State of Terror was a highly anticipated fall release. It will have its admirers and detractors. I suspect that conservative Americans will be offended by the thinly veiled references to the presidency of Donald Trump and the consequent perilous state that was left in his wake. But…this is fiction and should be judged as such.

This book is a page turning thrill ride that goes from one scary scenario to another. Throughout is a stalwart Secretary of State, Ellen, who I imagine has some of HRC’s characteristics. Ellen is a good person who is willing to take risks for the good of her country. She was appointed by a president who did not like her and who perhaps wanted her to fail; will she?

Interestingly, readers learn a bit, through Ellen, about how women are judged. Ellen takes advantage of this in her role as chief diplomat. For example, while she may act one down or look a bit disheveled Ellen is as clever as they come.

In addition to the action and the feeling of insider information, there are some nice relationships with the main characters and their connections. Ellen’s friendship with Betsy is the kind of relationship many wish for with their closest connections. Readers also get to watch Ellen with her adult children.

There are many other characters in this book. All contribute to the story line and readers will care for many of them. The villains also get their time in these pages.

The collaboration of these two authors works very well. Each had a role to play in creating the book. SPOILER: Readers of LP’s books will be delighted when they see how her own series comes into play. I loved how that was done.

I recommend this novel. It is a thriller with heart and some important messages.

A Cajun Country Mystery

by Ellen Byron

Currently available as an e book for $2.99!

Crooked Lane Books is a reliable source of good cozy mysteries. Here, in this story by Ellen Byron, readers will enjoy a good setting, good characters and a good mystery. Perfect for its intended audience.

The story takes place in Louisiana where readers spend time at a B and B, an oyster shack and more, giving this title some local flavor. Also, it is Valentine’s Day, perhaps not a favorite time for disruption. Protagonist Maggie is on the case when a celebrity chef is murdered. There are lots of suspects including Maggie’s own parent. How will things resolves? Pick this one up to find out. Note that this title is part of a series but can be read on its own.

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

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Cajun Kiss of Death:
“Byron’s gutsy heroine makes quick work of the case so the good times can roll again.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A comforting series that brings Cajun food, culture, and music together.”
—Library Journal

The Secret Garden

Part 1

by Script & art by Maud Begon

I always think that it is wonderful to read the original editions of classics. Still, I can see that both new readers and those familiar with The Secret Garden will enjoy this graphic novel. The illustrations are very evocative, especially those showing the facial expressions of characters. The comic adheres pretty closely to the story line. Give this one a look if you enjoy graphic novels.

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

Cooking at Home

Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes (And Love My Microwave): A Cookbook

by David Chang; Priya Krishna

David Chang became very well known when Momofuku overtook Manhattan. His food was good and his restaurants were popular. Now, in this book, the well known chef addresses the home cook. He notes that he learned to cook in the classic way but believes that the best food comes without slavishly following recipes. His goal, and one that he successfully achieves, is to show how to cook without panic. He is even a fan of the microwave. This is not a traditional cookbook with precise measurements. This is deliberate.

Both Chang and his co-author Priya Krishna comes to life in these pages. Take a chance and try this different kind of book about cooking. Maybe it will work for you!

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

From the Publisher

nyti.ms/3mCNBUr

#MichaelJordan #NetGalley Pub date: 06 December 2021

Children who pick up this book may already have heard the name Michael Jordan but, even if that is true, they will learn a lot about him in this new entry in a favorite series. They will discover that young Michael did not make a team (once) when he was young and that his mother encouraged him to work for and earn his place. (He did) They will find out that not only was he a spectacular player but that he also valued being a teammate. Kids will also witness his genuine grief at his father’s death and his successes off the court.

A terrific entry in a good series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is Dervla McTiernan’s third novel, following The Ruin and The Scholar, both of which I highly recommend.  While the author lives in Australia, these three novels are set in Ireland.  The books are sure to be enjoyed by those who read everything that Tana French writes.  That having been said, McTiernan stands well on her own with no comparisons to other authors writing crime stories set in Ireland.

This book brings readers back into the lives of characters that they have met in earlier books.  While it could be read as a stand alone, there is every reason for readers to enjoy all three stories.

The plotting in this book is well done and the story comes together with a last thirty pages that had me stop doing anything else to read.  This is a story about corruption, drugs, murders in a small Irish town, parent-child relationships, abduction, decisions made in a second, loyalty and more.

Spend time with Cormac and Peter, two Garda officers and all of those around them.  Watch what is going on in a small Irish village as well as in Dublin.  Put the pieces together along with the detectives and…most of all, escape into the world of this book.

I wanted to read this book so much that I had to track it down from Australia.  It was worth it.  Highly recommended!

Reading Wuthering Heights is a rite of passage for so many. Readers often come to it after reading Jane Eyre. I find WH to be the more complex read.

Yes, there are many editions of this novel and some of them are even free in e book form. But…to enjoy WH and really spend time with it, I think that a beautiful hardcover edition is the way to go.

Spend time with Catherine, Heathcliff and those around them. Experience the novel whether it is for the first or fifth time. And, consider doing it with this lush edition. You won’t be sorry.

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

Enchanted April is free.