Now out: The Baby and Me

As is true for many books addressed to young children, the text in this one is rhyming. The illustrations represent many different families and interactions. The tone is upbeat and positive.

This book offers a nice and optimistic look at the sibling bond. However, I think that this would be best as one of several books that a family purchases for an older sibling. For example, in A Baby Sister for Frances, it takes the older child a bit longer to come around. Some kids will relate to how Frances feels.

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

Would you like to live here: The Cottage at Plum Tree Bay by Darcie Boleyn

#TheCottageAtPlumTreeBay #NetGalley

This is the sort of novel that I gravitate to when I want a relaxing and not too stressful read. It is a romance that joins two people together while giving readers a sense of each character’s life.

Catherine is a teacher in her small community. She has, to some extent, subsumed her needs to those of her mother. Readers will hope that she find her happy ending, even as they are pretty sure that she will.

The other half of the equation is Mark. He is a handsome writer with a past history. Watch as they move toward a life together.

I did not find this book to be unique in any way but, nonetheless, romance readers will most likely enjoy it.

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

Pub date: 25 July 2019

Meet: The Forest Keeper– The true story of Jadav Payeng

by Rina Singh

#TheForestKeeperJadavPayengNorthSouthBooks #NetGalley

This book is based on a true story and a real man. It is a beautiful story about love for one’s environment and the difference that one person can make. It deserves a place in school and home libraries.

The story is well told by an author who cares about her subject. The illustrations are truly five star. I adored them.

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

Pub date: 18 April 2023

Shop Talk: Jane Harper Makes a Plan for Her Novels…Then Several Hundred Mugs of Tea

Much like her novels, Jane Harper is a force of nature.  A former newspaper reporter, Harper’s big break came after winning a first-novel contest in …

Shop Talk: Jane Harper Makes a Plan for Her Novels…Then Several Hundred Mugs of Tea

Get to know some: Heiresses

The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies

by Laura Thompson

Many have heard the phrase “The rich are different.” That certainly seems to be true for the heiresses profiled in this wide-ranging title.

The book opens in a very literary manner exploring fictional heiresses as well as those characters in novels who did not have money. Those cited appear in everything from the works of Jane Austen, to those of Agatha Christie, to those in movies like The Philadelphia Story, with many others as well. It is an engaging beginning to this title.

An understanding of what happened to heiresses historically is explored. For example, for many years, the law defined all property as the husband’s with the wife having little to no say in her own funds. Thus, the book opens with an heiress in the 1600s. It moves forward to talk about more recent heiresses including Patty Hearst.

This is a fascinating read whether one goes in order or dips in and out. Those who are interested in women’s lives, history and the life of an heiress should enjoy this non-fiction work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own

Pub Date 15 Feb 2022

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Trapped in a silk-draped Venn diagram with the socialite and hostess, the heiress has been an unfair object of ridicule. After years of getting dragged through the tabloids and trotted out on reality shows like one of her beloved show ponies, she is both restored to dignity by Thompson’s concerned embrace and pushed away with an air kiss.” –New York Times Book Review

“[A] romp through the lives of the filthy rich.” –Wall Street Journal

“Skillfully evoking disparate social milieus and generational divides, Thompson packs the narrative full of juicy gossip without resorting to caricature. Readers will be enthralled.” –Publishers Weekly

“Authoritative, eye-opening, and gloriously gossipy.”–Booklist

“Engaging…A book that offers insight as well as entertainment―a peek into the human condition from an unexpected angle.” –Kirkus Reviews