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

In May 2019, Katherine Reay’s novel The Printed Letter Bookshop was published.  The new book, Of Literature and Lattes can be read on its own but will be enjoyed most by those who have read The Printed Letter.  The setting in Of Literature and Latte is the same town as in the prior book and readers catch up with the lives of some of the characters from that book as well.  However, the novel also has its own plot and some new characters.

In this book Alyssa has left a job with a company that seems to be based on Theranos and that similarly explodes for Alyssa.  With nowhere to go and under investigation, she returns to the town where her parents (characters in The Printed Letter) live.  Alyssa has to figure out what to do with her life and with her unhappiness.

Jeremy has come to Winsome to run the kind of coffee shop that many of us dream of, one that values community and great beans that make great drinks.  However, the shop is struggling as is Jeremy.  One ray of brightness is his daughter but his daughter’s mother is threatening to leave town.

Janet, from the prior novel. is trying to have a life in which she has stronger relationships with Alyssa and Seth, the man she first married, and is again seeing.  It is complicated.

The stories of these characters come to life and I think that readers will care about them.  I did not find Of Literature and Latte to be as strong a novel as The Printed Letter but I am pretty confident that this author’s many fans will be eager to engage with this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.  By the way, I love the cover.

#OfLiteratureandLattes #NetGalley

Below is my review of The Printed Letter

I have read several books by Katherine Reay and will rank this one among my favorites. It is the story of three women who run a bookshop following the death of one of the protagonist’s relatives. The main characters are Madeline, who inherits the shop; Clare who feels unseen by her family and struggles with her teenage daughter; and Janet who made one mistake that led to the end of her marriage and another that led to a major crisis for the store. The stories of these characters overlap and form the basis for the novel.

The novel takes place in a small town outside of Chicago. The location feels idyllic as does the bookshop.

If you have ever had a dream about owning a bookstore that enhances a community, you will enjoy this novel. There are definitely struggles for the store but the author makes owning a bookshop feel so worthwhile.

I enjoyed this novel very much. There are friendship, romance and books, books, books within these pages. An added bonus was the number of books that are named in the novel and the complete list of those titles at the end. This list is a great resource for future reads.

So…if you like a light story with a great setting, think about this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book about books.

Most people feel anxious at times.  Some are able to manage anxiety without becoming chronically overwhelmed, while for others it is most debilitating. If you are anxious much of the time and would like that to shift, you might want to read this book.

The author presents and elaborates on 7 steps that help in reducing anxiety.  They come under the acronym CLEANSE.  These are clear reactivity, look inward, emit, activate joy, nourish, surrender and ease.  Each of these concepts is clearly described in the book.

The author explains what anxiety is, where it come from and how to understand it and thrive.  This title is geared toward the layman but mental health professionals may also want to take a look.

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

Non-fiction, fiction and mystery to choose from.  Dawn French is a comedian and author. Harry’s Trees got good reviews.  The two non-ficiton titles are both by well-known historians.  The other two are historical mysteries.

A beach read, a couple of thrillers and some classic mystery stories.  Hope you find something that you would like to read.

Adults often feel flummoxed when the time comes to talk to children about “how babies are made.” This book with its appealing multicultural illustrations helps come to the rescue.

All Ways Family is geared towards six to ten year olds, although I would just recommend this as a guideline. The book’s approach is to have children talk about their families. Readers starts with Paula, who goes to see the ultrasound with her heterosexual parents. When Paula returns to school with the ultrasound, her teacher talks to the class about reproduction.

This book is very inclusive. The classmates go on to hear from children where there was assisted reproduction and families formed by adoption.

The book provides an introduction to talking about “All Ways” families may be formed. It can help adults to begin a discussion with children who are at that age where adults need to begin this conversation.

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

They say that you can’t judge a book by its cover but I have to say that, as soon as I saw this one, the visual appeal made me want to read Murder at the Mena House.  This is an historical mystery set in Egypt in 1926.  The author does a wonderful job with the setting, both in terms of the indolent, luxury hotel and the sites, including the pyramids, museums, camel races and more.  There are a variety of colorful characters and some interesting backstory for the majority of them.

I think that this is the author’s first published book.  I enjoyed this read although the mystery itself was the least engaging part for me.  I will read further adventures of Jane as they are published.  She was a good guide to Egypt and those around her.

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

Did you know that Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s first name is actually Joan?  Did you know that she was left handed and felt the injustice of being told that she had to become a righty…but she did not. These are just a couple of the interesting things that children will learn in this excellent beginning chapter book on the Supreme Court Justice.

The illustrations, charts and more in this book are vibrant and engaging.  They add to the text and help to keep a young reader’s attention and interest.

In addition to telling Ruth’s story, this book includes many extras.  There are definitions of words, questions to think about, family trees, quotes from RBG and even a quiz at the end so readers can see what they recall from the text.  There is also a helpful bibliography.

If you know a girl (or boy) that wants/needs to know that women can succeed and fight for what they believe in, encourage them to take a look at this book.  It belongs  in school libraries for elementary school children.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.  Even as an adult, I enjoyed reading this story and learning more about RBG.

A recently published title by Hurston, magical realism, a popular book by De Bernieres, and then mysteries and suspense.  Enjoy.

This book is geared towards Christian readers but you do not have to be Christian to take in its messages of how to live life, ways to cope and acceptance.  There are short entries with something to think about in each.  If you would like to start or end your day thinking about the big issues (often manifested in small ways), this may be a title for you.

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

#YouBelong #NetGalley

This book looks like a terrific resource for those who would like to become better home bakers.  There are so many delicious recipes in this book but I will list just a few;  soft peanut butter cookies, pistachio cookies, pumpkin and white chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch blondies, pumpkin bars, raspberry jam bars, cranberry pear crumble pie, praline pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, blueberry muffins, coconut bread, snickerdoodle cupcakes, orange pound cake, buttermilk biscuits, shortcake biscuits and more.

The book starts with a helpful introduction that covers topics including what is needed in the kitchen, along with what might be nice to have but is not essential.  This is followed by explanations of terms such as folding, creaming, kneading and more.

The recipes themselves are clearly laid out and feel quite doable.  There are photos of techniques and some photos of the baked goods.

I am not a kitchen whiz so the fact that I feel that I could make some of these baked goods is high praise.  If you are more talented, there is still a plethora of recipes for you to try.

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