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

This book will teach your toddler while s/he has fun along the way.  While searching for Little Chameleon, young children will learn about animals and their sounds, colors and numbers.  They will get to look for the lightly hidden objects on each two page spread.

All in all, this is a nicely illustrated and fun book for the littlest book lovers.

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

#HideAndSeekLittleChameleon #NetGalley

Porthmellow is the kind of place that I daydream about living in. It is beautiful, in Cornwall, by the sea and the people who live there care about one another. The setting for this book is an upcoming food festival. The residents we follow include Sam, the organizer; Gabe, who once dated Sam and is now a celebrity chef; Sam’s sister and her partner, Ben; a mom, Chloe who has been estranged from her daughter and granddaughter and many other locals. Their stories are all told in a way that allows the reader to care about them. Over the course of the story, lives are lived, misunderstandings are cleared up and characters grow and love. If this is your kind of book, try this. It is an enjoyable read.

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

This book is an entry in a series entitled, Little Guides to Great Lives.  It is indeed a good guide to the very significant, short life of Anne Frank. Anne’s story is a difficult story for children to learn; it is about a young girl who died too young in a horrible way for nothing that she did wrong, but for being Jewish during a period of great anti-Semitism and war.  I always wish that children did not have to know such a painful story but the lessons from Anne’s life are too important to shield children from.

This book tells Anne’s story well.  It shows the many ways in which she was a normal girl in an abnormal time.  She had a loving family, friends and parents who tried their best to protect her.  Her early life, her time in the annex and her life in a concentration camp are all detailed.

The illustrations add greatly to this story.  They are in simple colors but filled with life and emotion.  Important people have their portraits with some facts beneath them.  Anne’s imagination is brought to life in one spread that I especially love.

This is an important story and one that needs to be understood.  Young readers will perhaps be inspired to read Anne’s diary after reading this book.

Of note is that there is a section in the back of the book with additional information including definitions of terms that children might not know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this little guide to a great life.  The opinions expressed are my own.

This is an adorable bedtime read for toddlers. The illustrations are bold and appealing while the simple text pairs well with the pictures.

In the story, a group of creatures tell what they need to do before going to bed. By the end of the book, a young child tells their routine for what must happen before going to sleep. In a sweet way that ties the book together, each critter that was previously featured in the story then is shown within the child’s room (for example, as part of a mobile).  Young readers are then asked what they need before going to sleep.

This storybook has an appealing concept; reluctant toddlers will undoubtedly love to see how each featured player finds ways to avoid bedtime. The book will then, hopefully, send them off to the land of Nod.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book which I was given in return for an honest review.

This is a simple story with charming illustrations that is geared toward young children. Piggy wants to give Giraffe a kiss but can’t figure out how to. Giraffe is tall while Piggy is not. What should Piggy do? Young listeners will find out by the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this toddler book.

#TheViewFromAlamedaIsland #NetGalley

Fans of Robyn Carr’s will be delighted to find that she has a new (non-series) novel out just in time for spring and Mother’s Day. This book is about second chances, making the kind of life that you want to have happen and of not holding back out of fear.

The story focuses on Lauren who seems to have it all…except that, of course, she doesn’t. She is married to Brad, a successful surgeon, and has two daughters.

Beau is married with two stepsons. He is a landscape architect whose marriage has been unhappy for years.

Tim is a priest and friend of Beau’s. He also becomes a friend of Lauren’s.

What happens to each of these characters, those around them and their relationships forms the basis of the novel. The pages turn easily and readers will be interested in how the characters fare. A good women’s fiction book all in all.

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

So…a cozy, a classic, a women’s fiction, a thriller and the inestimable Lord Peter!

Do you remember when you were young and all you wanted was to grow up? Well, that is exactly how Little Bear feels. He seeks advice from those he is close to but none of the advice works. At the end of the story Little Bear’s parents let him know that he will grow little by little.

This book has a lovely message for children. They will grow in time surrounded by those who love them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this sweetly illustrated read. The opinions are my own.

#OddPartners #NetGalley

Odd Partners is a collection of mystery stories that is edited by one of my favorite authors, Anne Perry. The conceit for this anthology is a pairing in each story of odd partners; they are odd for many reasons as ably discussed in the editor’s introduction. Authors include Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Todd, Jeffrey Deaver, Ace Atkins, Allison Brennan and others.

Admittedly, I often shy away from short stories preferring the depth of novels with their capacity to allow the reader to know characters more deeply. That having been said, I truly enjoyed this book. To give two examples:

In Anne Perry’s story, she conjures the atmosphere of WWI and the trenches, especially what it is like to be a sapper and to be a recruit who feels fear. I felt like I was there, uncomfortable, scared and eager for safety. All this within a short story. The odd partners are a German and an Englishman.

Jacqueline Winspear is known for her Maisie Dobbs novels. They are an excellent series of books which began during WWI and are now taking place in WWII. Does the author write a war story here? NO, she most emphatically does not. Here the odd partners are dogs and their humans.

There is much to enjoy in these stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review them. All opinions are my own.

#AplainVanillaMurder #NetGalley

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.