Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

#BritishMurder #NetGalley

British Murder is a title in this long running cozy mystery series featuring Lucy Stone. I have been reading about Lucy for many years.

This book is a double treat as it includes two stories, English Tea Murder and British Manor Murder. Each of these takes Lucy away from her native Maine. Both books have murder of course. In the first, a tour leader dies mid flight. Along with enjoying England, Lucy will need to solve the case. In the second novel, Lucy is at a country manor house when she discovers a bludgeoned body. Naturally, she intrepidly solves the case.

Lovers of mysteries that are not gory and those who love all things British will want to give this title a look. It is currently just $1.99 in e book form.

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

Pub Date 25 Feb 2020

This weeks’s ShortList (recent books for less than ten dollars:

Some other e book bargains:

From sketch to finished painting in just 15 minutes!

by Angela Marie Moulton

I was very excited to take a look at this title. What I loved about it was how it made water color painting feel possible and accessible, even for those who do not see themselves as artists. The information on how to get started is straightforward and includes things like brushes, types of paper and paints. This section is specific and practical. Go on to learn about techniques and projects…and have fun.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-Walter Foster Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 May 2022

#AFamilyAffair #NetGalley

Robyn Carr is the author of several series of novels including The Grace Valley Trilogy, the Virgin River books and the Thunder Point stories. She has also written a number of standalone titles of which this is one.

This is a story about family and the ways in which people react, cope and look for happiness in their relationships. Some of the characters whom readers get to know include:

Anna-She has been recently widowed after her husband went on a dangerous white water rafting trip. What was he tring to prove? Anna, herself, was raised by a single mother and has worked hard since going back to law school. She wants and needs financial security and the knowledge that she can care for herself.. Annar is a judge who, as a lawyer, specialized in cases involving women and domestic violence.

Chad-Anna met him when she literally rescued him. He worked as a counselor but had his own issues (as counselors often do.)

Together, Anne and Chad had three children. Each of them is coping with their father’s death. Jessie is a doctor who pushes too much in her relationships; Mike is a teacher who has trouble committing and Bess, who has Asperger’s, sees life in her own unique way.

Add to this core family, Chad’s best friend Joe. He is a support to Anna but hopes for more. There is also a mysterious young, pregnant woman who appears at Chad’s funeral.

This novel tells the story of each of these people as they cope with loss and growth. Those who enjoy stories with characters about whom they will care and those who enjoy women’s fiction may want to pick up this title.

See my archive for the blog tour on this title.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing-Mira for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 April 2022

I am currently taking a class on Women in Literature. It has been marvelous. We have read Sappho, The Metamorphoses, Medieval Literature and more. Coming closer to the present day was this title by Nella Larsen.

Passing was written during the Harlem Renaissance. It is the story of Clare Kendry who “passes” for white. What has this cost her? What will happen when she meets up with old friend Irene?

This is also Irene’s story. She left me with a new understanding of how trying to hold on to security above all else is a complex choice.

At moments, the tension in this book was almost unbearable for me. The reader knows something is going to happen to Clare but what? I could not put this book down wanting to find out but kind of in that way where at the same time I didn’t want to know.

A content warning: There is a character in this books whose racism is deeply jarring.

Have you read this book? What did you think? There is also a Netflix movie based on this novel.

by Anne-Marie Fortin

This colorfully illustrated children’s book tells the story of a family’s garden over the course of a year. Month by month children will see how a garden goes from planning to planting to harvesting and to enjoying the garden’s bounty all year long. Hopefully, this will inspire kids (who have the space) to get out there and plan their own gardens.

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

Pub date: 15 March 2022

Life Lessons from the Ocean

by Holly Daniels Christensen

#HappinessComesinWaves #NetGalley

The author of this title has loved the beach since she was a child growing up on Cape Cod. From that beginning, it took Ms. Christensen some time to find her way in the world. Always, though, the ocean inspired her and she shares that mindset in this title. A few of the headings included in the book are Be Unstoppable, Be Abundant, Be Adventurous and Be Grounded, all of the things that we could use.

This book is a compilation of reflections, zen activities, photos and quotes. The photography is magnificent and captures the ocean in its many moods.

Those who are looking for some inspiration may well find just that in these pages. It is the author’s guide to an authentic life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-Rock Point for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 May 2022