This book is a good one for a nursery or pre-k library. In this story, Alycat is looking forward to a school field trip. When she does not get to sit with her best friend on the bus, she at first is sad. However, Alycat figures out a way to have two good friends! In addition, this book has some health information because the field trip involves meeting with Dr. Katz. A bonus is that this book has instructions for making a simple friendship bracelet at the end.
Now in paperback: A Hundred Small Lessons by Hay
This is the first novel that I have read by this Australian author…and I am glad that I did! The story of a home and the people who lived in it is told with warmth and insight. We follow the elderly seller of the house as she is moved to assisted living. She has her memories though and we experience her earlier life and relationships. In the present, a young mom tries to understand her life and parenthood. A warm and lovely book! Thanks Net Galley.
So many good reads ahead! Debut fiction sampler
A look through this title shows that there will be lots of good reading this fall. Nine novels are excerpted in this volume. Here they are:
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Sight by Jessie Greengrass
The Adults by Caroline Hulse
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher
Tell Me You’re Mine by Elisabeth Noreback
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Ways to Hide in Winter by Sarah St. Vincent
There is an incredible range within these titles; some are dark, some are suspenseful, some have romance and one is based upon a real person. There are mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, men and women; a wide array of fictional choices. It was a pleasure to read the excerpts and now I look forward to reading some of these books. You will too!
Pub Day!! Mortals & Immortals of Greek Mythology, Time for bed, Mikyuki and Dark Tide Rising
Many books have been written for children retelling the stories of the great Greek myths. This book deserves a welcome place on that shelf. Each God or Goddess is introduced with a paragraph stating their Latin name, their parents, their appearance, character traits and role. The stories are told in a lively manner that demonstrates the human qualities of the gods; they can be jealous, have affairs, go to war, fight with their siblings, etc. The illustrations are lovely and have a painterly quality. If you or your child wants to know more about mythology, take a look at this appealing book.
Miyuki takes her time as she puts off going to bed. Her grandfather lovingly and patiently waits for Miyuki to complete her tasks and be ready. Finally, Miyuki is tucked in, hears a bedtime story and falls asleep.
This is an absolutely gorgeous book! The illustrations are of such high quality with their whimsy, imagination and bright colors. The text is sweet and repeats, something that is quite appealing to young children. This book will be a welcome addition for those looking for gentle bedtime stories. Highly recommended!
A new Anne Perry novel is always most welcome! Dark Tide Rising is in the William Monk series, following last year’s excellent An Echo of Murder. This new case hits very close to home for Monk, in terms of his feelings for Hester and, at work, where he fears that one of his men has betrayed the team. Some plot…Monk works for the River Police where he is a Commander. He is contacted when Kate Exeter is kidnapped and her husband wants assistance in releasing her once he has paid the (exorbitant) ransom. He and Monk’s team accompany him to a very dank, dreary spot known as Jacob’s Island for the transfer. But something goes very wrong…no spoilers, so I won’t say more. It will be well worth your reading the book to find out for yourself.
In this novel, there is back story that will please long time readers of the series. We learn much more about Monk’s second in command, Hooper, and watch him fall in love. There is a trial with Oliver Rathbone defending and Inspector Runcorn also makes an appearance. If you are new to the series, you will be able to catch up and know who’s who quickly.
