This title follows on last year’s debut by this author. A Fatal Finale was a good title for cozy readers and the same can be said for A Fatal Night. Here, readers welcome back Ella Shane. This time around she is getting ready for opening night. The opera is one based on the well-known story of the princes in the tower.
Well, aficionados know that passions are often aroused at the opera. Still, it is a surprise when a murder occurs.
Watch as this Gilded Age mystery is solved by the intrepid heroine. It is a fun read with a nice sense of its period’s way of life..
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Those who regularly read my reviews know that I like old fashioned activity books. They are fun, teach a bit and do NOT have anything to do with screens. So, no surprise that I like this activity book and recommend it.
Within this title’s brightly colored pages are a variety of puzzles. For example, children can trace the route to a food from each of a number of countries. Then, on the next page they are invited to create their own menu. The world map that is for coloring asks children to choose six colors; they will then see that no two countries of the same color are touching. This seems like a nice way for kids to see how big our world is. The other activities also look like they would appeal to the children for whom this book was created.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Meet the bees of the world, with Buzzwing the honey bee
by Moira Butterfield
#TheSecretLifeofBees #NetGalley
Children will enjoy learning more about bees in this title. Buzzwing the honey bee is their guide to many things bee related. Buzzy shares facts about bees’ anatomy, their jobs, how honey comes to be, and their homes, for example. There are also stories in the book; these include a tale from ancient Greece and others from India India and Thailand, among others.
This book has enticing illustrations. They are bright and colorful. In some of these, children are asked to find something as, for example, ladybugs.
Some young children learn to fear bees at a young age. Spending time with this book should help to lessen fear and to intrigue. I can imagine some kids will be looking for bees after spending time with this title. All in all, this is a very appealing book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Truth here…I love Anne of Green Gables. I have read the first book in the series more than once and I adored the old TV series with Megan Fellows. The original may seem wordy to today’s young readers but it is still a great read aloud or read alone for elementary school kids. There are fun adventures in the book and also universal longings (as for love and acceptance).
For a child who is not ready for the length of the unabridged book this could be a good introduction. It may even encourage some to go to Montgomery’s novel. The events are true to those in the book. There is an added plus here with the beautiful, vividly rendered illustrations.
What happens to Anne (remember the important final E) when Gilbert Blythe comes to school? Follow the short chapters to find out.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Readers go to cozy mysteries when they want a break from the harshness of life. Yes, bad things happen in these stories, including murder, but there is not over the top violence. Also, books in this genre tend to feature likeable protagonists, pets, inviting small town settings and often the chance to learn about something…think baking or in this case a flower shop.
This title goes according to that formulation and will be enjoyed by fans of the genre. The protagonist has returned to the place where she grew up having faced stresses away from home. However, home doesn’t provide a stress free existence. As could be guessed from the title, someone is murdered in the flower shop.
There are suspects, townsfolk whom readers will like and, of course, a crime to be solved. All will be resolved.
This is the first in a new series. Cozy lovers may well look forward to any books that follow.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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.
Jill Mansell is one of the very best writers of women’s fiction. Her novels always have heart and warmth, along with good plots, likeable characters and smile for readers. This time we meet Didi and Shay; Rosa, Red, Benny, Ingrid, Harry, Will and others, including a well-known actress. All are well portrayed and people that readers will enjoy getting to know.
Didi and Shay met as teens and broke up; now, Shay is back. Will their past history derail them or will they find their happy ever after? Shay’s dad has been in and out of jail many times and yet he is a most appealing character. Red is dying and wants to spend time in the town where Shay grew up and where Shay is living in Didi’s hotel. Layla is Didi’s closest friend; will she find love through Shay’s dating site or closer to home? Rosa, Layla’s mother, loved her husband Joe who died. She is offering shelter to Shay’s dad, Red, and becomes involved with Benny, a goodhearted man to whom she sold her house.. And, there is more although this gives a sense of all of the many interrelationships in this heart warming novel.
Readers looking for a relaxing read should mark their calendars for this books’ release date. I highly recommend it. Ms. Mansell has written many novels; readers may want to read them all.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
I love the concept of this title. It fuses a story with music by Beethoven. Readers of the published version of this title will be able to listen to some music snippets as they look at and read the story. This seems like a nice way to introduce young ones to some classical music.
Children who lie in bed creating stories will surely relate to Sofia who imagines that she is a pirate. Her adventures form the core of this nicely illustrated title. There are a sea monsters, a mermaid and even a treasure. So much fun for one evening.
Of note is that there are a playlist and some information about Beethoven at the end of the book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 