What were the: Country Secrets (Fiona Walker)

#CountrySecrets #NetGalley

Fiona Walker knows how to write the kinds of books that her readers enjoy and that is surely the case in this long (over 500 page) title. Her readers will like getting to know the many characters and will become involved in the plot lines.

This book is chockablock with characters’ romantic relationships. How will things work out for Ronnie, Blair (and his sick wife), Ronnie’s daughter and her husband, and the other characters who live in these pages?

Note that this title is part of a series. Those who have not read the other titles could, perhaps, feel that they want to start at the beginning. Other readers may not feel that there is any impediment to diving right in.

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

Pub date:17 August 2023

I enjoyed spending time with: The Shell House Detectives (Emylia Hall)

#TheShellHouseDetectives #NetGalley

This is the first in, what appear to be, three Cornwall set mysteries featuring two characters with complex pasts. They are Ally and Jayden. Ally was widowed and misses her police officer husband deeply. Her daughter would like Ally to leave Cornwall to be with her in Australia; Ally is very ambivalent. Ally is an artist who creates works from the detritus that she finds on the beach. (She makes a relevant find there).

Jayden worked as a police officer who left the force after a tragedy. He is biracial and not sure if he fits into his wife’s community. Both of these characters are trying to keep their lives moving forward. Will solving a case help them to achieve their goals?

Ally’s husband Bill was haunted by one person’s death. When he arrested this man’s son, Bill offered to help him in the future. When this young man comes knocking on Ally’s door, she (regretfully) turns him away.

Events move forward and this young man is now in the hospital, gravely wounded. His grandmother and only support was not there for him when he got out of prison. Lewis Pascoe has an interaction with the couple that built a new home where his grandmother had been. These events set the scene for the novel.

I enjoyed the main characters in this book and was also interested to meet the people around them. There are many community members in the story so there is no lack of suspects. For example, there is the coffee shop worker and a recently divorced man who is trying to write a novel.

In addition to the mystery and the characters, Cornwall is also a strong presence in the book. Readers will be able to smell the sea, see the cliffs and walk along the shore.

All in all, this was a most enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 July 2023

Steve Irwin by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#SteveIrwin #NetGalley

I loved the cover of this new entry in the Little People, Big Dreams. The illustrations inside are also very appealing!

Steve Irwin grew up in Australia where he and his family loved the natural world and its species. Following a childhood filled with wild creatures, including crocodiles, Steve married, had his own children and continued his work. He became known the world over, in part, because he was featured on TV. Following his sad death, his family has carried on his legacy.

This entry in the series does a very good job of telling Irwin’s story. It will inspire young lovers of nature, conservation, biology and the animals around us.

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

Pub date: 17 October 2023

It might be just what a person needs: Chair Yoga for Seniors Over 60 (Uma Devi)

#ChairYogaforSeniorsOver60 #NetGalley

I think that many of us are susceptible to the allure of an effective ten minutes a day. This book promises that around the practice of yoga. However, before getting to the routines, there is much to learn about in this title. There are chapters on everything from How to Read this Book in the introduction, to chapters on a History of Yoga, Getting Started, For a Safe Practice and, the poses. There are many routines including those focusing on particular parts of the body, strength and power, calming down and more. There are a number of breathing techniques and 12 helpful sequences for specifics such as diabetes,Parkinson’s and balance.

So, this book is worth much more than ten minutes. It offers a chance to ease some aches and pains along with many other benefits. The author is a good guide. Directions are clear with photos of the positions. Readers will be inspired to attain some of yoga’s storied benefits, no matter their age.

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

Pub date: 09 May 2023