The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams is an e book bargain

#TheWhisperedWord #NetGalley

The Whispered Word is the second entry in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series.  The main characters’ secrets were fully described in the first book but a reader can still enjoy this one as a standalone novel.

What I enjoyed most about this book were the characters and the setting.  Yes, belief has to be suspended, but I would love to visit and spend time with Nora and her three closest friends.  Nora’s town, Miracle Springs. attracts people in need of saving and second chances.  Nora owns the local bookstore and is a very astute and well-versed bookseller.  There are many references to both fiction and non-fiction titles throughout the novel.  Nora herself is named for the character in Ibsen’s play.  Just a few of the titles mentioned in the novel include The Witch of Blackbird Pond, A Doll’s House, Harry Potter, One Snowy Day and a number of books on adoption and tidying up.

But of course, there is more than just books in this book.  Abilene comes to town and is a young girl who has had a difficult life and clearly has secrets of her own.  Has she committed crimes including murder?  There is also a shop, Virtual Genie that is offering to consign goods for people in the town.  It looks like a fantastic service but is there more to it?  You can probably answer these questions but finding out the answers is still fun.

The Whispered Word is about friendship, relationships, taking risks…and solving mysteries.  It is an excellent cozy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  I enjoyed my second visit with these characters and am eager for book three.

by Deanna Raybourn

#ASinisterRevenge #NetGalley

Deanna Raybourn enjoys writing series. I have read all of the titles featuring Julia Grey and recommend them. I was very excited to spend time with a title in her series featuring Veronica and Stoker (among others in the rich cast of characters). I can’t wait to read all of the ones that I missed!

Despite not having read other books about Veronica, it was quite easy to become absorbed in this story and its people. It is clear that there were difficulties between the main characters, Stoker and Veronica, at the end of the last book. This one picks up as Veronica and Stoker’s brother search for him in a scenario that recalls The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Tiberius needs the help of these two. Veronica is a lepidopterist while Stoker likes nothing better than dinosaur bones. They also sleuth and that is what is required here.

In a mystery with roots that seem to come from the past, old friends of Tiberius are being killed. This group met at university and became close, even giving a name to their friendship circle. After graduation, the plan was to travel in Europe and spend time in one another’s family homes. When the group was at Tiberius’s family estate an accident (or was it murder?) took place. Now, in the book’s present, others in the group are being killed. Veronica and Stoker need to keep Tiberius from being the next victim as they dig deep into the case.

Raybourn ably brings together her cast of characters, each of whom is a well portrayed individual. The plot crackles. The relationship between Veronica and Stoker crackles as well.

I highly recommend this title to those who love historical mysteries with good characters, especially a strong and atypical woman of her time in Veronica. The plotting was also engaging.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 07 March 2023

Jennifer Ryan has a talent for writing absorbing historical fiction. She began with The Chilbury Ladies Choir, a book that I very much enjoyed. Next came The Spies of Shilling Lane and then The Kitchen Front. I recommend all of these. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is the next, English set, WWII story by this author. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

This is a story that, to me, was about change and transformation. Do people have to stay in their strictly defined (by them or others) roles or can they move toward the lives that they want? Watch the characters to find out.

Readers follow three women whose lives and circumstances have been impacted by loss, the war and a heretofore acceptance of given roles. First is Grace; she is the daughter of a village vicar. When Grace’s mother died she stepped up to support her father. Grace, who puts her own needs last, is a very kind “do-gooder”. She is scheduled to marry another vicar but is she settling? What will happen when she again encounters the son of the squire who was a childhood friend? Readers will want the best for this good and likeable character.

Then there is Violet. She accepts and relishes her place in society. She is a rather self-important snob as the novel opens. When Violet is called up to do war work, how will she change? What talents will she discover? How will her views of people change? Violet has always wanted to marry a title, maybe even more than the man. What will happen when she meets a brash American?

Last, but definitely not least, there is Cressida. She is a successful fashion designer whose life is upended by the Blitz. Cressida is Violet’s aunt and Grace’s father is an old friend. Will Cressida and Grace’s father let go of their past grief enough to perhaps get together? Even if a reader thinks that they know the answers, there is pleasure in reading this title.

The author, in addition to telling her characters’ stories, provides readers with an interesting take on the period. Through fashion, readers learn about the system of clothing coupons and a contest for making do in a fashionable way with less. Cressida enters this contest. She also helps Grace to refashion her mother’s beautiful wedding dress…and, by the way, what is the history of this dress? And, of course, there is the sewing circle.

I truly loved this book. I enjoyed the people, the setting and the historical context. Even if you suffer from WWII historical fiction fatigue, I recommend that you read this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballentine for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle

https://randomhouse.box.com/s/t3sgfg7hpaurx0fuaomq9xjwllafeswy

The above should link to a book club kit for this title.

Sulari Gentill has authored a number of books in an historical mystery series set in 1930s Australia.  It is a time when there is much unrest; on the one side is the New Guard, a Fascist group, while, on the other, there are the Communists, among others.  Historically, WWII is coming and tensions are high.

Ms. Gentill uses this time period to good effect in her mysteries which feature a mix of fictional and historical characters. In this one, the historical figures include a number of politicians, and readers spend time at the new Parliament building. One does not have to stretch very far to find some parallels with our own uncertain times. There is a quote that relates to the story’s title and those (and our) times.  It is “The dangerous language you speak of is the truth.”

The series in general and this novel feature family dynamics, political intricacies, murder, chases, romance and suspense.  Readers familiar with the series will be delighted to spend time with main characters Rowly (a kind of Lord Peter Wimsey if Wimsey were more on the left), poet Milton, painter Clyde and the female sculptor, Ed.  There is a new character as well, a woman with whom Rowly had been in love as a teen;  will she take Edna’s place in his affections? Readers will also find that Wilf, Rowly’s brother, makes an appearance and the two seem as fractious as ever.

A lot happens in this novel.  A communist is killed on the steps of Parliament.  Egon Kisch, an anti-Fascist (a true historical figure) who wants to speak in Australia may not be allowed in the country; how will he and Rowly intersect?  There is an unidentifiable young woman who is found murdered early in the novel; who is she?  There is a famous air race and more.  The novel is busy but it works.

Each chapter opens with a fictitious newspaper account.   These add a sense of veracity to the book and parallel some of what happens.  series.

I enjoy Sulari Gentill’s novels more each time that I read them.  I highly recommend this one.

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

pub date:  June 9, 2020

 

 

 

Miss Manners, aka Judith Martin, first began writing about etiquette many years ago. This book is her return to scolding and helping us out. With her signature wit and common sense, along with an inability to suffer fools gladly, Miss Manners dispenses advice and opinions on everything from Christmas wish lists to restaurant behavior to wedding etiquette and so much more. A warm welcome back to the acerbic Miss Manners whose advice is spot on and entertaining to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

#MindingMissManners #NetGalley

How to Survive in Ancient Greece by Robert Garland

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJune 12, 2020

The publisher of this book, Pen & Sword, previously issued a book called How to Survive in Ancient Egypt. I enjoyed that book so was delighted to have the opportunity to read the ARC of a book on surviving in Ancient Greece. (See archive for a review of the Egypt title).
If you are interested in the subject, this book is a treasure trove. Read about Athenian history and learn how the city was run. Learn more about the religion, the family the system of slavery and more. Find out how women were viewed by men, how children were treated and educated, where to shop, what a house looked like, jobs and more. This book includes so many interesting sections.
If you are a person who enjoys imagining life in other eras, give this book a try. I think that you will be fascinated.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Mason’s Oxford set stories featuring Ray and Ryan. The fourth of these A Killing in November was recently published. All of them have been reviewed on my blog.

This new series has two entries out with a third on tap. It is different from the DI Wilkins titles noted above. It is more spare in its style. The reader has all that they need in a story that has no extra padding.

Readers will soon know that Alice, who had a troubled home life, was not seen after a last sighting while delivering newspapers. What happened to her? No spoiler so readers will have to pick this one up.

Interestingly the finder of the title spends a lot of time reading a particular Henry James story. Is that significant? Readers can decide.

Mason is a talented writer and I look forward to whatever he next writes.

Mason’s novels

Although I reference an e book bargain, that was only true at the time of posting.

https://joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=58114

https://joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=57585

https://joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=55010

#TheFarmersWife #NetGalley

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew that I wanted to read it. The book fully delivered on what I was hoping for.

This is a beautifully written account of the life and family (several generations) who live and work on a farm in the Lake District. Start at the beginning with Helen’s reflections which are beautiful and insightful. Go on to read the whole book.

The author knows that she is lucky to live in such a beautiful area but also acknowledges that she, her husband, four children and animals have good times and challenges. All are recounted well.

In addition to the narrative, there are some lovely line drawings in these pages (starting with the hens). There are also many recipes.

Readers who enjoy memoirs, stories about women and/or who fantasize about a rural life, here is just the book for you (or someone on your holiday list). I really enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Horizon for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in September 2023

From the Publisher

#TheFarmersWife #NetGalley

A Novel

by Katherine Center

Every time that I am given a chance to spend time with Katherine Center, I find myself eager to immerse myself in her fictional world. I know that she will tell a good (if slightly predictable) story and that I will forget about the real world for a bit, something that I welcome these days.

This time readers learn something about what it is like to be a bodyguard. For example, it is in the training and a person does not have to be BIG to be able to do the job. That is why Hannah has been good at her job.

As the novel opens, bodyguard Hannah is having a hard time. Her boyfriend Robbie has broken up with her and is dating Hannah’s close friend. To make things worse and sadder, Hannah’s mother has died. She was not an easy woman but this is still life changing. Usually Hannah uses work to escape, the farther away the better. However, this time her boss is not letting that happen.

Instead, and under protest, Hannah is hired to look after a heart throb movie star, Jack Stapleton who is in Texas which is where Hannah is based. Hannah will pose as Jack’s girlfriend feeling dubious about this as she is no glamour queen. Despite not wanting the position, Hannah will do her best.

From here, readers spend time with Jack as he faces a family issue. How will being the bodyguard for Jack go? Will there be mutuality in Jack and Hannah’s relationship, despite Hannah’s always wanting to be professional? Turn the pages to find out.

Readers may feel that they know what will happen and that’s okay. The fun is in watching the plot unfold and just enjoying it.

I got to do my favorite thing with this title, toggling between the book and the audio. This works so well for me. The narration was clear and easy to follow.

Whichever way, you like your Katherine Center novels or, if you are just discovering this author, give this title a look. It is a good book for those looking for a break.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 19 Jul 2022