Let’s read and drink coffee: Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsFebruary 23, 2020

In May 2019, Katherine Reay’s novel The Printed Letter Bookshop was published.  The new book, Of Literature and Lattes can be read on its own but will be enjoyed most by those who have read The Printed Letter.  The setting in Of Literature and Latte is the same town as in the prior book and readers catch up with the lives of some of the characters from that book as well.  However, the novel also has its own plot and some new characters.

In this book Alyssa has left a job with a company that seems to be based on Theranos and that similarly explodes for Alyssa.  With nowhere to go and under investigation, she returns to the town where her parents (characters in The Printed Letter) live.  Alyssa has to figure out what to do with her life and with her unhappiness.

Jeremy has come to Winsome to run the kind of coffee shop that many of us dream of, one that values community and great beans that make great drinks.  However, the shop is struggling as is Jeremy.  One ray of brightness is his daughter but his daughter’s mother is threatening to leave town.

Janet, from the prior novel. is trying to have a life in which she has stronger relationships with Alyssa and Seth, the man she first married, and is again seeing.  It is complicated.

The stories of these characters come to life and I think that readers will care about them.  I did not find Of Literature and Latte to be as strong a novel as The Printed Letter but I am pretty confident that this author’s many fans will be eager to engage with this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.  By the way, I love the cover.

A cozy mystery for book lovers: The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 27, 2019

#TheWhisperedWord #NetGalley

The Whispered Word is the second entry in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series.  The main characters’ secrets were fully described in the first book but a reader can still enjoy this one as a standalone novel.

What I enjoyed most about this book were the characters and the setting.  Yes, belief has to be suspended, but I would love to visit and spend time with Nora and her three closest friends.  Nora’s town, Miracle Springs. attracts people in need of saving and second chances.  Nora owns the local bookstore and is a very astute and well-versed bookseller.  There are many references to both fiction and non-fiction titles throughout the novel.  Nora herself is named for the character in Ibsen’s play.  Just a few of the titles mentioned in the novel include The Witch of Blackbird Pond, A Doll’s House, Harry Potter, One Snowy Day and a number of books on adoption and tidying up.

But of course, there is more than just books in this book.  Abilene comes to town and is a young girl who has had a difficult life and clearly has secrets of her own.  Has she committed crimes including murder?  There is also a shop, Virtual Genie that is offering to consign goods for people in the town.  It looks like a fantastic service but is there more to it?  You can probably answer these questions but finding out the answers is still fun.

The Whispered Word is about friendship, relationships, taking risks…and solving mysteries.  It is an excellent cozy.

A P and P story: The Other Bennet Sister A Novel by Janice Hadlow

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsApril 26, 2020

Let me just say at the outset that I adore this book.  If you are a Jane Austen fan, definitely take a look at this title.

The other Bennet Sister is Mary.  If you have read P and P, you know how she is portrayed there.  In this title, readers will get to know Mary so much better.  I felt for her immediately as some of the first things to come up in the novel had to do with being a middle sister, bookish, needing glasses, not feeling pretty (enough) and not necessarily wanting to go to parties.  I could identify with these!  I also relate to Mary’s efforts at self improvement as she approaches the piano and her father’s library.  Watching Mary figure out her life while spending time with other members of the Bennet household made this a wonderful read for me.

I think that Ms. Hadlow has captured the tone of Jane Austen.  Mr. B is still sardonic, Mrs. B is a bit empty headed and the sisters are very much themselves.

Another plus of this title for me is its length.  At 480 pages it is a novel to sink into.

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

#TheOtherBennetSister #NetGalley

A Novel of Food and Friendship

by Beth Harbison

I am always attracted to novels that are about books and clubs but this is the first that I have read that focuses on a cookbook club. It was an enjoyable read.

