Great reads for adults and children!
This Book Club Kit will add to readers’ enjoyment of this novel. Those who enjoyed The Golden Girls on tv will, I think, want to see this and read the book.
The kit includes an interview with the author, questions for discussion, recipes, quizzes, book suggestions and more. I thought that the printable bookmarks were a nice touch.
I enjoyed this fun publication.
Many thanks to NetGalley for this kit. All opinions are my own. I plan to read the full book soon.
I have read and enjoyed other books by this author so very much wanted to read this one, even if I am a bit late in getting to it. I find Benedict to be an interesting author because, while her titles may look cozy, they are not always.
Everyone knows that famous expression about being wary of Greeks bearing gifts. That is what came to mind when I read about Edie receiving a present of puzzle pieces. She may not fully realize it, but readers know that murder and mayhem will follow.
Edie and her nephew are on the case. What will they find? Will order be restored?
This is an interesting read. Recommended to fans of the author, mystery readers and those who enjoy stories set at Christmas.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 08 October 2024
Mystery and Thriller
288 pages
Pub Date 02 Feb 2021
The Survivors was my first encounter with a novel by Jane Harper although I have several of her books in my TBR pile. I only regret that it took this long to spend some time with this excellent author.
The Survivors is a bit of a slow burn of a book. It is set on Tasmania in a small community that is heavily impacted by the sea around it. The location with its small town, the beach, the caves and more is brought to vivid life. (Interestingly, I read that the author often thinks of place as one of the first things when she embarks on a novel).
There are many characters and they have numerous interconnections. Some are alive and some, who are no longer living, are those who were important to the novel’s characters in the past. Past tragedies, mysteries and disappearances all have their parts to play. There is also a murder in the present.
A sculpture called The Survivors was commissioned after a disaster at sea. But…there are other survivors as well. So, think about the title as you read.
This is a complex, rich novel and one that I highly recommend. I listened to it and the narration was very good. The male reader had the Australian accent that perfectly matched the story that he was reading.
Whether in book or audio format, I recommend this one highly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Julie Saxe Coburg was selected by Catherine the Great to marry her grandson. This led Julie to a court that was filled with intrigue and, unfortunately, not the best husband.
How did Julie cope? Not in the way that most women in her time did.
Julie had a life that was quite full if not always easy. Learn more about her in this well written biography. Its author is an expert in her field.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 15 April 2025
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#TheEights #NetGalley
I had learned about this novel long before it was published and knew that I wanted to read it. I was absolutely thrilled to be given an advance e-galley.
I could not wait to sit down and begin this novel. I went on to savor this one and find it easy to give it an excellent review.
WWI led to devastation and a reorganization of British society. Many men died; many women were unlikely to marry. Social changes came as with the suffrage movement and (finally) the admittance of women to Oxford degrees. (Prior to this, women could attend but would not formally graduate).
This engrossing historical novel follows four women from this time period who were known as “the eights” because of the corridor that they lived on at their Oxford College. Readers meet Beatrice, Marianne, Otto, and Dora. Each has their own history and backstory.
Beatrice is the daughter of a very politically active mother who was an absent parent. Readers learn that it was difficult for Beatrice to confide in her mother. Beatrice s studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics).
Marianne is a cleric’s daughter. It is clear that she is hiding something. Marianne is also less financially well off than some of her peers.
Otto is part of a family with socialite sisters. Her parents would like her to marry. Otto is studying Mathematics.
Dora has had two major losses from the war. Both her brother and fiance died. These men would have been at Oxford had they lived. Dora feels that she is there in their place. Dora is studying English.
The world of Oxford in this time period is engagingly portrayed through many characters in addition to these four. I cam to care very deeply for the eights and did not want the book to end. It is my sincere hope that Miller is penning her next novel even as I write this.
Note that there is a helpful glossary at the back of the book for those who are unfamiliar with British higher education.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 15 April 2025
Historical fiction
382 pages
Recommended those who have enjoyed the novels by Pip Williams.
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Book of Spring
A Book Riot Best Historical Fiction of April
A Brit & Co. New April Book to Add to Your Calendar STAT
“The Eights is an entertaining and moving imagining of four smart women dealing with the engrained misogyny of the time. I came to love these four women as though they were my sisters.”
—Tracy Chevalier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Glassmaker
“A story about women taking their place in a man’s world, The Eights beautifully captures the power of friendship and love in the wake of extraordinary loss. It was a pleasure to read.”
—Pip Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Dictionary of Lost Words
“Miller’s engrossing debut follows the first women undergraduates eligible to earn degrees at Oxford University. …. They’re unlikely allies, a novelistic trope that Miller transcends through insightful and surprising characterizations…. It’s a memorable tale of a fast-changing world.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Miller describes campus life in vivid detail, and her protagonists are complex, with hidden motivations and insecurities that are gradually revealed as their friendships develop. This pairs well with Helen Simonson’s The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club and Kate Quinn’s The Briar Club.”
