American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide

by Susan Barba (Edited by), Leanne Shapton (Illustrated by)

Anyone who knows (or is) a nature lover, here is the perfect gift! Edited by a poet, Ms. Barba has organized a wonderful and diverse collection of poetry and prose about American wildflowers. She also writes an excellent introduction. There are contributors who are alive, dead, white, black, indigenous,male, female, so all welcoming and inclusive. Biographies of the contributors may be found at the end of the book. The water color illustrations throughout this title are gorgeous and coexist perfectly with the text. All in all, a delightful, thoughtful book and one to savor.

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

A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery

by Raquel V. Reyes

#MangoMamboandMurder #NetGalley

Raquel V. Reyes has written a cozy mystery that includes many of my favorite ingredients (pun intended). Therevare a cooking theme, lots of family (and their interference), a TV show, murders and more. Set in Miami and with a Cuban American protagonist, there are atmosphere, interesting characters and a good mystery within these pages. Cozy readers, take a look!

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

Pub date: 12 October 2021

336 pages

Note that the second in this series has also been published.

by Antoinette Brooks

#GrandmaGrandmaBraveandTall #NetGalley

This is a lovely story about family history and connections. A little girl asks her grandmother to tell her a story. The grandmother complies and stories told in rhyme ensue; they show the life experiences of the different grandmothers in a charming way. The illustrations are just perfect; at times they are bright and colorful but, in one, when there is a storm, the illustration is appropriately dark.

This is a wonderful book to share with a young child. Hopefully it will inspire the adult to share some stories of their own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bright Thoughts Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 15 October 2022

I enjoy this author’s light takes on Austen.

#PerilinParis #NetGalley

I think that this is the sixteenth book to feature Georgie. It all began with Her Royal Spyness back in 2007. I cannot believe that I have come so late to this enjoyable series. I plan to make my way through the backlist and look forward to hours of pleasure.

Georgie is a Lady and a distant relative of royalty. As this book opens, she is about to go to Paris with her husband. He reminded me of Colin in the Tasha Alexander series as he is on a mission. While the appropriately named Darcy works, Georgie spends time with her friend Belinda, among others.

Belinda is working for Coco Chanel. This gives the reader access to an atelier and the famous designer. There are other real people, including Hemingway mentioned; there are also fictional members of the “lost generation.” In addition, there are Georgie’s mother and her German partner. This is a bit tricky during Hitler’s rise.

Georgie does not know exactly what Darcy’s mission is. She is very concerned however, especially when she hears something about Berlin. Is Darcy a traitor?

Rhys Bowen is a master of her craft. This story unfolds effortlessly. Read it! Come to Paris, enjoy the landmarks and the feel of the city, watch the characters in action and then say (like me), I can’t wait for the next book.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 08 November 2022

304 pages

Sneak Peek is free.

Also others by this author, including the first, Death at La Fenice.

From this week’s The Short List:

Read, enjoyed and reviewed by me.

A story about tennis and more. Reviewed by me.

TO SEARCH REVIEWS, GO TO http://www.joycesmysteryandfictionreviews.wordpress.com and look in the archive by author or title.

SOME OTHER BOOKS:

An Academy of American Poets Anthology

by The Academy of American Poets

#100PoemsThatMatter #NetGalley

I am always looking for excellent and inspiring poetry collections. Here is a good one that will reward readers for thoughtfully engaging with its contents.

The book is organized according to six topics. These include the spirit; ,grieving, social justice, the environment, the body and, finally, desire. Read in order or dip in randomly; however readers choose to find their favorite, they will enjoy this anthology’s contents.

The introduction invites readers in. The author reassures that readers don’t have to understand everything about a poem to enjoy it or to capture the feeling that it seeks to evoke.

The very first entry was by a poet new to me, Nazim Hikmet. It definitely made me think about my life, gratitude, things that are finite, living in the present and more. Just imagine where I will be after reading all of the other ninety-nine.

Enjoy poems by those you may know already like Langston Hughes. Also, discover all those new voices that are just waiting to be heard.

Although I received this title as an arc, I think that I will purchase the hard copy. It is that engaging in my opinion.

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

Pub date: 13 December 2022

I listened to the audio version of this book which was narrated by the author. Lucy Worsley was a delightful companion as she read her book; she made it seem as if she was having a conversation with the listener.

Agatha Christie’s complex and interesting life story is fully detailed here. Read about how she traveled to Egypt for her “coming out,” her falling in love with Archie and later with Max. See her as a parent. Learn about her well-known temporary disappearance. Travel with her on archaeological expeditions and oh, yes, she did write some books that are discussed here as well.

I highly recommend this very enjoyable title. It is both the story of Agatha and those around her as well as a rich social history.