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World Travel

An Irreverent Guide

by Anthony Bourdain; Laurie Woolever

Anthony Bourdain’s death left a void in the world of food adventure. He has been mourned by many. This book, however, provides a chance to celebrate Mr. Bourdain, the foods he ate and the places he went. Starting with Argentina and progressing through the alphabet to Viet-Nam, this charmingly illustrated (with many line drawings) book offers riches to the reader. Fans of Mr. Bourdain will be excited to see this one. Credit to Laurie Woolever who clearly helped enormously to get this book out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date 11 May 2021

TRIGGER WARNING. Something that may upset some readers happens

Jennifer Weiner is a perennially popular author. In That Summer, she is in top form, delivering exactly the novel that her fans want. It is immersive and takes on a social issue. The book also has well developed characters, settings that come to life, complex relationships and…food!

It is difficult to review this title without spoilers. Readers will want to see the plot unspool for themselves. The set up of centers on two women Diana and Daisy who have similar addresses on line. This leads to their getting together and spending a good amount of time in each other’s company. What will be revealed as they become better acquainted? What will happen to them as truths are revealed? How do the events of THAT SUMMER influence all that takes place? Read the novel to find out.

I both read and listened to this title. The narration was pitch perfect and provided by Sutton Foster.

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

Dance with Death

A Barker & Llewelyn Novel

by Will Thomas

A Novel of the Vanderbilts

by Therese Anne Fowler

Historical fiction offers readers the opportunity to imagine other lives, places and contexts. It provides a way to immerse one’s self in a past world that offers the reader escape but, also many times, insight into current times. This novel gives readers all of this as it tells the story of Alva Smith Vanderbilt. She did not begin life with the proverbial silver spoon but, of course, that all changed. Follow the story of her life here; the clothes, the houses and the ostentation…but also, the striving for acceptance as one of the newly rich. It was a tricky world to navigate.

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this title. It contains all that readers of this genre could want.

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

The Unkindness of Ravens

A Greer Hogan Mystery

by M. E. Hilliard

This book grabbed my interest immediately because, on the first page, a favorite childhood fictional character of mine was mentioned. You may not know her, but she was Trixie Belden. She, her brothers, Honey and Jim had adventures and solved mysteries with their club. They had exactly the life that I wanted .I loved Trixie more than Nancy Drew. As this was exactly how the fictional detective in this book felt, I knew that I wanted to read more.

The amateur sleuth in this title is Greer. Her husband had been murdered (not a spoiler as this is mentioned early in the novel) and she has sought a new life away from New York City. Greer goes to library school and moves to a small town in upstate New York. A library patron and friend to Greer is murdered. What is behind the murder? Who did it? How will intrepid, amateur sleuth Greer fare? Will the solution tell her more about her husband? Find out in this cozy mystery.

In addition to Trixie, I loved the library setting and the mention of various books and authors. Readers will wish for a library like this, despite the crimes.

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