Have you ever been: Board to Death (by CJ Connor)

#BoardtoDeath #NetGalley

Cozy authors generally need to find a setting for their stories. This is the first time that I have seen a cozy set in a game shop and I loved the idea. I also like the pun in this book’s title.

Ben, the protagonist of this Salt Lake City based story, had been a married English professor. He is now diivorced and has taken over the running of his father’s shop. It is quite a change.

Someone who tried to sell Ben a rare board game (was it counterfeit?) is murdered and Ben needs to clear his name. Cozy readers can trust that he will do so. How suspicious will the investigator be?

Another aspect of this book centers on Ben’s attraction to Ezra. Will the two be able to make a go of it?

I liked that there were discussion questions at the end of the story. There was also info on how to play a card game called Nertz.

Read this one for the romance or the light mystery. I imagine that it is the first in a series.

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

Pub date: 22 August 2023

Literacy Matters: The Ultimate teach Your Child To REad Activity Book-Prereading (by Autumn McKay)

About the book:

The author of this book has excellent credentials as both an educator and a parent. She has also carefully developed the framework, rationale and activities that are included in this title.

Prereading is described as an essential early skill. A few of the concepts introduced to children in this book include recognizing upper and lower case letters, understanding concepts of rhyme and more. The author strongly advises that adults read the parts of the book that precede the activities section in order to be most effective.

All of the activities are described and there are illustrations for all of them in the appendix. In addition to focusing on these, the author recommends reading to children as a key activity.

To me, this title looks like it is directed to those who are doing home schooling. Those who are leaving the teaching of reading to the school might want to use some of these activities as adjuncts.

I confess that I left much of my kids’ learning of literacy skills to the school. Certainly we read a lot at home but I did not do too many workbook like activities. I am very glad to have raised readers. That said, it is up to each adult to make their own decisions on this topic.

However it is approached reading is a fundamental skill and one that, in my opinion, should be taught with a sense of joy and excitement. If your child would have fun with this book, go for it…or go for it if you feel it is helpful.

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

This title was published in 2022.

Now out: Our Maine

Four stars ****

I first visited Maine in 2009 and fell in love. Many return trips followed to favorite spots like Kennebunkport, Portland and, most especially, Acadia National Park. ANP is one of my favorite places in the world.

So, it is not surprising that I was very excited about this book. That said, this title is not a tourist guidebook. Rather it is a deep dive into the ecology, diversity, climate and more, and some of the people of Maine. The authors invite the reader to dip in anywhere or they say, start like Alice (in Wonderland) at the beginning and keep going. Whichever way a reader approaches this title, there is much to learn in what felt to me like a somewhat academic title.

There are many gorgeous photos in this book along with maps, charts and more. These enhance the text and give those who don’t know a good sense of the state. Those who already know Maine will probably leave this book knowing more than they did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Globe Pequot Down East Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Every Day is To-Day by Gertrude Stein

#EveryDayisToDay #NetGalley

Many readers have heard of Gertrude Stein, maybe because of Alice or the friendships that she developed with those in the “lost generation,” or maybe because of her famous rose quote. But how many have actually read what she has to say?

For everyone, here is a terrific collection of Stein’s essays. Some of the pieces are about the well-known, including Matisse, Cezanne and Picasso. A few others are titled Flirting at the Bon Marche, Ladies Voices and Identity of a Poem. I found so many of these to be interesting.

Dip in anywhere. Get to know how Stein thinks.

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

Pub date: 20 June 2023

Who stays in: The Guest Room (by Tasha Sylva)

Those who enjoy their suspense stories with a bit of creepiness, here is a title for you. Londoner, Tess, who lives in her sister’s house, has been renting out a room and has had various guests to stay.

Tess finds herself drawn to snooping on said visitors. She goes through their belongings, living a bit vicariously through them. Tess eventually begins reading a rather “dirty” diary that describes one guest’s obsession with a person he has been following. Tess wants to find out more and things unspool form there. And, oh yes, don’t forget that the circumstances of Tess’s sister’s death (she of the room that is let out) are less than clear.

Those who enjoy a thriller may well enjoy this one. It is the author’s first published book. I wonder what will come next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 July 2023

From the Publisher

The Guest Room Tasha Sylva
The Guest Room Tasha Sylva Flora Collins quote
The Guest Room Tasha Sylva Clemence Michallon quote