub date: 20 February 2024
My thoughts on One Perfect Summer
Do you enjoy women’s fiction? Are you ready to be immersed in a long (464 page) book? If you might answer yes to these questions, this title could provide you with an escapist read.
The setting is Lake Tahoe, a beautiful and peaceful place with lots of water, places to walk and sports to enjoy. There are three protagonists; Serenity, Reagan and Lorelei.
Serenity writes books about true crimes. There is a true crime in her personal life that has changed everything for her. Next is Reagan; she is an ambitious, successful advertising executive until one decision and one moment changes everything. She will be faced with some big decisions. Then there are Lorelei and her four year old daughter Lucy. Lorelei grew up in foster care and knows nothing about her family. She was happy in her marriage until…
What do these women have in common? No spoiler as this comes out early in the novel; the three share a blood relationship discovered after they did testing with a DNA site. How are they connected? Who is their common biological relative? Why has no-one ever discussed any of this with any of them> You will need to get very close to the end of the book to find the answer.
Around this central plot there are many others involving the sisters’ families, their evolving relationship and their next door neighbors, all of whom have their own stories. The strands intertwine and four narrators voice the story; these are the three sisters and Finn, one of the neighbors.
Overall, this was a book where the pages turned. The characters are well established and each is very much their own person. That said, I think that the novel might have been (even) better had it been shorter. Sometimes sections replayed things that were already known to the reader.
Simone Gorrindo has written a memoir that is so absorbing that at times it read like a novel to me. In telling her story of being the wife of someone on active military duty, she is telling the story of many. However, it is also a story that is uniquely her own.
Simone, who wants to write, never expected to be a military wife or to move to Columbus, Georgia. She went because her husband had decided that he needed to be in the army. This put Simone in a small home near a base where she only knew one person at first, another wife. What will happen to Simone while her husband has his own experiences? Readers will want to know.
This is a story about the military, about the things we do for those we love/marry, how we find our way through situations we might not have chosen, the women who become our friends and more. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Janet Skeslien Charles’s novel, The Paris Library, was historical fiction at its best, and here, with Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, she offers readers another emotional and compelling story. Charles takes a part of WWI history about which I knew nothing and brings it to textured and detailed life.
The Miss Morgan of the title was of the daughter of J. Pierpont Morgan . She went to France to help those who experienced the devastation that comes from losing everything held dear. For this community, survival was a daily challenge. The American Committee for Devastated France wanted to offer assistance and hope. This group of international women helped rebuild destroyed French communities building relationships in the process..
Children’s librarian, Jessie (Kit Carson) works as the New York Public Librarary as the story opens. Her boss is very critical and is a constant voice in Jessie’s head. Jessie wants to do more and volunteers to go to France. She brings her talents, insecurities, many books and her love of them (especially perhaps Anne of Green Gables) with her.
In addition to Jessie and Miss Morgan readers meet doctors, nurses, cooks and other brave women. And, of course there are the people of the community. Readers are sure to want the very best for them. Just two of these characters are a young teen who loves to read and drive, and a woman devastated by the loss of her husband and baby. The remnant that she has left is a book that was written by her husband and that Jessie restored.
What the American women accomplished and created was nothing short of amazing. Readers will be engaged by their stories and works. Note too that Jessie was honored by France for her accomplishments in the field of children’s libraries.
As is often true in historical fiction, there is, in addition, a story set in a time close to the present. This features a young woman who is microfilming at the NYPL and learns of Jessie’s story. Readers trust that the storylines will intersect and indeed they do.
This is a novel for anyone/everyone who adores books, historical fiction, and good storytelling with emotional resonance. Very highly r4ecommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 