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2023 Independent Challenges
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Pat's Independent Challenge
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Lea
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Jul 05, 2023 12:52PM
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Angel's Game. It's been on my TBR since I loved The Shadow of the Wind, but so many people don't like it as much. I decided to have a long break in between the first and the second book - I really want to like the rest of the series, it started out so beautifully. You've been reading some really interesting books. I am adding to my TBR. :-)
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Mid-July update: 1) A Bitter Feast. (Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #18). This is a series I’ve been reading since the beginning. Though this could be read as a stand-alone, by reading through the series, you get to know the characters and their lives have developed and grown. In this one, Duncan, Gemma, and family have been invited by Gemma’s partner, Melody Talbot, to her family home for a weekend visit. The Talbots are hosting a charity luncheon that weekend to be catered by chef Viv Holland. Viv had been a successful chef in London but had returned home to use her talents using local produce. Gemma and her kids have driven down with Melody, but Duncan drives down later. Before he can get there, he is involved in a car crash which starts a series of mysterious deaths and secrets begin to come to the surface. The local detective is only too glad to have so many police on hand to help him solve the secrets behind the deaths. 5 stars
2) Death at Greenway I read this for a mystery book club. The mystery for us was how it won an Agatha Award. The setting is the home of the famous Agatha Christie, known as Mrs. M to her staff and the village. It is wartime and with London being bombed, children are being sent into the country for their safety. Bridie is sent as a nurse to help with ten children though she has not finished her training and seems to be leaving in disgrace with a chance to make amends. Another nurse, Gigi, is also not who she claims to be. 3 stars
3) Her Name Is Rose Iris, a recent widow and mother of Rose, has a bit of scare from a breast scan. When her husband was dying, he made her promise to find Rose’s birth mother as they were her only family and he wanted her to have more people to count on. Rose, a violinist, is at the Royal Academy in London preparing to perform for her important Master Class. Without telling Rose anything, Iris flies from her home in Ireland to Boston to try and hunt down Rose’s birth mother. Both Iris and Rose meet people on their separate journeys who encourage and help them find their ways. 4 stars
4) Life After Life Along with Maggie O’Farrell, I want to read all of Kate Atkinson’s books. No less than one a year, but I should read at least one more from each of them this year. In this one, Ursula dies at birth; or no, she doesn’t. But she dies later. Or does she? We follow Ursula’s life through several different trajectories. Once she makes it through childhood, she goes through World War II, sometimes in London during the Blitz and in another, she has married a German and is stuck there during the war. This may sound confusing, but, somehow, Atkinson makes it work. Ursula is a great character and one the best parts of this book are the family relationships. Ursula is the middle of five children and along with their parents, they all play key roles in her life. 5 stars
5) The Layover A fun romance about some flight attendants written by a flight attendant. I have a daughter who is a flight attendant, so that added an extra layer of enjoyment for me. After ten years, Ava is on her last trip as a flight attendant because she is getting married and her future husband wants her to stay home. She wants to enjoy her last flight as much as possible, but that doesn’t seem likely when she learns she has to work with Jack Stone, someone she has held a grudge against. When they end up getting stuck together on a tropical island, different truths about themselves come out and Ava has to decide if she really wants to give up her career for marriage. 4 stars
6) A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds . Now that my kids are grown, I have more time to spend birding and I have read several books concerning birds in the past couple of years. This book came out recently and it is told by two journalists—Anders and Beveryly Gyllenhaal. After reading and hearing of the report that nearly 3 billion birds have disappeared from North America in the past fifty years, they decided to travel, explore, and learn what is being done about this tragedy. From military bases to cattle ranches, from swamps to mountains across the U.S., they traveled more than 25,000 miles and learned both good and bad. Something I’m learning more of is how important birds really are to the balance of nature in ways most of don’t usually think of. 4 stars
I finished 8 more books in the last half of the month. Five of them in the last week; bringing more total to 14 for the month.7) Sweet Bean Paste Translated from the Japanese, I read this for the Japanese Literature Group. Sentaro spends his days in a confectionery shop making dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste. He owes money to the owner and has a shady past, so all he is trying to do is get by. When Tokue, an elderly woman shows up wanting a job, he immediately turns her away. But when she leaves him some bean paste she has made, he is amazed and reluctantly agrees to hire her. Only she has to work in secret as the owner would probably not approve and her crippled hands would probably put off the customers. A charming book about friendships, disabilities, and the cruel ways the world tries to shut out those with disabilities. 3 stars
8) Shield of Thunder(Troy #2) David Gemmell. Though it’s been several years since I read Lord of the Silver Bow, I was quickly caught up with these characters and the battles they become involved in. An unlikely trio of Piria (a runaway priestess); Kalliades, a warrior who is also running from something and his best friend, Banokles, who is definitely known for his brawn and not his brains. They end up on a ship with Odysseus, who is going to Troy for the wedding of Hector. When several kings end up going to the same wedding, you can expect deceit, plots, and lots of drama. 4 stars
9) Once Upon a Wardrobe “Where did Narnia come from?” Megs little brother, George, has never been well and spends a lot of his time reading. When Megs comes from college, and George learns that the author, C.S. Lewis, is a professor in a college near Megs, he wants her to ask him where he got the idea for Narnia. Megs is brilliant with numbers but has never had much time for stories. Still, for her adored brother, she will do what she can and ends up meeting both Lewis (Jack) and his brother. Both men welcome Megs into their home and over several months, Jack tells her his life story; though not quite answering her question. Though I am somewhat familiar with Lewis’s life story, I enjoyed reading about him again in this format. 4 stars
10) Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart This story begins in the 50’s when two young girls meet on a beach. CeeCee is loud, says whatever pops in her head, and wants to make it big in show business. Bertie is quieter and only wants to get married and have children. Their unlikely friendship endures through the decades. 4 stars
11) Weyward Three different women; three different timelines. What do they have in common? 1619: Altha is on trial for the murder of a man who was stampeded by his own cows. Was Altha responsible? Because she’s a witch?
1942: Violet is kept at home by her father; not even allowed to go into the local village. She longs for an education like her brother, but her interest in nature (especially insects) makes her father fear she may turn out like her mother; who may or may not have been mad.
2019: Kate leaves her abusive husband and heads for Weyward Cottage; a place she recently inherited from her great aunt whom she barely knew. According to village gossip, her aunt was a strange one. But in what way?
