Did you know that the Germans occupied the British island of Guernsey for five years during WW II? In this epistolary novel, through the eyes of Juliet, the authors tell the stories of islanders of all ages and backgrounds. The characters are portrayed with a deft touch as their foibles and humanity are explored. There is even some romance. It is trite to say but the characters felt like friends with whom I wanted to spend lots of time. Highly recommended! Enjoy finding out what the pie is and why it was created.
The book is worth reading and I am eagerly anticipating the movie which will star Lily James from Downton Abbey.
Those who enjoy TV and movies, London, and crime stories will delight in this book that offers a glimpse of the locations for many productions. Dip in anywhere or look at this one in order. Some of the chapter headings include Murder, Espionage, TV Dramas, Church Tour and more.
Enjoy the photos, read the text and learn about places familiar and/or new. There are over 650 locations featured covering 76 movies and 12 TV shows. This book’s intended audience will, I think, love this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for this title. All opinions are my own.
A mysterious painting…the connections between an artist from the past and a character in the present day…what could go wrong? Readers can imagine that the answer is a lot!
In the present, meet Shanice. She is going through a hard time with a breakup and a job loss. What will happen when Shanice examines a painting?
Also, spend time with artist Estelle and art patron Maud. This is during the period of the Harlem Renaissance.
How will these story lines intersect? Find out in this page turner.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this title. All opinions are my own.
Note that I am commenting on the extended preview. ALSO NOTE: I HAVE SINCE READ AND VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE WHOLE NOVEL!
This book appears to have many elements that will make it an engrossing read. I will certainly buy the book so that I can spend more time with this book’s characters and story lines.
After an opening set in the days after WWII, the novel moves to the year 1928 when Skye and Liberty Penrose are children being raised by their single mother. Their mother Vanessa, who predicts the future for clients, is a pilot who has passed on her love of the skies to her aptly named older daughter.
When the reader first meets Skye, she is ten and unconventional. Younger sister Liberty appears prone to temper tantrums and may be less than stable. Skye meets Nick during this summer and it is clear that they will have connections throughout the entire story.
The book jumps to 2012 in the following section. In this, a descendant of one of the main characters, Kat, travels to Cornwall to visit her grandmother’s house. Grandmother Margaux has ties to Nick and Skye as I think will become clearer.
This is another story with sections set before, during and after WWII. Illuminated through Skye is a story of the women who flew planes during the war. There is a sense that Liberty and the other main characters will face many threats as the novel continues. It also feels like the past and present will tie together by the end of the book.
This appears to be an involving and interesting novel. As noted above, I will be purchasing it so that I can see how it ends.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this preview. All opinions are my own.
Those who live in England, along with those who plan to visit will find this book to be essential. It highlights the many events that happen in London over the course of the year. For each, there is a helpful description and there are also a number of photos. For example-in April be part of The Tweed Run, in July attend the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and so on.
Whenever a person is in London, this book should be part of the trip.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Five stars Those who live in England, along with those who plan to visit will find this book to be essential. It highlights the many events that happen in London over the course of the year. For each, there is a helpful description and there are also a number of photos. For example-in April be part of The Tweed Run, in July attend the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and so on.
Whenever a person is in London, this book should be part of the trip.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
In The Colony Club, author Shelley Noble creates a world and invites the reader to happily visit. This is the gift of talented writers of historical fiction. I love when I can imagine myself in another place and time with a mix of fictional and real characters.
When a reader opens this novel, they will quickly find out what inspired Daisy Harriman to create a club for women. Spending time with her and the many Gilded Age women who surround her was so much fun with the novel offering a Who’s Who of the rich and famous of her time.
Among the expansive cast of characters, three are featured. There is, of course, Daisy Harriman, also the fascinating Elsie De Wolfe, and architectural student Nora. The plot is further made involving with the story of Stanford White.
I have actually been to the Colony Club which added to my delight in learning about its origin. However, it is not necessary to have had that experience to enjoy this novel.
Readers who read historical fiction and the works of authors like Marie Benedict, Stephanie Dray and others will want to read this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.
Hike, Camp, and Enjoy Nature with the Peanuts Gang
by Kristin Mehus-Roe
#SnoopysGuidetotheGreatOutdoors #NetGalley
This book is not just a collection of comics, rather the Peanuts gang adds their take to the many subjects that are covered in this title. This will make a fun addition to the bookshelves of nature lovers.
Earn virtual merit badges-for example, Outdoors Essentials for Beagle Scouts or Safety Smarts. Dip in anywhere and find something of interest. Learn about different types of clouds, find out what wild animals live in the city, go on a scavenger hunt, learn how to use a compass and much, much more.
This book is a great choice for a person who likes to spend time outdoors. It entertains and teaches.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Here is the first entry in a promising new cozy series. The protagonist, is Rick who goes by the nickname Chase; he is a retired detective whose partner died not long ago. Chase continues to miss him.
Chase has made plans to go on a walking tour in England. Also on the tour is his very good friend Billie, a retired librarian. They are two in a group of travelers. The most obnoxious of these has been threatened and indeed is murdered.
This is not a locked room but there is the concept of a contained group of people who come together. Who had the strongest motive? Will Chase be drawn in the solve the murder? Of course! The fun is in watching how things go.
I enjoyed getting to know Chase and Billie. I did indeed find the victim to be obnoxious and I enjoyed my virtual trip to England. Recommended for cozy fans who like their mysteries with some armchair travel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
I think that kids will be drawn to the lively and engaging artwork that Ruth Burrows has created in these pages. Her work dovetails neatly with the quotes.
As for the quotes…there are loads of them in this nearly 200 page book. They are organized by category. Just a few of the many subjects covered include Curiosity, Forgiveness, Helping Others, Making Mistakes, and Taking Risks.
Adults will undoubtedly enjoy seeing old favorite reads featured with a quote. Kids may well enjoy the many quotes too. This book also would make a great resource for choosing a child’s next book.
The very first quote is from Narnia; a later one was from my favorite Miss Rumphius. These showed me that there is rich material in this title. Each of these quotes could lead to interesting conversations between an adult and child.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for Kids for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 