A Novel

by Darynda Jones

This title is the second in a series, following on A Bad Day for Sunshine. I have not read the first book but think I may need to go back to it.

In this entry, Sunny’s hands are really full. While she would like for said hands to be full of cups of coffee or glasses of Chardonnay, Sunny instead has a lot of work to do. There are a serial killer case, issues related to Sunny’s past, a bar fight and more. Surely enough to keep any reader glued to the pages. Plus, there are humor and different voices in the novel as readers spend time with those around Sunny.

Fans of the series will be clamoring for entry three.

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

Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 21, 2020

Robyn Carr is a prolific writer of women’s fiction; to name just a few there she has written the Virgin River, Grace Valley and Thunder Point series.  Her many fans will pretty much always read what she writes.

This title is a standalone.  It tells the story of Justine (in her fifties) and Addie (in her thirties), sisters who, due to their age difference, were not especially close.  Addie, for reasons that the book makes clear, left her degree program to care for her parents while married mother Justine went from success to success with the support of her house parent husband.

However, as we all know, novels often have an arc.  Characters have experiences, struggle, grow, learn and, if they are lucky, find themselves in a better place.  As Justine’s marriage implodes and Addie tries to figure out what to do with her life, what will happen?  At the end of the novel, will the sisters be closer and happier?  (Readers will hope so).

In following the Justine and Addie’s stories, Ms. Carr explores social issues including women who return to the workforce insecure after years away and men who face partner abuse.  The author clearly wants her readers to know that there is help for those who suffer. She also wants toshare what makes for a good relationship in her estimation.

This book is an easy read that fans of the author will welcome.  The small town setting is very appealing.

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

#SunriseonHalfMoonBay #NetGalley

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#RosalindFranklin #NetGalley

Pub date 24 August 2021

Young (future) scientists will surely be inspired by this story about Rosalind Franklin. What becomes clear in reading this title is that Rosalind was not only a good chemist but also a good person. She believed in helping others. While Rosalind did not always get the credit that she deserved for her pioneering work, she took pride in what she accomplished. Her discoveries around DNA were seminal. Rosalind Franklin ranks right up there with the most preeminent female scientists. She was a trailblazer at a time when there were few females studying chemistry.

This is another excellent entry in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The illustrations enhance the text and are engaging.

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

What goes into the process of attraction? What is the best way to find one’s person? Is it chance? Tindr? Or… could there be another way? These questions are delightfully explored in The Soulmate Equation.

The Equation of the title is created through DNA matches. Who knows? Maybe as good as any other way to find a partner with its sense of scientific process and method? The creators certainly espouse that it is the best way.

In any event, protagonist Jess is the single mom of adorable seven-year-old Juno. Jess works with numbers and facts and is too busy (and hesitant) to date. When her friend Fizzy, a romance author, encourages her to look at a company called GeneticAlly, Jess reluctantly goes along.

Meanwhile, the man that Jess and Fizzy call Americano always appears at the same cafe as they do. Watch what happens as it turns out that he works at GeneticAlly. Will there be a romance? Sure. Will it work out? Are there surprises ahead? Read to find out.

At times this title was funny enough for a laugh aloud or a smile. The characters are engaging and this novel is a nice take on a romcom. Old and new fans of the author should enjoy this one.

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

She saw the world in a flower

by Gabrielle Balkan

#TheMetGeorgiaOKeeffe #NetGalley

Pub date: 24 August 2021

This book provides a wonderful introduction to Georgia O’Keeffe. It is gorgeously and vibrantly illustrated and filled with details of Georgia’s life, the people that she knew, the places that were important to her and her evolution as an artist. It is geared toward elementary school age children.

This title also a timeline, glossary and a section titled “Try This Yourself.” Throughout, the author invites children to engage. She encourages them to observe their world and to paint or draw within it. Hopefully, some young readers creativity will be sparked.

I think that this book is very well done. Young artists should enjoy learning more about this woman who learned, grew and did things her way.

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

The Women’s March

A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession

by Jennifer Chiaverini

#TheWomensMarch #NetGalley

I must confess that I did not know nearly as much as I thought I did about the movement that led to the (eventual) right for women to vote in the United States. I was aware of those who started the movement both the U.S. and England but I was familiar with only one of the three women featured in this novel.

The three are Alice Paul, Ida Wells and Maud Malone. Each has her life story told against the vivid backdrop of the politics of the day and their individual histories.

Alice Paul was raised as a Quaker; Ida Wells knew much about slavery, and Maud Malone was an Irish American librarian. What led each of these women to fight so hard for something that many now take for granted? Jennifer Chiaverini helps readers to understand why they worked persistently for what they believed in.

These three are not the only ones who appear in the book. To name just two others, there are Jane Addams and Ava Vanderbilt.

The history that Alice, Ida and Maud lived through comes to life in this novel. I was especially struck by all that Ida Wells endured including the impact of yellow fever on her life, the lynchings of people that she knew and much more.

Around these women are the men, many of whom wanted to thwart votes for women. They included President Wilson. Will the women succeed in organizing a massive march for the day before his inaugural? Read this one to find out.

I found The Women’s March to be among my very favorite books by this author. I learned a lot but did not feel that I was being lectured to.

This historical fiction should be on reading lists for high school students and up. It would make a superb book club selection.

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

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#MindyKaling #NetGalley

Here is a new entry in a series that will inspire young kids and encourage them to realize their dreams. That is surely what happened for Mindy Kaling. As the author shows, from a young age, Mindy was interested in making people laugh. But…that was not enough. She also wanted to see people who looked like her reflected in the tv shows that they watched.

Readers will enjoy following Ms. Kaling as she achieves her goals. As is always the case with this series, there are some photos and a timeline at the back of the book. There are also suggestions for further research.

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