The Maid has garnered so much praise both before and after publication. It is a book that is definitely worth reading. Those who enjoy The Thursday Murder Club and Ruth Galloway mysteries are certain to love this novel with it quirky, idiosyncratic and (morally) good protagonist.

Molly sees the world in her own way. She appears to be “on the spectrum,” though I hate to use that term and do not want to make Molly anything other than the unique woman that she is. Molly has trouble reading social cues and people’s facial expressions. This can lead to her being naively trusting. Molly speaks with a beautifully old fashioned syntax and sometimes makes rhymes as, for example, “a tissue for your issue.”

Molly lives with her grandmother who works as a domestic. Molly is herself a maid, working at the Grand Hotel. It is a job that suits her orderly personality and Molly takes great pride in her work. (She will hopefully leave readers with more respect for those who toil in hotels for the benefit of the guests).

Molly becomes involved in a series of events that leave her in over her head. There were times when I wanted to yell “stop” to Molly when she trusted some of the hotel staff and guests but, of course, could not do so. The fact that I wanted to is a tribute to the author’s ability to create characters for whom readers will care.

Who will protect Molly? Will she get out of this mess? Will she or the hotel ever be the same? Read this charming, heartfelt novel to find out. To use one of Molly’s favorite words, it is “delightful.”

I sincerely hope that the author’s next book is published soon. I give this first novel of hers five stars.

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

Wake Me Up When It’s All Over…

Unpublished Letters to The Daily Telegraph

by Kate Moore

A Guided Journal to Start Each Day Feeling Calm and Energized

by Editors of Rock Point

This book invites readers to make the most of those first moments after they wake up. The author asks them to briefly engage with setting a self-reflective tone for the day. Each pastel colored two page spread includes a thought from the author while on the opposite page there is a journal question. For example, in one entry it is suggested that cities are most peaceful early in the day while the next page invites the reader to think about how they will receive peace that day. Another talks about how plants grow up and down and then the reader is asked to consider how they are growing inward and outward.

Do these kinds of thoughts and exercises appeal to you? If yes, this book will become a welcome c0mpanion.

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

Fall gently to sleep with this nighttime routine, from A to Zzz

by Erica Harrison

This sweetly and brightly illustrated book seems just right for toddlers. It is one of those titles that a child might listen to night after night as it helps them to transition to bedtime. In addition to the story, there is a letter and word on every page. This book makes a nice addition to the simple, bedtime story niche.

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

An Amory Ames Mystery

by Ashley Weaver

Ashley Weaver is a good practitioner of historical mystery writing. Here is her sixth story about Amory Ames and her husband Milo. In this outing, the couple is traveling to New York for a wedding. Of course, where they go, trouble and murder generally follow and so they do here.

The story is set during Prohibition but life is not quiet even with no alcohol. One of the groomsman who is to be in Amory’s friend Tabitha’s wedding is murdered. What happened? Why? Who did it? Read this series entry to find out.

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

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free

The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth

by Alice Faye Duncan

Do you know the story of Juneteenth? Do you work with or have children? This book tells an important and inspiring story and I highly recommend that you share it with kids that you know.

First off, what was Juneteenth? It was the date upon which some in Texas learned about Emancipation. Was this found out in a timely manner? Read this story of the holiday to find out.

Opal Lee can and should be an inspiration to all of us. From childhood, she had awareness and a desire to work for what was right.

This beautifully illustrated story tells Opal Lee’s biography and the history of the holiday in a way that kids can understand. Share this one with someone…or many someones…and then talk about it and our country’s history and hopes. It might be a very important conversation.

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

The Mystery of Albert E. Finch

A Victorian Bookclub Mystery

by Callie Hutton

Crooked Lane publishing serves a a real “go to” for those who like their mysteries without too much violence and yet with a story, characters and settings that engage the reader. This was one that I wanted to read as soon as I saw the words “Victorian Bookclub” in the subheading. As a further bonus, the story is set in Bath, a place that I have loved ever since spending a junior year abroad there.

Uh-oh, there is a murder at a wedding. The victim had been in an argument with her husband but is he the culprit? What else is going on here? Read this delightful title to find out. This book is part of a series but can be read on its own. Fans may want to look for the other titles though.

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

Jane and the Year Without Summer is the latest in Ms. Barron’s long running series that features Jane Austen as a solver of mysteries. I enjoyed this newest title.

The book is slow moving but for me this was in a good way. It felt as if this was intended to keep pace with Jane’s world. Other efforts to add historic authenticity include using archaic spellings, as for example, spelling sofa, “sopha.”

The joy of this book for me lies in spending time with Jane and her sister Cassandra as they enjoy/cope with the events in a spa town. I also was interested to read about Jane’s acquaintance with Raphael West, a painter in his own right and the son of Benjamin West.

The story itself has sufficient plot. There is a runaway bride and her friend/protector. There are dead rodents and a dead dog; were they deliberately poisoned? And, later in the book, there is a fire and a murder.

Those who enjoy an historical mystery that takes it time will enjoy this title. Readers unfamiliar with the series may then want to go back to read the earlier entries.

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