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!
Do you know someone whose child will be starting nursery school or a play group this fall? If you do, take a look at this title. It will help to alleviate any apprehensions that kids feel about that strange new place.
I love the animal characters in this book; I think that they make the story more approachable than one with children in it. Plus, the illustrations are just incredibly adorable.
Robin doesn’t want to go to school but…by the end of his time there, Robin does not want to go home.
American readers may find it strange that the teacher is called ma’am but that is my only quibble with this sweet title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
In The Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave offers a perfect and immersive novel. Readers, put this one on your list of summer musts!
When Hannah falls in love with Owen, she marries him and moves to California to live with him and his teen daughter, Bailey. Owen has deep computer knowledge and is involved in the launch of a software program that is primed to make investors lots of money. The program that Owen works on will help users to erase items from their public histories. Is there an irony in this being Owen’s work?
One day, Owen disappears. He leaves a note for Hannah asking her to protect daughter, Bailey. From what? Who? From here a brilliant story filled with slow burning suspense engrosses readers. No spoilers so no more here.
The characters in this book and their relationships are so very well portrayed. I felt as if I knew Hannah and Bailey and found myself rooting for their developing connection with one another. Will Hannah, Owen and Bailey be reunited?
What led Owen to run? Is Hannah correct to believe in him? Find out. I highly (!) recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is another book set in France during WWII. Before you think that you’ve read enough of these, give this one a chance. It is an engaging and involving read.
The Paris Dressmaker follows several women and the men and families that surround them. Lila is a talented dressmaker and designer. Lila’s closest friend is Amelie, another seamstress. Then there is Sandrine and her close friend Michelle. Sandrine works at the Jeu de Paume. Each of these characters faces moral decisions, choices and moments of fear and courage.
The settings in this book are wonderfully rendered. There are the dress salons, a bookstore, the Jeu de Paume, a bakery, The Ritz..and the list goes on. Each is vividly portrayed as are the streets of wartime Paris.
This is a novel that tells moving stories of love, friendship, resistance, traitorous behavior, courage and consequences. The narrative moves back and forth in time from 1939 and into the 1940s.
I became quite involved in the lives and stories of these characters. I think that readers will as well.
I alternated between reading this book and listening to it. The narration was excellent with characters well delineated and the French accents of the characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
I have absolutely adored Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway mystery series and hope that she will continue to write many more book about Ruth, her family, colleagues and friends. Ms. Griffiths has also penned the post-war Max Mephisto series. Now, she has written her first standalone novel. I will start by saying that this atmospheric, character driven story does not disappoint.
Plot: Clare is a teacher at the school where her daughter, Georgia, is a student. Harbinder is a Detective Sergeant whose alma mater is this school. When Clare’s colleagues begin to die, Harbinder is assigned the investigation. The school also has close ties to the author of a very scary story. These threads intertwine to produce a suspenseful, somewhat Gothic tale.
Most interesting to me in the book were the many characters and their interrelationships. There are Clare and her ex-husband, Clare and her daughter, Clare and her colleagues, Clare and Harbinder. Then there are Georgie and her parents, Georgie and her teachers, Georgie and her boyfriend, Georgie and her writing group, etc.
Another feature of the novel is the offering of different points of view. The reader sees events through the eyes of Clare, Georgie and Harbinder.
As in all good mysteries there are some twists. This is a novel that I definitely recommend. My favorite novels by this author are still the Ruth novels but this is worth a read for suspense lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read by one of my favorite authors!
A few comments…I enjoyed American Wife which is a fictional recreation of Laura Bush’s life. The Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christies are among the best books by these authors. Kate Ellis is the author of a good series of mysteries; those who like Ellie Griffiths will enjoy her novels.
All little Eve wants is to touch the ducklings that she sees when she goes on walks with her grandfather. Sadly for her, they are not interested and Eve is discouraged. Will she find a way to get a bit of what she wants? This sweetly illustrated title will provide the answer.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Please note that this review is for the audio book edition of this title.
What do you do when you lose the person that you most love? The person who was your soulmate. Maybe one day, you dial their phone number out of a sense of longing and…someone (but not your husband) answers. Can you connect to this person? Do you even want to? Are there things in their past that will complicate things? Where will all of this lead?
This heartfelt title is beautifully read by the narrator. For those looking for an emotional read, this may be it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
This title helps children to think of those who are heroes in quiet ways. For example, B is for Best Friend, so important yet often unsung. Each illustration is accompanied by a short text about what makes that person heroic. So, for the best friend above, one thing that is noted is acceptance of who we are by our friends. Several other letter heroes are G for Gardener, L for Librarian, and R for Railway Engineer , 26 in all (of course).
At the end of the book, there is one person featured for each letter. For example, the librarian is Beverly Cleary.
This engaging title offers little ones the chance to become acquainted with many everyday heroes. I hope that they will be inspired.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
I may be one of very few people never to have read anything by Margaret Atwood. I am so happy to now have had the chance to spend some time with her poems. The poems are reflective and often moving. One of my favorites was called Blackberries. It is about fruit, growing older and generational connections. Another elegiac poem called Blizzard is about the poet’s mother getting older and how hard it is to let go. Ms. Atwood covers a wide range of topics in this collection. It is definitely worth either reading straight through in order or dipping into. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest reviewI