The members of this newly formed club are Trista, Margo and Aja. They are different from one another but each is at a crossroads in her life. Trista was an attorney but now is working in the bar and restaurant that she hopes to one day own. Margo’s husband has gotten a work promotion that involves a move to California. Margo is surprised to learn that her husband is now soon to be her ex and he plans to go without her. Aja is a yoga teacher and garden aficionado. She has a boyfriend but their relationship is souring. Aja has been left with a bit of a surprise by him. How will she manage?

What happens to these women as they negotiate their friendships, relationships and life changes are the story that is told. In addition to the story line I enjoyed s that these are women who LOVE food. It is a delight to read about what is cooked or even thought about with the feeling that enjoyment may just matter more than calories.

Those looking for a pleasant women’s fiction title should give this one a read. I am glad that I did.

Note: The names of many cookbooks are mentioned in the text. Interested readers and/or cooks can look for them as they all exist.

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

I also reviewed this one.

365 Meditations for the Here and Now

by Osho

#EverydayOsho #NetGalley

I found the cover of this collection of meditations to be quite appealing in its calmness. I felt invited in to see what the entries would state. There are 365 messages in all, one for each day of the year; the purpose of these meditations is to direct readers to be mindful in the here and now. If you are a person who likes to take a little time each day to ponder life’s mysteries, give this title a look. It definitely offers food for thought.

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

1000 Vegan and Vegetarian Meals

Everyday Recipes to Make Healthy Eating Easy

Are you or someone you know a vegan? If yes, this book is sure to be a hit. It is also a terrific resource for non vegans. Imagine so many recipes all accessible in one large volume. Included are ideas for breakfast, salads, soups, hearty comfort food, sweet treats and more. There is even a section called Quick and Tasty for when time is scarce.

It is impossible to list even a fractions of the recipes included in this compendium. Just a few are those for French Toast Maple Syrup Muffins ; Cauliflower Rice with Spiced Walnuts;, Coconut, Zucchini and Mushroom Soup; Three Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart; Vegetable Pastitsio and Chestnut and Mushroom Bourguignon. Each recipe has clear directions and there is a photograph to accompany each.

This is a wonderful resource. Enjoy!

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

So good to spend time with her: Eleanor by David Michaelis

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJuly 1, 2020

The “Eleanor” of the title is, of course, Eleanor Roosevelt. She had most difficult early years and went on to live a truly remarkable life. How did Eleanor go from a child so alone in the world, an orphan at an early age whose mother ridiculed her and whose father loved her but suffered from alcoholism and an inability to cope with life, to a most admired woman? What was it like to be sent to school in England? What did it mean to have an uncle who was larger than life and a president? To fall in love with an ambitious, pampered cousin who could not be faithful and who also had serious health challenges? How did Eleanor go from an insecure young woman to a woman who was among the most admired in the world, a surrogate for Franklin and a first lady throughout WWII? Who did she lean on and love once she knew that Franklin had affections elsewhere?
All of these questions come under the scrutiny of Mr. Michaelis who has written an engaging and very readable biography of Eleanor. It covers her whole life and finds the sweet space between a serious biography and an absorbing read. I recommend it highly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  October 6, 2020

Of note, readers of this title may also enjoy the novel White Houses by Amy Bloom, Franklin and Lucy by Joseph Persico (non-fiction), Lucy by Ellen Feldman (fiction) and the biography of Eleanor by Blanche Wiesen Cook.  I have read them all and have reviewed White Houses on the blog.

It’s going to be okay: Group

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsOctober 30, 2020

How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

by Christie Tate

The guide in this memoir is an author with a unique and honest voice. While very accomplished, she has clearly had her struggles. In this memoir the reader observes Ms. Tate as she brings her issues to a therapy group and her rather unconventional therapist. As a result her life was changed.

This book has received mixed reviews. There are those who have given it five stars and others who have barely given it one. Having facilitated support groups as part of my career, I was intrigued to read about the author’s experience with her therapist and the other members of her group. I recommend that you take a look and decide for yourself. I am glad to have read it.

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