www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/books/march-2021-books.html

365 Devotions for Women by Women

by Our Daily Bread Ministries

God Hears Her has been previously published but this new edition offers a bit more; there is space to journal and react to what is read and, from the advance copy I saw, it looks as if there are some pages to color in. There is an entry for every day of the year with a short entry that invites reflection. Readers who like putting aside a few minutes a day to think about life’s bigger issues, may well want to give this book a look.

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

by Jenny Simmons

Pub Date 04 Mar 2021

This is a nicely illustrated picture book that comes with an important message. The theme is the importance of being able to say no in a variety of situations. The book makes the appropriate and timely use of the word empowering for kids. Read this title with a child you know or just leave it somewhere where a child can pick it up. They will learn an important lesson.

While I think that this title will be helpful to both boys and girls, often it seems that girls are more socialized to not make waves. So, this book may be even more helpful for them.

This title ends with a helpful section for adults. It is worth a read and offers good tips for helping children.

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

Tis the season: One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 31, 2020

My earlier review

  Do you enjoy women’s fiction?  Are you ready to be immersed in a long (464 page) book?  If you  might answer yes to these questions, this title could provide you with an escapist read.

The setting is Lake Tahoe, a beautiful and peaceful place with lots of water, places to walk and sports to enjoy.  There are three protagonists; Serenity, Reagan and Lorelei.

Serenity writes books about true crimes.  There is a true crime in her personal life that has changed everything for her.  Next is Reagan; she is an ambitious, successful advertising executive until one decision and one moment changes everything. She will be faced with some big decisions. Then there are Lorelei and her four year old daughter Lucy.  Lorelei grew up in foster care and knows nothing about her family.  She was happy in her marriage until…

What do these women have in common?  No spoiler as this comes out early in the novel; the three share a blood relationship discovered after they did testing with a DNA site.  How are they connected?  Who is their common biological relative?  Why has no-one ever discussed any of this with any of them>  You will need to get very close to the end of the book to find the answer.

Around this central plot there are many others involving the sisters’ families, their evolving relationship and their next door neighbors, all of whom have their own stories.  The strands intertwine and four narrators voice the story; these are the three sisters and Finn, one of the neighbors.

Overall, this was a book where the pages turned.  The characters are well established and each is very much their own person.  That said, I think that the novel might have been (even) better had it been shorter.  Sometimes sections replayed things that were already known to the reader.

This was the first novel that I have read by this author.  I would most likely read another of her books.

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

A Mystery

by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan is overwhelmed. She has two children, is trying to finish a novel, has issues with her ex…and so it goes. Not easy!

One day someone overhears a conversation and the next thing Finlay knows, she is involved in a potential contract killing. How will our heroine manage to survive? Find out in this engaging, witty and entertaining novel. Many have given it excellent reviews including the New York Times, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal and more. Try it for a different read.

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

A Kate Shackleton Mystery

by Frances Brody

One of my favorite things about the Frances Brody books is the wonderful, period evoking, cover illustration. I have enjoyed them over the twelve titles in this series and, of course, I have also enjoyed reading the novels.

Kate Shackleton is British, a widow and an investigator. The series is an historical one and, in this entry, the reader finds Kate is in 1930. A murder takes place at a brewery. Why was the victim killed? What other lives will be impacted? Leave it to the intrepid Kate to sort it all out.

While this title is part of a series, I think that the books can be read in any order. Those who enjoy a cozy mystery may well want to pick this book up.

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

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.