Quiz
One More Page
From the publisher:
Show off your love for books with this amazing collection of book-themed stickers, perfect for decorating your reading accessories like e-readers, journals, water bottles, phones, and more—with over 500 unique designs made just for book lovers and bibliophiles!
Attention bibliomaniacs, book addicts, and literature lovers: discover the ultimate sticker collection designed just for you! One More Page offers over 500 beautifully illustrated stickers to enhance your reading experience and celebrate your love for books.
Featuring illustrations of cozy book nooks, classic tomes, stunning bookshelves, and charming quotes, this collection provides a fresh, fun twist on bibliophile stickers. Perfect for both avid ebook readers and dedicated fans of physical books, these stickers add a personal touch to your literary journey.
Brighten your reading space and add vibrant colors to your literary adventures with One More Page’s book-themed stickers, designed to inspire and delight every book lover.
My thoughts:
There is a wide ranging collection of book related stickers here. For example, there are authors’ portraits (Jane Austen and others), cute animals, book covers (such as Anne of Green Gables), favorite characters (Sherlock Holmes for one), quotes, themed stickers (Halloween/horror or love stories), and just too many more to list here.
Anyone who is a fan of stickers and who likes to read will want to give this title a look. It would make a great gift for someone (or one’s self).
I saw this title as an arc but may well purchase this when it is released.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Adams Media for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 28 October 2025
Puzzle Me a Murder is an e book bargain
by Roz Noonan
#PuzzleMeaMurder #NetGalley
Those who enjoy reading traditional mysteries will, I think, enjoy this first title in what I hope will be a series. It has a good setting, good characters, an interesting mystery and jigsaw puzzles.
When the husband of Alice’s best friend Ruby is murdered, the stage is set. George was cheating on Ruby but would this be enough for her to murder him? Who was the mysterious wigged woman with George right before he died? Still, all of the motives may not be personal; is it possible that his role in the government with budget power led someone to go too far? Could there be other reasons based on George’s behavior? Find out and enjoy spending time with Alice, her granddaughters and the many others in these pages.
Puzzle Me a Murder offers a good puzzle and a fun read. Recommended for its audience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 23 July 2024
An e book bargain- A Novel Summer
A Novel
by Jamie Brenner
#ANovelSummer #NetGalley
I enjoy stories about women, their friendships and their lives. This is exactly what Jamie Brenner delivers in A Novel Summer.
Readers meet three young women as the story opens in Provincetown on Cape Cod. They include Colleen who has grown up on the Cape. Her parents own a bookstore (and one that I would like to visit). Shelby grew up moving around as her family was a military one. She dreams of being an author. Hunter has grown up in a family (and a wealthy one) that has deep roots in Boson. Despite not having to work, Hunter wants meaning in her life. The three become good friends.
Soon after the book opens, we move forward with these characters. Shelby has written a best seller; a rival bookstore wants to open; Hunter is at loose ends.
What will happen to each of these women? Will they find happiness? Romance? Will their friendship survive? Find out in this read that will speak to those who enjoy women’s fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 16 July 2024
From the Publisher
An e book bargain: A Voice in the Night by Simon Mason
#AVoiceintheNight #NetGalley
Simon Mason has written books that I very much enjoy. Now the fourth in this Oxford set mystery/police procedural is available.
Note that it is possible to read this one on its own, although I definitely recommend reading all of the novels, even if not in order. Those who have read the previous stories will be eager to just jump in.
Ryan and Ray share a last name, live in Oxford, are dads and are in the police force. Despite these seeming similarities, the two are very different and often struggle to work with one another.
Ryan grew up in a trailer park. He is a single dad to a little boy who is one of the best characters in the series. Ryan dresses most casually, has a minimal education, is often being reprimanded at work, but…gets the job done.
Ray grew up with many expectations placed upon him. He is Oxford educated, has a “blue,” is the married father of twins, and has a father who is quite invested in his career and success. His marriage seems a bit shaky at times.
In this novel, Ray and Ryan have a new boss. She insists on being called “Sir” and has a lot of plans for reforming the station. She has been warned about these two Wilkins.
A professor and professed atheist has been found murdered soon after an appearance at an Oxford Union debate. What was he doing out in his pajamas? What was behind his murder? Does it connect to another case that the squad has been assigned?
No spoilers so readers will have to find out for themselves.
I highly recommend this title and the entire series. These books will be enjoyed by those who like a complex mystery with characters that are engaging.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 16 January
Now in paperback-Water, Water by Billy Collins
#WaterWater #NetGalley
Several years ago, I listened to a Master Class featuring Collins. I enjoyed learning about his writing process in a series of insightful episodes.
Following this, I read the poet’s collection Whale Day. Now, I have spent time with Water Water, reading a poem a day so as to savor this collection of sixty poems.
