#TheMysteryofAlbertEFinch #NetGalley Pub Date 11 Jan 2022

Crooked Lane publishing serves a a real “go to” for those who like their mysteries without too much violence and yet with a story, characters and settings that engage the reader. This was one that I wanted to read as soon as I saw the words “Victorian Bookclub” in the subheading. As a further bonus, the story is set in Bath, a place that I have loved ever since spending a junior year abroad there.

Uh-oh, there is a murder at a wedding. The victim had been in an argument with her husband but is he the culprit? What else is going on here? Read this delightful title to find out. This book is part of a series but can be read on its own. Fans may want to look for the other titles though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

by Tatiana Christie

This story is one that has a message for young children which is to be yourself! Penny is the only pig on a horse farm so she naturally feels left out. Her way of dealing with that is to try to make herself more like a horse. The cute illustrations show exactly what she attempts. How does her situation work itself out? Read this book with a child to see.

Using animals can be a good way to tell a story about something important. Children have a little distance this way and may find it easier to talk about their feelings as a result.

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

Holbein

Capturing Character

by Edited by Anne T. Woollett, with contributions by Austėja Mackelaitė, John T. McQuillen, and others

This is simply a gorgeous book! It can be enjoyed by both art history scholars and those who enjoy looking at art. Many may know Holbein for his portraits of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, among others. There is so much more to discover in these pages, however. The beautifully reproduced paintings that are included in this volume demonstrate Holbein’s gift for capturing his subjects. They feel very real and human. The volume also has art by Erasmus. There are, in addition, a number of well-written essays.

Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From the publisher:

This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect.
Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted.
Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.

#TheMasterpiece #NetGalley

Poems of Gratitude and Hope

by James Crews

I very, very much like this title. It is a collection of poetry that I read first thing in the morning, last thing at night or anytime that I want to feel better about the world and myself. Each poem is absolutely not abstruse and offers something to which the reader can relate. There are some poets known to me, including Amanda Gorman, but most are new discoveries. This means that each poem is an exploration, albeit a short one.

A brief quote from the first poem sets the tone:

Hope has holes

in its pockets.

It leaves little crumb trails

so that we,

when anxious,

can follow it.

If this excerpt appeals to you, you will want to own this book. It offers a promising way of viewing our universe.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A Sarah’s Scribbles Collection

by Sarah Andersen

Out just in time for holiday shopping is this new Sarah Scribbles collection. If you know someone who loves cats and has a unique sense of humor, this could make the perfect gift (even for you!).

Oddball seems like the right title for this book. The humor is unique and reflects what it feels like to not always belong or be comfortable in one’s skin. The comics center on someone who is an introvert and show how hard this can be in an extroverted world.

Fans of this cartoonist, along with some others, will surely welcome this collection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Grace Kelly Dress A Novel by Brenda Janowitz

The Grace Kelly dress is, of course, inspired by the beautiful wedding gown that Grace Kelly wore although this story is not about Grace Kelly. Rather, it is about three women and one wedding dress that was inspired by the one worn by Princess Grace.

Rose’s story begins in the 1950s in Paris. Rose is an orphan who works in an atelier as a seamstress. The very talented Rose makes a wedding dress for the lovely Diana and, while doing so, they become friends despite the class barriers. Rose is attracted to Diana’s brother Robert but he is engaged to someone else. What will happen?

In the 80s, Joan seems to have the perfect, if conventional and guarded, life. She is engaged to someone who is perfect on paper but…is he the right one for her? What is the story of her sibling who died?

Unconventional Rocky, Joan’s daughter, is conflicted about wearing her mother’s wedding dress although not about her fiancee. Can she make it into something that makes sense for her?

Around these primary characters, there are many others whose stories are also told. The emotions, mistakes, regrets and decisions that these characters make form the basis of the novel as each makes the dress her own.

The Grace Kelly Dress is women’s fiction with conflict and fairy tale. Try it on for size if you would like a light read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

The Homer is free.

sleuthofbakerstreet.ca/i/1584200/November_2021_e_MOM_Read.pdf