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

Inspired Ideas for Cozy Reading Corners and Stylish Book Displays

by Vanessa Dina; Claire Gilhuly

Book lovers who wonder where to put their volumes will, I think, swoon over the photos in this title. This is a book that lets the observer feel like a voyeur as they witness the many ways in which books are arranged in people’s spaces.

In addition to looking at different types of nooks, for example those for kids or traditional libraries or small spaces, there are also other tidbits. One of the first of these, for example, details Gillian Flynn’s Favorite Mysteries. To whet your appetite I note that she likes Case Histories and The Westing Game, among others. Another of these lists is Jasmine Guillory’s Must Have Romance Novels. She likes Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and The Boyfriend Project, to name just two

This title will be adored by book lovers. Just a perfect gift.

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

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Everything You Need to Know

by Rasha Barrage

#HowtoUnderstandandDealwithAnxiety #NetGalley

Feeling anxious? Know someone who is? If the answer to one or both of these questions is yes, then definitely take a look at this title. Readers will leave this one feeling that they have a better understanding of what constitutes anxiety and what may lead to it but, more importantly, they will have a sense of hope. There ARE things that can be done to help manage this difficult emotional state as the author makes clear.

The tone of this book is designed to encourage and not judge. For example, in the very first section, the author notes that anxiety is part of what makes us human. That already sounds helpful as a starting point. Of course, that this is true does not mean that one should not examine ways to cope more effectively. Just some of the techniques covered include mindfulness and breathwork. The author also acknowledges that there may be times when more professional support is needed.

Each section of this book is short and the book is 125 pages long. This makes it feel like a very unintimidating read. I will definitely look at the other titles in this series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Experiment for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 September 2024

From the Publisher

	How to Understand and Deal with Stress	How to Understand and Deal with Social Anxiety	How to Understand and Deal with Anxiety	How to Understand and Deal wi

Here is such a fun and feel good story and one that confirms what author Lindsey Kelk believes-that we love happy stories during difficult times. Her protagonist and, I think the author as well, see a role for romances as fiction that is just as worthy as any other reads.

Este Cox has written a book that takes off and becomes a huge bestseller. But…there is no Este, she is really teacher Sophie. Sophie is from a literary family and does not want to acknowledge her authorship of a sexy, romantic read to them. Lots of shenanigans ensue from this decision.

Playing against Este is Joe. As this is an enemies to lovers tale, readers watch as these two spar and come together. Watching them and the other characters in this story made for a delightful read.

I could pretty much say that, moving forward, I will read anything that Ms. Kelk writes. She knows how to help readers escape and enjoy her world for a few hours. Kelk gives readers a nice mix of plot, character, humor and heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

by Annie Sarac

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.

Pub date: 01 October 2024

A 2024 National Parenting Product Award Winner!

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#SalvadorDalí #NetGalley

In this entry in the long running series, kids meet Surrealist artist Salvador Dali. He had his own way of creating art and was a unique character. What influenced and inspired him from when he was young Salvador until he was well known? Find out in this story that includes illustrations that are a bit eccentric as seems fitting. Note that there is additional information at the end of the book.

This is a solid entry in the long running series. It is always good to spend time with a child who had dreams.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 October 2024

An e book bargain

This book has received a tremendous amount of publicity, and there have been many excellent reviews. Now that I have read this one, I can see why. In these pages readers will find humor, excitement, some heartbreak, good characters, many settings, and some surprises.

Overall, this is a story of two sisters, named Penny and Josephine. As the novel begins, they are in their 90s and about to receive a special honor in France. Readers discover that each of them had an exciting war, meaning World War II.

In addition to learning about their wartime experiences, readers learn about those close to Penny and Josephine. This includes everyone from housekeepers to a special nephew to those that they have loved over the years.

I think readers will be taken by the story and its characters. it is one with a unique flavor

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

This title was published in January 2024.

An e book bargain

#TheWhiteLady #NetGalley

I am a huge fan of this author and have read every title in her Maisie Dobbs series. Here she has written a standalone about Elinor White, a character who has had a life of loss, service, action and contemplation.

Winspear’s authorial voice comes through and felt very familiar to me from having read her other works. That said, it took a little while for me to become fully immersed in this title. Once that happened, however, I loved the book and rate it most highly (as does Publishers Weekly which gave this one a starred review.)

