Sheri Richey's Blog, page 34

Rough Passage to London by Robin Lloyd

Lyme, Connecticut, early nineteenth century. Elisha Ely Morgan is a young farm boy who has witnessed firsthand the terror of the War of 1812. Troubled by a tumultuous home life ruled by the fists of their tempestuous father, Ely's two older brothers have both left their pastoral boyhoods to seek manhood through sailing. One afternoon, the Morgan family receives a letter with the news that one brother is lost at sea; the other is believed to be dead. Scrimping as much savings as a farm boy can muster, Ely spends nearly every penny he has to become a sailor on a square-rigged ship, on a route from New York to London—a route he hopes will lead to his vanished brother, Abraham. 

My Take:  I won this advance proof in a Goodreads Giveaway and feel very fortunate for that.  I loved the story and the premise behind its writing. I enjoy researching my family history also and found the story even more engaging because it was an idea born from his family tree. I only wished he would have included a genealogy chart at the end to show us the family that followed and his relationship to the Sea Captain Elisha Ely Morgan.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book -- a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-first birthday they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and with very little to go on, "Nell" sets out on a journey to England to try to trace her story, to find her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell's death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. At Cliff Cottage, on the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, Cassandra discovers the forgotten garden of the book's title and is able to unlock the secrets of the beautiful book of fairy tales.

My Take:   I enjoyed this book and I really didn't expect to like it much.  It was a gift and I'm not usually a reader of things set in Australia, but even though I wouldn't have selected it myself, I'm glad I read it.  It was truly a woven tale.  I especially enjoyed the surprise twist to the mystery at the end.  No spoilers here!

Moving House

Well, I've moved again and survived it.  Twice in less than a year is exhausting, but this time I hope to stay here for at least a year. Of course the house still looks like someone has ransacked it looking for a hidden key, but all my belongings are at one address.  Now the challenge is to find somewhere to put all of the things sitting in the middle of the room.

I always enjoy a new town.  Learning where things are, learning what the town has to offer and how to navigate the area are enjoyable challenges.  This town is rather small by comparison to others I've lived in though, so it may not take long to learn.  I'm sure I will be restless if I'm here much more than two years.  That is a personal flaw of mine in most people's opinion.  I become complacent when things are predictable and routine; I'm always ready to start anew.  I think I'm maximizing the time I'm given by exploring and experiencing as much as possible.  You only live once. 

The Twelfth Enchantment by David Liss

Lucy Derrick is a young woman of good breeding and poor finances. After the death of her beloved father, she becomes the unwanted boarder of her tyrannical uncle, fending off marriage to a local mill owner. But just as she is resigned to a life of misery, a handsome stranger—the poet and notorious rake Lord Byron—arrives at her house, stricken by what seems to be a curse, and with a cryptic message for Lucy.

With England on the cusp of revolution, Lucy inexplicably finds herself awakened to a world where magic and mortals collide, and the forces of ancient nature and modern progress are at war for the soul of England . . . and the world. The key to victory may be connected to a cryptic volume whose powers of enchantment are unbounded. Now, challenged by ruthless enemies with ancient powers at their command, Lucy must harness newfound mystical skills to preserve humanity’s future. And enthralled by two exceptional men with designs on her heart, she must master her own desires to claim the destiny she deserves.
 
My Take:   Intriguing story and I enjoyed this very much.  I loved the historical setting and the whimsical characters.  I plan to read more from this author.

Jefferson Key by Steve Berry

Four presidents of the United States have been assassinated—in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963—each murder seemingly unrelated. But what if those presidents were all killed for the shocking same reason: a clause contained in the United States Constitution? This is the question faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone. When President Danny Daniels is nearly killed in the heart of Manhattan, Malone risks his life to foil the murder—only to find himself at odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution. Racing across the nation and taking to the high seas, Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt must break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves—one powerful enough to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.

My Take:   I love a good conspiracy theory and this book held my interest.  If you are a history buff and mystery enthusiast, you should enjoy it.  This is a new author for me but I would like to read more from him.  It's a book a can recommend.

Pontoon: A Novel of Lake Wobegone by Garrison Keillor

In the little town of Lake Wobegon, a wedding is planned down to the last detail, from the cheese and pâté to the flying Elvis to the pontoon boat. Meanwhile, a good Lutheran lady prepares to die, her daughter meets a lover at the Romeo Motel, and a delegation of renegade Lutheran pastors from Denmark comes to town. It is Lake Wobegon as you've imagined it—good, loving people who drive each other slightly crazy.

My Take:   I know of Garrison Keillor but am not a PBS follower so I didn't know any details about the Lake Wobegon books.  I do enjoy a good series drama though and the pitch sounded interesting.  However, the book was not.  I made it almost half way through and quit.  I couldn't even tell you what happened in the part that I read because it didn't hold my interest at all.  I wouldn't recommend it myself and I'll never try any Garrison Keillor again.  Personally, I find his voice irritating on the radio, but I know he is widely acclaimed and admired by many.  It's just not for me.

