Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

The author starts by explaining what a country is and how the countries that we know change over the course of history as new ones are formed and old ones dissolve.  Having established this baseline, next comes the sense of what will be found in each colorful map spread.  There will be history, people of note, key facts, bodies of water, historical sites, capital cities and more.  Truly an adventure is being offered to young and inquisitive explorers in these fifty maps which include countries throughout the world, starting with France and other European countries and then traveling the continents.

I would have adored this book as a child.  I also enjoy it now that I am an adult.

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

Pub date:  September 1, 2020

,This short book for young children is very brightly and engagingly illustrated.  It begins by acknowledging that “things seem a bit strange at the moment,” before acknowledging that this time will not last forever.  The author then goes on to suggest the many fun things that can be done at home in the meantime.  There is everything from blowing bubbles, to virtual grandparent chats, to making smoothies and more.  This title will help to normalize daily life for young children and, in the process may help their adults as well!

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

#LetsStayHome #NetGalley

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They say that there are always two sides to the story. In this well-narrated audio book, we hear both; one for him and one for her. This is a suspense filled novel about a woman who was murdered in an English village. Follow Anna and Jack, reporter and police officer, along with the many twists in the tale. Sadly, my time with this title was over with NetGalley before I finished it. I will find another way as I want to know what happened. I will connect with my library or bookstore immediately.

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

#HisHers #NetGalley

Good fiction here and, for fun, one on ocean travel.  Enjoy.

I subscribe to this author’s newsletter so had been hearing about The Lost and Found Bookshop for months before it was published.  I entered a number of giveaways in my enthusiasm, did not win the book and eventually got it from the library.

The story is about Natalie who suffers some losses from which she must recover.  The reader encounters those with whom Natalie is involved as she moves from a high powered, but unsatisfying career, to become the proprietor of her family’s bookshop.  There is Peach, clearly to be a romantic interest; a popular author who wines and dines Natalie; Dorothy, the precocious daughter of Peach; Grandy, who is slowly sinking into dementia and others.

Ms. Wiggs love of bookstores and what they offer to people and communities come across clearly.  The city of San Francisco is also painted by someone who is fond of both its history and what it offers now to those who live there.

The resolution of the story is satisfying but…somehow I had hoped for a little more from this novel.  Its insights were not unique although they were true.

If you enjoy women’s fiction, I recommend this title.  However, there are books by this author that I have enjoyed more including the Lakeshore Chronicles series, Map of the Heart and Just Breathe, to name a few.

Have you read this book?  What did you think?

So many good choices here.  Jude the Obscure is a book in which the characters frustrated me.  It is a free title today. I’ve reviewed The Fifth Avenue Story Society, The Perfect Couple and Meet Me in Monaco.  Both Circe and The Silence of the Girls are books that I want to read.  There are also many other good choices here including an excellent collection of short stories.

This year I have been reading more poetry.  Poetry lends itself to this time when there is leisure (at least for me while I go nowhere basically) to read and reread a poem in order to “get” it.  This collection is most welcome and part of a new ambitious project for me.

Of course everyone has heard of Shakespeare.  Dip into the many sonnets, some of which may be familiar and many of which may not.  All are worth some of your time.

Along with the sonnets, there is a good introduction in this book which can be read in any order or dipped into.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

pub date:  September 29, 2020