#TheParisSecret #NetGalley

Note that I am commenting on the extended preview.

This book appears to have many elements that will make it an engrossing read. I will certainly buy the book so that I can spend more time with this book’s characters and story lines.

After an opening set in the days after WWII, the novel moves to the year 1928 when Skye and Liberty Penrose are children being raised by their single mother. Their mother Vanessa, who predicts the future for clients, is a pilot who has passed on her love of the skies to her aptly named older daughter.

When the reader first meets Skye, she is ten and unconventional. Younger sister Liberty appears prone to temper tantrums and may be less than stable. Skye meets Nick during this summer and it is clear that they will have connections throughout the entire story.

The book jumps to 2012 in the following section. In this, a descendant of one of the main characters, Kat, travels to Cornwall to visit her grandmother’s house. Grandmother Margaux has ties to Nick and Skye as I think will become clearer.

This is another story with sections set before, during and after WWII. Illuminated through Skye is a story of the women who flew planes during the war. There is a sense that Liberty and the other main characters will face many threats as the novel continues. It also feels like the past and present will tie together by the end of the book.

This appears to be an involving and interesting novel. As noted above, I will be purchasing it so that I can see how it ends.

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

I enjoyed the books by Val McDermid, Donna Leon and Anna Lee Huber. I read How Green Was My Valley many years ago and remember liking it. Plus a few other titles to round things out. Enjoy.

World Politics in 100 Words

Start conversations and spark inspiration

by Eleanor Levenson

#WorldPoliticsin100Words #NetGalley Politics is a subject much talked about in our current climate. This title, geared to elementary school children aims to educate and open up topics for discussion. As the title notes, there are 100 words in all. Just a few of those included are bureaucracy, activist, capitalism, patriotism, leader and more. Many thanks to NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review. This well illustrated reference deserves a place on school and home library shelves. From the publisher: World Politics in 100 Words Introduction Unless you live as a hermit, hiding out in an isolated cave and never seeing anyone or buying anything, then you need to understand politics. Whether you can go to school, whether you have healthcare when you are sick, what you can buy and sell, and even whether you are free to walk down the street when you want—all of these things are affected by the way politics work, the people who become politicians, and the political decisions they make. In every country the political systems and culture are different. But the first step to changing the world—or even to keeping it the same—is to understand how things work. This book tries to start that process for you, explaining some of the words and concepts that you will come across when you start to take an interest in politics. And thinking about it, even hermits need to know this! Otherwise they won’t know how to object if the politicians decide to take over all of the caves…

An Amory Ames Mystery

by Ashley Weaver

A Deception at Thornecrest is the seventh title in Ashley Weaver’s series about Amory Ames, her husband Milo, and those around them. This time, Amory is pregnant and enjoying a sense of peace as she waits for her new arrival. But, of course, peace is not what she gets.

Just when it seems that Amory and Milo’s relationship is on track, after some ups and downs in previous entries, a woman appears claiming to also be married to Milo. If that weren’t challenging enough, of course there is a murder. This time it takes place on the day of the Springtide Festival.

How will it all be resolved? Read the novel to find out. Both new and long term readers of this British historical mystery series will welcome spending time with Amory and Milo. By the way, I love the cover.

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

A Yearlong Practice for Cultivating Feminist Consciousness

by Amelia Hruby

#FiftyFeministMantras #NetGalley

This book was not published with any foreknowledge about RBG but I was reminded of her nonetheless. RBG was a fierce voice for women. Women who want their voices to be heard and to think about what they want to say and how they want to be may well enjoy this book.

Following an introduction, the book is organized by the seasons, beginning with January and its symbolism of birth and beginnings. Included are prompts and spaces for writing, making this a personal title. There are entries for each week of the year.

Those who journal and want to explore their thoughts, feelings and beliefs, get a pencil and start!

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

The Maugham sounds like it is about Gauguin but in fiction while I, Claudius is historical fiction. There are also some mysteries here, The Hobbit and a couple of women’s fiction titles. A Secret Sisterhood is about some female authors. Enjoy.

#EscapingDreamland #NetGalley

I have adored every book that I have read by Charlie Lovett and this title is no exception. It is so clear that this author loves all things book related. Each novel has a connection to something literary: in First Impressions, for example, it is Jane Austen and there is generally a dual time line.

Escaping Dreamland is another winner! This novel is a love letter to series books and New York. Any one who ever read Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys and loved going from one title to the next will relate to the protagonist and the power of reading as expressed in this novel. I liked that there was credit given to those books that are not “great,” but are greatly loved.

In the dual timeline, much of the book takes place in the early 1900s and just before. Readers get to marvel at the Statue of Liberty when it was new and visit an artists studio that is frequented by the famous bankers and writers of the day, including Henry James.

The three protagonists in the past represent different cultures and childhood experiences. How they come together and what they do is one of the story lines. The modern parts of the novel are about a writer, his relationships, his struggles and his relationship to his beloved childhood series.

I absolutely loved this book. I am already longing for the next book by this author.

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

Who Gets In and Why

A Year Inside College Admissions

by Jeffrey Selingo

My children have been out of college for a while now but I still find the whole college admissions process to be fascinating. As a sociology major, I feel that there are great research projects to be done on the subject.

About twenty years ago, an author named Steinberg published a book called The Gatekeepers. Who Gets In and Why strikes me very much as an updated look at the issues addressed in that earlier title.

What readers will learn is that college admissions is a complex entity. Those who are naive may think admissions is all about rewarding the best or most hardworking students but that is not really the case. There are so many facets of the school’s own agendas that influence who does or does not get the coveted “yes” letter. Readers need only think of Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman to know just how true that is.

In this book, Mr. Selingo looks at the process from the perspectives of three different types of institutions, a private and a public university and also a liberal arts college. The result makes for a fascinating read.

College admissions will no doubt be affected by the Corona virus with questions about what will happen to campus life and more. Nonetheless this book provides a keen insight into what has been happening in higher education.

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

Ernest Shackleton

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#ErnestShackleton #NetGalley

Just looking at the cover of the latest entry in this excellent series makes me smile. Young Ernest invites young readers into his world in this well illustrated book.

Children learn early on that Ernest’s family had lived in the same village for over 150 years! How far away did his interest in exploration take him? How did he do it? Well, the author notes that Shackleton had four important qualities that would serve him well; optimism, patience, idealism and courage. He also knew that it was important for people to work as a team. Off Shackleton went one day with men, dogs and more including a cat named Mrs. Chippy to go on an amazing voyage. Readers learn that there was adversity and a need for courage in the journey. How did it end? Readers will enjoy finding out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review. This book is an inspiring entry for youngsters who dream of adventure.