I enjoyed the different timelines here and the ways these three women connected and how each one dealt with the difficult circumstances they found themselves in. 4 stars
12) Someone Else's Shoes When Sam Kemp accidentally picks up the wrong gym bag on her way to some important presentations for her job, she has no choice but to wear the expensive six-inch red heels. The good thing: she feels like a different (confident) woman in them. The bad thing: she can hardly walk straight in them. Meanwhile, when Nish Cantor realizes she has the wrong bag, not only would she never be caught dead in the shoes she has been left, she soon learns it is all she has as her rich husband has cut her off and locked her out of everything. How these two very different women come together (with the help of some amazing friends) is a lively caper that kept me laughing and reading too late at night. 5 stars
13) Empress of the Nile: the daredevil archaeologist who saved Egypt’s ancient temples from destruction Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt became enthralled with Egypt and her history when her father brought her to a museum in Paris. Thanks to her father’s encouragement, she went on to study Egyptology and became renowned for her studies both on and off the field. She was part of the French Resistance in World War II, helping to hide and save art from Paris. But among her many accomplishments, helping to save Egyptian temples from drowning in the floodwaters of the proposed Aswan High Dam was certainly the highlight. Reading of this amazing woman and of how these temples were saved was almost like reading a first-rate thriller. 4 stars
14) The Hotel Nantucket The Hotel Nantucket has seen better days, but no one expects it to see any better. London billionaire, Xavier Darling, has other plans though. He buys the hotel and puts it in the hands of Lizbet Keaton to be general manager and not only bring back its early glory, but also gain the coveted fifth key from a hotel reviewer who, so far, has not given any hotel more than 4 keys. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed learning about the different characters; how they interacted, their troubles and how they came together to put together a great season in Nantucket. The ghost factor was a little odd for this type of book, but it added a mystery to the history of the hotel. 5 stars
I always love your updates, Patricia. You write such good summaries of your books. Some of the books you read are already on my TBR, but now I need to reprioritize it. And some of your books are just begging for me to add them. :-)
Lea wrote: "I always love your updates, Patricia. You write such good summaries of your books. Some of the books you read are already on my TBR, but now I need to reprioritize it. And some of your books are ju..."Thanks, Lea! I enjoy writing about what I've read & reading what others think as well. Probably the best part of this group!
Mid-August Update: I've finished 6 books so far this month.1) The Germanicus Mosaic. (Libertus Mystery of Roman Britain #1).
Historical mystery taking place in Britain during Roman rule in the second century. Libertus is a freedman who makes mosaics. His patron asks for his help to solve a murder. Politics are involved, but Libertus is up for the task. A good start to a series I will probably continue. 4 stars
2) Killers of a Certain Age (book club). I’ve read Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey series as well as several from the Veronica Speedwell series and enjoyed them all. However, this one was not quite my cup of tea. Four women assassins have just retired and are on a cruise. When they find out they have been targeted, they have no choice but to plan how to kill those they once worked for. If you like non-stop action (killing) without much plot, you may enjoy this more than me. Most of the members of my book club enjoyed it enough. I still gave it 3 stars.
3) O, Juliet Instead of a play, here is Romeo and Juliet’s story fleshed out into a novel. Knowing the story, I knew it wasn’t going to end well unless the author had a twist up her sleeve? 3 stars
4) The Boys Ethan and Barb work in the same place but with very different jobs. Ethan fixes things and likes to see how things work. Barb answers the phone with the mission of helping people and learning how they ‘work’. Somehow, they fall in love, get married, and soon want to have children, but can’t. One day Barb brings home two young brothers for them to foster. Things don’t go to plan and their relationship is soon in trouble. I enjoyed reading about these characters, their quirks, and their relationship. There is a very strange twist in the book that makes me wish I had read this with a book club. I’m sure there would be a lot of interesting comments. 4 stars
5) Happiness for BeginnersI really loved this book and looked forward to watching the adaptation on Netflix. I couldn’t get past the first thirty minutes. Curious if anyone who hasn’t read the book would like it. Helen, a kindergarten teacher, age 32 has been divorced for a year and she wants to do something different. Something to change her life. So, she signs up for a wilderness course even though she has not even gone camping before. When her younger brother’s best friend practically hijacks her for a ride, she is less than pleased to learn he is going on the same course. Even though she wants them to act like they don’t know each other, the attraction is undeniably there and to Helen’s further disgruntlement, Jake is everyone’s favorite and he manages to save Helen's life more than once. 5 stars
6) Our Best Intentions Single parent and Indian immigrant, Bobby Singh does everything for his daughter, Angie. Newly single and not sure what to do with his young daughter, he signed her up for swim lessons. Angie becomes obsessed with swimming and spends all her spare time swimming. Now in high school, she is hoping to compete at a higher level. During summer break, she is walking home from swimming at her high school. She thinks she hears screaming, then finds Henry, the brother of her once best friend, stabbed and bleeding. What happened and who is responsible, and what does Angie really know becomes the talk of the town. 3 stars
Mod
Bill wrote: "You've had a successful August so far. All these books are unfamiliar to me. I will check them out."Thanks, Bill! Hope you find something to add to your list!
