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

This is author Maria’s Fredericks’s second novel that is set in early 20th century New York. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to the next entry in this historical mystery series..

The book begins just as news of the Titanic has made its way across the ocean. Perhaps this is symbolic because in this is book there are metaphorical storms and acts are undertaken to protect loved ones, just as happened on that doomed vessel. An additional, and important, narrative centers on what it was like to be Italian American at a time when the Italians were not always welcomed and the Black Hand was something to be feared. Finally, there are settings in town houses and on Long Island estates as well as on Mulberry Street; these highlight the difference between rich and poor, immigrants and those with longer histories in the country.

Our protagonist is Jane who is a ladies’ maid to Louise. Much as in Downton Abbey, Louise is engaged to marry William as she brings the money and he the family connections to an alliance. Will their relationship survive?

William has an uncle who has taken an interest in him for many years. Uncle Charles offers his Long Island estate to the couple for their wedding. However, before that can take place, the nanny to Charles and Alva’s children is murdered. Was it the Black Hand or did the murder spring from other motivations? Of course, you will need to read the novel to find out.

I felt that the characters in Death of a New American had stories to tell and were well portrayed. There was the obligatory twist in the plot and it was well done. If you enjoy historical mysteries, I encourage you to give this one a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for my honest review I give this one four stars.

This is a quick read picture book.  For me, the best part of this book was the illustrations which were cartoon like and amusing.  The text did not speak to me as much; it goes through various ailments and asks if particular animals can have them.  Answers come only at the very end of the story and mostly in an appendix.  Still, children will most likely enjoy the pictures and the whimsy.

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

#DoPenguinsHavePediatricians #NetGalley

It requires suspension of disbelief to read this enjoyable second caper about Hollis and Finn. Their first adventure as amateur quasi-government agents took them to Ireland (see below) while this time they are in Buenos Aries. The plot is improbable but following this couple as they interact with one another is enjoyable. Another plus was the sense of place that the author provided; I think that the descriptions of the tango, Buenos Aries and other Argentinian locations were quite appealing for armchair travelers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this adventurous read. The opinions are my own.

 

I have read several books by Katherine Reay and will rank this one among my favorites. It is the story of three women who run a bookshop following the death of one of the protagonist’s relatives. The main characters are Madeline, who inherits the shop; Clare who feels unseen by her family and struggles with her teenage daughter; and Janet who made one mistake that led to the end of her marriage and another that led to a major crisis for the store. The stories of these characters overlap and form the basis for the novel.

The novel takes place in a small town outside of Chicago. The location feels idyllic as does the bookshop.

If you have ever had a dream about owning a bookstore that enhances a community, you will enjoy this novel. There are definitely struggles for the store but the author makes owning a bookshop feel so worthwhile.

I enjoyed this novel very much. There are friendship, romance and books, books, books within these pages. An added bonus was the number of books that are named in the novel and the complete list of those titles at the end. This list is a great resource for future reads.

So…if you like a light story with a great setting, think about this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book about books.

$2.99 today

My review:

I had read The Child, this author’s second novel. I began this book with high expectations that were not quite realized. Nonetheless, I found that I was constantly turning the pages of the short chapters until I got to the end.

The central story is about Rosie and Alex who travel to Thailand for their gap year. The two are very different with Alex having a stronger moral compass. Rosie wants to party while Alex wants to see and experience the country. What happens to them and why forms the central mystery/suspense of the book. No spoilers here. Around them, there are other characters in Thailand and Rosie and Alex’s families at home in England. The reader also spends time with a detective and reporter who were also in this author’s earlier novels. Their relationships and backstories figure prominently in the narrative. There is an overlap in that Kate is reporting but her son is also traveling in Thailand and a part of the story’s events.

This novel deals with tragedy and the impact of a difficult upbringing. I won’t say about whom or whose so as not to spoil the suspense. Yet, despite this, I found that I did not care about the characters or story as much as I had hoped to.

I give this one a solid three stars. If you read it, I would love to know what you think.

$1.99 today

My review:

This is the first book that I have read by Maria Shriver; I felt that it was worth my time.  This short volume is for dipping into as well as reading straight through, whichever you prefer.  Many topics of daily and spiritual life are written about in entries a few pages long.  Each ends with a short prayer that Ms. Shriver has written.  This is a book that is easy to relate to and offers the reader a pause for reflection in the midst of a busy daily life.

A blurb: “If you are feeling stuck, lost, or you just need a pick-me-up, this is the book for you. Shriver’s wisdom will fill you up.” —Hoda Kotb, coanchor, The Today Show

This book will be a welcome resource for elementary school teachers, camp counselors, scout troops: you name it, really anywhere that kids with imagination congregate.  Some music concepts are taught but, more importantly, kids are encouraged to use their resources, be creative and make music.  There are so many ways to do this; to name a few-fill water glasses with differing amounts of water and tap on them, hum, sing, make instruments from what you find in the kitchen, conduct, sing in harmony…the ideas are plentiful.

I enjoyed this look at how to help children to develop a love of music.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Little People, Big Dreams, a wonderful series, has another excellent title here. As always, the illustrations and text pair perfectly and, in this instance, capture Bowie’s unique style and talents. The takeaway for children centers on the importance of being one’s own self and doing things in one’s own way. Ambition is also touched on as young readers learn about Bowie’s desire to be a star. I always look forward to new entries in this series and am never disappointed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this e galley in exchange for an honest review.

#DavidBowie #NetGalley

At school, he loved music and dance classes. He had a real talent for singing and his dance moves were from another planet.

How funny that the author of this wonderful book is named Cook but she is, and cook she does in this lavishly illustrated volume.

Food and eating are important components of all cultures and both offer a way to easily learn about heritages other than one’s own. In this cookbook, there are recipes from many countries; to name just a few, there are things to prepare from Canada, South Africa,Egypt, Nepal, France and Israel. The recipes cover categories including Breakfast, Drinks & Snacks, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert. Each recipe is graded by difficulty. There are also sections on kitchen rules, tools, baking terms and more.

Each recipe begins with a section on what is needed to prepare the recipe, followed by a section on “what you do.” All recipes are fully illustrated with photographs for each step There are additional sections on the young cooks pictured to let the reader learn more about heritages, favorite dishes to cook, etc. Then there are sections filled with other interesting global facts.

Young cooks will learn a lot from this book as will their families. Kids will improve their kitchen skills, eat some wonderful food and develop a deeper appreciation for our wonderfully diverse world.

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

S is for Silence by Sue Grafton is a later entry in this well known alphabet series that began with A is for Alibi. Sadly, the author died just short of reaching the letter Z. The Kinsey Milhone books feature a private detective and a recurring cast of characters. They are worth reading.

This is a perfect book for your little farmer. The illustrations are bright and lively while the text is in small sections that are fact filled. Some of the topics included in these colorful two page spreads are The Food on Your Plate, Growing Crops, Farm Animals and Tractors and Machines. The amount of information packed into this book is impressive. And then…for more fun, there is a farm set that you and your child can build together.

This is an entertaining book that teaches a lot. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for an honest review.

#BusyBuildersFarm #NetGalley