Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

I enjoyed this and reviewed it

#MindfulnessinGardening #NetGalley

I have a tendency, at times, to buzz around and need to stop to breathe. That is what I hoped would happen when reading this title and, yes, it did.

The author shares some of the insights that can be gained from the gardening profession and how this work connects with mindfulness. Redwood acknowledges the influence of the well known Thich Nhat Hanh who has had a deep influence on those practicing mindfulness. There are quotes from Hanh in the text.

The book is organized by seasons, beginning with spring. Readers first spend time with the snowdrop and then learn about a mindfulness activity that can be done while pruning. The book goes on to offer gardening tips and ways to practice mindfulness in this setting.

I am not lucky enough to have a garden but I visit a botanical garden regularly. I will try to take some of these practices and insights with me when I next walk there. After reading this book, I also know that I would like to visit Chalice Well Gardens near Glastonbury Tor, a peace garden, where the author is employed.

This book offers a chance to step back, breathe and contemplate. It is part of what i think will be an excellent series.

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

Pub date: 20 June 2023

Lines for Life

by Ben Crystal; David Crystal

#EverydayShakespeare #NetGalley

It is always fun to have a book that one can look at every single day. Here the quotes are all from the Bard and offer much food for thought and entertainment. With so many quotes, readers are sure to find old friends and new words both.

Both authors are experienced writers on Shakespeare and good guides in this title. It is worth the time to read their introduction.

I like that this title is organized the months by themes. For example, February, not surprisingly, gets love. The authors also do a good job of putting each quote in context.

This book would make a nice gift. I think that I will purchase the hard copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 September 2023

Another week, another batch of books for your TBR pile. Happy reading, folks. * John Lawton, Moscow Exile (Atlantic) “Lawton infuses the entire troupe with sparkling life, using crackling dialogue and rapier wit to bring a Technicolor sheen to the moral ambiguity of the Cold War.” –Booklist Don Winslow, City of Dreams (William Morrow) “The…

10 New Books Coming Out This Week — CrimeReads

Here is a romance title with heart. It offers a warm and involving story about people who are both appealing and struggling at times. It has moments of comedy, drama and makes readers care.

The main characters are Brianna and Jacob. Both are ER doctors at the same hospital. Brianna has been there for a while and is expecting a promotion. Jacob’s arrival may spoil that prospect while for Jacob, himself, entry into this new hospital is not easy. Will these two follow the usual romance fiction trope? Readers will happily turn the pages to find out.

In addition to offering an engaging story, Ms. Jimenez takes on some bigger issues. One involves a character who is young and in need of a kidney donor; the impact of the condition on his emotional state is well described. Another was that Jacob suffered from anxiety. Ms. J did a good job of toggling between the serious and less so.

The title of this novel reflects that the protagonists got to know each other better through letter writing. Their anticipation of receiving written correspondence, not texts, made me want to go check my mail box.

Recommended for romance and fiction readers. I would definitely read other books by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sparkling prose, skillful plotting… contemporary romance gold.”―Publishers Weekly

“Jimenez is a true talent.”―Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers

#ExitStrategy #NetGalley

Those who enjoy reading New York City based police dramas are certain to enjoy this title as are those who watch TV series like Blue Bloods or East New York. The protagonist of this novel, Gemma, is a detective and hostage negotiator. She ends up with a high stakes situation when hostages are taken at City Hall. Readers will hope for her successful resolution of a fraught situation.

This book offers the reader a tight plot and also an entry into Gemma’s world. As in Blue Bloods, many of her relatives are also police officers. I enjoyed meeting them and look forward to spending time with them in other books.

Those who like a story with action and good characters will want to give this title a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in 2020

Here is the second in the series:

by Sally Romano

#MomShareYourLifeStoryBook #NetGalley

Do you ever wish that you knew more about your mom? Wish that there was an easy way to preserve some of her stories? If so, this book is a perfect way to achieve your goal.

This book consists of a series of prompts. There are twelve chapters and topics. Just a few of these include Your Family Tree, Falling in Love and, Facing Adversity. What follows in each is a series of short answer questions. For example, “Did you visit your grandparents as a child, and what things would you do while there?” Another, “What were your family’s favorite festive and/or religious celebrations?” And one more, “What is your life motto?” Of course, there are many additional topics in the book.

This journal would make a lovely family keepsake. I think that parents will want to answer the questions as they will enjoy knowing that their child(ren) are interested in who they are.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 12 April 2023

I reviewed this one.

The titles below are bargains for the week

I like this series

I want to read this

A good story

I love this new series by Sarah Taylor Stewart that features Maggie D’Arcy and those around her. In this book, Maggie is now living in Dublin with her boyfriend, his son and her daughter. She is currently a Garda, not a detective, as she had to begin again in the Irish system. For those who don’t know, Maggie previously lived in New York.

Maggie and her work partner Jason like one another and do a good job on their beat. In the novel, some of those that they have met will figure in a murder case. Happily for Maggie she is seconded and gets to be a detective again, at least some of the time looking into the complex situation.

Who murdered beautiful Jade? And what happened to her daughter, the stolen child of the title? Ms. Taylor makes a suspenseful story with a fully created world to answer those questions.

In addition to the relationship with Jason, of course, there is Maggie’s relationship with boyfriend, Conor. They are having a few growing pains. Will their relationship be strong enough to hold? That is another question to be answered.

Publishers Weekly stars this one. I could not agree more. Highly recommended for those who enjoy mysteries, police procedurals, novels set in Ireland and just good stories. I am already eager for the next title in this series.

This novel can be read as a standalone but why would one? Each of the previous three stories were excellent and provided hours of reading pleasure. So, readers who start with this may then want to look for the earlier books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.