#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.

Looking for a great, new read? Bestselling mystery writers recommend their favorite mystery books of 2021 so far.
— Read on www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/best-mystery-books-of-2021/

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BN-Nov-21.pdf

Book 1 in a brand new series by the author of bestselling phenomenon THE CORNER SHOP IN COCKLEBERRY BAY

by Nicola May

#FerryLaneMarket #NetGalley

Sometimes I just want to read a book that will provide a nice escape. It’s fine if the characters face some challenges but there are days where knowing all will end well feels really welcome. This story about Ferry Lane Market just fits the bill.

Main character, Kara, is one of those people who puts the needs of others first. What will happen when she has a chance to change that pattern? Read this story to find out. You will probably then want to move right on to the second entry in the series.

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

by Sheila Barker

I have seen some of this artist’s paintings and was fascinated by them. Here was a woman painter at a time when the art world was dominated by men. Plus, I later learned about her complicated personal history. For these reasons, I was delighted to have the chance to see this book and to learn more about AG.

This title is published by Getty and they clearly know how to produce gorgeous books on art. This book is part of a series on female artists and is motivated, in part, by current social movements and the desire to give space to past pioneers. Each book, according to the introduction, looks at a female artist in terms of social, cultural, temporal and geographic contexts. Attention is also paid to the artist’s life story and the growth and evolution of their art.

The reproductions in these pages are plentiful and provide a good sense of the artist. I loved many of the Madonna and Child portraits which, to me, exhibited a contemporary (to her time) feeling and a sense of the warm relationship between the two.

Art lovers and those who want to enhance their knowledge base will enjoy this title. I definitely recommend it.

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

Sense and Sensibility

Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin

by Jane Austen

The opening chapter of Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite in all of Austen. I find her wit here to be so sharp. The reduction of expectations for the Dashwood family as they lose their property and much of their financial security, because of primogeniture, is described in a way that is actually quite scathing and revelatory of the estate’s new female doyenne.

There is much to delight in as readers observe Elinor and Marianne interact with each other and those around them. Suffice it to say, that each embodies one of the titular traits. A rereading of this novel is always welcome to me.

If you have not read S and S, I recommend it most highly. I especially want to draw your attention to this absolutely gorgeous edition of the book. It is surely true that there are many, many less expensive versions of the novel. That said, this enchantingly illustrated one will be adored by true Austen aficionados. The flowers throughout are just lovely. Consider making this one a gift for someone you know…maybe even yourself.

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