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

This illustrated chapter book is the second that I have read in the ASPCA kids series. The main characters were in the last book as well and include Chance, a therapy dog, who helps Meg who has epilepsy.

In this story, the friends are looking for a pet to be a reading buddy at the library. They have done their research and understand how an animal friend might help reluctant readers. Meg, Amanda, Blanca and Drew have hopes of Arnie, a shelter dog but instead, by the end of the book, have found a macaw who enjoys being read to and commenting on what is heard.

Children who have read the earlier stories will enjoy spending time at the shelter, school and library where the protagonists spend time. They will find enough plot to keep them turning the pages.

The illustrations complement the story well. They are bright and appealing.

At the end of the story there are some special sections. One has photos and the story of the therapy bird that was the basis for the book. There is also information about birds as pets and a section that tells about each of the main characters.

If you know a child who likes clubs, animals and stories about friendship and who is starting to read slightly longer chapter books, get them this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in return for an honest review.

If you know a child who likes clubs, animals and stories about friendship and who is starting to read slightly longer chapter books, get them this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in return for an honest review.

I have been reading about China Bayles ever since the first novel in the series was published. I enjoy the main characters and their relationships with one another. The series has built over time as characters have become involved in marriages, work together, have children, etc. I am always happy to pick up with the folks in Pecan Springs again.Chna’s voice is folksy and welcoming; when giving back story she speaks directly to the reader.

In A Plain Vanilla Murder, there is, of course, murder and more…no spoilers here though; you will need to read the book. Along the way the reader will learn a great deal about the vanilla trade, orchids and ethical practices.

All of the pieces of the mystery come together in a satisfying way. The side stories, for example about Ruby’s daughter’s partner’s pregnancy were also welcome and reminded me that a theme in this book was motherhood, both pending, past and current.

I already look forward to the next to come in the series. Keep writing Ms. Albert.

So…spend some time in the Hill Country of Texas. You will enjoy your stay.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for this advance copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

A few classics here and an update of a classic.  Enjoy!

There is one in Lisa Scottloine’s court room novels, a classic by Margery Allingham and another Donna Leon.  I really have enjoyed the Leon books that I have read and am happily accumulating more with the recent e book bargains.

This summer I am taking an eight week class entitled Women Who Sleuth.  When I read about it, I thought that it would be the perfect class for me.  While I blog on many books, mysteries are very close to my heart.

So, the first class was today.  We learned about the origins of the woman sleuth and how she evolved from the traditions of the Gothic novel.  We talked about books like The Castle of Otranto and The Woman in White.  Next there was discussion of some of the stories in the two books noted above.  The Female Detective is a book of stories written by a male author while the Loveday Brooke book was written by a woman.  I felt that this influenced how each protagonist was viewed.  Both books date to the 1800s.  In each, the female uses her status as a woman in solving her cases.  For example, the investigators gossip with servants or get jobs, as a seamstress in one story, that give the detective access to the suspects.  There is some coincidence in each story to be sure.  Still, I had never read either of these books and found it interesting to look at the start of a genre.

Next week, will be The Murder in the Vicarage by Agatha Christie and Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers.  It should be a fun summer!

William Woolf has a most intriguing job. He works in the lost letters department of the British post office. Using available resources, William tries to get letters that strayed to their rightful recipients. There are several moving stories in the novel in which William succeeds in this task.

William is married to Clare. They were once very happy but now are struggling. Will they stay together? How deep are the ties that bind them? Can they accept each other?

While they struggle, William becomes involved in his most engaging quest ever. He begins to find letters from the mysterious Winter, addressing her true love. William longs to know who Winter is and his search, along with her letters, form the backbone of the novel.

There were many things that I very much liked in this novel. All of the characters came to life and were well portrayed with their idiosyncrasies, faults and foibles. I loved some of the descriptions of William’s travels, especially Clovelly and Dublin. However, I confess to being a mite disappointed with what is the “big reveal.” Nonetheless, this is an engaging novel and should be a successful debut for the author.

Editorial Reviews

“A love-letter to letters and a brilliantly written, moving homage to the power of words, The Lost Letters of William Woolf celebrates the magic of pen and paper.”
-Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop

“In her mesmerizing debut, one of Cullen’s many gifts is skillfully managing the voices, stories, and possibilities of the enchanting world of lost letters…. This moving treatise on love and the art of letter writing will leave readers eager for more from this very talented writer.”
-Booklist (Starred Review)

“A beautiful story celebrating life, love and letters. This is a luminous debut.”
-Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

“A heartwarming novel about love, life, and the lost art of letter writing.”
-PopSugar

“Gorgeous. Packed full of romance and longing, the writing pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. I was sad to finish it!”
-Ali Land, bestselling author of Good Me Bad Me

“A charming romantic caper. William Woolf, a thirty-something Englishman working in the dead letters depot of London, is the latest in a tribe of unlikely heroes. Delightful.”
-Sunday Times (UK)

“If you liked Harold Fry and Me Before You, you will love Helen Cullen’s nostalgic debut. With its themes of love, romance and frustrated hopes, this life-affirming book will draw you in and keep you there.”
-Independent (Ireland)

“Wonderfully warmhearted and quirky.”
-Good Housekeeping (UK)

“I LOVED this book. If you want a beautifully written story of love, loss, heartache, thwarted dreams and how to negotiate relationships as they change over time, this one’s for you. A lyrical exploration of things said and unsaid, and the spaces between lives.” -Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths

“A wise, imaginative and heart-warming novel about the limits of love, the allure of new romance and the lost art of letter writing.” -Luiza Sauma, author of Flesh and Bone and Water

This  book is the first in a new series.  The story of Amelia Earhart is told in a combination of straight text and more cartoon like illustrations.  Children who want to learn about living one’s dream or who are interested in aviation or women’s history, will enjoy this chapter book.

