Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

For the school performance, each child is going to dress up as a favorite food.  There is a wonderful array of choices.  The only one who cannot decide is Frankie because he likes so many things!  His teacher is not in favor of some of his amusing combinations.  She suggests that instead he help with the costumes.  As a reader, I was not sure that I agreed with the message that sent as it seemed to discourage Frankie’s creativity.  But..wait until the end to see what Frankie does.

This is a book with very cute illustrations.  I did not completely agree with the teacher offering Frankie an option other than being a food, even though Frankie did not mind.  If you read this one, let me know what you think.

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

This book combines fact and whimsy to amusing effect.  The story is about human boy Leo who will be having a tonsillectomy.  He goes to the hospital with his parents only to find that it is run by animals.  Some of the staff treat Leo like an animal, asking things like if he was the runt of the litter and when he had his last rabies shot.  He is given a cone collar after surgery until he assures the staff that he will not eat from the floor or chew on his leg.  Mixed in with the vet facts is information on what happens when a child’s tonsils are removed.  Young children and parents may well enjoy this entertainingly illustrated effort to demystify and find fun in a situation that children do not tend to see as funny.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this read.  All opinions are my own.

Below is the summary of this novel from Goodreads.  It very clearly gives the sense of what this book is about.  I listened to the audio book which I found delightful, especially because of the combination of British and French accents.  This is a good, light mystery.  There will be a second in the series next year.  The author’s name here is a pen name.  The book is written by a husband and wife.

The first entry in a clever, lighthearted mystery series set in modern Provence—a delightful blend of Agatha Christie and Peter Mayle—featuring the irrepressible Penelope Kite, a young-at-heart divorcee with a knack for stumbling across dead bodies.

It’s love at first sight when Penelope Kite sees Le Chant d’Eau—The Song of Water—the stone farmhouse tucked high in the hills above the Luberon valley, complete with a garden, swimming pool, and sweeping mountain vistas. For years, Penelope put her unfaithful ex-husband and her ungrateful stepchildren first. Since taking early retirement from her job in forensics at the Home Office in England, she’s been an unpaid babysitter and chauffeur for her grandchildren. Now, she’s going to start living for herself. Though her dream house needs major renovations, Penelope impulsively buys the property and moves to St. Merlot.

But Penelope’s daydreams of an adventurous life in Provence didn’t include finding a corpse floating face down in her swimming pool. The discovery of the dead man plunges her headlong into a Provençal stew of intrigue and lingering resentments simmering beneath the deceptively sunny village. Having worked in the forensics office, Penelope knows a thing or two about murder investigations. To find answers, she must carefully navigate between her seemingly ubiquitous, supercilious (and enviably chic) estate agent, the disdainful chief of police, and the devilishly handsome mayor—even as she finds herself tempted by all the delicacies the region has to offer. Thank goodness her old friend Frankie is just a flight away . . . and that Penelope is not quite as naïve as her new neighbors in St. Merlot believe.

Set against the exquisite backdrop of Provence, steeped in history, atmosphere, and secrets, Death in Provence introduces an irresistible heroine and a delightful new mystery series.

A fine mix of mystery, suspense and literary fiction.  Enjoy!

This fun book is geared to three to six-year-olds. While reading, young children will visit many spots in DC including the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Air and Space Museum and the National Zoo among others. On each two page spread, there is information on the location along with the number of monsters who are hiding in the picture. Young children can enjoyably both learn and play as they look at this short book.

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

The Forgotten Guide to Happiness looks like a “nice” read and is only $.99.  Circling the Sun is by the author of The Paris Wife.  This one is about Beryl Markham.

This book is related to the author’s earlier novel, The Bookshop on the Corner.  Some characters from that book are present as is the book van book shop, which I love.

While I enjoyed The Bookshop on the Corner, I did not find this novel to be nearly as good.  The premise is there; young mom with a mute child wants to find a new life.  So, Zoe moves to Scotland to work with Nina, the protagonist of the earlier title.  Zoe’s trials caring for three children plus her own and her experiences on the book van are central to the plot.  Of course, there is also a romance. In addition, readers who enjoyed Nina from the last book, will get to see how her pregnancy goes.  There just might be a surprise!

This book may be best for true lovers of this author.  I found it to be a bit slow and surprisingly, for the first time, I did not find myself fully enjoying a book by this author.

I will still read Jenny Colgan’s novels in the future.  I hope that the next one will be as good as I know that she can be.  Let me know what you think if you read this one.  I am interested to know.