A Novel

by Patricia Perry Donovan

I am late to reviewing this title but it may be a good one for moms and daughters as the U.S. Mother’s Day holiday approaches.

Faith is aptly named as she may need some help believing in her life and her mother. She has found hard won security as a chef in a fine Manhattan restaurant. All is going well when her mother gets in touch to tell Faith something that Faith finds preposterous-Connie has won a B and B on the New Jersey shore. Can this be legit? Faith will try to find out.

Faith goes to the Jersey shore. While there, a storm, a big hurricane blows in. What else blows in with it to unsettle Faith? Who else will she get to know? Will she and her mother come together in their relationship with a new respect and liking for each other? Read this title to find out.

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

Pub date: 15 Aug 2017

How to Stop the Cycle of Worry

by Gwendoline Smith

If you are in need of this book, you will know just from reading its title. Look inside then and find an excellent resource written in the most accessible way. Start by learning the difference between ruminating and worrying-who knew? From here, readers will come to understand when overthinking can be fine or something for which a person needs help. Hint: If you are overthinking something to which you are looking forward, that is fine.

This book provides so much knowledge as well as ways to overcome overthinking. It is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an effective treatment.

I highly recommend this title for those who worry, for those who know a worrier and for those whose professional life involves counseling the worried. All will benefit from time spent with this book.

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

Pub date: 10 May 2022

by Edward Hirsch

Edward Hirsch is surely qualified to author this title. He has authored a number of books of both poetry and prose. I previously reviewed his 100 Poems to Break Your Heart.

This is an erudite, personal, well-edited collection of poetry ranging from Phyllis Wheatley through Joy Harjo. Just some of the poets whose works are here include Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Amy Lowell, Marianne Moore, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, Muriel Rukeyser, Gwendolyn Brooks and, John Ashbery among many others. This is truly a college level poetry class in a book. I highly recommend it. The Heart of American Poetry is a title to which I will return again and again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Library of America for this title. All opinions are my own. Note that all profits from this title will be used to support the mission of the nonprofit Library of America.

Pub date: 19 Apr 2022

I very much enjoyed this author’s earlier title, One Day in Winter, so was looking forward to reading this book, even though it took me some time to get to it. Another Day in Winter is a similarly absorbing story that follows a host of characters. They include: Shauna, Lulu, George, Tom and Chrissie.

Our most elderly character is George. He has some regrets. How will these affect his grandson, Tom? What are the younger Shauna and Lulu hoping to learn in Scotland, and, what is in store for single mum, Chrissie?

Lots will be discovered over the course of this novel. Ms. Low does a wonderful job in writing about her characters. Readers will care about them!

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

Pub date: 02 Oct 2018

First in the trilogy:

One Day in December by Shari Low

Four main characters and a number of their connections feature in this engaging women’s fiction read. The action takes place over the course of one day with sufficient back story to give the novel some depth. The book begins with a character dying in hospital; it will only be at the end of the novel that the reader learns who this is.

As for the characters…Bernadette is married to surgeon, Ken, their union is not a happy one. She, Ken and their two children are one story line. Media obsessed Lila is another; she is involved with Ken and is half sister to the more likeable Caro. Both Caro and Lila’s mothers were married to the same man but they have never met. Cammy wants to marry Lila but gets to know Caro as well. There are others in the novel including Caro’s cousin, Caro and Lila’s parents and an entire French football team! Each chapter follows one of the main characters.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read; one of those novels that is good for a time when you want to relax. There will be another book by this author coming out soon.

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Current and prospective fans of Middle-earth will enjoy learning about young JRR and how he grew up to be a well-known author. It is a lovely story about the gift of writing and the belief in ordinary heroes.

Young John Ronald Reuel moved to England when he was three. He lived out his life there with losses (his father, his mother, friends from school who died in war) and the wonders of his mind. Tolkien, in over 900 pages, created an indelible world which has been his gift to readers for generations.

Read this book and watch how the young Ronald, who created imaginary languages, grew up to be the author. It is an impressive journey told here with evocative illustrations. Note that there are a timeline and additional resources at the end of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto-Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 26 Apr 2022

#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