The story starts with young Amelia aka Millie’s early years.  She was not like the other girls that she knew; Amelia wanted to dress as she wished and to have adventures.  At times, she did not fit in.  Amelia was also plagued by issues in her family.  While her father loved her, he had his own struggles with unemployment and alcohol.  Nonetheless, he tried to help Amelia to do the things that she wanted.

Before taking to flying, Amelia witnessed the plight of WWI veterans and did nursing.  She enrolled at Columbia University where she hoped to study medicine.  However, when her family needed her, she returned to California.  It was there that she took her first flight and, as we know, over time became a part of history.  Amelia’s accomplishments were great.  The mystery of her last flight has still not been solved.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this interesting read in return for an honest opinion  I now know more about this famous aviatrix than I did.

 

 

Many authors have rewritten Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  In this entertaining version by Sonia Kamal, the story takes place in Pakistan.  The Binat family has five daughters, a father who would rather garden than confront issues and a mother who knows that marriage is a, maybe the, most important status for women.

The family has fallen on hard times so the oldest daughters are teaching English at a school in their town.  Alys wants her students to have a wider view of their lives and to think of university, for example, but this is an uphill battle.  Alys does not feel that she needs to marry but, of course, she meets the Darcy character, just as Jena meets the Bingley one.

The settings and descriptions are fun.  As someone who has not traveled to Pakistan, I enjoyed reading about the clothing, foods and weddings.

This book will be enjoyed by fans of Pride and Prejudice and can also be a gateway for readers who will then go on to read the original.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in return for an honest review.

As is often the case, many good choices.  My favorites among these include Airs Above the Ground. The Art of Fielding and Bitter River.  Mary Stewart’s Airs Above the Ground is a novel of romantic suspense.  Though Mary Stewart’s books are not new, I have found that I have continued to enjoy rereading them.  The Art of Fielding is a good novel that has a baseball theme while Bitter River is in the Bell Elkins’s series.  I have read all of these; they are not always easy but they are always good.  They take place in West Va.  where life is difficult for many.

I also enjoyed the Susan Wiggs series, of which two are featured here.  They are good, relaxing reads. And of course, I think every book on this post is worth a look.

HAPPY READING!

Before and Again…how does what happens, mistakes that we have made, impact our view of the past, our present and our belief in the future? These big issues are fictionally brought to life in Barbara Delinsky’s newest novel.
Early on in the book, the reader learns that a moment of inattention led to the death of the protagonist’s daughter, Lily. Any parent can, but does not want to, imagine what this could mean. The reader watches as Maggie tries to move on and start fresh but…can/should the past be denied? A concurrent theme involves Grace who has secrets and stories of her own. In addition, Grace’s son is accused of computer hacking and the consequences of his act may impact his future, just as Maggie and Grace are impacted by their pasts.
I found the characters to be sympathetically drawn and would recommend this book to readers of women’s fiction.

Dear Mrs. Bird is an engaging and warm first novel. Readers who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society are almost certain to rate this book highly. Mrs. Bird is an out of touch editor at a woman’s magazine during WW II who is responsible for the agony column. Sadly, she deems most letters “unsuitable” for answering. Enter Emmy; young, naive, and trying to cope with bombs and disasters in London. She begins to answer letters as Mrs. Bird and you need to read the book to learn what happens. This novel at first seemed like it would be light but it has substance. Themes of love, friendship and how to relate to others all have their place. I highly recommend Dear Mrs. Bird! I would like to write her a fan letter. Thanks for this read NetGalley.

This is the third novel that I have read by Kate Morton and it is by far my favorite. I loved this novel! I am going to give it one of my rare five star reviews and say that it is one of my best reads of the year.

Aptly named with an allusion about time, The Clockmaker’s Daughter takes place in different periods including the 1860’s, 1899, 1928, WWII, 1962 and the present. Like the exquisite, interlocking, sensitive and perfectly balanced workings of a clock. the characters are connected over time and in their relationships. The revelations of the interconnections add depth and emotional resonance to the novel.

The plot is complex as would be expected in a novel that keeps the reader’s interest for over 500 pages. Characters include an artist, his model and their circle; the backstory of the model; the artist’s family; a young British girl sent to boarding school in England from India; an archivist; a biographer; a hunter of lost treasure and more. The most consistent and overarching presence is that of Birdie, the clockmaker’s daughter and artist’s model who is a spiritual (ghostly) presence throughout. For me Birdie worked perfectly even though I do not gravitate toward books with spirits. The other main character is the house where much of the story takes place. Within the pages there are mysteries, murder, love, grief, family and friendship.

I was sorry to finish this book as I enjoyed it so much. I hope that you will too.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful and engrossing read.