Some people veer away from poetry fearing that it is too highbrow or that they won’t understand a verse. Collins is not like that. His poems are written in, what I find, to be a direct and clear style. Readers can choose those that they prefer but they will not feel bewildered overall. The poems often reference every day life and end with something to ponder. So many are worth the reader’s time.
It is easy to recommend this collection.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 19 November 2024
Now out-Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent
I first read about this book when it was published in England and knew that I would want to read it. My favorite genre-mystery- plus an Oxford setting and a lot about words. (I loved The Bookbinder which was historical fiction set in Oxford with much about words). So, getting this book from NetGalley was a real treat. It did not disappoint.
Readers meet Martha who works for the Clarendon English Dictionary which feels like a fictional stand in for the OED. She and her colleagues including Simon, Alex and Safi get to deal with words as their profession. They are just four of the many characters in this story.
As the book opens, there is a staff meeting and all seems pretty much as usual until an odd letter arrives. It takes a bit but Martha comes to realize that this letter may be referencing the disappearance of her talented, bright and beautiful sister thirteen years ago. No one knows what became of Charlie? Who is “chorus,” the anonymous letter writer? What other messages will be received? What did happen to Charlie?
From this point in, I was so drawn in and spent as much time as I could reading the story. There were also some fun treats along the way with various vocabulary words. For example, I loved conjobble which was defined as eat, drink and talk!
Still, while the English vocabulary references were great fun, it was the story that kept me intrigued. Publishers Weekly described this book as a “treat.” I definitely agree.
I am delighted to know that this is the first in a series. I can’t wait for more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 30 September 2025
384 pages
Mystery & Suspense
Editorial Reviews
Review
“There are pleasures here for anyone who revels in the joy of text.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“Etymologist Dent makes an impressive fiction debut with a clever whodunit that pivots on her linguistic expertise…a tantalizing puzzle for Anglophiles and Golden Age mystery lovers alike.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Linguist Dent proves she is a talented wordsmith in her own right, diverting readers with historical and lexicological tidbits throughout the story…Martha and her team are whip-smart and fun, providing a light juxtaposition to the suspense elements, while the lush and vibrant descriptions of Oxford create a lovely sense of place; readers will be both informed and entertained.” ― Library Journal
“If you’re like me and love both language and crime, then Guilty by Definition has it all. Susie Dent’s impressive debut novel is virtuosic. So meticulously and fascinatingly steeped in the archaic glory of words, it will surely be the ultimate treat for every logophile out there. But this is so much more than a celebration of the dictionary – it’s a tantalizing mystery of a missing sister, a cold case that will not lie down, and a family frozen in their unresolved grief… all while their circle of friends and colleagues nurse secrets and lies beyond explication. Guilty by Definition is positively aglitter with etymological and detecting treasures for word-sleuths and crime-fans alike.” ― Janice Hallett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Appeal
Next in the series:
Publisher’s Synopsis-From the British publisher
A brand-new linguistic mystery from Countdown‘s resident lexicographer, Susie Dent, set in the city of Oxford
**AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**
When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around Oxford, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognises them from a runic alphabet created by a deceased fantasy writer whose papers she once worked on. But this is no publicity stunt, and tensions intensify when further graffiti is found near the body of a university lecturer.
Martha is not the only one to have doubts when the suspicious death is ruled by police as suicide. Called upon to lend their linguistic expertise to the case, Martha and her colleagues begin to unearth a tragedy that extends beyond the ancient walls of the university. As new messages portend more death, it’s clear that a spirit of vengeance is stalking the city’s streets, and may be reaching out towards them too.
Spotlight on: The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton
From the Publisher:
About the book:
Description
“This captivating story is an ode to book lovers!”—Woman’s World
A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women—and their secrets—in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.
London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she’s never had a request quite like this one. She’s been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy—and her client isn’t the only person determined to procure it at any cost.
Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books, and in the chaotic days following her husband’s unjust imprisonment by Fidel Castro, reading is her only source of solace. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. It’s a dangerous mission that reveals to her the power of one book to change a life.
Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a whirlwind adventure that leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets, and lies… and though Eva cannot yet see it, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches.
How it starts:
Margo
London
2024
She was late.
Not late by normal standards-when Margo Reynolds glanced at the secondhand Cartier watch on her wrist, she was relieved to see that she had five minutes before her appointment-but late by her standards. Even when she accounted for the unpredictable London commute in her calculations-Would the Tube be delayed? Would the sidewalks be filled with tourists gawking at the sights? Would her heel get caught in one of the street grates requiring a dash into Harrods to purchase a replacement pump?-she hadn’t considered the fact that all three of those things would happen. So despite the cold, damp December day, she was now sweating beneath her coat collar, her legs transitioning to that stride somewhere between a purposeful walk and a full-out run as she fairly propelled herself to her meeting by sheer force of will.
Something wet fell on her head.
Margo looked away from the street in front of her for a moment to gaze skyward, praying that she was wrong, that they weren’t headed into the first snow of the season.
