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!
Readers who enjoy traditional/cozy British mysteries, tales set in the past, and/or those who love a story with a Sherlock Holmes reference point are sure to enjoy The Case of the Missing Maid. What happened to her? Harry (for Harriet) becomes intrigued and wants to find out more…but, how did Harry learn about the missing maid?
Well, she was demoted from her job in a building with that famous street in it and assigned to respond to letters sent to (the fictional) Sherlock Holmes. It can be tedious but then one letter caught Harry’s eye. Read the story to find out where she is led and what happens.
This is a very enjoyable book and, as is true for Boldwood Books in general, it is very attractively priced.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Anyone who regularly walks in nature may come across wild flowers. They certainly can be enjoyed just as is in the moment. However, sometimes or some people may want to know more about what they are seeing. For those walkers and times, this book may be welcomed.
Sections include Meeting the Wildflowers; When, Where, and How to Find Wildflowers; What to Do with Wildflowers; and, What Flowers Can Teach Us. For identifying flowers, the book is divided into U.S. geographic regions which is helpful.
The author knows her wildflowers and shares a lot of information. The book has illustrations of the flowers but no photos and I am not sure if the colors are always correct; there are a lot of pinks here. For some, a color photo may be most helpful while for others this book could feel just right.
I loved the reminder to be an observer of nature. For me, that is especially true at this time of year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Chroicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Miss Honeysett is a prim woman who is 85 years old. She believes that the time has come to take control of the end of her life. This leads her to contact a Dignitas like clinic and submit an application. Will her request be granted? Will Eudora want it to be?
Readers learn that Eudora faced a number of tragedies and disappointments over the course of her her life. Most chapters in the novel include a flashback to a key moment for Eudora. No spoilers so I do not want to write more.
So many of the reviews that I saw for this novel were quite praiseworthy so I looked to it with very high hopes and expectations. It did not disappoint. This is a novel that engages the reader through its characters and its story lines. I think that readers who enjoyed novels like The Little Paris Bookshop or The Lido will want to read this one…as will many others.
In the present, Eudora meets the irrepressible Rose. The two have a relationship that evolves over the course of the book as Rose awaits becoming a big sister.
Another important character is Stanley. His friendship with Eudora and Rose is impacted by some memory issues. What will happen to each of them?
At times acerbic, at times touching this is a novel that I most definitely recommend. The audio version is also well done and the narrator reads with a clear, easy to follow style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
The story begins at a music festival that is enjoyed by most Shetlanders including Cass and Gavin. Cass is a sailor who is in port for a bit. Gavin is a DI and the person with whom Cass is in a relationship. Together they have a murder to solve…and one with links to the past.
This book moves back and forth between the present and the 80s when oil was being explored and there was a big camp at Sutton Voe. Cass has come into the possession of an old diary from that time and wants to return it to its owner. However, this may not be easy and may also reawaken old tragedy.
In the present, a well-known folk musician has been murdered during the festival. Readers can be pretty certain that this event links with things that happened in the past. Pages will be turned to find out.
Some of the things that I very much enjoyed in this book were the setting, the sailing, the characters, the Scottish words, the evocation of the early 80s and the story itself.
Anyone who has enjoyed crime fiction by Ann Cleeves (Jimmy Perez) and/or Val McDermid (Karen Pirie) should absolutely take a look at this series. I plan to go back to read all of the earlier novels. So glad there are so many of them!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.
One thing that I love about Sulari Gentill is that she never seems to rest on her laurels. I very much enjoyed her novels about Rowly Sinclair and his group of friends. These are historical mysteries, set in the 1930s, in a series that began with A Few Right Thinking Men. There are good characters who are good friends and good stories in each of the entries.
Ms. Gentill then began to write some standalone novels and stories set outside of Australia. These include After She Wrote Him, The Woman in the Library, and now, The Mystery Writer. Each has an intriguing and, perhaps quirky, story.
