She is: Amazing Grace Adams (Fran Littlewood)

As this book opens, Grace Adams is not feeling so amazing. it would be more accurate to say that she is feeling overwhelmed. Anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic will enjoy reading what Grace does when in this situation. This will be the beginning of readers caring about what happens to Grace.

The novel moves back-and-forth in time, letting readers know about Grace’s early linguistic talents, her marriage, her work, motherhood and more. She is the kind of woman who is trying to manage her life as. anyone who has read a novel by Allison Pearson might recognize.

Readers who enjoy stories with humor and emotion will be happy to meetGrace.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this title.

This book was published in 2023

Share these: Folk Tales for Fearless Girls (Samantha Newman)

Anyone who knows a young, fearless girl or who wants to help a child to become one, might want to sit down and share this title. Both the reader and the child will enjoy this collection.

Included within these pages are fifteen folk tales from around the world. Start with the helpful introduction and then read the stories in any order.

Here children will discover that there are many ways to be brave. Hopefully, they will be inspired.

Each tale is nicely written and the illustrations are lovely throughout.

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

Pub date: 05 February 2024

Learn about: The Mayor of Maxwell Street (Avery Cunningham)

TheMayorOfMaxwellStreetBookClubKit #NetGalley

Are you in a book club? Looking for a good book for your next meeting? Interested in historical fiction and the experiences of Black characters? Want a good resource filled with book info, discussion questions, an interview and more? There are even menus and suggestions of other books to read. If you answer yes, look no further.

This book club kit is an excellent one. However, note that there are some spoilers in this kit.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this resource. All opinions are my own.

This is available now.

There are many: The Excitements (CJ Wray)

Use #TheExcitements #NetGalley

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.

A Midnight Puzzle (Gigi Pandian)

Print book

Audio version

Readers/listeners, decide which way you would like to access this latest Secret Staircase mystery or, like me, alternate between the two. I often do this so I can continue a story while I go on a walk or do chores.

This is the third book in this modern locked room series that pays tribute to the best classic mysteries and, I think, maybe to Nancy Drew. All of my favorite characters are here again, even those who are missing (Tempest’s mother).

In my opinion, this latest can be enjoyed without having read the earlier books but readers may want to read all three just for the fun and pleasure. There is backstory but enough is told so that someone new to the series can follow along.

Things are looking bad for the Secret Staircase company. There is a lawsuit and then, to make things worse, there is murder. Enjoy the magic, the detecting and the all around fun of this entry in the series. It was a good read.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the book and to Macmillan Audio for the listen. And, of course, thanks to NetGalley for both of these. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 March 2024