#TheSummerSwap #NetGalley

When I think about what makes me engage with a book, the answer is generally the characters. Setting, plot and other elements of novels are also important but what I most seek is to spend time with the people and to care about them. Sarah Morgan gave me exactly what i wanted in The Summer Swap, a book that I recommend for an engaging spring/summer read.

Who is in the novel? Here are some of the people.

Cameron is an artist who is no longer alive but whose reputation and reach continue following his death.

Cecilia generally became known as Cameron’s wife but she was/is her own person. It was not always easy to be subsumed by her husband and their marriage was complicated. She is now trying to figure out what she wants (as are all the characters).

Kristen and Winston are Cameron and Cecilia’s middle aged children. Kristen is rather controlling, married to a surgeon and flirting with a possible dalliance as the book opens. Winston has a more laidback personality than the tense Kristen. Both Winston and Kristen have young adult children who also feature in the story.

Lily has had the hopes of her family placed on her shoulders. It is difficult when she realizes that she needs to find her own path in life, not do only what is expected. She has connections with Kristen’s daughter and has been in love with Winston’s son.

Watch out too for the journalist who flirts with Kristen. He may have ulterion motives.

As the story opens, readers learn that Lily is finding her way on the Cape. The Cape is also a place to which Cecilia travels when she escapes from the family party she did not want to attend. It is a place with some painful memories. Readers can expect that Lily and Cecilia will meet.

What happens to each of these characters makes up the essence of this very readable story. I enjoyed it so much and now will keep an eye out for a new book by this author. (I also liked her last novel The Book Club a great deal.)

Those who enjoy women’s fiction will, I am certain want to read The Summer Swap. Mark the calendar for its release date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 07 May 2024

Death at the Sanatorium

A Mystery

by Ragnar Jónasson

One of the “LA Times” must-read books this fall, DEATH AT THE SANATORIUM by Ragnar 
Jónasson is an Icelandic Noir thriller with a clever whodunnit worthy of Agatha Christie. 
https://read.macmillan.com/lp/death-at-the-sanatorium-9781250770769/

My thoughts:

Last year, I read my first book by this author. He co-wrote it with the prime minister of Iceland. It was a very good read.

Now, here is a story that takes place in three time periods, has multiple perspectives, an historical illness (TB) that impacts the plot, murders, detection, interesting characters, relationships, and surprises. On top of all this, the academic/investigator has a love for classic mysteries that is shared with the reader.

This is a book that will be enjoyed by fans of traditional mysteries. Jonasson learned from a master. He is known for translating Agatha Christie’s books into Icelandic. He puts his skills to good use here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Now out and such a good read: Reykjavik

A Novel

by Satoshi Yagisawa

 #MoreDaysattheMorisakiBookshop #NetGalley

Anyone who read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will, I am sure, be delighted to spend “More Days” there. Here is everything that made the first novel charming-the narrator and her family, a number of quirky characters, the neighborhood filled with bookshops, and, of course the books.

Those who have not read the first book will be easily brought up to date though they may well want to seek out the earlier title. Both books are short and quick reads even as readers may wish they were longer.

This is a book for bibliophiles, lovers of Japan and those who like unique and quirky stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 02 July 2024

From the Publisher

The first book:

I would like to spend some: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (by Satsoshi Yagisawa)

I enjoyed every paragraph of Keyes most recent book Again, Rachel. Therefore, I was thrilled to be given early access to this title by the publisher.

This is a story about Anna who is one of Rachel’s sisters. (The clan appears in a number of titles including an earlier book featuring Anna.) As the story opens, Anna has been a high achiever with her New York job and income. However with Covid, the end of a relationship and more, it has all become way too much for her. So she heads back to Ireland.

Not sure what she will do there, Anna is contacted on behalf of a friend who needs her help with a big real estate project. Anna hopes that her prior work experiences will be transferable. Will they? One complication is that an old love of Anna’s is also working on this development. Will sparks fly? Watch what happens in this long but enjoyable story that also touches on some issues including menopause.

What I liked about this book:

The characters, the setting, the ability to sink right in, the humor, the warmth-so much to recommend in these pages.

Fans of Keyes and those who like women’s fiction, give this one a look. Perfect for a summer day read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada-Doubleday Canada for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 July 2024

Chicago is a city of bookish abundance, home to countless literary giants past and present. The author Rebecca Makkai recommends works that capture its spirit.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/books/chicago-books-rebecca-makkai.html

A Romp through Art History for Dog People

by Jessica Poundstone

#MuseumofDogs #NetGalley

Did you know that (according to this title’s author) people and dogs have been spending time together for 15,000 years? I did not. I realize though that this would allow for there having been many dogs in art over the years. This books showcases many of them.

