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

Kudos to all who were involved with this book. The illustrations ate very appealing as is the design and structure of the book. Ward is very interested in helping adults and children to connect with nature. She previously wrote a book called I Like Dirt. She wants people of all ages to get outside, observe and enjoy the world around them.

This book’s contents are organized around the four seasons. There is information about birds, migration, food, habitats, etc. There are many projects for adults and children to do together. Observation and slowing down are also encouraged. In addition, there are short boxed entries with information and samples of things such as what a bird observation journal entry might look like.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is a wonderful introduction to the world of ponies for toddlers. The photographs in the book show adorable pet like ponies. There are simple facts about habitats, habits and riding. There are even some mini quizzes. Share this with a very young rider in your life. You will both have fun!

Do you enjoy time or is time ruling you? Are you always rushing but never finishing all you need to do? Does free time make you anxious because of a need to always be productive? Are you able to step away from your devices? The questions could go on and on and there are many good ones.

In this book the author helps the reader to slow down, to think about time, about family, about friends, about work and other things that we each find meaningful. Through text and helpful suggestions, readers will come away with a sense that their lives could be so much better when they are aware and perhaps more highly value their time.

In this reviewer’s opinion, you should take the time to read this book!

#EnjoyTimeStopRushingBeMoreProductive #NetGalley

I have been reading books by Jodi Picoult for many years and especially enjoyed Salem Falls and Plain Truth. When I read Leaving Time, I felt that the usual twist at the end was more of a trick. I also did not enjoy small great things, probably because it was so difficult to read about the Aryan supremacists. So…I wasn’t sure what I would find when NetGalley and the publisher so kindly gave me an ARC of this book.

Ok, the drought is over! I found a spark of light to be a well-crafted, character based story. As was true in Nineteen Minutes, Ms. Picoult helps the reader to empathize with those who represent all sides of a complex moral and societal issue. There are many in the story: an abortion clinic owner, a nurse, an artist, an elderly woman, a young girl seeking birth control, a person in need of an abortion, a doctor, protesters, infiltrators, a hostage negotiator and more. Each of their stories is told in a narrative going backward in time. Interconnections between characters become clearer as the reader turns the pages.

The primary setting is an abortion clinic that is under siege. It remains unclear who will live and who will not. There are some surprises at the end.

The book is heavily researched. The reader will learn a lot about restrictions, types of terminations, pregnancy counseling, etc. Some times these felt a bit heavy handed but then I imagined what it might be like if I were a young girl and this was the one place that I could find a lot of facts.

I highly recommend a spark of light. It will make you care and it will make you think.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

#AsparkOfLight #NetGalley

I was looking at my blog stats today and want to share the following.

FUN FACT:
Countries where the blog has been read include the U.S., the U.K., Australia and Canada which have the greatest number of readers. There have also been readers from Germany, India, Turkey, Finland, Trinidad, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Philippines, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, China, Pakistan, New Zealand, Denmark, Belgium and Thailand.

Thank you very much, readers.  The world feels so much better when we can connect.

This charmingly illustrated entry in a wonderful series tells the story of Simone de Beauvoir, an early and great feminist thinker. As always in the books by Vegara, a young girl’s story is simply and appealingly told.

Simone began life in a wealthy Parisian family whose fortunes changed. As a result, Simone would not have sufficient money for a wedding dowry, but she did get an excellent education. Simone’s academic and writing lives are emphasized and the reader also meets the love of her (nontraditional) life), Jean-Paul Sartre.

Favorite quotes from the book:

“Simone thought this was unfair. She had become a feminist before the word even existed!”

“He was not just her soul mate, he was her mind mate, too!”

“And thanks to little Simone, we now know that we’re not born men or women-just special human beings with a life full of choices to make.”

This book is a lovely reminder of the importance of girls growing up to be women who are free to make choices. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

#SimoneDeBeauvoir #NetGalley

Do you recall watching Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren?  Did you ever wonder how Tennison started her career?  Did you see the young Tennison TV series? If you answer yes to any of these questions, or would just like some good reads, take a look at this series.  Book 3, Good Friday, is currently an e-book bargain at $1.99.  I have the first three books in my TBR pile.

If you have read the series, please let me know what you think.  Thanks.

American and British cover views

Fast Friends was first published in Britain in 2006. It is now being published in America by Sourcebooks, a company that is releasing many novels by this excellent writer of women’s fiction.

The Fast Friends are Camilla, Loulou and Roz who first met when they were in school. Now older, but not necessarily wiser, their lives intersect in this almost 500 page novel. This is a story of three women who want to find lasting relationships but experience missteps, tragedy and heartache along the way.

At the beginning of the novel, Camilla lacks confidence and is too eager to please her husband. When she discovers that he has been involved in an affair with one of her friends, her world falls apart. Camilla’s struggles and joys are one narrative thread.

Another story line is that of Loulou and Mac. Loulou is the owner of a wildly successful bar/restaurant. She makes a critical decision about her business and her beliefs as the story unfolds. Loulou’s relationship with Mac has been complicated for many years. She wants to be with him but becomes involved with others and not so happily. Will their relationship work out?

Third is Roz who is a successful TV host. She, too, has many romantic calamities and has let the one she most cared for get away. That would be Nico, a rock star. Their story together may not end happily.

Overall, while I enjoyed this novel, it was not my favorite by this author. At times, I felt that the book was a bit too long. Also, it seemed to me that there were too many unplanned pregnancies. However, if you like Jill Mansell, you will certainly want to give this one a look.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

Praise for Jill Mansell:
“[A] true page-turner.”—Harlequin Junkie for Sheer Mischief
“Mansell’s books are must reads.”—Night Owl Reviews Top Pick 5 Stars for Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay
“[Mansell’s] skillful balance of heartbreak and joy will stay with readers long after they finish the book.” —Publishers Weekly for Three Amazing Things About You
“[A] beautiful mix of heartbreak, humor, and redemption that is sure to delight…”—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars for You and Me, Always