Not too much so far today.  Hope one of these appeals to you.

What a clever concept this is!  Code breakers is one title in a series of puzzle books that uses material from Sherlock Holmes in an intriguing puzzle book format.  This one is full of cryptograms.  They are challenging and seem suitable for anyone from a middle school aged kid to an adult.  Get this book, get out your pencil, step away from the computer and solve!  They are a great distraction.

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

Pub Date 26 May 2020   

#SherlockHolmesPuzzlesCodeBreakers #NetGalley

Robyn Carr is a prolific writer of women’s fiction; to name just a few there she has written the Virgin River, Grace Valley and Thunder Point series. Her many fans will pretty much always read what she writes.
This title is a standalone. It tells the story of Justine (in her fifties) and Addie (in her thirties), sisters who, due to their age difference, were not especially close. Addie, for reasons that the book makes clear, left her degree program to care for her parents while married mother Justine went from success to success with the support of her house parent husband.

However, as we all know, novels often have an arc. Characters have experiences, struggle, grow, learn and, if they are lucky, find themselves in a better place. As Justine’s marriage implodes and Addie tries to figure out what to do with her life, what will happen? At the end of the novel, will the sisters be closer and happier? (Readers will hope so).

In following the Justine and Addie’s stories, Ms. Carr explores social issues including women who return to the workforce insecure after years away and men who face partner abuse. The author clearly wants her readers to know that there is help for those who suffer.

This book is an easy read that fans of the author will welcome. The small town setting is very appealing.

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

Mystery, women’s fiction and biography.  See my ealier review of the Martha Grimes book below.

The Knowledge:

Welcome back Richard Jury and Co!
After reading The Man with a Load of Mischief, I always looked for books in this series. Then, I moved away from them…not sure why, the books or me. But, I will tell you that I very much enjoyed The Knowledge. All of the trademarks are here; characters including Wiggins, Melrose Plant, Diane, etc. and of course the preternaturally smart, cunning and ingenious child(ren). On top of this there is Africa, Art, Astrophysics, the Stars and murder, all of which line up as perfectly as an eclipse. If you enjoy traditional British style (author is American) mysteries with a twist, read this novel!

This picture book is filled with the most engaging and colorful illustrations! I especially enjoyed the frequent appearance of the children’s cat. The story is a simple one of two children; the little girl tells the boy about what happens at school. She assures him that school is fun as is being with him. That’s it. An uncomplicated but fun book for little ones.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest reivew.

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

Often we take the things around us for granted.  However, the author of this book does not.  Instead she reflects upon things found in a home and writes about them.  The list of what she looks at is extensive and include everything from bathtubs to Turkish and Persian rugs, from picnic baskets to pillows and from fireplaces to rocking chairs. For each item, the author provides an evocative entry.

The first entry in these alphabetical listings is bathtub.  Their history from earliest times is presented and from there she moves to the present day.  Similarly in an entry on bookshelves readers learn that at first books were scrolls without shelves; a history is then given that goes right up to the moment when we started putting together shelves from Ikea.

There is a lot to learn in this book.  It has simple illustrations that enhance the text and engage the reader.  If you are curious about the objects around you, dip into this book.  It is a treasure trove.

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

Pub Date 17 Mar 2020

#TheElementsofaHome #NetGalley

From the Publisher

This is a book about things.

The things that fill our homes say a great deal about who we are, as well as what we are and whom we value.

Every domestic object—the desk you write at, the chair you’re sitting on, the lamp that lights the room—not only has a personal history but also a secret history with roots in the past.

The Elements of a Home looks for the highlights in objects’ lives as they evolved to become the things that are familiar to us today, and reveals the fascinating stories behind more than 60 everyday household objects and furnishings.

Discover the complex, colorful, and often surprising story of the domestic objects with which we furnish our homes.

Cocktail Shaker

The cocktail shaker is not just the iconic symbol of a cocktail party; it also pro­vides the soundtrack. Each clink of ice accompanies an escalation in the fes­tivities. It’s the sound of author Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles, who shook to the tempo of foxtrots for their Manhattans, with a two-step for a dry martini. It brings to mind James Bond and his beverage of choice: a “very strong and very cold and very well-made” Vesper martini, named for Bond girl Vesper Lynd. (Three measures gin, one measure vodka, and one-half mea­sure Kina Lillet, shaken, not stirred.) It’s the accompaniment to the indulgent three-martini lunch, epitomized by television’s most famous ad executives, Don Draper and Roger Sterling.

This could definitely be the right book for the right time.  Has there ever been a time that called out more for positive thinking?  Was there ever a time when we were more likely to be sitting at home and have the time to write in a journal?

The author’s goal is to help readers to think and feel more positively.  There are entries that cover a full 52 weeks of writing activities.  These include creative prompts, spaces for mindful journal writing and, what the author calls, expressive sessions.

The first entry invites writing about oneself and then looking at what was written with perspective.  A few other entries…one week encourages writing down the names of people one loves and encouraging letting them know, another encourages discovering what is seen around oneself and describing it as if for the first time; a third example is to write about one’s bad habits and how they might be changed.

If this kind of reflection and writing appeals to you, this book is an excellent resource.  Many thanks to the publisher Callisto for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: April 28, 2020

From the publisher:

This colorful board book is part of a new series on some of America’s favorite cities.  The book is colorfully illustrated and includes lots of things to see in Boston.  There are also pages on some of the Boston foods including New England Clam Chowder and Boston Cream Pie, and sections on the history of this iconic city.  This book is a sweet introduction to Boston for the littlest travelers.

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

#LittleCitiesBoston #NetGalley

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

Again, a mix.  You can see a review of Before and Again in my archive.  I liked the book. Here are mystery, history, intrigue and literary fiction.  The Buchan book, inspiration for the Hitchcock movie, is free.

I found this endearingly illustrated story to be charming and sweet.  It will be especially enjoyed by children who like cats as the adventurous cat features in all of the illustrations.  Our narrator tells about all of the kinds of stories that he does not like as he goes through the events of his day…but wait!  What happens at the end?  Read the book to find out.  It is cute.

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

Pub Date 15 Sep 2020