Each dog is placed in historical context and its material is given, along with other of the author’s thoughts. The first dog is from the second century BC in Greece but looks far more modern.

This book does not go in chronological order. It was created for dipping in and out of. That said, I loved the second illustration of three dogs made by a Japanese artist. I was very interested in seeing everything that followed. I found so many favorites here…indeed, practically everything I saw I liked. My most favorite were many of the endearing Japanese dogs, however.

Cynophiles (dog lovers) will, I think, very much enjoy this title. It just might bring smiles to faces.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 May 2025

Arts and Photography

225 pages

#MotherDaughterMurderNight #NetGalley

This book has gotten a lot of hype, including being picked for Reese’s book club and receiving a starred review from Library Journal. Based on that, readers may expect a lot from this first novel. In my opinion, it delivers. It is the kind of read where I kept saying that I would return to other things that I had to do when I finished the chapter that I was reading…but then, I just kept on going. All in all, I really enjoyed this one. There are humor, family relationships, a murder…and all of this is well executed in these pages.

Readers meet the three women of the family. Lana has been a real go-getter. A cancer diagnosis has led her to needing some assistance not an easy thing for her. Lana asks her daughter for help and Beth brings her from LA to a quieter community by the water with a slough.

Beth was a teen mother. She is a nurse who lives on the grid but with a homespun lifestyle. She and Lana have a history of not seeing eye to eye. Beth is mom to Jack (Jacqueline), who, when the story opens has been a pretty independent and competent teen. She has led many expeditions on the waters near her house.

What will happen when a body is found? Which of these women will be under suspicion? (Readers find this answer early on.) Who will get involved in finding the truth? Will they succeed? Read this one to find out. Readers will be glad that they did!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my now.

Pub date: 05 September 2023

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Simon’s dazzling debut delivers everything a mystery fan could crave, including a realistically nuanced cast of characters, a vividly evoked coastal California setting, writing imbued with a deliciously desiccated sense of wit, and a perfectly plotted murder with enough red herrings deftly dropped in to confound the most experienced mystery reader. Insightful and frequently funny analysis of family dynamics wrapped up in a cleverly crafted cozy crime novel.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Three women bond while investigating a homicide in Simon’s spirited debut…. Simon stocks her layered plot with plausibly motivated suspects and convincing red herrings, but it’s her indomitable female characters and their nuanced relationships that give this mystery its spark. Readers will be delighted.” — Publishers Weekly

I love the Venice set, Brunetti series. He is such a good man with a wonderful family. Many of the books are e book bargains today! worth a look.

#OtherPeoplesSummers #NetGalley

Sarah Morgan has become one of my favorite authors when I want a story with good characters, plot and settings. That is definitely true in her newest novel which has all of these qualities.

Characters include two women who were best friends and are now coming back together. They are Milly and Nicole. There are other characters as well from Milly and Nicole’s lives.

Milly lives and works at her family’s lakeside resort. While no specific location is given, I would visit there if I could! Milly is recently divorced and mom to a young teen.

Nicole made it big as an actress. She has not been able to secure her mother’s admiration and, as a child, adored Milly’s more open and affectionate family.

A scandal causes Nicole to reach out to Milly. From here, the story takes off. It is one about reconciliations, friendship, living a good life even when that is not a perfect life, and more.

Highly recommended to readers of women’s fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 06 May 2025

General fiction-women’s fiction

308 pages

From the Publisher

Other books by this author:

Note: While some of these are listed as e book bargains, that was true at the time of the original post and may no longer be true.

The Holiday Cottage

An e book bargain-The Book Club Hotel (Sarah Morgan)

Readers will want to make time for: The Summer Swap (Sarah Morgan)-an e book bargain

Recently I read an article that critiqued historical fiction with one argument being that this genre is not always completely accurate in depicting characters or events. That may be true but historical fiction remains one of my favorite genres. I love the immersion into a person’s life and time. This was certainly true for me in this story about Mary Leakey (in one part of this dual time line story) and Grace Clark in 1983. Note that of these two, the fictional character is Grace.

I adored the setting of this book, the characters and the story itself. Leakey was a fascinating woman with the most interesting life. I also enjoyed meeting seventeen year old Grace and watching the relationship between these two women.

This seems like a perfect title for Women’s History Month or, indeed, any month. Most highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 February 2025

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews