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

Some e book bargains for April 25, 2020

A variety once again. I just purchased the short story collection and am excited about dipping into it. The Paula Daly book was made in to a tv series that is available on one of the streaming networks (I forget if it is on Britbox or Acorn TV.) The Fletcher mystery is free. Kristin Hannah has written lots of good women’s fiction titles. Also Chabon, a title by Delderfield and one on horses. Hope there is something for you!

100 Years of the Best American Short Stories Between Sisters Collected Fiction Just What Kind of Mother Are You? The Middle Temple Murder Chosen by a Horse Long Summer Day

Let’s go: Wilma Rudolph My First Wilma Rudolph by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

This title is a board book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. As is always true of Ms. Sanchez Vegara’s books, this title is beautifully illustrated and inspiring as it tells the story of athlete Wilma Rudolph. Young children will learn the amazing story of this girl with 19 siblings who went on to achieve great athletic feats, despite having been diagnosed with polio at the age of four.
In telling Wilma’s story, the author honestly and sensitively addresses the racism of Ms. Rudolph’s era. In acknowledging this the author opens the way for a good discussion with a child.
Get these books for a child you know; they will learn that life is full of amazing opportunities and will, hopefully, see that they can set their sights high. They will see too that obstacles can be overcome.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date

#WilmaRudolph #NetGalley

Zzzzz…The Sleep Workbook: Easy Strategies to Break the Anxiety-Insomnia Cycle by Renata Alexandre, PhD.

The Sleep Workbook: Easy Strategies to Break the Anxiety-Insomnia Cycle by [Renata Alexandre PhD APRN]

The author of this book offers much helpful information and advice to those who have difficulty sleeping due to anxiety. The book offers guidance on the ways in which cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people who are often awake at night. Along with the educative sections, which are detailed and useful, the book includes spaces for reflection where a reader can write journal entries within the book. There are also other helpful sections including a sleep assessment survey and an insomnia severity tool. Additional sections called try this offer useful ways to engage and improve one’s nights.
Many thanks to Callisto publishing for this title in exchange for providing an honest review. I have found this book to be a helpful resource. Four stars.

From the publisher:

A few of the helpful strategies to improve sleep:


Working Through Anxious Thoughts In order to change our thoughts, we must first identify those thoughts that cause discomfort and lower our self-confidence. Once we have identified them, we can begin the step-by-step process of challenging and altering them through reason, which may sometimes conflict with our core beliefs. This is a powerful coping skill and can help you deal with intrusive thoughts. Become Aware of Your Thoughts Identify Negative/Inaccurate Thinking Reshape Negative/Inaccurate Thinking Reread and Re-rate Your Thoughts	CBT-I: There is Help for Insomnia Our behaviors around sleep have the potential of helping us get to sleep and stay asleep at night. These behaviors will also involve our daytime activities. When we make sleep a priority, we learn to balance those things that can reduce our ability to get to sleep and stay asleep with those activities that can promote good sleep. CBT-I works with the following factors. Sleep Hygiene Sleep Restriction Stimulus Control Sleep-Interfering Arousal/Activation Food and Substances Biological Clock	Committing to Change One of the most common roadblocks to managing anxiety and insomnia is failure to admit your sleep need to yourself. It can take some time for your brain to adjust to the idea that you need less sleep than you’ve set as your goal. It seems very logical to conclude that being sleepy means you’re not getting enough sleep. But spending too much time in bed interrupts your sleep because you exhaust your sleep drive. The daytime symptoms of spending too much time in bed are the same as the symptoms of not spending enough time in bed (tiredness, sleepiness, lack of motivation). You’ll get better results if you adjust according to your sleep need.

Now out: You and Me Both by Mahtab Narsimhan

This is a picture book for young children. It tells of two friends who love being together and enjoy all of the same things. Each likes the same kind of jam, feeds the carrots that they are supposed to eat to the class rabbit instead, get haircuts at the same time, etc. To one another they feel like twins and they wonder if people can tell them apart. The reader may want to pay attention to the fact that they are shown in different colors, as they are of different races.

The charm of this book is that the children have not yet learned prejudice. It is based upon a real story. This would be a good book for a nursery/preschool child as it could open up discussion. The illustrations are bold and lively.