That five minutes was feeling more and more tenuous now.
Another wet drop of snow-if it could even be called that, considering the watery mixture-hit her square in the face.
She should have called a car.
“Is it snowing?” a woman exclaimed.
Margo winced at the delighted shriek beside her, at the way the word “snowing” seemed to travel through the crowd with the same unbridled glee as a celebrity sighting in front of a double.
The author:
Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Learn more about her on her website at http://www.chanelcleeton.com.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“This captivating story is an ode to book lovers!”—Woman’s World
“The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes reminds us that books and stories have always been and will always be a shining light in our lives…. There is the perfect blend of drama, intrigue and passion to make it a novel that will appeal to book lovers everywhere.” —Natasha Lester, New York Timesbestselling author of The Paris Orphan
“A moving tribute to the power and comfort of books, this is a must read for book lovers.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Booklover’s Library
“The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes has everything I love: suspense, adventure, heart, and gutsy heroines.” —Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist
My thoughts:
I feel like I may be in the minority as I had never before read a novel by this author. That will change now.
Here is an engaging triple timeline story about a book, one of my favorite literary sub genres. I enjoyed spending time in London, Havana and Boston with the three main characters as their connections with the book unfolded.
Those who enjoy women‘s fiction will want to pick this one up.
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 30 September 2025
An e book bargain-Spend time with: The Librarian Spy
A Novel of World War II
by Madeline Martin
An e bbo bargain
#TheLibrarianSpy #NetGalley
I very much enjoyed this author’s first novel, The Last Bookshop in London. I was so delighted to see that she had written a second book. This one is set during WWII as was the first.
What could be more enticing than a novel called The Librarian Spy? I couldn’t wait to open the book and then became immersed . I highly recommend this sophomore effort on Ms. Martin’s part.
This time the author has developed a plot that feels more complex than that of the first book as she follows two different woman. The Librarian Spy is Ava. When the story opens she is working at the Library of Congress in D.C. Ava very much likes her job and the feeling of security that being surrounded by books provides for her. Nonetheless, when she is tapped for a special assignment, Ava takes the new position even though it means getting on a plane, something that is highly fraught for her (readers will learn why).
Ava finds herself in Portugal. Not all readers may know that Portugal was neutral during the war. The author does a terrific job of portraying the city. There are no shortages for many while others are waiting in long lines, hoping against hope to be able to board a ship and to leave Europe. There are the many who watch others; these Portuguese and Germans leave others feeling unsafe despite the neutrality.
Ava’s job is to collect newspapers and other documents that can be transmitted to the States. She meets with a number of characters in the course of her work. Readers especially watch her relationship with the British James.
Meanwhile in France, a second plot line unfolds. This is the story of brave Elaine. Her name has been changed, because, as readers learn early in her part of the book, she gave her papers to a Jewish woman who was fleeing. She was lucky to get new ones. Now, as Elaine, she is involved with the Resistance. Elaine’s husband has been captured and readers may feel a great deal as they wait to see if he will survive the war.
Readers follow Elaine through a depleted city as she couriers, and into the woods where the maquis hide. Will she survive? Will her work change anything in the war? Will Elaine lose friends to the Germans? Finally, how will the two stories intersect?
As I have previously noted, there have been so many WWII titles published for historical fiction fans so it can be hard for any particular one to stand out. In this novel, I found that the courage of these characters moved me especially when I think about the current state of our world and the need for values and bravery in the face of challenges. I recommend this novel even within a crowded field.
Readers who have enjoyed novels by Susan Elia MacNeal and/or Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series may also want to give this title a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 26 Jul 2022
The author’s first book:
The Last Bookshop in London
A Novel of World War II
by Madeline Martin
Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I wanted to read it. The magic word, of course, was bookshop. I also found the cover to be very appealing. So, I initially judged this one by its cover. That said, I wasn’t disappointed.
This novel’s protagonist, Grace, is a young woman who recently lost her mother. Along with her best friend, Viv, she moves to London to stay with a family friend. The two arrive only to have war declared not long after. Viv enters one of the women’s units while Grace remains with her mother’s friend. She takes a position in a bookshop and the shop is also a character in the book.
This story points out the importance of literature. In a lovely scene, Grace goes underground during a bombing raid where she begins reading Middlemarch to those who are stuck in the shelter over night. Those stuck there look forward to additional chapters when the next call to go underground comes.
Grace organized the bookshop and develops a relationship with its curmudgeonly owner. She studies way to make the shop successful and, for example, advertises buying books to read while unable to sleep in one’s beds due to the bombings.
The author does a good job of portraying wartime Britain. There are losses of people, property, usual foods, a way of life. There are also the joys of friendship, love, books and connection.
There are so many WWII set novels being written now. My theory is that, awful as the war was, it is more reassuring to look back at that time than our current one. For all of the suffering, the reader knows that eventually Britain will declare victory.
I think that this title is worth reading. Let me know what you think!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 