As I write this review, Valentine’s Day had just passed and wedding season is still ahead. While weddings are meant to be happy occasions, sometimes getting there isn’t easy as the family in this novel that runs a wedding boutique business knows very well.
At the same time that they are trying to make others dreams come true, sisters Marisol, Janelyn and Pearl are also trying to manage their own lives. This is often challenging for them both as individuals and in their relationships with one another. Follow along with them in this entertaining read.
One thing that I enjoyed along with the story was the author’s use of a piece of music as chapter headings. Readers can have a playlist by the end of the novel.
Those who enjoy women’s fiction will want to give this book a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I love these FREE samplers; they can be so helpful in deciding which titles I want to read in the upcoming months. This collection is thriller based, featuring authors Nora Murphy; Ragnar Jonasson; Katharine Schellman; Kelley Armstrong; James Byrne; Jennifer Hillier; Mark Pryor; and Sandie Jones. I have read books by some of these writers while others are new to me; some are even n author’s first book. For each, there is a description of the novel and a generous sample.
So, dip in. Who knows what you will find appealing?
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This title should appeal to those who are moving forward in reading chapter books. At over 100 pages, children will enjoy spending time with a slightly longer book. With its illustrations, it still retains a bit of what kids enjoy in picture books as well.
Polly speaks directly to the reader who learns that there is a special power in these pages. What Polly writes in her Spell book is responded to and so Polly enjoys this dialogue. She also enjoys that she can make things happen. What, exactly will occur at the school fair? Young readers will have to read this one to find out!
Polly is curious and loves learning. Her book is called Spell because she loves spelling. She also knows that the word has multiple meanings. She also comments on syllables on the very first page. I found this interesting as a child that i am tutoring is working on this very topic.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
From the Publisher
Polly Diamond series
This series is just right for fans of:
Ivy + Bean
Judy Moody
Dory Fantasmagory
+ more!
Polly Diamond and the Stunning Spectacular School Fair
Polly and her magic book, Spell, have all kinds of adventures together because whatever Polly writes in Spell comes true! But when Polly and Spell join forces to make the school fair super spectacular, they quickly discover that what you write and what you mean are not always the same.
From the Publisher
Polly Diamond series
This series is just right for fans of:
Ivy + Bean
Judy Moody
Dory Fantasmagory
+ more!
Polly Diamond and the Stunning Spectacular School Fair
Polly and her magic book, Spell, have all kinds of adventures together because whatever Polly writes in Spell comes true! But when Polly and Spell join forces to make the school fair super spectacular, they quickly discover that what you write and what you mean are not always the same.
Time with Alexander McCall Smith is always time well-spent. The author of many series, McCall Smith generally tells gentle stories with warmth and feeling. Some most enjoy the Lady Detectives, while for others, it is Bertie. Personally, my favorite is the series with Isabel Dalhousie. This title features none of the above but will be enjoyed by readers nonetheless.
This collection of fourteen stories is unique. For each, the author looked at a photo from a real newspaper archive. He then imagined a tale to go with each portrait. Readers can enjoy McCall Smith’s vivid imagination and conjuring while also imagining what stories they might write about these same pictures. All in all, a lovely read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Readers of historical fiction, mark your calendars for this books release date. It is fabulous.
Allison Pataki tells the story of Marjorie Merriweather Post from her childhood right on through her “many lives.” She was a daughter, wife (multiple times), mother, key part of Post (later known as General) Foods, society woman, charitable worker and donor, ambassador’s wife, builder of multiple estates and more. The pages just flew as I followed Marjorie through her life.
Readers will travel with Marjorie to many locations. Among these are Battle Creek, Washington DC, Manhattan, the Adirondacks, Palm Beach (Mar-a-Lago) and Moscow. Readers experience Marjorie’s own experiences in each of these places.
Relationships were a big part of Marjorie’s life. No spoiler so I won’t write about how many times she married or who her husbands or children were.
I so highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction. It is one of the best that I have read in this genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Would You Rather offers the chance to open up conversations on many subjects. Just a few of this book’s chapters include: Health and Appearance; Love; For Foodies and Drinkers; Deep, and Yuck. Each sections includes a series of questions. For example, would you rather explore space with Neil Armstrong or travel to Rome with Julius Caesar; would you rather lose all the photos you’ve taken on your smart phone this year or lose all the books you own; would you rather never have to do domestic cores ever again or have a car that drives you wherever you want to go.
The author hopes that these questions will lead to fun discussion for those playing. Therefore, some of the questions are admittedly “wacky.” The author also notes that the intent is not to make anyone uncomfortable.
If answering questions in a group appeals to you or could be a useful icebreaker, give this title a look. Those who are introverted may be less inclined to want to engage however. I suggest that the person receiving a question have the option of passing on occasion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Family life lessons in far flung places (a travel memoir)
by Kate Wickers
#ShapeofaBoy #NetGalley
I found this book to be quite delightful! The author is a wonderful storyteller who makes each of her destinations come fully to life. She also has a terrific sense of humor and an ability to describe the realities of being a parent. At times, I smiled or cringed remembering what it was like to have a young baby. At others, I had to remind myself that the author made it through a difficult experience because, of course, she had published this book.
Ms. Wickers is an adventurer. She worked as a travel writer and loved exotic places before becoming a parent and has happy memories of travels with her family when she was a child. The author wanted to show her own children amazing places and took her first son on his first trip when he was just three months old. Some of the destinations that the growing family visited included Israel and Jordan, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Japan and Cubs. This is a family that is ready to take on all that life offers.
I recommend this enjoyable book. It will be liked by travelers, both armchair and real, as well as parents. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this fun read.
In the vein of Anne Perry, Charles Finch, and Will Thomas, Karen Odden’s richly atmospheric new mystery introduces Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan as he investigates a string of vicious murders that has rocked Victorian London’s upper crust.
London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only Senior Inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles.
An Irish former thief and bare-knuckles boxer from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: the shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be.
Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past—for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth—before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.
Praise for Down a Dark River:
“A harrowing tale of unbridled vice that exposes the dark underbelly of Victorian society.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A page-turner.” —New York Journal of Books
“[A] finely crafted story.” —Seattle Book Review “Impossible to put down.” —Historical Novel Society Review
“Superbly written . . . fast paced suspense.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine
“A must read for mystery fans!” —Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries
“Odden’s latest is intricately plotted and filled with a cast of wonderful characters, including a worthy and relatable hero.” —Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author
“Sparkling prose, vivid description, a haunting and satisfyingly complex story . . . Down a Dark River is a must read for fans of any genre of crime fiction.” —Edwin Hill, author of The Secrets We Share
“Gritty, compelling and vividly written . . . Like Anne Perry, Odden demonstrates a commanding grasp of authentic period detail.” —Susanna Calkins, author of the Lucy Campion historical mysteries and Speakeasy Murders
“No one does Victorian England like Karen Odden . . . Fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch will welcome Inspector Michael Corravan.” —Mariah Fredericks, author of the Jane Prescott mystery series
“This terrific Victorian mystery [is] absolute catnip for those missing the William Monk mysteries of Anne Perry.” —The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
“This twisty-turn-y mystery introducing a new and charismatic detective will delight readers also looking for well-researched history.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series
“A spellbinding, brilliantly plotted Victorian murder mystery, Karen Odden’s Down a Dark River features a fascinating and relatable detective, a cast of complex characters, powerful prose, exceptional attention to historical detail, and enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat until the last astonishing page. Highly recommended!” —Syrie James, bestselling author of The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 