Stella Douglas has been enjoying her life in London in this story set in the 1930s. She has a good friend in Michael, writes books (with modest success) about cooks of days gone by and is content with her life. All of this changes when Stella returns home, to Yorkshire, to be there for her her father.
When Stella returns to London to meet with her publisher, he sets her a task. Stella is to write about British foods in a far reaching compendium. She accepts this challenge which leads to research, writing and travel. Stella meets many along the way. How will her life be changed by this project and where it takes her? Find out in this delightful novel.
For me this book seemed a bit slow at times but I am glad to have read it. I think that those who enjoy women’s fiction, historical fiction, food and more will want to look at this nostalgic title.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster U.K. and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
I certainly have never been to Mustique but I know that it is a favorite destination of those who have lots of money and like a bit of privacy. One of its frequent guests was Princess Margaret. So, since I may never be there (it is a private island), I very much enjoyed my virtual visit over the course of this novel.
This novel is set in the 1970s and it shows the glamour and the darker side of life on this playground. Readers follow socialite Willy Mae who builds a house not far from Princess Margaret’s hideaway. Willy gets involved in the social scene.
Readers also get to know Willy Mae’s two daughters. One is a model and the other a musician. It feels like they should fit in perfectly. But…life on the island is complicated. Read this engrossing novel to learn why.
Recommended for those who enjoy their fiction mixed with historical characters in a wealthy setting. It is a beach read kind of book, only better.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: May 2022
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
AMAZON Best Book of the Month Pick for Literature & Fiction
BOOKBUB Best Book of Spring Pick
Town & Country Best Book of May Pick
Veranda Magazine Best New Book of Summer Pick
Best Beach Bag Book Pick by the Satellite Sisters
Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List Pick
“Sarah McCoy’s Mustique Island is a sun-kissed mother-daughter story set against the backdrop of the titular private island.” —POPSUGAR’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022
“If you’ve ever wanted to slip into a picture by Slim Aarons, renowned photographer of elites on continuous vacations, now is your chance. McCoy’s gorgeous novel takes place on the Caribbean island of Mustique in the 1970s, a getaway for Princess Margaret…” —The Washington Post, a Noteworthy Book pick for May
Introduce a young child to farm animals in this vividly colored title. Many commonly known animals grace the pages of this appealing title. This is a cloth book so it is just perfect for the littlest hands.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Last year I read and reviewed The Hollywood Spy, one of the Maggie Hope stories by this author. It set the stage for this new novel as it opened my eyes to what was happening among the pro German U.S. groups in the lead up to WWII. What I learned was appalling.
In many ways, Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy picks up where The Hollywood Spy left me. The difference is that this title is based on the lives of a real mother and daughter. Many other characters are also based upon real people. Here is a story about good and evil.
Readers get to know Vi and her daughter, Veronica. Veronica was set to have a very bright future as a journalist after she graduated from Hunter College. One mistake derailed her. Vi and Veronica subsequently leave New York and move to California at a relative’s urging. This puts the reader right back into a story about anti-Semitism, pro German sentiment and the world of spies. There are many shocking events over the course of the novel.
I highly recommend this title. I even think that it would be a wonderful one for high school students who are studying American history to read. It is, after all, important to know what happened right here in the U.S. In addition, some of the parallels to today’s political landscape are also here-just think about that.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 20 September 2022
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“A suspenseful page-turner, vivid historical account, and inspiring story of female empowerment all in one . . . Riveting!”—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star
“A timely, fascinating story about a little-known chapter in American history, one that resonates especially strongly today.”—Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Resistance Women
“A fascinating, thought-provoking thrill ride through the fascist underbelly of 1940s Los Angeles, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy will have you glancing over your shoulder and wondering just what you’d dare—and whether you’d make it out alive.”—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Daughter
“Gut-wrenching . . . This is historical fiction at its best.”—Lauren Belfer, New York Times bestselling author of And After the Fire
“Susan Elia MacNeal is at the height of her powers in this riveting suspense novel.”—Sujata Massey, Agatha Award–winning author of The Widows of Malabar Hill
“Susan Elia MacNeal is outstanding! Her ability to convey a spellbinding story that is realistically rooted in this time period puts her among the best!”—Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge series and the Bess Crawford series
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A bit of research showed me that Napoleon Hill wrote many books of which his best known apparently is Think and Grow Rich. Amazing to me is that the book was first published in 1937. This is the first of this author’s works that I have read.
Here in a short, just over 100 page book, Hill takes on big topics as can be seen from the book’s subtitle. As the introduction notes, there are aspects of the essays that will perhaps feel dated but readers may still haves some good takeaways. Dip in and hopefully take away some bits of wisdom and something to contemplate after completing each entry.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 