Category: Uncategorized

Garden lovers will rejoice in this title about a very well known and gorgeous English garden.  After an informative forward and introduction, the book is organized according to the varied sections of the extensive plantings.  The text is interesting and the photos invite readers right in.  I very much enjoyed my armchair time in the peaceful nature of this beautiful place.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.  I plan to purchase the book when it comes out so that I can enjoy it in its physical form.

#SissinghurstTheDreamGarden #NetGalley

Hannah Dennison has written several mystery series; this title is the first in a new one about the “Island Sisters.” The islands of the title are the Scilly Isles. They make a great setting for a novel that bears some resemblance to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None as the characters are together on an island and can only go back to the mainland when/if the tides allow.

The Island Sisters are Evie and Margot. Evie, who married the much older Robert, has recently been widowed. Margot flies in from LA to support her but…does she have her own issues? (No spoiler, as I am sure that you know the answer.) The two go to Tregarrick Rock where possibly Evie has a claim to the local hotel, a place where all the suites are named for mystery writers, but is her claim valid? What about those on the island from the unhappily married couple, to the hotel employee with a prison record, the artist and the double named Lily who collects gossip, delivered island babies and seems to know everything?

There are several murders, a small police force, lots of walks in the mizzle (a cross between mist and drizzle) and more before all is revealed, as they say in mysteries. Along the way, the pages easily turn.

This is a story that requires a good deal of suspension of disbelief. There are many coincidences, interconnections and unlikely events. That said, it was a quick, fun read. I look forward to spending more time with Evie and Margot in the future.

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

#DeathatHighTide #NetGalley

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I truly enjoyed this book. which I found to be quite entertaining. It lets readers delight in how much they know about some of their favorite fictional characters. The book is organized as a series of letters to an agony aunt, here known as Aunt Antigone. The letter writers range from Jane Austen’s Emma to Bronte’s Catherine Earnshaw to Harper Lee’s Boo Radley to Anne of Green Gables and many many more in chapters on topics like Navigating Friendships, Receiving an Education, The Way We Work and a number of others.

This is an amusing title that can be read in any order. It feels like a literary parlor trick to me but I mean that in a good way.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

pub date:  November 17, 2020

Mystery, historical fiction and a memoir of doing something new in one’s sixties.  Enjoy.

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The beautiful cover of this novel lets readers know who the protagonists are: Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas. In the novel, they are surrounded by those in their lives including Onassis, JFK, RFK, Jackie’s sister Lee and many others. All are brought to life in this excellent historical fiction.
Jackie and Maria had more in common than Aristotle Onassis. According to the book, both had mothers they could not please and both faced terrible losses around pregnancies. In addition, each was involved with a charismatic man who did not believe in fidelity and who did believe in power.
The settings of the novel bring the story to life. Readers will be in many locations including DC, Paris, Greece, the Cape, Aristotle’s yacht and more. The story unfolds in these places in a dual narrative that features the world from both Maria and Jackie’s perspectives.
As in the best historical novels, the world of the characters is portrayed in such a way that I very much wanted the history that I already knew, to somehow magically be transformed for the sake of the people on whom the characters are based. Of course, it could not be.
I enjoyed this title and recommend it highly for those who enjoy historical fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute and funny story about a cat who wakes up with a cone. Jeremy is very, very unhappy about this until…Yes, there are many ways that the cone can be useful. It is useful enough that, for a moment, Jeremy misses the cone when it is removed.
Jeremy is very much like a young child; he likes to get into things and does not always consider the consequences. Still, he can be made so happy by the small things that to him are big.
This is an adorable story for cat lovers both old and young. The illustrations add to the reader’s experience and are very well done.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#ConeCat #NetGalley

The author of this deck for children begins by explaining what kindness is.  It is distinguished from “being nice.”  Kindness is described as having elements of compassion, empathy, courage and responsibility.  The deck of included cards is then divided to represent each of these qualities.  It is noted that some cards may be used more than once, some may be used right away, while others may require just the right time.

I think that these cards will work best with an adult’s encouragement and modeling.  The directions are very easy to follow yet I think that it will help children to know that adults also need to practice kindness.  Make it a game with a child you know.  You will both benefit.

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

pub date:  September 22, 2020

#KindnessCardsforKids #NetGalley

Unfortunately, the arc of this book did not download properly.  Nonetheless, I think that this title can be recommended for the youngest readers.  I could see that the book has lovely photos of children and adults being kind and helpful to one another.  The text did not come through well in my copy.  It looks as if the text is straight forward and builds vocabulary.  There are suggestions for adults who are encouraging young readers included as well.

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

Have you been thinking that you would like to join the many who are practicing mindfulness?  Are you unsure about how to begin?  If yes, this book is a welcome resource that will get you started.

The book begins with a helpful introduction that explains what mindfulness is. This section of the book talks about elements of mindfulness such as non-judgment and patience, the types of mindfulness, a section of why meditation works, another on myths about meditation and more.

This title then includes 50 meditation exercises. Consider taking the time to do one each day.  Titles for some of the sessions include Sink into Sleep, Tend to Your Talk, Share the Goodness, Dig Doing the Dishes and more.  None takes too long and may well be worth your time.

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

#MindfulnessMeditationforBeginners #NetGalley

Lots of good choices here.  My favorites are the two by Ann Cleeves and The Art of Fielding.  Enjoy.