Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

This book has the most delightful illustrations! Pearl and her mom are so lovingly portrayed by the illustrator as they dance and do other activities together. I would purchase this book for the visuals alone.
The story is sweet as well though. Pearl enjoys being at her mom’s ballet school. Her mother offers her the opportunity to go to preschool but Pearl isn’t sure. The beauty of the story is that the mother does not force her child and so Pearl makes her own decision.
This is a lovely book for introducing children to the activities of preschool. It also shows a caring parent/child relationship.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

The kitten-centric illustrations of Muffin’s home are so adorable and engaging!  Cat lovers of all ages will have fun looking at them.

The book itself is a simple one and is for young children with its cutely repetitive story line.  Muffin is looking for Bunny  Will Bunny be found?  Have fun while you find out.

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

Pub date:  August 25, 2020

Many years ago someone gave me a copy of this author’s novel, The Men and the Girls. I truly enjoyed it.  From that beginning I have gone on to read many of Ms. Trollope’s books.

In this novel, the titular parents, Monica and Gus, left their family in England to move to Spain many years ago.  They established a winery and a life there.  Gus was the dominant partner but Monica also loved things about Spain, especially watching the day begin while she sipped her tea.  This couple’s life changes dramatically when Gus has a stroke.

Gus and Monica have three adult children, Sebastian, Katie and Jake.  Each has their own partner, children and issues.  As though the lives of the three were not already complex, now they have to figure out how their love and sense of responsibility for their parents will change their lives.  There are many choices to be made as the characters evolve.

I enjoyed this book and became absorbed in the lives of the characters.  Although not a main character, one of Katie’s children self harms.  There is some helpful information about this condition in the novel.  Marta and other characters reflect the reality that life is generally filled with some better and some more challenging times.

For readers who are fans of high quality women’s fiction, this title is highly recommended.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#MumDad #NetGalley

This book will be welcomed by those who are interested in deepening their spiritual life.  It is clearly a Christian title.  For each day, there is a biblical passage, a short personal reflection and several prompts with space to fill in one’s thoughts.  Those who regularly read publications from Our Daily Bread should enjoy this title and find it to be helpful.

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

Pub date:  October 6, 2020

#GodHearsHer40DayDevotionalJournal #NetGalley

I really liked Anne Lamott’s book.  There are some other good choices here as well.  Enjoy.

#IAmNotaLabel #NetGalley

This anthology includes brief biographies of many highly accomplished people who have a disability. In reading this title, kids can read about those who are well known, from Beethoven to Frida Kahlo to Stephen Hawking to Helen Keller and many more. There are also entries about people whom I never knew before, as for example, the physicist Gustav Kirchhoff and Nabil Shaban, an actor and writer, or lawyer Catalina Devanda or athlete Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah..
Of interest is that the author of this collection herself has a disability. She introduces her book by sharing a bit of her own story. The author and those she features shine brightly as they are portrayed in her highly readable style.
Each entry is short and beautifully illustrated, making it very easy for young readers to become engaged. There are also sections including a glossary and a list of resources.

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

This book provides some nice escapism. The protagonist is an American, widowed Countess who lives in England in the early 1900s. In this third entry in the series, Frances (our countess), is trying to plan her sister’s wedding. Mayhem ensues among the country house party, both upstairs and down. Readers of course know that all will be resolved but they will enjoy observing the detection along the way.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#ALadysGuidetoMischiefandMurder #NetGalley

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I spent a semester of college in Somerset so was beyond excited to receive this e galley and revisit an area that I adored. Inside this book, readers can enjoy an armchair visit to twenty beautiful spots including The American Museum and Gardens in Bath, Cothay Manor, Stoberry H0use and more. Each entry has a good amount of information along with gorgeous photos. There is also a section on information for visitors. For those who enjoy gardens, this title is highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  September 15, 2020

#SecretGardensofSomerset #NetGalley

Looking at the photos in this baking book makes me hungry!  Following a section on tools and ingredients there are special sections on things like how to work with dough, how to pipe and more.  The recipes are seasonally organized with an additional section on special occasion recipes.  The end of the book includes measurement conversions and resources.  In terms of the recipes, how about chocolate hazelnut bread pudding or pink lemonade bars or pumpkin swirl brownies or hot cocoa cupcakes?  The special section includes a recipe for an Italian cream wedding cake and peanut butter chocolate graduation caps, among others.  My only complaint…I wish that there had been even more illustrations.

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

This is such a beautiful book with its quite appealing and colorful illustrations.  There is so much that can be learned about birds in this short title.  There is everything from details about the appearance of birds in terms of their features, to their homes, to making a bird feeder. There are also chapters on birds in the different seasons.  Credit is given for the hard work that birds do including eating insects and pollinating flowers. There are also tips for bird watching. This book would make a welcome gift to a young nature lover in your life.

Pub date:  September 1, 2020