Dark Tide Rising is another very good entry in an already strong series. You will feel the iciness and fog on the Thames, care about the characters and await the resolution of the case. Enjoy!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review of Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
Under her Galbraith pseudonym, J.K. Rowling impressively sustains suspense over the course of a lengthy mystery in her fourth outing for London PI Cormoran Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott. The pair have reunited professionally after the events of 2015’s Career of Evil, in which Strike fired Robin for her handling of the Shacklewell Ripper case; their personal relationship remains unsettled in the wake of Robin’s marriage to a man who resents her job. The “curious case of a government minister, slashed horses and a body buried in a pink blanket, down in a dell” begins when a man named Billy, “one of those ill and desperate people you saw in the capital who were always somebody else’s problem,” bursts into Strike’s office and claims that he saw a child strangled when he was very young. Billy flees before offering more information, but Strike’s curiosity about the possible cold case leads him to try to trace Billy. Soon after, in what seems to be suspicious timing, Strike is retained by Culture Minister Jasper Chiswell to protect him against an extortionist, who turns out to be Billy’s brother, Jimmy Knight. Rowling’s emotionally intelligent portrayal of her protagonists never overwhelms the whodunit story line. Agent: Neil Blair, the Blair Partnership (U.K.). (Sept.)Under her Galbraith pseudonym, J.K. Rowling impressively sustains suspense over the course of a lengthy mystery in her fourth outing for London PI Cormoran Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott. The pair have reunited professionally after the events of 2015’s Career of Evil, in which Strike fired Robin for her handling of the Shacklewell Ripper case; their personal relationship remains unsettled in the wake of Robin’s marriage to a man who resents her job. The “curious case of a government minister, slashed horses and a body buried in a pink blanket, down in a dell” begins when a man named Billy, “one of those ill and desperate people you saw in the capital who were always somebody else’s problem,” bursts into Strike’s office and claims that he saw a child strangled when he was very young. Billy flees before offering more information, but Strike’s curiosity about the possible cold case leads him to try to trace Billy. Soon after, in what seems to be suspicious timing, Strike is retained by Culture Minister Jasper Chiswell to protect him against an extortionist, who turns out to be Billy’s brother, Jimmy Knight. Rowling’s emotionally intelligent portrayal of her protagonists never overwhelms the whodunit story line. Agent: Neil Blair, the Blair Partnership (U.K.). (Sept.)
Moms who are there: A Tale of Two Mommies by OelschlagerA t
A Tale of Two Mommies is an excellent book for home and school libraries. It reflects that, in families, adults take care of their children with love. In a rhyming cadence, questions are asked and answered about which female parent meets her son’s needs in different situations. Sometimes it is one mother, sometimes the other and sometimes the little boy can take care of himself. This book is an easy and positive way to teach children that there are many kinds of families and that they are all alike in so many important ways.
This book is a companion to the author’s book A Tale of Two Daddies.
Two books that I am excited about: Transcription and Lethal White
Read a story about this novel in today’s New York Times. This looks like it will be an excellent read from the talented Ms. Atkinson. See link below.
and for a preview
![Lethal White (A Cormoran Strike Novel) by [Galbraith, Robert]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514wvVBGykL.jpg)
Tomorrow is pub day for the newest Cormoran Strike. A related article link is below.
https:/nyti.ms/2NjoyGm
I am very (!) excited about these two novels. Are you??
E-book bargain: The Chalon Heads by Maitland
![The Chalon Heads (The Brock and Kolla Mysteries) by [Maitland, Barry]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/519a8a%2BnrJL.jpg)
Barry Maitlandis the author of a very British police procedural series. As you can tell from the cover, this one centers on a stamp. This entry is an e-book bargain today. As I read it long ago, I will include some others’ opinions below:
“Superb . . . An ingenious, craftily plotted, well-written, full-bodied procedural. . . . [H]e just keeps getting better and better. . . . The revelations continue and delight until the very last page.” —Providence Journal
“[Barry Maitland] writes what may be the best police procedural today. . . . [A] classy story in a usually unclassy genre.” —Sunday Star-Ledger
“Barry Maitland is a master of mysteries, and The Chalon Heads is a crafty and well-crafted showpiece of the genre.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Riveting . . . Deviously complicated . . . Maitland’s intricate tale never fails to grip.” —Publishers Weekly
My two favorites in this series are:
. The Marx Sisters was the first in the series. It was well written and engaging. The Malcontenta takes place at a health spa. I adored it.I definitely recommend giving Kathy and Brock novels a try!
Will William find himself? The Lost Letters of William Woolf by Cullen
Here are the British and American covers for this novel; American is on the left and British on the right. Which do you prefer?
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.
#TheLostLettersOfWilliamWoolf #NetGalley |
Interlocking Lives: One Day in December by Shari Low
Four main characters and a number of their connections feature in this engaging women’s fiction read. The action takes place over the course of one day with sufficient back story to give the novel some depth. The book begins with a character dying in hospital; it will only be at the end of the novel that the reader learns who this is.
As for the characters…Bernadette is married to surgeon, Ken, their union is not a happy one. She, Ken and their two children are one story line. Media obsessed Lila is another; she is involved with Ken and is half sister to the more likeable Caro. Both Caro and Lila’s mothers were married to the same man but they have never met. Cammy wants to marry Lila but gets to know Caro as well. There are others in the novel including Caro’s cousin, Caro and Lila’s parents and an entire French football team! Each chapter follows one of the main characters.
I found this book to be an enjoyable read; one of those novels that is good for a time when you want to relax. There will be another book by this author coming out soon.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 