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

Based on Jennifer Worth's bestselling memoirs, Call the Midwife is the true story behind the beloved PBS series. Viewers everywhere have fallen in love with this candid look at post-war London. In the 1950s, twenty-two-year-old Jenny Lee leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in London's East End slums. While delivering babies all over the city, Jenny encounters a colorful cast of women—from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives, to the woman with twenty-four children who can't speak English, to the prostitutes of the city's seedier side.

My Take:   I enjoy the TV series so I wanted to read the book.  The book was interesting but I think I enjoy the midwife characters in the BBC series more than those described in the book. They are more colorful and upbeat.  Likewise, I preferred the TV version of the patients more because they were less gruesome.  I'm sure the book depicts a more realistic portrait of her time spent in this profession but sometimes I'm not seeking reality.  I didn't initially realize that it is the first book in a trilogy and I have only read the first one, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes the show.  I didn't like it well enough to seek out book 2 and 3 though.

A Modern Witch Series by Debora Geary

This is a 7 book series about a contemporary family of witches who welcome and train new witches.  I am not a paranormal reader but I do have a fondness for witches (and series).  This family actually seems like a family who might live next door rather than anything supernatural.  They are loving and supportive of each other with interesting challenges and remedies.  I liked some of the books better than others but was anxious to continue after reading each one.  Some reviewers found them syrupy sweet, but I thought they were all rather delightful and if there were more than 7, I would have just kept going.  Ms. Geary has another witch family series that I plan to try in the future and would eagerly recommend this series.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Renee is the concierge of a grand Parisian apartment building, home to members of the great and the good. Over the years she has maintained her carefully constructed persona as someone reliable but totally uncultivated, in keeping, she feels, with society's expectations of what a concierge should be. But beneath this facade lies the real Renee: passionate about culture and the arts, and more knowledgeable in many ways than her employers with their outwardly successful but emotionally void lives. Down in her lodge, apart from weekly visits by her one friend Manuela, Renee lives resigned to her lonely lot with only her cat for company. Meanwhile, several floors up, twelve-year-old Paloma Josse is determined to avoid the pampered and vacuous future laid out for her, and decides to end her life on her thirteenth birthday. But unknown to them both, the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours will dramatically alter their lives forever. By turn moving and hilarious, this unusual novel became the top-selling book in France in 2007 with sales of over 900,000 copies to-date.

My Take:   This book was recommended to me by a friend that I greatly respect, but I found it a chore to finish.  The first person voice switches between chapters which is distracting to me.  I didn't like the little girl Paloma and was tempted to skip her chapters.  The story dragged slowly in the beginning and I imagine many readers abandon the book before reaching the middle.  The one character I really liked, Renee, did not finish the story as I would have liked to see it done.  And when I got to the end, I wished I hadn't read it.  No spoilers here, but the ending was disappointing to me.  I would not recommend this book.

Grand Tour Series by Lisa Bergen

Book 1 - Glamorous Illusions
When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

Book 2 - Grave Consequences
For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime takes unexpected twists. And her future—her very life—depends on the decisions she’ll make at each crossroad. As her European tour with her newfound family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. Meanwhile, a forbidden love continues to claim her heart, putting everyone’s plans in danger.  And as Cora stays one step ahead of it all, what might need the most protection is her own heart, torn between the dramatic pursuit of a dashing Frenchman and a man who has been quietly staking claim to her affections all along. Love has dangers all its own. She must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices, as each one has grave consequences.
Book 3 - Glittering Promises
For Cora Kensington, the Grand Tour was to be the trip of a lifetime. She discovered the family she never knew she had, and may have even found the love she longs for in Will. And yet her life has just become infinitely more challenging.Hounded by journalists chasing the beguiling story of the newest American heiress, Cora fights to remain true to her past, reconcile her present, and still embrace her future. But as Will struggles with her newfound wealth, she begins to wonder if their love is strong enough to withstand all that threatens to pull them apart. Complicating matters is the stubborn pursuit of Pierre de Richelieu and the increased demands on her time and attention. Cora must stand up for what she believes—regardless of how that might challenge current family and cultural norms—in order to remain true to who she really is.  And as she glimpses the end of the tour, Cora knows it’s time to decide Who and what defines her … and who and what does not.   My Take:   I very much enjoyed this series.  I received the 3 books in the mail and first thought they didn't sound like something I would have chosen for myself.  It is categorized as a Christian Romance and that's not a genre I would ordinarily read, but each book kept me captivated.  The characters were all engaging and likeable.  The heroine is strong and courageous with a tender and genuine relationship.  I was disappointed when Book 3 came to an end.  As for the Christian label, there was an occasional mention of God's will but nothing preachy.  It was basically just a clean romance story.  I would recommend it.