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!
The cover of this children’s book drew me right in. The bee looks so friendly and happy. Open the pages of this delightfully illustrated book with a young nature lover or a child who fears bees; they may well feel braver after spending time with this title and understanding a bee’s life.
This book is packed with information. Children will discover what a day in the life of a bee looks like, how bees are born, the differing roles for girl and boy bees and more. At the end of this title, there are additional facts, some puzzles and crafts, and a quiz.
One comment-I was struck by how different the lives of the boy and girl bees were, to say nothing of the number of “babies” a queen bee has. There might be a bit of room here to discuss how bees and people are different in their choices. Just a thought.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-QEB publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
This novel was originally published in 1983 and was reissued a couple of years ago. It tells the story of some of the women who worked in a Sydney department store; they are our “Women in Black.” Readers follow Patty, Fay, Magda and Lisa. Each has her own backstory and work experience as they work in the cocktail dress department in the 1950s set story.
The Women in Black is a short novel and a story that was made into a movie. I have not seen the film but will most likely give it a look now.
I enjoyed this novel which gave me the chance to step back in time for a bit. I will never get to shop and be helped by saleswomen like these!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this title. All opinions are my own.
Draw, doodle, and color a plethora of purrfectly pawsome felines and quirky cat mash-ups
by Lulu Mayo
#101SuperCuteCatThingstoDraw #NetGalley
Cat lovers who enjoy drawing, coloring and doodling will definitely want to give this title a look. I enjoyed it.
Before coming to the illustrations themselves, there is information in the book on tools and materials, as well as tips on colors. There are then drawing suggestions for everything from Sushi Cats, to Cafe Au Cat, to Cactus Cats, to Holiday Cats and more. All are very cute.
Included are many step-by-step instructions with pages for practice. There are just so many things to create here.
Those who enjoy drawing will have fun with this book. What is nice is that it is not necessary to have much art background or talent to enjoy making these creations.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-Walter Foster for this title. All opinions are my own.
The June magazine has an excellent feature on historical fiction. I access this resource through my local library. It is worth finding out if you can too.
I very much enjoyed this author’s first novel, The Last Bookshop in London. I was so delighted to see that she had written a second book. This one is set during WWII as was the first.
What could be more enticing than a novel called The Librarian Spy? I couldn’t wait to open the book and then became immersed . I highly recommend this sophomore effort on Ms. Martin’s part.
This time the author has developed a plot that feels more complex than that of the first book as she follows two different woman. The Librarian Spy is Ava. When the story opens she is working at the Library of Congress in D.C. Ava very much likes her job and the feeling of security that being surrounded by books provides for her. Nonetheless, when she is tapped for a special assignment, Ava takes the new position even though it means getting on a plane, something that is highly fraught for her (readers will learn why).
Ava finds herself in Portugal. Not all readers may know that Portugal was neutral during the war. The author does a terrific job of portraying the city. There are no shortages for many while others are waiting in long lines, hoping against hope to be able to board a ship and to leave Europe. There are the many who watch others; these Portuguese and Germans leave others feeling unsafe despite the neutrality.
Ava’s job is to collect newspapers and other documents that can be transmitted to the States. She meets with a number of characters in the course of her work. Readers especially watch her relationship with the British James.
Meanwhile in France, a second plot line unfolds. This is the story of brave Elaine. Her name has been changed, because, as readers learn early in her part of the book, she gave her papers to a Jewish woman who was fleeing. She was lucky to get new ones. Now, as Elaine, she is involved with the Resistance. Elaine’s husband has been captured and readers may feel a great deal as they wait to see if he will survive the war.
Readers follow Elaine through a depleted city as she couriers, and into the woods where the maquis hide. Will she survive? Will her work change anything in the war? Will Elaine lose friends to the Germans? Finally, how will the two stories intersect?
As I have previously noted, there have been so many WWII titles published for historical fiction fans so it can be hard for any particular one to stand out. In this novel, I found that the courage of these characters moved me especially when I think about the current state of our world and the need for values and bravery in the face of challenges. I recommend this novel even within a crowded field.
Readers who have enjoyed novels by Susan Elia MacNeal and/or Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series may also want to give this title a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 26 Jul 2022
The author’s first book:
The Last Bookshop in London
A Novel of World War II
by Madeline Martin
#TheLastBookshopinLondon #NetGalley
Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I wanted to read it. The magic word, of course, was bookshop. I also found the cover to be very appealing. So, I initially judged this one by its cover. That said, I wasn’t disappointed.
This novel’s protagonist, Grace, is a young woman who recently lost her mother. Along with her best friend, Viv, she moves to London to stay with a family friend. The two arrive only to have war declared not long after. Viv enters one of the women’s units while Grace remains with her mother’s friend. She takes a position in a bookshop and the shop is also a character in the book.
This story points out the importance of literature. In a lovely scene, Grace goes underground during a bombing raid where she begins reading Middlemarch to those who are stuck in the shelter over night. Those stuck there look forward to additional chapters when the next call to go underground comes.
Grace organized the bookshop and develops a relationship with its curmudgeonly owner. She studies way to make the shop successful and, for example, advertises buying books to read while unable to sleep in one’s beds due to the bombings.
The author does a good job of portraying wartime Britain. There are losses of people, property, usual foods, a way of life. There are also the joys of friendship, love, books and connection.
There are so many WWII set novels being written now. My theory is that, awful as the war was, it is more reassuring to look back at that time than our current one. For all of the suffering, the reader knows that eventually Britain will declare victory.
I think that this title is worth reading. Let me know what you think!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
This is another of the Sherlock Holmes chapter books for young readers. Each is illustrated to add to a child’s reading enjoyment. This time the story is one of Conan Doyle’s best known, The Hounds of the Baskervilles. Readers new to the tales will read such a good one here and one with a famous quote that many adults will remember. This particular work also influenced the writer of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
I recommend this entire series. The books are just right for lazy summer days.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Arcturus for this title. All opinions are my own.
This is on my summer reading list as I explore the ancient Greeks, having recently read and reviewed Elektra by Jenifer Saint.See my review at http://www.joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.wordpress.comA new entry coming late this summer in this series so catch up nowNot for me but I admire those who have tackled this one.I like this series. There was also a tv adaptation.See my review.
I previously read and enjoyed To Die in Tuscany which is a later entry in the series that features Rick Montoya. In Cold Tuscan Stone, readers meet Rick for the first time. He is from New Mexico, has an Italian mother and has moved to Italy where he works as a translator.
In this novel, an old friend of Rick’s, affectionately nicknamed Beppo, asks for Rick’s help in investigating what seem to be nefarious doings in the sale of Etruscan artifacts. Rick is asked to pose as a buyer and to infiltrate several sources of antiques to help with the case.
What I learned from the prior novel is that where Rick goes, murder follows, along with good food that is lovingly described, wine, and attractive women. What more could a reader want?
As noted above, this book offers an interesting plot, a wonderful setting and a likeable protagonist. Readers who enjoy the Brunetti and/or Montelbano series will likely enjoy the Montoya books as well. There are seven of these in all.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 