In this new book, Theo (Theodosia) has decided to leave law behind. She wants to be a novelist. When her mentor is killed and her brother becomes a suspect, the scene is set.
A few things to ponder…who was the murderer, where is Theo’s manuscript, and what secret things are happening? Get ready for the unraveling.
It is easy to recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
For many readers, including me, just seeing Katherine Cemter’s name on the cover of a book is enough to make it a must read. Center is a master of writing stories with good characters, plots that keep the pages turning and, most importantly, humor and heart. Readers come to care about her characters and their lives, almost as if they are real people. This book is no exception.
Emma is woman with unrealized dreams and potential. She works freelance on writing projects for her old high school boyfriend. Emma’s father was in a catastrophic accident and requires her to be around full time. Her sister has, in some ways, been living out Emma’s dreams. She has gotten to go away to college and is about to begin a prestigious internship as the story opens.
A plot twist then comes. Logan, the high school boyfriend, offers Emma a ghost writing job with her absolute idol, screenwriter, Charlie Yates. Let’s just say that Emma has an unbelievable crush on Charlie and his films. However, his latest attempt, an update of one of Emma’s favorite movies (It Happened One Night) is an absolute disaster.
So…Emma makes the necessary arrangements for what she thinks will be the job and experience of a lifetime and flies out to L.A. Okay…I’ve set the scene but don’t want to spoil the fun by saying anything else.
This book is a perfect summer read. Anyone who picks it up will be sorry to see it end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 11 June 2024
The Audio Version
I both read and listened to this book, enjoying the audio when I was going for walks or doing household stuff. As a real treat, it is partly narrated by the author. The audio is excellent and invites the reader right in.
Either way (or both) that is chosen, here is a book to put on a must read list.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for this delightful listen.
For quite a while, I posted on daily e book bargains. I have now stopped doing that but want to share a few of the places I looked at in making the lists each day.
Bookbub
Early Bird Books
Bookperk
Amazon
Simon & Schuster (email that comes out on Friday or late Thursday night)
Feel free to post your own favorite book bargain sites.
I absolutely adored Ruth Hogan’s novel, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, so I was quite eager to read The Moon, The Stars and Madame Burova.
Around the plot, Ms. Hogan looks at some emotionally resonant issues. These include identity, race, the nature of love, how to treat others and also how to treat one’s self. All is skillfully done and is not too heavy handed.
Madame Burova’s mother, Shunty Mae, was a reader of tarot cards, palms and crystal balls. Her daughter, Imelda (aka Madam B) has taken on her mother’s vardo and profession. She is very good at it and her booth becomes a confessional for many. In the present, Imelda Burova is considering retirement; in the past she led an active life.
Imelda spent time at Larkin’s, a family holiday camp, when she was a young woman. There were many people and acts there. Imelda was close to Jeannie, a talented young singer and to Cillian Burke, a man who was of great importance to her. Readers will find out how Cillian influenced the title of the novel. Also at the camp is Vivienne; she wants Cillian and is used to taking whatever she feels that she needs.
In the present, Billie’s parents have recently died. She finds something out in a note that her father left her. This leads her to connect with Imelda and connect they do! In the present, Imelda offers Billie some answers and all the wonderful aspects of the kind of person she is. Readers will root for both of them.
This book is not a cliffhanger. It is a slow-ish read that I enjoyed and recommend. Not quite as good as Sally but very good nonetheless.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The subtitle is a key to everything this title is about. So many of us find it almost impossible to do one thing at a time. We race, we multitask, we hope to get things done but somehow are not always successful. Here is another way to look at how we go about spending our time and accomplishing things. The system may resonate and is definitely worth a look.
Learn what timeboxing is and why it can be beneficial. Take a look at the four sections. These include Believe, Plan, Do, Own. There are a number of topics within each of these. For example, in Believe are reasons why to do this, while in Plan there are things like Box Making, and in Do there is a section on Pacing and Racing. The final section has subheadings including Better Sleep and It’s Working. Hopefully it will work for the book’s audience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