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

#YouandMeBoth #NetGalley

A classic adapted for younger readers: A Scandal in Bohemia The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection (Easy Classics) by Sir Arthur Conan Dolye (original author), Stephanie Baudet (adapted by)

This publisher does an excellent job of adapting classics for younger readers. In this instance, the choice is one of the most well known of the Sherlock Holmes canon. Readers will become engaged in the story which is enhanced with cartoon like illustrations. Hopefully, young readers appetite for more stories of Holmes and Watson will follow.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review. Of note is that the adapter explains the meaning of some of the words that may be unfamiliar to the young, modern reader.

Pub Date

#kidsSherlock #NetGalley

Can it be simple? Easy Marriage Counseling 52 Self-Guided Exercises to Deepen Your Relationship by Emelie A. Blank, MA, LMFT, LPC

So many of the books that I have been reviewing seem relevant to our current circumstances. At this moment spouses may be spending more time together than usual and tensions may arise in just about any relationship. While this book was not written with covid in mind, it does seem like a very good resource for now.
The author is a trained clinician who offers this book to couples. Professionals may also find it to be helpful in their work with clients. The book is well organized. Each of the 52 chapters begins with a short vignette about a couple. Following this an activity of some kind is offered. For instance, there is a chapter on self care. This includes many helpful suggestions of ways to care for oneself. Following these ideas, the author offers discussion questions for partners to chat about.
If couples are in serious, unrelenting difficulty it may be risky to try to treat oneself although, with respectful interaction, this book might still be a resource. For those who wish for a better relationship and better communication this title looks quite helpful.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#EasyMarriageCounseling #NetGalley

From the publisher:

One of many engaging exercises:

Answer these questions with your partner. Examine your traditions for holidays and discuss new traditions you may want to create.

What were your family’s traditions for the holiday season? Be specific. What did it look like? What did you do together? How much time did you spend with family? Did you have any important traditions or rituals, like foods, activities or tasks, or family outings?
Is there any overlap in the ways you and your partner celebrated holidays? What are the differences?
What feels refreshing about how your partner celebrates holidays? What makes you nervous?
What traditions are important for you to carry on in your family, and what new traditions do you want to establish?
If you have or plan to have kids, what do you want them to experience from the holidays?

Some e book bargains for April 23, 2020

Mystery, historical fiction, a thriller, Snoopy and the book that sparked my interest in Sociology.

Mallets Aforethought Russka People of the Book The World According to Snoopy Volume Two The Tamarind Seed Invitation to Sociology

Now out: Expressive Sketchbooks Developing Creative Skills, Courage, and Confidence by Helen Wells

The author of this lavishly illustrated title encourages readers to make sketchbooks that are uniquely theirs; she emphasizes that perfection is not the goal. Rather the book is designed as a guided journey and exploration as readers create their own books. The author points out that a sketchbook is a safe place, kind of like a journal it seems to me.
In our current time when it feels that there is so much to stress about, this book will be welcomed by those who need a venue to express and show feelings, thoughts, artwork and more. Throughout the author is encouraging and non-judgmental; she is a welcome companion on the journey.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#ExpressiveSketchbooks #NetGalley

Do you adore Ramona? The Art of Ramona Quimby Sixty-Five Years of Illustrations from Beverly Cleary’s Beloved Books by Anna Katz

I remember Ramona Quimby and her family from both my own childhood and those of my children. Because of so many happy memories, I was thrilled to receive this book from the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The author of this title gives ample attention to the difficulty of writing a book that will engage and appeal to young readers. Of course, she notes Beverly Cleary’s skill in this regard. The author also reminds readers that the illustrations of Ms. Cleary’s books were not static but evolved over the decades. For us, this may mean that some sections of the book evoke more nostalgia than others.
Joyously readers will spend time not only with Ramona but also Beezus, Henry Higgins, Ribsy and more. In addition to the many illustrations, there are excerpts from the books. If this makes you smile, you will definitely delight in this volume.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date

#TheArtofRamonaQuimby #NetGalley

Best New Reads for Mother’s Day: A Sampler

This sampler includes excerpts of new novels from three writers of women’s fiction, all of which promise escape reading. One of the titles, Sunrise on Half Moon Bay, I have already read and enjoyed. Another, the novel by Ms. Thayne is in my TBR pile. The final entry, Seduced by a Steele, is new to me. There is enough of a teaser for each novel that readers will easily be able to decide if they want to read the full title.