I finished 8 more books in August bringing my total to 14. That's quite a few, even for me!7) Bloomsbury Girls Historical fiction taking place in London in 1950. Bloomsbury Books has been in business for a hundred years and not much has changed in that time. It is run and guided by men, but changes are coming with several key women leading the charge. When the manager becomes ill, they get their chance to prove their worth and work hard to do so. Some well-known literary figures of their time (including Daphne Du Maurier and Ellen Doubleday) appear and help the women in different ways to prove that women have a place in the publishing and writing industries. I listened to the audio narrated by Juliet Stevenson who did a fabulous job. 4 stars
8) Olive, Again Following the Pulitzer prize winning, Olive Kitteridge, we meet Olive again in later life. Though Olive has mellowed somewhat, she is still her prickly, yet honest self, as we meet different people who cross her life in a small town in Maine. Though a novel, this can be read as a group of short stories which revolve around one woman. Though some people find Olive unbearable, there are others who admit they always kind of liked her. Me, too. 4 stars
9) Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley Historical fiction. A tale of two women, mother and daughter. Wollstonecraft escapes from a abusive home and becomes a champion of women’s rights in the late 1700’s. Her “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” was published by someone who supported and encouraged her as a woman writer. Refusing to marry because she knew marriage to be just another form of bondage, she becomes involved with a man, bears a child, and is soon deserted. Her daughter, Mary Shelley, never knows her mother but longs to emulate her and follow her in her footsteps. She falls in love with the married Percy Shelley and follows him in spite of being shunned by family and society. Though she doesn’t believe she has the writing talent her mother had, she is challenged to write a story and begins to write what we know today as “Frankenstein”. I enjoyed reading about both of these two women as I knew very little about either. Thornton brings to life, not only the two women, but the times they lived in. 4 stars
10) The Mountains Wild (Maggie D’arcy #1). The first of a mystery series set in Dublin and New York, homicide detective Maggie D’arcy’s family received a call from the Dublin police twenty-three years ago. Maggie’s cousin, Erin, was missing, so Maggie went to Dublin to try and help find her. Though no trace was ever found, Maggie was inspired to become a detective. Now, her uncle has received another call saying Erin’s scarf has been found while they were looking for another missing girl. So, Maggie tells her uncle she’ll go to Dublin again and try to find out what happened all those years ago. Maggie’s character and the twists and turns in this one made it a solid mystery and I plan to continue yet another series. 4 stars
11) A Necessary Evil (Sam Wyndham #2). India, 1920 and British Captain Wyndham and his sergeant Banerjee (better known as Surrender-Not) are in a car with a Maharajah’s son when the prince is assassinated before their eyes. Even though they quickly track down the killer, Wyndham is not satisfied that the murder has been solved. He manages to convince those over him to let him go to the kingdom of Sambalpore to further investigate. Was it the work of a religious fanatic? Or what about the prince’s playboy brother who is now next in line to the throne? Even the wives of the Maharajah are not above suspicion. I enjoyed this second book as much as the first and look forward to continuing the series. 4 stars
12) 142 Ostriches When Tallulah Jones was thirteen, her grandmother took her from her mostly drunk mother and brought her to the ostrich ranch she ran in the Mojave Desert. Eleven years later, Tallulah accepts a job in Montana wanting to make her own life and her own decisions. But before that can happen, her grandmother dies in an accident and leaves Tallulah the ranch. Though Tallulah wants to just sell the ranch and continue with her plans, circumstances and family intervene. 3 stars
13) Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World I’ve read a couple of books about Luther in the past. Probably my first was in college for a world history class. I wish I could remember the discussions we had and my professor’s comments but far too long ago. Luther was a complex and controversial man, but no one can deny his place in the church and in the world. Metaxas covers Luther’s life and comments on what has become legend and how much truth there may be in some of the stories. Hearing some sermons about Jesus and his dealings with the Pharisees at the same time I was reading about Luther and his conflicts with the Pope and Catholic church made me see quite a few similarities. Though I don’t agree with everything Luther said (and he said and wrote a lot!), his story is fascinating and we all owe a great debt to him. 4 stars
14) Much Ado about Nada Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion (which I’ve never read, so can’t speak to how similar they are), this romance takes place in Toronto in the Muslim community. Nada’s best friend, Haleema, is getting married and she (along with Nada’s mother) wants Nada to soon experience the same. She insists Nada attend a huge Muslim conference, both to meet her fiancé and to introduce her to his brother. But Nada and the brother, Baz, apparently already know each other. And the vibes are not good. What is in their past and what secrets has Nada been keeping from her best friend? I got a little frustrated with the twist in this one (seemed a little too unbelievable for me), but I enjoyed the characters and the different relationships. 4 stars
I have the book on Martin Luther by Metaxes on my shelves, but I never seem to pick it up. Thanks for your review. August has been a good month for you. 14 books! :-)
Mod
Thanks, Lea & Bill! Hope you both get a chance to enjoy Luther. Bill, I think you would enjoy the Sam Wyndham series. I believe there is four or five of them now.
Mod
Alondra wrote: "Kudos on all of your progress, Patricia!!! 14 books is awesome!!"Thanks, Alondra!
Mid-September update: I have finished 8 books so far.1) All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir I’ve done several Bible studies written by Beth Moore and can honestly say I have learned a great deal under her teaching. So, I have a special interest in reading Moore’s story. Though she covers some hard periods in her life, nothing is graphic. She shares her heart in well-written prose with humor and grit. 5 stars
2) When in Rome I mostly listened to this on audio which I enjoyed until I didn’t. Sometimes, I get a bit impatient, so I finished my reading with an ebook. Pop star, Amelia Rose, is burned out and needs a break, but her demanding agent has a full agenda for her. So, inspired by the Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, Amelia takes off in the middle of night for Rome. Rome, Kentucky. When her car breaks down in the yard of grumpy Noah Walker, Amelia is stuck until she can get her car fixed. Though the last thing Noah wants is a houseguest, the two are stuck together for the unforeseeable future. A cute romance with charming side characters who make up the charming town. 4 stars
3) Kala I have read several Irish mysteries lately. Not planned and they were all quite different. In a small village in Ireland, six teenagers are close friends until one of them disappears. Years later, one of the six, Helen returns for her father’s wedding and another, Joe, also returns, a now famous musician. Mush has never left, helping his mother with her café. Though none of them seem to want to return to that earlier time in their lives, when remains are found and proven to be of their missing friend, Kala, the past comes back with a vengeance. Though I can’t say I found any of the characters charming I found myself continuing to turn the pages of this rather gritty, yet compelling book. 4 stars
4) All Good People Here Flowers, a true-crime podcaster (Crime Junkie) debuts with a book that takes some of its elements from a, yes, a true crime. I read this for a book club and overall, I enjoyed it. The story centers around what happened to six-year old January in 1994. In a nearby small town in 2019, another small girl is missing. Could there be any link between the two? Margot, who had been a friend of January’s and is now a journalist, has returned home to take care of her beloved Uncle Luke who is struggling with the early onset of Alzheimer’s. Margot is convinced there must be a link and sets out to prove it and find the killer, even if it means losing her job. The kidnapping and murder of small children is not a subject I would pick up on my own, but the story was told well and though one had to wonder at some of the decisions of the main characters, the mystery and trying to understand what happened kept me turning the pages. 4 stars
5) Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships Another book I read for a book club. Politics is not my thing, but I found Totenberg’s memoir interesting and enjoyed it overall. Apparently, it caused quite a bit controversy—a journalist friends with a Supreme Court judge? Is this ethical? Can a journalist be friends with anyone? Well, it made for interesting discussion anyway. 3 stars
6) The Golden Couple Marissa comes to the therapist, Avery, in the hopes of saving her marriage. She has cheated on her husband and though she tells him the man was just someone she had met casually, he wasn’t. Avery has a ten session system in place, but it doesn’t take long for her to decide that this couple may be more complicated than first appearances seem to indicate. Several twists and creepy characters, I enjoyed this on audio narrated by two narrators, Karisa Vecker and Marin Ireland. 4 stars
7) The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship between a Boy and a Baseball Legend Written by the daughter of Jackie Robinson, this is based on the true story of a young boy, Stephen who lives in Brooklyn and is a huge Dodger fan. When he hears a rumor that one of his heroes, Jackie Robinson, may be moving in nearby, he is so excited, he can hardly stand it. Though Steve’s family is Jewish (as are the rest of the neighbors), Steve learns that differences can be celebrated in many ways. 4 stars
8) When Maidens Mourn Regency England, August 1812. Seventh in a historical mystery series, Hero’s good friend, Gabrielle Tennyson, is found murdered at Camlet Moat where Gabrielle has been doing some archaeological research. Sebastian is called into help not only to discover the killer but also to find out what happened to Gabrielle’s two young cousins who have gone missing. Though Sebastian and Hero still haven’t learned to work together, they do eventually share their findings in their efforts to discover the many mysteries surrounding the site and the Tennyson family. 4 stars
Mod
Bill wrote: "You're having a great month so far. Congrats."Thanks, Bill!