—Booklist
“A heartfelt, thoughtful and engaging book about the first women students to go to Oxford University – their friendships, their secrets, their ambitions and their opponents – in the tremulous, haunted years immediately after the First World War. Joanna Miller brings 1920s Oxford to life with a vivid immediacy and makes us care deeply about four young women who find themselves pioneers in a strange new world, trying to find a way forward in the aftermath of war. A thoroughly lovely debut that will win many hearts, with its celebration of friendship and the persistence of hope.”
—Joanna Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Whalebone Theatre
“My book of the year. The writing is wonderful, the subject fascinating and the storylines utterly absorbing. I’m so sad I’ve finished it. I loved everything about this book. I ADORED it.”
—Jill Mansell, Sunday Times bestselling author of Rumor Has It
“The past feels astonishingly present in Joanna Miller’s debut…Rigorously researched, The Eights brilliantly synthesizes fact and fiction, and the trials and triumphs of the quartet are deeply relatable. [Surrounding a] debate about whether women have any business being at Oxford … The Eights is a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys emotional, character-driven narratives and for anyone who celebrates impeccable writing. But most of all, it’s for anyone who has ever been told they couldn’t do something but did it anyway.”
—BookPage
An e book bargain
#TheBusyBody #NetGalley
The unnamed protagonist/narrator of this book is a ghostwriter. (It was when sitting down to write this that I realized she was never named. Kind of clever since a ghostwriter is a person who is meant to be anonymous when her work is published.) The job requires an ability to seamlessly fit into the subject’s life in an unobtrusive way. This time, the ghost has been asked to write the biography of Dorothy Gibson. Dorothy recently lost a presidential election. A bit like Hillary Clinton, it was felt that she had a low likeability rating. The biography is meant to give a new look at who she is.
The narrator quickly heads up to Maine where Dorothy lives in a gorgeous, somewhat isolated home. There she settles in and meets the staff including Dorothy’s personal assistant and various security personnel, at least one of whom is quite good looking.
Early in the book, Dorothy and our narrator go out to buy some wine. While at the store, they are accosted by a woman with a somewhat unique way of earning money. When she asks Dorothy for a selfie, Dorothy agrees. Most unfortunately soon after, Vivian dies. It emerges that her death was not suicide but…murder! (of course)
Dorothy and the narrator will be on the case. There will be a few twists before all becomes known.
The narrator of this book has her own unique, sometimes snarky spin on the world. She is most likely neurodiverse. She can be funny and seems to know a lot, perhaps from spending time learning so much about her subjects when ghostwriting. Readers will hope that she is a good detective too.
This book will be enjoyed by its readers. They will likely hope for a second book by the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 23 January 2024
Praise for The Busy Body:
A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books Selection
A January 2024 Library Reads Pick
A February 2024 IndieNext Pick
“Given Kemper’s knowledge and admiration of Agatha Christie—he cohosts the podcast All About Agatha—it isn’t surprising that he displays a similar flair for clever cluing and crafty characterization, not to mention the ability to throw in a killer plot twist at the end that would make Dame Agatha proud. Fans of David Handler’s equally entertaining Stewart Hoag series or those in search of a modern take on classic crime fiction will snap up this stellar mystery debut, which delivers an addictive mix of Dorothy Parker’s waspish wit and Agatha Christie’s deft hand at ingenious plotting.” —Library Journal STARRED REVIEW
Gorgeous in spring.
For Sandy and other garden lovers.
by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews
Pub Date 22 Sep 2020
#HowtoFlyInTenThousandEasyLessons #NetGalley
I have read and enjoyed novels by Barbara Kingsolver and so was both excited and intrigued to see that she was publishing a book of poems. I read about this volume in an interview with the author that said her poetry was personal and could not have been put out into the world earlier in her life.
The poems themselves cover many topics. The first section, aptly in view of the title of this collection, is all about how to…how to Have a Child, Cure Sweet Potatoes, Survive This and more. There are a number of other sections as well.
The poems can, of course, be read in any order. I loved many of them. There is a life wisdom that Ms. Kingsolver has acquired and shares; take part in it. Read this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
#TheHymntoDionysus #NetGalley
I know that Pulley has written some fascinating novels. This was the first of hers for me. It is a long and intriguing retelling of a story from ancient Greece.
In this book readers will find warriors, rescued children (who will grow up), witches, marriages, relationships, mythology, magic and more. All is intricate and the story is told in an involving way.
Pulley fans and those who have read books by Natalie Haynes, Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint may well want to read this novel.
Kirkus Reviews says: “This love story is witty, bittersweet, surprising, and compellingly readable.” I agree.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 18 March 2025
Fiction
416 pages
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 