The novel covers a wide time period; it starts before WWI and extends to the post WWII period. As the book opens, young Linni lives with her parents and sister in Belgium. The war brings enormous changes to the family. Linni and her sister become saboteurs and they and their mother must subsequently leave the country quickly.

The book then moves to England and follows Linni’s life there. She has many experiences before being recruited to the SOE in WWII. In the post war period, for complex reasons, our protagonist becomes involved in trying to extricate a couple and their daughter from the clutch of their criminal family. Throughout the book, the time moves back and forth as readers experience Linni’s actions and feelings about the things that she has done.

Readers will be interested to see how Linni fares in each of her tasks and time frames. They will also enjoy getting to know the many characters in this story, some of whom, they really should keep an eye on.

All in all, I highly recommend this novel. Bravo Ms. Winspear.

Many thanks to Allison & Busby for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 21 March 2023

A Novel

by Susan Mallery

The cover really says it all. Here is a novel that is for a relaxing summer day as can be seen in this woman who is relaxing with a beach read. It is the story of three friends and those around them. Readers follow Bree, Mikki and Ashley in their intersecting lives.

The women come together when they rent a common space for their businesses. Bree has a bookstore, Mikki owns a gift shop, and Ashley bakes splendid sounding goods. Each of these women has relationships both past and present that impact them. Bree’s relationship with the older Lewis was complicated and she now does not seem to want to be close to a man. What will happen when she meets Ashley’s brother? Mikki is getting divorced and starting to date again. Ashley seems to have the perfect relationship but is it as good as it seems?

Those who enjoy classic women’s fiction and/or those who have read other novels by Ms. Mallery will want to give this one a look. For myself, I wanted just a bit more from this novel. I am often drawn to books about books but there was not quite as much about the store as I might have hoped for. Also, while I enjoyed spending time with these characters, I never found it hard to put the book down for a while.

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

Pub Date 31 May 2022

This is the penultimate entry in the Maisie Dobbs series. How I will miss her when she is gone! A Sunlit Weapon is an excellent addition to the Dobbs stories.

What I liked most in this book was the way in which Winspear created a world and opened that to readers. There is a fair amount about Maisie’s home life here including her marriage to American, Mark. Readers also see Maisie as a parent to Anna. She is willing to fight for her child and any parent who reads this one will perhaps relate to how painful it is when a child is unhappy. With Maisie on her side though, readers can certainly hope that Anna will soon feel better. Readers will also be glad to again meet up with Priscilla, Billy, Brenda, Maisie’s dad and so many others.

The mystery itself is complex and involving. Who is shooting down planes including some that are being ferried to bases by women? Why were two Americans involved in some dark plans? Will they suvive?

Also in the story is Eleanor Roosevelt. Feelings about her propel some of the plot forward.

There is social history in this book that readers will find of interest. The story of women pilots and the segregation in the U.S. military have places in the novel.

Winspear reminds me of the importance of the people for whom we care. She also continues to show Maisie’s growth. With Maisie on the case, readers can hope that some sort of order will be restored…even during war time.

I highly recommend this title and all of the books in the Maisie Dobbs series.

Some other books about Maisie

The Comfort of Ghosts (Jacqueline Winspear)

It can be so hard: The Consequences of Fear

A good entry in a winning series: The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear

A WWII mystery (and a good one): To Die But Once

A Maisie Dobbs bargain: In This Grave Hour

A Novel

by Jane Harper

The e book is a bargain

Narrated by Stephen Shanahan

Australian author Jane Harper burst on the mystery/suspense world with her very first book, The Dry. She has gone from strength to strength since then. That first book and this one both feature Aaron Falk as the protagonist detective. I like spending time with him. I think my enjoyment was enhanced by hearing, rather than reading, this novel. Aaron and the other characters just came to life for me through the narrator’s voice.

A mother reportedly left her newborn baby at a festival just a year ago. Did she leave her child voluntarily… or not? What about all of the people that she, Kim, left behind? They include a teenage daughter with Kim’s first husband Charlie, and her second husband, as well as those around them.

Harper does an excellent job creating a setting and a story. Are the events of the story linked to the past of these family and friends? Readers/listeners will surely want to know.

I highly recommend this title. Harper is in a group with other deep favorites of mine like Louise Penny.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are mg own.

Pub date: 31January 2023