Readers of WWII fiction know that many of these novels end when the armistice is declared. However, the end of the war is not only a time of victory/defeat, it is also a time when worlds and countries, along with people, need to be rebuilt. The Glass Chateau is set in France at this time of aftermath and figuring things out.
Asher is desperately in need of solace and sanctuary when he discovers le Chateau Guerin. He has lost so much in the war and his war work was as stressful as possible; It is no wonder that he is/feels damaged.
Asher and others discover the Chateau as a place of sanctuary. Readers will find out what talent Jewish Asher has and how this serves him in a Catholic setting.
Those who enjoy historical fiction and especially stories set in this time period, should give this title a look. It is written by an experienced and capable author.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 20 June 2023
From the Publisher
See the author’s other novels including The Baker’s Secret and Universe of Two.
Melissa Adleman offers readers a domestic mystery/thriller in her debut novel. Set in the suburbs of DC, this is a fun read.
Alexis and Sam seem to have it all. They have the requisite two children (one born and one on the way), Sam is professionally successful and they have just bought what they hope will be their home for many years. What could possibly go wrong? Well, readers of the genre know that…everything could.
Alexis and Sam are embraced by some neighbors but will this be a good thing? How will Alexis’s past come into play? Who will be murdered and why? Readers are free to guess.
This is an exciting read and one that will be enjoyed by those who like domestic thrillers. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.
A talented wedding planner who doesn’t believe in weddings…a florist whose last name is Bloom; what a set up for an entertaining story of two who were once in a relationship and now meet up again.
Since Ama and Elliot are both hired to work for an influencer couple who are getting married, they are back in contact. Will things go better this time? Will the wedding they work on be a success? Read this one to find out.
Publisher’s Weekly notes that there is a fair amount of cursing here. I don’t know that this will bother many readers but just in case…Otherwise, here is a light read that many may enjoy. Recommended for fans of second chance romances.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
I love this new series by Sarah Taylor Stewart that features Maggie D’Arcy and those around her. In this book, Maggie is now living in Dublin with her boyfriend, his son and her daughter. She is currently a Garda, not a detective, as she had to begin again in the Irish system. For those who don’t know, Maggie previously lived in New York.
Maggie and her work partner Jason like one another and do a good job on their beat. In the novel, some of those that they have met will figure in a murder case. Happily for Maggie she is seconded and gets to be a detective again, at least some of the time looking into the complex situation.
Who murdered beautiful Jade? And what happened to her daughter, the stolen child of the title? Ms. Taylor makes a suspenseful story with a fully created world to answer those questions.
In addition to the relationship with Jason, of course, there is Maggie’s relationship with boyfriend, Conor. They are having a few growing pains. Will their relationship be strong enough to hold? That is another question to be answered.
Publishers Weekly stars this one. I could not agree more. Highly recommended for those who enjoy mysteries, police procedurals, novels set in Ireland and just good stories. I am already eager for the next title in this series.
This novel can be read as a standalone but why would one? Each of the previous three stories were excellent and provided hours of reading pleasure. So, readers who start with this may then want to look for the earlier books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box— the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start?
EXCERPT:
With his mouth set in a grim line, he waited.
If anyone else had enough nerve to presume she owed them an explanation, she would respond with a solid mind your own business. Instead, the seventeen-year-old still inside her refused to tell him to get lost. “He was hiding money in his office.” This was one of those times when learning how to wait a few beats before blurting out inflammatory information would come in handy. Each second of passing silence decreased her ability to breathe in the confined space. She turned the ignition and switched on the air conditioner.
“How do you know?” His volume just above a whisper, each dragged-out word hung in the air.
“I found it.”
“When were you in his office?” He swiped at a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his face, then positioned a vent toward him.
“Last night.” When would she learn to bite her tongue? Finn’s switch from rapid-fire scolding to slow, deliberate questioning left her unable to swallow over the sandpaper lump in her throat.
“Where was Vic?”
She stared at the back of the building, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. “He’d left for the night.” If she averted her gaze, she could pretend his eyeballs weren’t bugging out of his head, and his jaw didn’t need a crane to haul it off his chest.
“You were at the town hall after hours? Did anyone see you?”
“A custodian opened his door for me.” She snuck a glance. Sure enough, features contorted in shock and horror replaced his boy-next-door good looks.
Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand.
A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
Have you ever had the experience of life just blowing up in your face? How did you react? What did you want to do? Anyone who has gone through this upset will relate to Ellie Huang.
Ellie’s husband dies suddenly and, of course, that would be enough for anyone. However, there is more bad news ahead for Ellie. No spoilers so read the novel to find out what happened.
Ellie does something dramatic in response. She leaves San Francisco to spend an extended time in France accompanied by a close friend. Mable and Ellie meet some interesting people at a resort and things go on from there.
This is a well written debut novel told from the perspective of a young Asian woman. There are both a good setting and good characters here.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 13 June 2023
From the Publisher
Named a must-read book of summer by: Good Morning America, People, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, and the Philadelphia Inquirer
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 