Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

After leaving a law career to focus on fiction full-time, Jasmine Guillory is publishing her eighth novel, “Drunk on Love.”
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/style/jasmine-guillory-romance-novel.html

Kamila Shamsie’s new novel, “Best of Friends,” follows its title characters from their Pakistani girlhoods to their adult lives in London.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/09/27/books/review/best-of-friends-kamila-shamsie.html

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#DwayneJohnson #NetGalley

Happily, there are so many little people with big dreams that Ms. Sanchez Vegara has no trouble keeping this series going. This time, young people will get to know Dwayne, the Rock, Johnson. Why was he called this? Find the answer to that as much is learned about the child who became this man. He certainly was a fighter, not just as a sportsman or actor but as a person who needed resilience.

I especially like how this entry spoke about depression. It was normalized in an excellent way.

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

Pub date: 04 October 2022

Vera Stanhope is a character known to many crime fiction aficionados. She has been the protagonist of ten novels and has also been made popular by actress Brenda Blethyn in a TV series.

Vera is untidy in both her dress and in her environments. She has a troubled back story with her father Hector. Vera also has a loyal team, a few friends and a mind that should never be underestimated. Spending time with Vera is a joy. Readers who love mysteries should definitely get to know the books. Old readers will be delighted to see Vera again.

This was one of the very best of the novels in my opinion. At times, there was a slightly elegiac quality to the read that added to its enjoyment. Vera is getting older (although she does not want to retire) and many of the main characters in this title are in their sixties. Much of the book is set on a place called Holy Island, a place that asks for some introspection from those who visit.

A group meets when they are teens in school and are taken to Holy Island to participate in a program called Only Connect. Indeed connections are made and many in the group attend the regularly scheduled five year reunions. This time it is different as there are murders. Are they related to the present? the past? both? I choose not to say more as it is so much more fun to read without spoilers.

The characters including, Annie, Lou, Ken, Rick, Phil and Judith, are unique individuals. All have back stories and relationships with one another. Life has challenged them as have the events of the book. Each reacts in their own way.

This story is well told although it took just a tiny bit of reading before I got fully involved. Once I was immersed, I very much enjoyed this novel and was sad to see it end. I recommend this one highly.

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

Pub date: 06 September 2022

Pub Date 06 Sep 2022

by Amanda Parrish Morgan

This title is part of a series called Object Lessons. Each relatively short entry gives a detailed view of a common object-here we have the stroller. It is that most iconic of parent purchases. It is an object that publicly states something about each family, in my opinion. I have seen a lot of social pressure around which one of these a family chooses and how it seemingly reflects on them.

This book is framed by the author telling readers something about herself and her decision to be a parent. Her children then enter the scene as do their transportation systems.

From this beginning, comes a lot of information about strollers, beginning with their history. There are some fascinating photos accompanying the text. I would bet that not all readers would know that there was a “gas safe pram” for use during war time. However I was most struck by how the topic of the pram offered the author an excellent opportunity to talk about parenthood and children.

This book is quite interesting and deserves an audience wider than the title may indicate.

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

Pub date: 20 October 2022

by Carole Aufranc

There are three books for a baby in this box set. One is a board book for daytime play, one is a book that can go in the tub and the third is a soft book for bedtime. They are titled Let’s Play, Splash, and Goodnight. Perfect-such a good idea for a gift for a new little one.

Each book is short and has lovely illustrations. I like that two of the books have no words while the play book has simple sentences. The focus will be on the pictures and talking about them. This seems nice for bonding time.

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

Pub date: 04 October 2022

The Short List for this week:

OTHER E BOOK DEALS

An extraordinary A to Z of etymological exploration

by Tom Read Wilson

#EveryWordTellsaStory #NetGalley

This book will make a delightful find for both adults and kids. It can be dipped into in any order and will often bring a smile to the reader’s face. The book makes learning about (random) vocabulary, word origins and more entertaining and fun. There is a section of four words for each letter in the alphabet. The first letter gets a poem, information about etymology and a section called ‘did you know.’Then come other words that begin with the same letter. Throughout there are amusing illustrations.

One example: for q the poem is about the Qignog. Learn what this is in the book or see below so no spoiler here. The other three words are quafftide, quarantine, Queensland. Have fun with this letter and the other 25!

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

Pub date: 04 October 2022

SPOILER: A QUIGNOG IS…a pipe dream