I finished five more books in September bringing my total to 13 for the month.9) Never Meant to Meet You . Marjette, a kindergarten teacher and single mother of a teen-age boy, meets her new neighbor when she sees her crying and can hardly continue to ignore her. Noa has recently lost her husband and her daughter turns out to be one of Marjette’s new students. Though at first, this divorced black woman seems to have nothing in common with her newly widowed Jewish neighbor, they bond over their troubles and learn about friendship and starting over. 4 stars
10) Welcome to Beach Town This book begins with Nikki, a scholarship student at a prestigious high school in California, preparing to give the commencement address. Nikki knows a secret that the wealthy of the town and school are trying to cover up. Does she go along with it? Or does she bring it out in the open and ruin her chances for graduation and college? When Nikki cannot keep silent, she ends up leaving, not only her town, but her surfer father and friends. A tragedy some years later brings her back to the town she never wanted to see again. I found the breaks between the two sections of this book a bit jarring and hard to describe, but overall, enjoyed it. 4 stars
11) The Party Crasher (audio Fiona Hardingham, narrator). I read my first Sophie Kinsella on audio and usually find them to be entertaining family dramas. Though this is one is somewhat centered around a divorce, family ties and their importance are at the forefront. Effie, as the youngest of three, was quite shocked when her parents got divorced two years ago and is less than enamored with her father’s girlfriend, Krista. Selling their family home, Krista throws a major party to give everyone a chance to say good-bye, but she doesn’t exactly invite Effie. Effie (of course) doesn’t want to go anyway, but she does want to retrieve her beloved Russian dolls. She decides to sneak in during the party, grab the dolls, and leave. No problem. Madcap adventures ensue. 4 stars
12) Babel In 1828, Robin Swift is rescued by Professor Lovell after his mother dies of cholera in Canton. Who is Lovell and how does he know Robin and why does he want to bring him to London? Robin is tutored in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese and is promised if he does well, he will be sent to Oxford and enrolled in their Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel. When Robin does make it to Babel, he is dazzled by the city, the school, and the opportunities he seems to have. Not only are the students working on translations, they will also learn about silver-working—the magic that keeps the country running. But, in spite of the excitement of being a part of this special group, Robin soon learns that not everyone is treated equally and working for England can make him a traitor to his homeland. When he meets someone who looks remarkably like him, he learns about a group who are trying to fight the Empire and their control over the world. Will he ignore the voices telling him to leave behind the scholarships, stipends, and other advantages he has been given? Or will he ignore what is being done by the Empire to other countries? 4 stars
13) The Darkness Knows An Icelandic mystery; first in a series. A frozen body is discovered on a glacier and is the body of a man who went missing thirty years before. One of his business associates had been accused of murdering him, but with no proof and no body, had finally been let go. The policeman, Konrad, who had been in charge of the original investigation has since retired, but when the business associate is arrested again, he will only speak to Konrad. Konrad doesn’t want to be involved, but the unfinished business of this case has always haunted him, so he agrees to see the man and is soon caught up in trying to figure out what happened thirty years ago. I liked this one okay. I picked it up because of the great review I read about the second book in series, so I may try that one at some point. 3 stars
Patricia wrote: "I finished five more books in September bringing my total to 13 for the month.9) Never Meant to Meet You . Marjette, a kindergarten teacher and single mother of a teen-age boy, mee..."
I've only read Babel, and enjoyed it too. At times the "message" was too strong, too "in your face", but overall, a very good book. I really loved the linguistic discussions about words' origins.
Ioana wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I finished five more books in September bringing my total to 13 for the month.9) Never Meant to Meet You . Marjette, a kindergarten teacher and single mother of a ..."
The message was strong & I'm sure she meant it that way. I'm now interested in reading Yellowface, another one with a strong message. Not too sure about the Poppy Wars though.
Patricia wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I finished five more books in September bringing my total to 13 for the month.9) Never Meant to Meet You . Marjette, a kindergarten teacher and singl..."
Yellowface is on my TBR, too.
I have finished 4 books so far this month and am in the middle of a couple of long ones, so don't think I'll finish anything in the next few days.1) Homecoming Kate Morton’s books always involve a dual timeline and a mystery of some sort. I loved this one from the shocking prologue to the twisted and surprising ending. On an extremely hot Christmas Eve in 1959, in a small town in South Australia, a delivery man decides to take his horse for a swim before returning home. The horrifying scene he comes upon leads to a murder investigation that rocks the small town for years to come. Sixty years later, Jess, who has worked in London for the past twenty years, receives a call from Sydney letting her know her grandmother, Nora, has had a fall and is in the hospital. Jess returns to her childhood home only to find her grandmother confused and unable to tell her what she had been looking for in her attic. When Jess finds a book in her grandmother’s bedroom telling of the Turner Family Tragedy, she is intrigued and begins to dig into what turns out to be part of her own family history. 5 stars
2) Mexican Gothic After receiving some strange letters from her cousin, Noemi is sent by her father to High Place where her cousin lives with her new husband, to find out the truth of the cries for help. Noemi would rather be partying and living her own life, but she cares for her cousin and her father gives her no choice. From her first day there, she meets a strange family with many rules and obvious secrets. Is her cousin going crazy? Or is her new family--and the strange house they live in—driving her crazy? My second book by Moreno-Garcia. Both have left me underwhelmed, so I must not be the right audience as so many love her. 3 stars
3) In Plain Sight (Joe Pickett #6) When wealthy Opal Scarlett disappears, her two sons immediately begin a war over who will inherit. A stranger shows up who has a grudge against Joe Pickett and no code of ethics. Pickett, as usual, is not only fighting the bad guys, but his own sheriff and mother-in-law. Good series. 4 stars
4) The Personal Librarian Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray. Read for a book club, this historical fiction book tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene who became J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian at a time when women still didn’t have the vote. She helps him obtain rare manuscripts, books, and artwork and becomes famous for both her intelligence and audacity, not only in the New York art world, but also in Europe. But Belle has a secret and it is one she takes to her grave. Belle was listed as “colored” on her birth certificate, but because of her light skin, her mother separated from her father and raised her and her siblings as white. Belle’s father, Richard Greener, was the first black graduate of Harvard and very involved in seeking equality for people of color. Belle had been close to her father, but because of her mother’s decision, and eventually her own, Belle had no contact with her father for years. I found this a very interesting portrayal of a woman who achieved great success at the cost of losing her father and her own heritage. Not mentioned in the book (even in the author’s notes) was when Belle’s racial status was discovered. It was not until 1999 (almost fifty years after her death) that a writer working on a biography of J.P. Morgan found Greene’s birth certificate with a “C” on it for colored. 4 stars
Mod
9) Never Meant to Meet You . Marjette, a kindergarten teacher and single mother of a teen-age boy, mee..."
I've read a couple of Indridason's mysteries. Not my favorites but I did enjoy them and I'll keep checking him out.
I finished 7 more books in October, bringing my total to 11 for the month. 5) Anything Is Possible (Amgash #2) A group of short stories which revolve around Lucy Barton and the town she grew up in, but only one actually has Lucy Barton in the story. Strout is excellent at portraying different characters and the ways they approach life. 4 stars
6) To Say Nothing of the Dog I don’t read a lot of science fiction, but if more were as delightful as this one, I would definitely read more. The second of Willis’s time travel books, we are now in 2060 where Ned has made too many trips to the past in search of a “Victorian atrocity” (the bishop’s bird stump which you will not totally understand till towards the end of the book). He is sent back to Victorian times because that was a peaceful time and, hopefully, he will get some rest. But, no rest for Ned as he is set in the midst of a wild cast of characters (to say nothing of the dog, Cyril, a delightful character in his own right) and soon learns that a cat (which are extinct in 2060) has somehow gone through the net and his own appearance has caused Terence to miss meeting his future fiancé and Verity has come and needs Ned’s help in setting things right. If not, disaster may strike during World War II or maybe the Battle of Waterloo. I could go on, but I hope you get the picture and will pick this one up. 5 stars
7) The Eighth Life audio, Tavia Gilbert).
This book was way too long for me. I listened to the audio, but had no problem setting aside when other books became available, so it took me over a year to finish it. I did enjoy it in the beginning but after the 70% mark, just wanted to finish it. 3 stars
8) Seven Women: And the Secret of Their Greatness From Joan of Arc to Rosa Parks, Metaxas profiles seven women from history who made an impact upon the world they lived in and even the future. These mini-biographies told a great story of each woman—where they came from and how they became the women they were. 4 stars
9) Murder in an Irish Churchyard (Irish Village Mystery #3) Carlene O’Connor. Though still watching over her younger siblings, as well as helping in their family bistro, Siobhan has now joined the Garda. She has hardly been on the job when the priest comes to tell her he’s found a dead body in the graveyard—not buried. When the body turns out to belong to an American tourist, Siobhan and her former love interest, Macdara, have their hands full with the family who have come to search their roots. 4 stars
10) The Bear and the Nightingale
I listened to this on audio some years ago but wanted a re-read before reading the next in the series. Based on a Russian folktale, Vasya’s mother died giving birth to her, but she knew she had given birth to a special girl. Vasya can see spirits that others can’t, and she often gives them bread or does what she can for them. When her father brings home a new stepmother, Anna, her special gifts are seen more as evil than good. Anna forbids the honoring of the spirits, and soon their village is in trouble, facing famine as well as bitter cold. Can Vasya defy her elders and do what she can to help? 4 stars
11) Golden Girl audio-Erin Bennett. Listened to this on audio which I enjoyed. An author, Vivian Howe, is killed by a hit and run driver while out jogging. She leaves behind three children—mostly grown—an ex-husband, a best friend, and a community of readers. Like all of Hilderbrand’s books, there is family drama and relationship woes. There is also a mystery—who hit Vivian and left her to die? What I didn’t like about this book was Vivian’s afterlife. She is pictured as being able to watch for a time what is happening with her family and allowed three “nudges”. Maybe it’s because of my own personal beliefs, but I found this a bit weird and didn’t feel it added to the story. Still, 4 stars.
I'm hoping to read Anything is Possible and Seven Women - both are on my TBR. I'm glad you liked them. Good luck with The Little Friend - I'm hoping you are loving it! :-)
Lea wrote: "I'm hoping to read Anything is Possible and Seven Women - both are on my TBR. I'm glad you liked them. Good luck with The Little Friend - I'm hoping you are loving it! :-)"I am loving it! I didn't want to put it down last week, but needed to read a book for book club. Read a little bit last night & hope to get back into it tonight.
Mid-November report: 7 books completed so far this month.1) Holy Terror in the Hebrides Dorothy Martin #3)) Dorothy Martin is an American living in England. Her friends have invited her to go on a trip to Scotland but when the husband has a heart attack, Dorothy ends up going alone. She tags along with a group of American tourists on a tour and sees one of them (the one everyone dislikes) fall to his death from a cliff. Was it an accident? Or not? 3 stars
2) The Survivors Kieran’s father has dementia, so he and his girlfriend have come back to their hometown to help his mother pack up for a move. Twelve years before, during a terrible storm, Kieran’s brother and his friend drowned, and Kieran feels the guilt because of his part in it. They haven’t been back long when a girl who is working there for the summer is found dead on the beach. While searching for her killer, the town is pulled apart by its secrets and its history. 4 stars
3) The Bastard of Istanbul This book takes place in both Turkey and the U.S. The bastard of the title, Asya, is nineteen, loves Johnny Cash and lives with four sisters, one of whom is her mother, though she calls her “auntie” just like the other three. The sisters have one brother who lives in Arizona with his wife and her Armenian daughter, Armanoush. Armanoush secretly goes to Istanbul to learn more about her family. I know little about Turkey and the tensions between the Turks and Armenians, so found the history here interesting and the characters colorful. 4 stars
4) The Little Friend A Southern gothic novel with a cast of characters that are at turns amusing and extremely dark. The story takes place in Mississippi in the late 60’s or early 70’s. A nine-year old is killed while out playing in his yard. His younger sisters are also there but too young to know what happened. Twelve years later, the youngest sister, Harriet (who was only a baby at the time) decides she is going to solve the murder. Her mother spends most of her time in bed, but Harriet has the maid who also serves as a nanny, her grandmother and her great-aunts who all live nearby. Harriet also has her faithful friend, Hely, who is willing to go the crazy extra mile to help exact revenge. 4 stars
5) A Perfect Heritage Vincenzi’s books are long, have a wide cast of characters, and some kind of theme to tie them all together. In this one, it is a cosmetic company, The House of Farrell, started in 1953 and has been home for a special face cream that many swear by. However, the company is now in trouble and needs something more if they are going to keep up with other beauty product companies. A group takes them on led by Bianca Bailey, a business woman with ideas and drive and is ready to do what it takes to save the company. However, Athina Farrell, the co-founder of the company, is not quite ready to totally relinquish her hold. What Bianca comes up with to save the company, how it affects her family as well the Farrells and other employees will keep you turning the pages. 4 stars
6) The Birchbark House (Birchbark House #1). A children’s book, Erdrich’s answer to “The Little House on the Prairie” books. As with Wilder’s books, the story is told through a young girl. In this case, a Ojibwa girl Omakayas or Little Frog. Through her eyes, we learn about an Ojibwa family living on an island in Lake Superior. The story is told through four seasons in 1847, including the winter when a historically documented outbreak of smallpox was recorded. I never read The Little House books when I was young, but I think I would have enjoyed reading these side by side. As with all Erdrich books, the writing is beautiful and captivating. 4 stars
7) How Can I Help You Margo seems like a normal middle-aged librarian, both friendly and helpful. But Margo is not her real name. She is actually a former nurse who is in hiding because of the numerous premature deaths that happened to patients in her care. When Patricia joins the staff, she mostly keeps to herself, nursing her grievance over her failed attempts to become an author. When she finds Margo in the bathroom one day with a patron who is dying, she begins to do a little research on her colleague. 3 stars
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I finished 7 more books in November, giving me a total of 14.8) Things You Save in a Fire My third Katherine Center book for this year; she is quickly becoming a favorite author when looking for a fun, comfort book. Romance that is not silly and deals with tough situations. Cassie is one of the few female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, and she excels in dealing with emergencies. Her mother (who left her and her father when she was sixteen), calls and asked her to come to Boston to help her deal with some medical issues. The last thing Cassie wants to do is be with her mother—for any reason—but she’s left with little choice. Though she gets a new job at a firehouse in Boston, the men there are not exactly thrilled with a “lady” firefighter. Except for one handsome rookie. 4 stars
9) The Magician’s Daughter Historical fantasy and new author to me--this story takes place in 1912 where magic has been dwindling away for years. Biddy has grown up on Hy-Brasil, an island unknown to most of the world. Though she has no magic herself, she was raised by the mage Rowan who promises her that one day she will be able to see the world. For now, she is safer on the island. But, one night, Rowan does not return from one of his many nightly quests and Biddy knows she has to do something. When she enters Rowan’s dream, she learns that Rowan has powerful enemies and her isolated home may not be safe any longer. 4 stars
10) The Red Garden Hoffman is a writer of a number of books, mostly historical fiction of greatly varying times. In this one, three hundred years of Blackwell, Massachusetts is told in short stories or vignettes. Each story features a certain character beginning with a woman who saves a group of settlers from bears and starvation, so they settle and begin the town of Blackwell. I enjoy Hoffman’s writing and wouldn’t mind seeing more about any of these characters and yet, it seems she told just enough. I listened to this on audio; narrator Nancy Travis. 4 stars
11) The Language of Secrets Second in a series, Detective Esa Khattak heads up Canada’s Community Policing Section. He’s brought in to assist INSET which has been investigating a local terrorist cell after their informant is found murdered. Some of the politics of this was a bit hard for me to follow, but the characters and their different personalities and agendas kept my interest and I will probably continue the series. 4 stars
12) The Story of Arthur Truluv (Mason #1) Arthur, an 85 year old widow, goes to the cemetery every day to visit his wife. Maddy, a teenage girl, also visits the cemetery on a regular basis (mostly just to avoid school and other people) and hears Arthur talking one day and eventually decides to meet him. The two become friends after Arthur invites her to his home for lunch. When Maddy gets into some trouble, Arthur is there to help along with his neighbor, Lucille, another lonely soul. 4 stars
13) The City Baker's Guide to Country Living After pastry chef, Olivia Rawlings, prepares a flaming dessert for a Boston dinner club and ends up setting the whole building on fire, she decides to leave town and regroup. Her best friend, Hannah, lives in Guthrie, Vermont, so she goes there and gets a job at the Sugar Maple Inn. Even though it is not easy to win over the rather grouchy owner, Margaret, Olivia settles in and begins making her amazing desserts. She soon becomes friends with Margaret’s best friend and her family, including her son, Martin. Olivia wants to fit in and stay here, but does she really belong? 4 stars
14) Instructions for a Heatwave . It’s the summer of 1976 in London and the middle of a heat-wave. Gretta is preparing for the day when her newly retired husband goes out for a paper. Unfortunately, he doesn’t return. Now, Gretta’s three adult children come together (one of them needing to return from the U.S.), and their relationships—rocky at best—are tested as secrets and hurts are revealed. O’Farrell is one of my favorite writers and is skilled at writing family drama. 4 stars
All 4 stars! What a nice end to the month, Patricia. I liked Things You Save in a Fire a lot too, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I got on an Elizabeth Berg kick many years ago and read about 10 of her books in two years or so, but at that time, she hadn't published Arthur Truluv yet. I have been meaning to read it, but it just hasn't happened yet.
I hope you have a great December.
Lea wrote: "All 4 stars! What a nice end to the month, Patricia. I liked Things You Save in a Fire a lot too, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I got on an Elizabeth Berg kick many years ago and read about 10 of her ..."
That was my first Berg book in a good while. I don't know why. I did enjoy several of her books back in the day. In fact, I can't remember which books I've already read though I know I liked them all.
Mid-December: 8 books completed so far which gives me 150 for the year.1) Howards End Is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home “It began like this. I went to the shelves on the landing to look for a book I knew was there. It was not. But plenty of others were and among them I noticed at least a dozen I realized I had never read.” So, begins Hill’s year of reading only the books on her shelves, both discovering and re-discovering authors and books. Put together as a group of essays, Hill gives us a glimpse into her reading life and the books she wants to keep and reread. 4 stars
2) The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder This is the true story of the British vessel, The Wager, which left England in 1740 on a secret mission having to do with their war with Spain. In January 1742, a ramshackle boat landed on the coast of Brazil with thirty emaciated men, telling a tale of being shipwrecked on a desolate island. They were greeted as heroes, but six months later another boat landed on the coast of Chile with three castaways telling a very different tale than the first men. They claimed the first men were mutineers and had left them to die. Who was telling the truth and what really happened to The Wager and its crew? 4 stars
3) Children of God Children of God follows The Sparrow, so, yes, you need to read that one first. The Sparrow was Russell’s first book and when asked about getting published she said she sent it to 31 publishers before it was accepted. To be fair, she admitted, a book about some Jesuits going into space was a hard sell. I greatly enjoyed The Sparrow in spite of its rather rough ending. It was first published in 1996 and won several awards. Father Emilio is trying to recover from his trip to the planet Rakhat. The Society of Jesus wants his help in planning another trip. Though he agrees to help potential space travelers to learn the language and about the culture they will meet, he absolutely refuses to go back. He suffered a great deal there and has no reason to want to return. 5 stars
4) Chapter and Curse Librarian Molly grew up in the U.S. and her English mother, Nina, never spoke of her English relatives. But, when Nina receives a letter from her Aunt Violet in Cambridge asking for their help in running the family bookshop, they are both ready for change. Thomas Marlowe, one of the oldest bookshops in Cambridge, needs some serious upgrading. Molly is up for the challenge and one of the first things she does is arrange to have a famous poet and former classmate of Aunt Violet do a reading. The bookshop does get some needed publicity, but, unfortunately, not of the best kind as a woman is found dead outside the bookshop; apparently killed during the reading. I enjoyed this one and hope to continue the series. 4 stars
5) Small Things Like These Keegan, an Irish writer, tells the story of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant in 1985. While delivering coal one morning to the local convent, he makes a startling discovery about the treatment of some young women there. Furlong has five daughters and works hard to provide a good life for his family. Should he get involved or mind his own business? I had never heard of the Magdalen Laundries, so I had to do a little research to find out more about the truth of this story. 4 stars
6) Archipelago This is my third novel by the Trinidadian writer, Roffey, and though they are all quite different, I have enjoyed each one. In this one, Gavin has lost his home and baby son because of a flood. In despair, he takes his young daughter, Ocean and their dog, Susie, on a trip in his boat which he hasn’t used in some time. In his younger days, he and a friend had dreams of traveling to the Galapagos and now he decides to make that trip; or go as far as he can. Their journey takes them to many different places where they face challenges and meet other people who encourage them and give them hope. 4 stars
7) War and Peace What can I say about a book that was first published in 1867 and is still being read today? It’s a classic and it stands the test of time. I read this with an online group. We started the first of January and the goal was to read at least a chapter a day and finish by the end of the year. Even though I didn’t get too involved in discussions, it was a fun way to revisit this book. In case you don’t know, the war in this book focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. Three families are the center of the book—their loves, their heartaches, and how the war effects and changes them. I know I should give this 5 stars, but my stars are based on how well the book kept me in its grip, so 4 it shall be.
8) Leave the World Behind I wanted to read this before watching it on Netflix but from what I’ve seen of the previews, it probably didn’t matter as they are probably nothing alike. A family with two children rents a house for a vacation in a remote area of New York. They’ve only been there a couple of days when there is a knock on the door in the middle of the night. It’s an older couple claiming to be the owners of the home. They tell Clay and Amanda that there has been a black-out in New York City and they wanted to get out. Some awkwardness ensues, but morning doesn’t bring any better news. Phones, internet, & televisions aren’t working. What is going on? And how can they find out? 3 stars
What a nice mix, and all 4 and 5 stars, with only one 3 stars! Out of these, I've read and enjoyed Children of God, will read The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder in 2024, and if I ever gather enough courage, I will try War and Peace someday. The way your group did it, a chapter a day, is probably the best way to do it.Your other books sound interesting too, can't wait to see what you're going to read before this year is over.
Ioana wrote: "What a nice mix, and all 4 and 5 stars, with only one 3 stars! Out of these, I've read and enjoyed Children of God, will read The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder in 2024, and if I eve..."Just recommended Children of God for you in other thread! Glad you enjoyed it though. I think I've gotten to where I don't finish many books unless they're at least 4 stars for me. Some exceptions, of course. Usually for a book club. Leave the World Behind--I can't thinking it would get better & it was pretty short, so not hard to finish.
I learned to DNF books I'm not happy with, but like you, I do finish the book club ones. And the ones that are not totally bad and I keep hoping they'd get better...a lot of times they don't, and they end up as 3 stars
Jackie wrote: "I plan on reading War and Peace the same way this year."Good luck, please let us know how it goes. I feel intimidated, I am not ready for it yet. Maybe in a few years. Maybe more. Maybe never 🤣
I'll try to update you on my progress, Ioana.
Jackie wrote: "I plan on reading War and Peace the same way this year."Are you reading it with the Footnotes & Tangents group led by Simon Haisell? Or on your own? Or another group entirely? They're doing War & Peace again, but I'm going to read the Cromwell trilogy (Hilary Mantel) with them.
Patricia wrote: "I'm going to read the Cromwell trilogy (Hilary Mantel) with them"Oh, wow, that's another difficult one. Good luck, keep us posted.
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Ioana wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I'm going to read the Cromwell trilogy (Hilary Mantel) with them"Oh, wow, that's another difficult one. Good luck, keep us posted."
Thanks, I will!
Bill wrote: "I've ordered Howard's End is on the Landing. It sounds interesting."I actually heard about it from someone else in this group. Carolien, I think. Hope you enjoy!
Patricia wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I plan on reading War and Peace the same way this year."Are you reading it with the Footnotes & Tangents group led by Simon Haisell? Or on your own? Or another group enti..."
I was planning on reading it on my own, Patricia.
Jackie wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I plan on reading War and Peace the same way this year."Are you reading it with the Footnotes & Tangents group led by Simon Haisell? Or on your own? Or a..."
Ok. Enjoy!
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I actually heard about it from someone else in this group. Carolien, I think. Hope you enjoy!"
This group has that effect on people.
Howard's End is on the Landing is one of my favourites. And I can probably take a leaf from Susan Hill and not buy any books for a year as well. Congratulations on completing War and Peace, one that is still on my list.
Carolien wrote: "Howard's End is on the Landing is one of my favourites. And I can probably take a leaf from Susan Hill and not buy any books for a year as well. Congratulations on completing War and Peace, one tha..."Yes, pretty sure you mentioned at one time or another & I found a used copy.
Thanks! I actually read it years ago, but it was fun reading it again with a group.
I finished December with 19 books, making my yearly total 161. A lot of books! (I can't even admit this to most people. They think I'm crazy as it is!)9) The Invisible Hour Mia has grown up in “The Community”, a place where there are a lot of rules and not much freedom. Her father is the leader of this group and her mother tries to make sure that Mia understands how important it is to keep the rules. Most of the time. One day when they are working in their apple orchard, Mia sees a building in the distance and asks what it is. At first, her mother tells her it is a castle; then she tells to go and see on the pretense of needing to use the bathroom. What Mia finds is a place full of books which is much better than a regular castle. Though Mia has to hide the books she at first steals and later checks out, the books change her life, especially when she discovers The Scarlet Letter. 3 stars
10) The Searcher (Cal Hooper #1). Retired detective Cal Hooper moves from Chicago to a small village in Ireland. He buys a run-down cottage he plans to restore and wants to spend his time working on this project, fishing, and walking the mountains. His time as a detective are over. When a young boy begins spying on him and finally comes out to seek his help, he can’t help but begin an investigative search for the boy’s missing brother. All off the record, of course. I’ve enjoyed all of Tana French’s novels though this one is a bit different than the others. What remains the same are a complex plot, interesting characters, and suspense that keeps you turning the pages. I was happy to hear that her new book coming out in 2024 will also feature Cal Hooper. 4 stars
11) The Cheat Sheet Bree and Nathan have been best friends forever, but they have also secretly been pining for each other. Who is going to admit to that first? This was okay, but if I hadn’t listened to it on audio, I doubt I would have gotten very far with it. As it was, I used it as a break when I was driving and didn’t feel like listening to anything that would need and deserve my concentration. It’s a cutesy romance, but certainly not one of the best. 3 stars
12) The Little Italian Hotel Patrick writes the type of books that I always think I’m going to like better than I actually do. I think I’ve only read three now, so that’s not probably not fair. Still willing to give her another chance. In this one, Ginny, a radio host who gives advice to the confused and heart-broken, plans a trip to Italy to surprise her husband for their 25th wedding anniversary. The surprise is on her when her husband, not only doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t even want to be married any more. Since Ginny can’t get her money back, she offers to let 5 heart-broken people who call into her show to go to Italy with her. Can these broken people find healing together? And can Ginny save her marriage? Does she even want to? 3 stars
13) Everyone Here Is Lying (audio—Renee Dorian and Teddy Hamilton). First of all, I loved the title here. With some books, it takes more than the half of the book to understand the title (if you ever do), but not with this one. It starts with two people meeting in a motel room who are, of course, married to other people, and escalates from there. When the good doctor, William’s lover tells him it’s over, he goes home in an ill frame of mind; only to find his troublesome nine-year old daughter, Avery, there. He loses his temper with her, leaves, and no one knows what happened to Avery after that. Well, someone knows if only the police can find the truth amidst all the lies and accusations. 5 stars
14) Twelve Slays of Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #1). Jacqueline Frost. When Holly White’s fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding, she heads home to Mistletoe, Maine where her parents run a tree farm and a place where Christmas is celebrated in grand style. A good place for Holly’s broken heart to heal until president of the historical society, Margaret Fenwick is found murdered and left in the sleigh display. Murder is bad enough, but the closing down of the tree farm could seriously hurt the White family’s source of income. The new sheriff seems capable, but Holly can’t help but do a little sleuthing on her own. Something that puts her own life in danger. 4 stars
15) Murder on Black Swan Lane Penrose (Wrexford & Sloane #1). Historical mystery set in Regency London. When the Reverend Josiah Holworthy is found with his throat slit and his face burned by chemicals, the Earl of Wrexford is the prime suspect. Wrexford had publicly had words with the reverend, and A.J. Quill, a satirical cartoonist, had enjoyed drawing them both and putting them in the limelight. To prove his innocence, Wrexford must find out who A.J. Quill is, and when he does, the two join together to solve this murder and soon another one. 4 stars
16) Joy To The World: Daily Readings For Advent Just as the title states, these are readings for advent written by the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon. In a sermon preached by Spurgeon on December 23, 1855, he stated, “This is the season of the year when, whether we wish it or not, we are compelled to think of the birth of Christ.” He went on to say it was not a religious necessity to celebrate Christmas. “However, I wish there were ten or a dozen Christmas-days in the year” (as an opportunity to preach Christ). In these readings, Spurgeon begins with Genesis 3:15, the first promise of Christ and leads us to Bethlehem to prepare our hearts for His coming. 5 stars
17) Harbour Street (Vera Stanhope #6). It’s Christmas time and Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter, Jessie, are on the crowded metro. When they have to stop because of the snow, one lady remains in our seat even after everyone else has gotten off. To Jessie’s horror, she discovers the woman is dead. Because the woman was stabbed, DI Vera Stanhope is called in and soon she and Joe are off to Mardle where Margaret lived to begin their investigation. Nothing is simple or straightforward about this investigation. Margaret had a secret past and Vera is convinced that learning all about her, even things that happened years ago, will reveal the killer. 4 stars
18) The Matzah Ball (audio). Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a rabbi’s daughter with a couple of secrets. One of them is that she loves Christmas and is a successful Christmas romance novelist (using a pen name). When her publisher wants her to write a Hanukkah romance, she panics, not seeing anything magical about Hanukkah. When she hears about a Matzah Ball being planned, she decides to go for inspiration. Unfortunately, there are no tickets left and really, unfortunately, the man in charge of the ball is her summer camp enemy, Jacob Greenberg. Can she convince Jacob to give her a ticket? And is he really the jerk she remembers from when they were twelve? 4 stars
19) Apples Never Fall I love Moriarty’s writing—her family relationships and her twisted plot lines. In this one, the Delaney family are a tennis family and are well-known in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, have recently sold their tennis school and are having a hard time adjusting to retirement. Their four children, though all played tennis and showed promise, are now out of the game and living their own lives. One night a stranger, Savannah, knocks on the door of Stan and Joy. She tells them she fled from her boyfriend and has nowhere to go. Needing a project, Joy immediately takes her in. When Savannah moves in and seems to have no intention of leaving, Stan and Joy’s children are all suspicious and not happy with the arrangement. Later, Joy goes missing and no one knows what happened to Savannah. Where is Joy? And did she leave of her own free will? 4 stars
Happy New Year! And Very Happy Reading!!!
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The Invisible Hour (other topics)Everyone Here Is Lying (other topics)
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The Cheat Sheet (other topics)
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