The Vineyard at Painted Moon

A Novel

by Susan Mallery

Mackenzie Dienes made a close friend, Stephanie, when she was in college. Over time, Mackenzie married Stephanie’s brother, Rhys, and she began working for Rhys’s mother, Barbara at the family winery. For sure, Mackenzie knows her grapes and the business yet she is always an employee, never a full partner in the company.

Mackenzie at first thought that she had everything that she could possibly want with her marriage, home and career. However, big cracks began to appear. A slight spoiler…Mackenzie and Rhys realize that they cannot stay together any longer. What will happen to Mackenzie? Will she find the life that she wants and what will she have to go through to get there? Read the book to find out.

I give this book a solid three stars. I did not find myself so immersed that I couldn’t wait to get back to the story to read more.

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

by Ruby Boukabou

Pub Date 31 Mar 2021

To me, Paris is a magical city. The first time that I visited, I could not believe that I was standing in front of so many places that lived in my imagination. On that first trip, I cried when I left the city; that is how much being there had meant to me.

Of course now, travel is much more complicated and I don’t see a trip to the City of Light in my near future. So, I was delighted to come across this book that allows for a lovely virtual visit. Early in the book, there is a helpful architectural timeline that helps readers to recognize the styles and periods in Paris’s history. From there, some of the topics covered in this title are cafes, restaurants and bars; train stations; Metro entrances; churches; museums, public parks, cemeteries and more. Also included are hotels and information on shopping. In addition, there is a helpful section of sell-guided walking tours. Throughout, the book is filled with photos that bring Paris to life. .

Take a look at this guide. Dream of when it will be possible to visit again.

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

The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

by Andrew Morton

Andrew Morton is, of course, famous for writing THAT book about Princess Diana. He definitely has found his place as a chronicler of the lives of British royalty. This time, he turns his eyes to the famous siblings, Elizabeth and Margaret. Royal watchers and watchers of The Crown will no doubt very much enjoy this title. It chronicles the princesses from their early family life and right on through the ways in which the sisters’ paths diverged. Readers will also, no doubt, enjoy the many photos in this book. They include a copy of a letter written to the PM by Margaret, detailing her relationship with Peter Townsend.

This book will definitely appeal to its intended audience. Give it a look if you are one of them.

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

by Kwei Quartey

This book offers readers the chance to again spend time with Emma Djan as it follows on this author’s earlier novel, The Missing American. This time Emma is looking into what happened to a fashion icon. Sadly, Lady Araba is murdered. Our female PI is asked to look into the case. She thus becomes involved in a complicated situation with many suspects and issues. Who killed Lady Araba? Why? Readers will keep turning the pages to find out.

One thing I really enjoyed in this novel was the setting in Ghana. It offered a chance to immerse the reader in the life of the people and their communities.

This book has received high praise from Publisher’s Weekly and others. Give it a look!

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

I also reviewed the first two books listed here on my blog.

A Novel

by Natalie Haynes

Those who love ancient Greece know that the thousand ships refers to the Trojan War and those who were impacted by it. Natalie Haynes gorgeously offers a version of these events as told from the women’s points of view. This is a beautifully imagined retelling of Homer’s epic from that different perspective.

I highly recommended A Thousand Ships to those who enjoy historical fiction about ancient times. It is well written in language that evokes its’ time.

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

A very clever mystery: Moonflower Murders

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsNovember 22, 2020

A Novel

by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz is a creative and imaginative author of complex mysteries. This book follows on his earlier novel, The Magpie Murders that also featured Susan Ryeland and the story within a story detective, Atticus Pund. I liked this title more than that first title in the series.

When the story starts, Susan has left England to run a hotel on a Greek island. It seems that venture is beginning to pale so when the opportunity comes to return to England, Susan is on her way. Susan is asked to investigate the disappearance of a hotelier’s daughter. Cecily was not seen again after calling her parents to tell them that, based on an Atticus Pund novel, she believes that a guest murdered at the hotel a number of years previously, was not killed by the accused and then convicted hotel worker. Does this sound a bit confusing and convoluted? Well, it just may be.

Susan investigates the case and, as part of her research, rereads the Atticus Pund book. That novel is very cleverly inserted in the middle of the book. I found this to be so appealing. There was the book cover, the blurbs, the copyright, everything one would expect but, again, it is a novel within the novel.

Will Susan solve the case? What happened to the missing daughter? Who committed the murder at the hotel and that is then fictionalized in the Pund book? There are many characters and there is lots to solve here.

This book is original and intriguing. I very much enjoyed it. It is long at over 600 pages so settle in for a long read.

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