Mark your calendar: 365 Happy Bedtime Mantras

Improve Your Sleep, Release Stress, and Enjoy Your Dreams

by Shannon Kaiser

#365HappyBedtimeMantras #NetGalley

If you are a person who takes time to relax at night, I recommend adding this title to your bedtime routine. For each day there is a mantra followed by a short message and a relaxation ritual. Each offers something to think about and to do. For example, one might light a candle or think about being one’s authentic self.

Some may feel that some of what is in these pages is not unique. That may be so but I have found that it is good to take these few minutes to settle.

Recommended for those who need some help to unwind.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Beyond Words Publishing-Atria for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 March 2025

Highly recommended: Elektra by Jennifer Saint-an e book bargain

I very much enjoyed Jennifer Saint’s earlier foray into ancient myth and history. Her first novel, Ariadne, was an absorbing read that captured a time and place and did so from the women’s point of view. I also highly recommended this new book to those who like historical fiction and are fascinated by ancient Greece.

Some of the characters in this novel may be known to readers while others may not; they are numerous and may be a bit challenging for some readers to keep track of. It is worth the effort to sort them out!

The historical period is partly around the Trojan War. Complex loyalties and revenge dictate much of the action leading to war and other decisions made by the men in this book.

Some of the couples whom readers get to know are Penelope/Odysseus; Clytemnestra/Agamemnon; and Helen/Menelaus/Paris. There are also many others who are important to the narrative including Elektra, Iphigenia, Achilles and Cassandra. Each is entangled within their family, marriages, infidelities, history and gods. It makes for a satisfying narrative.

Inside this story are wars, complex relationships, revenge, honor, daily life and more. Reading this novel, of course, I saw how over the top the Greek Gods could be. Life from the female point of view is very well portrayed.

I found this title to be an immersive read. I recommend it highly.

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

Pub Date 03 May 2022

From the Publisher

Elektra Jennifer Saint Elodie Harper quote
Elektra Jennifer Saint Elizabeth Lee quote
Elektra Jennifer Saint Katherine J. Chen quote

Who will join: The Lonely Hearts Book Club (Lucy Gilmore)-an e book bargain

Sloane faced an unthinkable loss when her sister died (not a spoiler as readers learn this early in the story). She is engaged to a somewhat pompous fiance who has an over involved family and often make Sloane feel inferior. On top of all this, Sloane’s parents are not the easiest people.

Sloane escapes into her work as a librarian although that also has it challenges. One of these is an older gentleman who enjoys mentally fencing with Sloane. Will these two change each other? Will others also be drawn in? Readers may know the answer but will still, I think, enjoy this book. It gives voice to some of what is important in life.

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

This book was published in March 2023

From the Publisher

Everybody has a reason to hide in a book...
Praise from Library JournalPraise from BooklistPraise from Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Is it true that: Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (Benjamin Stevenson)

#EveryoneThisChristmasHasaSecret #NetGalley

Benjamin Stevenson offers his fans a Christmas mystery. Favorite characters are back and the pages turn.

This time, Ernest’s ex-wife has been accused of murder. Ernest lies to his current partner Juliet in order to help Erin whose explanation for what occurred does not sound all that believable.

A magician becomes central to the case. Interestingly, a relative mentioned him to Ernest as a kind of wedding entertainer. Said magician also will get Ernest ever more deeply involved when Ernest attends his show.

There is murder along with a wry narrator in this very enjoyable entry in the series. Interestingly it is set up like an advent calendar which adds to the fun.

Recommended for mystery lovers and those who enjoy holiday themed stories.

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

Pub date: 22 October 2024

A Christmas Revelation is an e book bargain

Anne Perry has been writing Christmas novellas for many years; A Christmas Revelation is this year’s entry. This is a story about Worm, a precocious orphan, who lives at a shelter/ women’s clinic whose bookkeeper is a reformed criminal named Squeaky. Readers of the William Monk series will recognize the clinic as the one where Hester works and will also know that Squeaky is a regular series character.

Worm sees a beautiful woman on the street who appears angelic to him. When he realizes that she is in trouble, Worm wants to help. Because he cares for Worm, Squeaky becomes involved in a somewhat convoluted plot to help her. Their efforts form the plot of the novella.

In the fore and backgrounds of the story is the spirit of Christmas as is appropriate for this seasonal book. The reader observes as Worm learns the meaning of the holiday and has, what appears to be, his first true holiday celebration.

Long term fans of Anne Perry will want to read this book so as to be up to date with all of her series and characters. However, much as I love Anne Perry, I have enjoyed several of her holiday novellas more than this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I very much wanted to read this book.