The author and illustrator of this book complement one another so well. The visuals give extra meaning to the text of this picture book.
A young girl is excited to be noticed by and to spend the day with her big sister. However, things don’t go as expected. Will it be a day of disappointment or…could it all be okay? Young kids will enjoy finding out when they hear this sweet title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Shannon Reed offers readers her idiosyncratic answers (and they are many) as to why we read and why she does. Early on Reed shares that, as someone with a hearing impairment, reading books was a comfortable place to be as there was no need to struggle or answer based on imperfect understanding of what was being said. Reed read everywhere and everything, even a car manual when she forgot (never again!) to have a book with her. Bibliophiles will relate to not ever leaving home without something to read; I know that I did.
This is not an academic treatise but more a series of wide ranging personal thoughts and reflections. Throughout it is clear that Reed loves reading and wants her students and everyone, really, to find joy in a book.
Reed begins by talking about getting her first library card and the many libraries that have played a role in her life. I know two of these personally which made the pages come to life for me.
Whether it is about reading (or not reading) series, signs you may be a character in a popular children’s book, reading to see ourselves across time, for comfort, fun or shock, or more, it is intriguing to see what the author has to say on a variety of topics.
This book would make a fun gift for a reader…even if that reader means giving a gift to one’s self. Take a look at the back of the book for an exhaustive reading list based on the books mentioned in the text. This will give a bibliophile many ideas for what to try next or to fondly remember books that they have read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Susie Hodge has written a number of books about museums and art. I have found all of the ones that I have read to be interesting and informative. That is again the case here with Ms. Hodge again sharing her insights and ways of looking at things.
This title is well organized. There are ten elements of art explored in these pages. These include scale, colour, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time and, the artist. After explaining each of these in a clear way, Hodge moves on to explore a number of paintings. Just some of these works are The Arnolfini Portrait (van Eyck), The Serenade (Judith Lester), The Monk by the Sea (Caspar David Fridrich), Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Katushika Hokusai), The Starry Night (Vincent Van Gogh), and Guernica (Pablo Picasso). There are too many to list but all are engaging and worth a look.
There are works here that readers will recognize and look at anew and those that will be getting a first glance. In each case, it is terrific to read what Hodge has to say.
Highly recommended to art lover experienced and un. Note the many gorgeous reproductions as the pages turn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Here is the second novel in this author’s Sunrise Cove series. It will be welcomed by readers of that first book and will be enjoyed by those new to the series as well. There will be more entries to come.
Shalvis writes stories that include good characters and storylines. They are perfect books to pick up for a bit of pleasant reading time.
Meet Luna. She has a tough outer shell. Luna was adopted and knows little about her birth family as the book opens. What will she discover? How will this changer her?
Luna has made her own circle of trusted people and they, along with some underdogs, are important to her. One of these people is her long time best friend Willow.
Luna runs a farm and a restaurant. The scenes set here take readers to a place that they will enjoy. It is not always easy for Luna, however, as there is a co-owner in Jameson. Will they find a way to work together and maybe a relationship ?
Watch as Luna figures out what she wants in life. Will she get her happy ending? Readers will hope so.
I generally find this author’s novels to be comfort reads. They are titles that I turn to when I need something that helps me to escape the world. Readers in need of this kind of novel will, I think, feel the same way.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this title. All opinions are my own.
LibraryReads is a list of the top ten books published this month that library staff across the country have voted on as their favorites.
— Read on libraryreads.org/
The cover of this book, its title and the book’s description all drew me in and made me very eager to read this one. It did not disappoint. I think that The Women of Ardemore House will be adored by those who enjoy a twisty plot and an interesting protagonist.
As in The Maid (Nita Prose),, the main character, inheritor of Ardemore House, sleuth, and keen observer is neurodiverse. This leads to Jo being hyperlexic as just one of her talents. But, readers will enjoy spending time with Jo for many reasons, not just her autism. (It has been noted that the author also is neurodiverse, leading her to be well able to describe Jo’s world.)
Jo is coming out of a difficult period when the story opens. She is recently divorced and has been badly used by her publisher ex. Jo has also experienced the death of her mother. So, when she learns that she has an inheritance in England, Jo is ready to try out the ex-pat life. She arrives to find the requisite decaying country pile and its small cottage, a rather strange caretaker and a portrait…but it disappears.
When caretaker Sid is murdered, the story moves toward solving the case. This gives readers the opportunity to know all those working the case as well as the people in the village.
Who killed Sid? Why? Will Jo find happiness in Britain? Readers will turn the pages as they wait to find out.
I recommend this title. Mystery fans could not do better as they start reading in 2024.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Anyone who is affiliated with NetGalley knows how quickly a reading list can jump from a small number of titles to loads! Reviewers are always trying to come up with ways to keep track of what is being/will be read and the reviews that need to be written.
Now, NetGalley has taken on that challenge by coming up with this helpful interactive resource. Close to 7,000 readers have reviewed this and most seem to really like it.
Need a way to track what you are reading? Give this a try. It should help!
Many thanks to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for this title. All opinions are my own.
Readers who enjoy a Gallic mystery with a British protagonist may well enjoy this second food titled mystery following on the author’s Death and Croissants. It is written by a British comedian who brings a certain sensibility to the genre.
Richard has gone out for dinner. The menu is a tasting one and he has not tasted enough (he is still hungry). The beginnings of a mess emerge with the goat cheese parfait that is the dessert course.
Soon, there is, of course, a murder. It takes place in a cheese related locale. Will Richard, a local B and B owner figure out what has happened? How will his amie, Valerie, contribute? Read this one to find out. It will especially be enjoyed by Francophiles.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Those who have read other novels by Susan Mallery will welcome this story about a group of women and their complex lives. Those who have not read the author’s books before may want to pick this one up when they are looking for an escapist read.
The main characters are Paris, Laurel and Cassie. Each has faced challenges in life and all are trying to figure out their next steps. Paris runs a farm stand that readers will wish that they could visit as it is both adorable and stocks quality products. In the past, Paris had been abused and her own temper led to the end of her marriage. Now her ex is back in town…
Laurel’s husband left her and the school says that her older daughter constantly puts men down. They ask Laurel to fix this, a big ask as where is a good man? Laurel runs her own business as well selling on goods from estate sales and other sources.
Cassie is living in Maine when the reader first meets her. However, her family wants her to start thinking of herself and they push her to go to California to see an inheritance.
As readers no doubt expect, these three women will get to know one another well. Readers will hope that they each find their way. As they try, the summer book club will be there for them and for the reader who may find some other suggested titles to be ones that they want to explore.
This book will appeal to readers of women’s fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 